[You have undergone the Yin Yang Medicine Bath, absorbed its effects, your muscles are strong and your body sturdy, gaining further understanding of the principles of Yin and Yang. Setting Sun Bloodsword proficiency +398]

[You have bathed together, Setting Sun Bloodsword proficiency +415]

…

Madam said, "You are still young, not yet full of Primordial Yang. Your muscles and bones are not yet fixed, although you have developed a good bone structure on your own, it's all self-taught without any system. If you encounter a true prodigy, your foundation might be weak."

"Little Immortal, from today onwards, you shall be my Sword Holder. The position of Commander, you can hand over to that Ding... anyone will do, I reckon they wouldn't dare act otherwise."

"I'll help you forge a good build and create a solid foundation, isn't that something you would like?"

Madam Wen saw Li Xian's complex expression.

Li Xian thought: "Receiving such a great favor, it will ultimately need to be repaid. Madam, oh Madam... this makes me feel so conflicted." He was not afraid of calculating interests, but he feared genuine sincerity.

Li Xian said, "Li Xian is afraid."

Madam Wen laughed and said, "You should indeed be afraid. Do you think any one can approach me, Wen Caitang? You are the first. From now on, all you need to remember is that you enjoy my benefits. My words, you listen to."

Madam Wen gently caressed Li Xian's face, gradually moving downwards, grasping his hand bones, applying slight pressure, meticulously testing his bone structure: "In this world, only the disciples of great families can have personalized body shaping methods."

"Martial Artist... the body is the foundation. What is referred to as the Martial Arts First Realm, Second Realm, is merely building high towers on the foundation. Martial Artists in Qingning County, even in Qiong Heavenly Mansion, lose out due to their limited vision."

"They do not know what a foundation is, nor how to create one. Let me reveal one thing, why do you think Martial Artists can live long?"

Li Xian said, "By consuming the Essence of Heaven and Earth, they digest it, thereby achieving longevity."

"That's just the surface." Madam Wen pressed on Li Xian's shoulder, giving a slight pinch, revealing a surprised expression: "You have extremely strong potential in bone structure."

"Nothing in all creation lasts forever. Dynasties fall, martial arts are lost. Yet Martial Artists insist on longevity, how would you say they do it?"

Li Xian was struck by inspiration: "Nothing in all creation lasts forever. But the heavens and earth truly do last forever!"

"Oh?" Madam Wen was about to say this, then said, "You're getting clever now. Indeed... a formidable Martial Artist, the land they stand on, is like a miniature heaven and earth."

"Flesh and blood as forest, bones as mountains, the inner qi of a person, its mysteries are endless. It grows from the small heaven and earth within oneself, forming into lakes and seas."

"Since you're so clever, I'll test you. Where is the foundation I speak of?"

Madam Wen gently splashed water, swimming to the edge of the bath. Li Xian also swam over, subtly, the two were no longer ordinary.

Li Xian came to the madam's side, peeled open a fruit to feed the madam, showing a contemplative look, and said, "I truly do not know, please enlighten me, madam."

"I'll give you a hint, try guessing again." Madam Wen also peeled open a fruit and fed it to Li Xian. She swam to the other side, speaking as she swam: "You've never left Qingning, the world you've seen is only this big."

"But the world is vast, boundless."

"Do you remember the pattern on the Heaven-Hiding Box, what was the cover?"

Li Xian followed and answered, "A circle."

Madam Wen said, "And the body of the box?" Li Xian answered, "A square."

"What do circle and square represent?" Madam Wen swam to the pool's edge and stopped. Li Xian caught up, conveniently encompassing her, pondering for a moment, and said, "I understand, they represent 'round heavens and square earth'."

"That's right." Madam Wen gently patted the water's surface.

Ripples spread, droplets were drawn out, transforming into mist. Ultimately gathering about a meter above, looking up, it seemed like the sky.

Li Xian was amazed at the spectacle before his eyes, even more amazed at the madam's strength. This manipulation of inner qi was truly beyond words.

Madam Wen said, "Mist as sky, pool water as earth. It's just like the heaven and earth in which we live. And such a heaven and earth, stands with several... towering mountains."

She used qi to adhere to the water, erecting seven water columns. Though they were constructs, in a moment of illusion, they had the majestic grandeur and imposing aura.

The water columns stood proudly, supporting the heaven and earth.

"The closest one to us is named 'Su Mountain'. It's endlessly tall, endlessly vast. A good hero, a good son, they should go there once. This mountain harbors countless dangers, contains numerous treasures."

Madam Wen gently clapped. The mist dispersed, the water columns fell. She asked, "After saying so much, what does the foundation of martial arts refer to? Any guesses?"

Li Xian pondered for a moment: "Madam, you mean the spine."

"If a Martial Artist becomes their own heaven and earth, the spine should be the 'Su Mountain', supporting heaven and earth, eternally standing."

Madam Wen clapped her hands in praise: "Good, good, Little Immortal, you are very smart."

Li Xian was suddenly enlightened. Xu Liefeng's interactions with Madam, his family's strength had to be considerable. And the Leopard Saber Sect's basic martial arts were related to the 'spine'. Perhaps it was to lay a solid foundation for future generations, but Xu Liefeng's inheritance was incomplete, oblivious of its significance.

"Indeed." Madam Wen said, "You've reached the stage of Essence-Eating, you should know that consuming essence treasures doesn't strengthen bones and flesh. It mostly directs your body to align with heaven and earth. Although Essence-Eating Martial Artists do manifest vitality and qi power beyond the ordinary clay embryo, it's merely incidental, brute force is insignificant."

"Next... I will focus on refining your bone structure. Your strength, stamina... all will reach a new level. But the true foundation lies within the spine, once your spine bears the majesty of mountains, any martial arts you perform, will manifest even stronger, your power will grow, for you have expanded your own heaven and earth."

Li Xian, upon hearing this, deeply felt the vastness of the Martial Arts. Why seek enlightenment of heaven and earth, why consume essence to transcend... Behind all these lie reasons. Yet people of later generations only know to imitate, unaware of the intentions, inadvertently stepping on the wrong path, leading to a mid-journey collapse, making further progress difficult.

A good teacher is hard to find.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, if a martial artist's spine is broken, wouldn't it be crippling?"

"Not necessarily." Madam Wen shook her head and said, "The spine is also about intention and spirit. If the spine breaks, intention and spirit can still support it. Moreover, a martial artist's real circumstances, conditions, and fortuitous encounters differ, how can it be generalized?"

"Furthermore, the vastness of Martial Arts leaves no fixed measures. Various theories, truth and falsehood intertwine. There was once a theory that said all things in heaven and earth are self-contained worlds, thus allowing one to manipulate objects out of nothing."

At this time, the medicinal effect in the pool had been fully absorbed. Madam Wen said, "What was discussed today is only the tip of the iceberg. Do not overthink it, lest miscellaneous thoughts disturb your mind, causing more harm than good. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will explain it to you."

"Rest well. Tomorrow at the hour of the dragon, meet me in the inner courtyard."

The sound of dripping water.

Madam Wen left the pool.

Li Xian put on his clothes, combed his long hair. While grooming himself in the bronze mirror, he saw a handsome appearance and was quite satisfied, then left the inner courtyard. On the way, he felt something was missing...

Returning to the Commander's Courtyard. Li Xian was full of vitality, lively as a dragon. He practiced swordsmanship, wielding the "Setting Sun Bloodsword" with exquisite skill. The essence of the yin and yang convergence from bathing with the madam still lingered.

Amidst the strong swordplay, there were strands of gentleness.

Li Xian's interest was suddenly piqued, he thrust out a sword towards the date tree in the courtyard, using a move called "Eternal." This move came from the second level of the Setting Sun Bloodsword. Li Xian had perfected the first layer but was only barely proficient in the second layer. During the transition between the two levels of swordsmanship, it was difficult to be flawless.

This "Eternal" needed to be used in unison. Striking the date tree, only to see the tree leaves wither and fall off rapidly, decaying at an astonishing speed.

Powerful indeed.

But when the essence of the yin and yang convergence dissipated, Li Xian could no longer execute "Eternal."

He sheathed his sword.

Suddenly startled, his palm was unharmed. Today, Madam had not pierced his palm.

"The Madam is deeply calculating, but after today, her treatment towards me is different. What exactly is our relationship now? She has been kind to me, whether it is fake benevolence or a sinister plot, she did save me. This matter... truly a headache."

Li Xian decided not to think about it, closed his eyes and fell asleep. The next day, at the hour of the dragon, as promised, he went to meet, waiting in front of the Madam's room.

The Madam said, "Little Immortal, come in."

Pushing the door open and walking in, he saw the Madam's bedroom. The area wasn't big, nor luxurious. But since the bedroom is a place of rest, no matter how big or wide, it can only accommodate lying down. Instead, this bedroom was most suited in size.

Madam Wen sat at the dressing table and said, "Comb my hair." Qiuyue's rebellion meant daily duties naturally fell on Li Xian's shoulders.

Li Xian's "Vertical Cloud Hand" had already reached its peak, grasping the characteristics of "Miao Hand." His fingers were long and dexterous, deftly arranging the long hair. At first, he didn't know the essence, but after the Madam instructed him on how to braid hair, he became increasingly skilled.

Even better than Qiuyue.

Madam Wen was satisfied, having originally chosen Qiuyue as a servant because of her extraordinary hand bone, with talent in palm technique, embroidery, and other fine skills. Unfortunately, Qiuyue's Martial Arts aptitude was mediocre, not suitable for great uses.

If only she could circulate qi around the body, solidify blood and close pores. Cleansing the embryo to tranquility, there would be no worry of not having caught the Madam's eye.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, what are we going to do next..."

Madam Wen nodded, "Follow me out of the manor, to see Qiuyue, what difficulties prompted her to leave without a word." No carriage was prepared.

It's already autumn, the autumn rains were continuous.

"If the Madam can even find Qiuyue's corpse, that would be truly terrifying." Li Xian said not a word, silently following behind.

The scenery along the way was splendid. Madam Wen walked to a certain mountain path, frowned slightly, and turned into the mountain. Li Xian felt a sudden jolt, the mountain path looked familiar.

It was the mountain path taken when annihilating the Flower Cage Sect. Li Xian was perplexed, "How strange, how did the Madam precisely find this place with such methods?"

Passing by a deserted house, Madam Wen only glanced at it and said, "There was a skirmish here."

Li Xian replied, "To not hide from Madam, a few days ago, a group of Flower Cage Sect bandits were here. I led the men to exterminate them here."

"Oh?" Madam Wen said, "The Flower Cage Sect bandits are notoriously cunning, slippery like loaches and hard to catch, you managed to exterminate them, that's quite good."

Madam Wen wasn't concerned, skirted the deserted house, continuing deep into the mountains. Li Xian knew that Qiuyue had betrayed and pulled her to a far place to talk. Therefore, it was quite far from the deserted house.

Later, he poisoned Qiuyue, killed her, and sought a spacious place to bury her corpse.

Madam Wen found that location and said, "Ah! So dead, she died here."

Li Xian was horrified. A corpse deep in the mountains could be precisely found. Such means, truly terrifying.

"The Madam's intent is also to intimidate me." Li Xian realized. He dug out Qiuyue's corpse.

Madam Wen showed neither pity nor sorrow, pointing at Qiuyue's corpse, asked, "What do you think? Who killed her?"

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