Martial Arts First Realm [Essence-Eating Transcendence], purifies the fetal body, intercepts essence, and after stepping into the "Food Essence" realm. Then drink the essence of heaven and earth, continue to transform, accumulate capital all over the body.

Between Li Xian's eyebrows, a red mole glows, and his eyes with Heavy Pupils manifest. His body is like the morning mountain, surrounded by white mist, radiant with divine light. As if a celestial being.

This transformation.

The effect of the Rebirth Appearance is even more apparent. The anomalies and recovery power of the [Perfect Appearance]. The deterrence, brute force, and observation of the [Heavy Pupil Appearance] have all been significantly enhanced.

Life Hair grows half a millimeter, lifespan increases by ten years, and martial arts advance one level.

Thousand Feet Mountain, Ten Thousand Feet Peak.

Already rising from the foot of the mountain, showing initial signs. When reaching the top in the future, wouldn't the scenery of thousands of miles be fully visible?

...

...

The infamous names of the Red List, five have been eliminated. The remaining few, startled and fled far away, are hard to find again.

On this day.

Li Xian finished breakfast, holding the Red List, checking the information about "Old Man Child-Eater": seems to be surnamed Chu, originally a rural farmer, in a year of famine, survived by eating his child, thus his mentality twisted. Later, he took pleasure in eating children, martial arts unknown, cultivation level unknown... now active in "Three Yin Mountain".

Li Xian pondered for a moment and decided to kill, acting entirely based on his will.

He summoned the constables of the Martial Captain Hall. He ordered them to convey his command, recruiting a few martial artists from various gangs and factions in Qingning County.

To jointly capture "Old Man Child-Eater".

Li Xian thought of Luo Xia, this woman's background was mysterious, her strength must not be weak. So he went to the old house to invite her to join.

"Are you the Martial Captain?" Luo Xia understood the details and looked at Li Xian in surprise. Half of her face was burnt, looking hideous, and the neighborhood avoided her.

Therefore, she lived a solitary life, spoke to no one, and was too lazy to inquire about the city's affairs. She only knew that there was a young Martial Captain in Qingning County. She knew nothing of his appearance or background and was not interested.

Li Xian smiled and said, "If you come along, I'll give you thirty taels of silver."

"Only thirty taels?" Luo Xia looked suspiciously.

Li Xian said, "That's not little!"

"To be honest, that Old Man Child-Eater, committing evil, though according to duty, since he has entered my jurisdiction, I ought to execute him. But besides this, it is also a part of Cao Family's scheme against me."

"There are risks in this endeavor. I guess your strength is not weak and wish to invite you to assist. But I don't want to deceive you, leaving you unclear in danger. Before inviting you, I've already gathered dozens of brothers."

"The bounty on Old Man Child-Eater is 700 taels. Even if I submit the head, after layers of deductions, what reaches my hand is pitifully small. These brothers follow me through life and death; I can't neglect them."

"Divided among us, this thirty taels for you is already my limit. Even counting carefully, I'm afraid I might even lose money."

Luo Xia said, "You are interesting. Since others designed against you, why are you still going?"

Li Xian said, "The Cao Family wants to deal with me, they'll always find reasons, and means. Avoiding it, I'd be anxious and helpless in vain. And that Old Man Child-Eater, being so evil, it's only right for me to kill him."

"Alright!" Luo Xia tied up the long hair that covered her face, revealing half of her delicate cheek. If her whole face weren't burned, she would be a rare beauty, "Your words are to my liking."

"I won't get involved in your enmity with the Cao Family. But with Old Man Child-Eater, I'll help you handle him. And I'll only take fifteen taels; the remaining money, you can reward all to the brothers."

"But on one condition, which you must agree."

Li Xian paused, hearing Luo Xia's words, she seemed to intend to take full charge, "Speak."

Luo Xia's eyes sparkled: "You let me command your constables. If the thirty-something of them are well-trained and under my command, even a Second Realm Martial Artist might not be unkillable."

"Oh?" Li Xian said, "These are all my brothers. I can let you command them temporarily, but… do try to protect their lives."

Luo Xia said, "Naturally."

After discussion, Luo Xia accompanied and returned to the Martial Captain Hall. Li Xian said loudly, "Brothers, on this mission to eliminate bandits, she will temporarily act as Vice Martial Captain, and you are to follow her commands."

Thus, with an imposing momentum, the Martial Captain Hall, a group of dozens, rode horses armed, headed towards where Old Man Child-Eater was.

Li Xian humbly asked for advice, "Miss Luo, the strength of the Martial Arts Second Realm is formidable. Why are you confident that just with formation arranging, you can kill them?"

It's hard to say what realm Old Man Child-Eater is in. He might not have the strength of the Martial Arts Second Realm.

On horseback, Luo Xia, full of vigor, was not reluctant to explain to Li Xian: "If it were a one-on-one fight, these constables are not enough for a Second Realm Martial Artist to deal with."

"And armies are clumsy. If a martial artist wants to escape, even thousands of troops might not keep him. But people have their methods, and armies have theirs."

"With a multitude and great force, it can have infinite wonderful uses. Combining terrain layout, it is no problem to trap and kill a martial artist."

"And I'm personally overseeing. If things do not go well, I'll take action personally. How can the bandit escape alive?"

Li Xian understood. Luo Xia's strong confidence still stems from herself. Many people and strong forces, and array formations indeed can counter martial artists. But in the world, everything changes. The same array in a different environment and situation can have different effects.

At this moment, with this scene, it can trap and kill a martial artist. But in a different scenario, a martial artist might find an opportunity to escape or even cause serious casualties.

So a steadying force and a calming anchor are necessary to oversee the situation.

Luo Xia held the map, arranging formations. She glanced at Li Xian, a bit speechless. This young man seemed inattentive, but was secretly observing, with a hint of learning stealthily.

Luo Xia didn't hide, but neither would she willingly teach. She just followed her own thoughts to arrange.

This formation is called the "Hum-Ha Formation," requiring two large drums. Fifteen men act as the Hum General, fifteen as the Ha General. The rest follow orders, working together in coordination.

Seeing Luo Xia's formation arrayed perfectly, its formidable might displayed, Luo Xia thought that since the Cao Family schemed, this Tun Zi Old Hermit must be strong and extremely confident. Such a person would simply need a signal before walking into the trap willingly.

She immediately found a suitable spot and shouted, "Smoke to draw the enemy!"

Tun Zi Old Hermit hid in the mountains, being a vicious fugitive sheltered by the Cao Family, escaping pursuit from the government office. Recently dispatched near Qingning, the Cao Family warned him that the Qingning County Martial Captain would lead a team to strangle her.

Telling her to prepare to kill that Military Officer.

Tun Zi Old Hermit had been at the Food Essence Realm for a long time, arrogantly not taking any sieges seriously. Previously committing numerous heinous crimes, she was often surrounded. Sometimes by ten people, sometimes by dozens.

But always managed to kill and escape.

Seeing thick fog now, she realized the Martial Captain had arrived. Thinking of achieving the task early, she let out a long howl, and "walked straight into the trap" heading into the black mist.

Rushing down the hill, seeing dozens of people ahead. The old hermit fearlessly asked, "Who is the Martial Captain?"

Li Xian, riding a fine horse, loudly responded, "I am the Martial Captain, today I shall take your head. You'd better hand it over nicely to atone for your sins."

"Heh heh." The old hermit, gaunt and fleshless, merely skin and bones, laughed with a "ka ka ka" sound. Eerily she said, "What a coincidence, what a coincidence, today I also want to take your head."

Directly charging into the formation, trying to seize Li Xian's head. Li Xian remained calm, already assessing Tun Zi Old Hermit's strength with assurance. This old hermit, though stronger than Zheng Xuezhang, was not akin to a Second Realm Martial Artist.

Seeing the old hermit enter the array, Luo Xia smirked coldly, emitting a "hum" sound.

The soldiers launched an attack from the flanks, cutting off the old hermit's escape route. The old hermit, furious, was about to make a move when Luo Xia emitted a "ha" sound. The soldiers, following her command, immediately responded.

The "Hum-Ha Formation" was both simple and complex. Luo Xia simplified this array, "Hum" for strong attack, "Ha" for soft defense.

Ultimately, the many martial arts in the world boil down to "attack and defense."

Luo Xia commanded from a high position. When she issued a "hum" sound, the soldiers gathered their inner Qi ferociously to launch a strong attack. Though the soldiers' martial arts were weak, their inner Qi accumulated to greater strength.

Moreover, more than a dozen of them launched an attack together, which was certainly formidable.

When she made the "ha" sound, the Ha General would immediately counter. Blocking and defending, using softness to overcome hardness.

Thus, it appeared that the old hermit broke through the formation, but in reality, it was a bout with Luo Xia. Luo Xia employed just "attack" and "defense" as two moves, countering all changes with constancy.

The Hum and Ha formations were like the left and right arms.

Naturally quite extraordinary.

Li Xian pondered, "If I were trapped in the formation, how should I best counter it? This formation has unique offensive and defensive qualities, only by finding its weakness can it be broken."

Since witnessing the "Iron Net Capture Evil Array" and "Three Talents Capture Evil Array," he became quite interested in formations. In this world, personal might exists along with longevity and supernatural beings. As well, the gathered strength of many is unmissable.

Consulting books and mentors, he gradually came to understand that formations are like "difficult problems." If one cannot find the way to solve them, they become entrapped by the formation.

Conversely, if the problem is solved, the formation will collapse. Overcoming dozens effortlessly.

Li Xian observed the battle. The old hermit had notable strength but quickly exhausted her energy, unable to execute many martial arts, yearning to escape.

"Beat the drums!" Luo Xia shouted loudly.

The two drum beats sounded like thunder, rumbling through the mountains. The drum sound seemed to scatter inner Qi, weakening the joints, draining strength, causing inner Qi to disperse and not coalesce.

"Hmm?" Luo Xia frowned. Seeing the old hermit roll out of the formation, unexpectedly resisting the drum sound, and escaping from the array.

The entire "Hum-Ha Formation" comprised several "Chest Drum Thunder Sound" experts. When drums were beaten, everyone raised the thunder sound, amplifying the might.

It could frighten Essence-Eating Martial Artists to the point of their legs going weak, leaving no power to resist, but today it was incomplete, causing Luo Xia to overestimate the drum sound's effectiveness.

Seeing if the old hermit would escape, next time she'd be more cautious. Hastily, she took up a bow, shooting toward the old hermit.

The old hermit, drenched in cold sweat, felt as if she narrowly escaped death. Hearing the arrow's whistle, she immediately hid behind a rock. That arrow lodged four inches into the stone, unable to kill the old hermit.

Luo Xia frowned, shooting again. The old hermit fled with all her might, dodging here and there, making it difficult to shoot fatally. Luo Xia's archery was very precise, several arrows brushed past but failed to kill.

"Let me do it!"

Li Xian drew out the Golden Leopard Bow, nocked an arrow. His movements fluid like flowing water, he pulled the bow to perfection, releasing the arrow. It cut through the air, precisely striking her abdomen.

"Excellent archery!" Luo Xia's eyes lit up, glancing at Li Xian.

Li Xian pulled the bow again, firing another arrow. Though hit by an arrow, the old hermit's martial realm remained outstanding, retaining some combat power. She turned back, reaching for the flying arrow.

The arrow's immense force pushed her back several feet. Crashing into a tree trunk, by then she was panting heavily, exhausted, almost entirely drained of inner Qi.

Li Xian shot another arrow. At a distance of several tens of feet, this arrow just hit the previous one, piercing through and across the chest.

Luo Xia's eyes gleamed brightly, almost clapping in appreciation. Despite archery being fundamental, if one can draw a bow, they may practice it. With diligence, they could master it, though "great success," "perfection," or "peak" depends entirely on one's talent.

At this moment, the archery Li Xian displayed was at least at the great success level. Such a person, if on the battlefield, would be a valued asset!

"This is…" Suddenly, Luo Xia showed a surprised expression. Seeing Li Xian's last arrow, it actually emitted intent and spirit.

This arrow tore through the forest, unstoppable, awe-inspiring.

[You have slain Tun Zi Old Hermit, archery skill level +59]

[Your understanding of formations accelerates the digestion of Heaven and Earth Essence, Food Essence Realm skill level +1]

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