The group strolled along the streets, passing through Red Candle Street and Green Lamp Street, circled around Qingning Lake, enjoying the picturesque scenery of Qingning County, and finally arrived at the government office.

This place had been through several skirmishes, and all the constables had been replaced.

Li Xian patted Yuwen Chengji on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Brother Yuwen, in this position, you must fulfill its responsibilities. Now that you are the County Magistrate, you should think of the people in the county. Prioritize the people, do not create fancy excuses to collect money for indulgence."

"I am the Martial Captain, and I must supervise you in this matter. You only need to be accountable to the people, not to me. Do what is required of you, and don't worry about the rest."

Yuwen Chengji repeatedly agreed, and the Prefecture City rumors painted Li Xian as a troublemaker, but only upon contact did one realize the rumors were untrue. He took office smoothly and stayed at the government office thereafter.

Li Xian returned along the original path, leisurely strolling around Qingning Lake. Feeling relaxed, it seemed this time being the County Magistrate wasn't a significant hassle.

"The Yuwen Clan sent someone like Yuwen Chengji, who has no martial arts foundation nor much academic talent here. Their intention is already obvious."

"Unexpectedly, before I even reached the Prefecture City, my infamous reputation had already spread far and wide."

Li Xian was unafraid of insults or rumors. Hearing the gossip from Prefecture City, he found it amusing and soon forgot about it.

He felt at ease and content.

He returned to the Martial Captain Hall.

"Martial Captain, the Thunder Ore you wanted, I brought it for you." Zhang Hou, carrying a black box, happened to meet Li Xian.

Li Xian said, "It finally arrived!"

To practice the "Thunderbolt Finger," it requires using the Thunder Power from the Thunder Ore for body refinement. Li Xian, relying on the principle that Heaven rewards diligence, could make progress even through sheer hard work. However, having external aids could accelerate the progress. A few days ago, he had arranged to purchase Thunder Stone, which finally arrived today.

Deep within the inner courtyard.

With no one disturbing, Li Xian held the Thunder Ore in his hand. This item wasn't cheap; a box weighing seventy pounds cost twenty-four taels of silver.

The shapes of the minerals varied, and holding them in the palm caused a slight tingling but no electric shock. The Thunder Power was hidden in the stone's core and needed a special method to extract.

Li Xian drummed his chest to create a Thunder Sound, which didn't resonate outside but traveled to his fingertips, tapping onto the Thunder Ore. Electric arcs overflowed, crackling audibly.

He drew it into his body.

[You have drawn Thunder Power for body refinement, Thunderbolt Finger skill level +12]

...

Li Xian practiced diligently, advancing in martial arts, as the Essence Food gradually transformed. Recently, Qingning County was stable and quiet, with hardly any major issues during the day.

He practiced martial arts in the Martial Captain Hall during the day and returned to Yihetang Manor in the evening. Sometimes he accompanied Madam to drink tea and admire flowers, sometimes practiced swordsmanship with her, and occasionally helped her "wearing silkworm clothes" in seclusion.

During these moments, intimacy was inevitable.

Several days passed this way.

[Essence Food]

[Skill Level: 37/100]

The martial artist's goal is to endure like heaven and earth. Martial arts derive from heaven and earth, and the essence of heaven and earth is also drawn from them. Practicing martial arts, sparring, and contemplating heaven and earth all help in digesting the essence.

Aside from concurrently managing various tasks, Li Xian specifically sought out wicked and fierce characters for sparring. This accelerated the digestion of the essence of heaven and earth, resulting in significant progress.

[Food Essence Realm skill level +1]

[Skill level +1]

After another two days, the fourth step was achieved, accumulating [40] points in skill level, reaching the fourth transformation of the Food Essence Realm.

Li Xian's physique showed changes, with the power of Heavy Pupils and the Perfect Appearance both improving. He became even more handsome, with an unmistakable aura.

Madam looked increasingly satisfied, more delighted, and became even more affectionate in her demeanor.

On that day.

A news traveled down from Prefecture City. Everyone in Qingning County was abuzz, whether in teahouses with storytellers, in tavern chats, or in family discussions; it was all related to the matter: The Celestial Secret Pavilion of Qiong Heavenly Mansion had released the "Hero List."

The list featured the prodigies of the Prefecture City.

There is no first in literature nor second in martial arts.

Practitioners of martial arts should strive to be champions.

Across the nation, four lists are undeniably the most authoritative: Heroes List, Youthful Beauty List, Red List, and Divine Weapon List.

Each list is subdivided into "Celestial," "Earth," and "Human" lists. The Celestial List regards the whole country, without age or origin limitations, with those listed being regional heroes. The Earth List focuses on a specific region, while the Human List is one level below that.

This Hero List, issued by the Celestial Secret Pavilion, possesses a certain degree of influence. Upon careful calculation, it should be regarded as a derivative list of the Heroes List and the Human List, including those under twenty-five, the young prodigies of Qiong Heavenly Mansion.

Early in the morning, Li Xian went into town to buy buns and overheard the discussions. Curious, he managed to obtain a copy of the list. In the Martial Captain Hall, he ate buns while examining the list:

The top of the Hero List… Scholar-Martial Prince Zhou Shijie… aged twenty-five, naturally gifted with divine power… blessed with literary fortune, capable of vying for the martial crown.

"What a powerful figure." Li Xian was secretly amazed, realizing there were no such figures in Qingning County. He became more interested as he continued reading.

Cao Xiuxiu, Ji Yanhong, and Chu Huaiyi, all women, were on the list, with high rankings. There were also young prodigies like Yuwen Wenhou, Cao Zhongmei, and Lin Zhan.

The list only mentioned names, titles, ages, and deeds. What martial arts the listed individuals practiced, their strengths, and weaknesses were not disclosed.

Li Xian felt slightly disappointed but also understood: "Martial artists have weaknesses too. If the martial arts they practiced, their strengths, and weaknesses were all clearly marked, probably no one would dare to be on the list. The Celestial Secret Pavilion issuing the list would undoubtedly be overturned."

He delighted in the stories as entertainment with a light-hearted mindset, but then noticed the name "Li Xian" on the list.

[Ranked forty-fourth, Evil Captain, Li Xian.]

Li Xian raised an eyebrow, surprised to find himself listed. He immediately read the details:

"Evil Captain Li Xian, native of Qingning, aged seventeen. Accomplishments: Took the head of a Yellow Dragon Army leader. Mentor unknown, notorious for arrogance, rumored to have a peculiar appearance, reputedly ugly."

"Never thought 'Evil Captain' would become my title," Li Xian chuckled, "Well, let them say what they want, it has nothing to do with me."

He folded the list and set it aside.

Zhang Hou and others voiced their indignation: "This damned Celestial Secret Pavilion is so inaccurate. How could they say Martial Captain's appearance is ugly, it's simply nonsense."

Luo Xia looked at the list, with great interest said, "I am curious, if you really go to the Prefecture City for a walk, how splendid it would be."

Li Xian's face was full of frustration, and he said, "You fear nothing but chaos in the world, but this time, your wishes won't come true. I am determined not to go to the Prefecture City."

The day after the list was released.

At noon.

A messenger on horseback approached the Martial Captain Hall, shouting, "Martial Captain Li Xian, there is a token for you." He leaped and shot an arrow, nailing it to a jujube tree in the hall. The messenger turned his horse and left immediately.

Li Xian was practicing martial arts in the hall. He retrieved the token from the arrow, snorted coldly, pulled the arrow down, notched it back on the bow, and shot it back from a high place, saying loudly, "I've received the token, take your arrow back!" The arrow drew an arc and startled the messenger off his horse.

The messenger was angry but dared not speak due to the remarkable archery.

Li Xian checked the token.

It was an invitation, simple in content: October 25, first snow of heaven and earth, grand feast to be shared.

Li Xian couldn't help but furrow his brow, sensing ill intentions.

"If it's a good thing, why notify me from miles away?"

"If I go there, to your territory, how can I come back?" Li Xian sneered and burned the invitation.

He ignored it further and focused on practicing martial arts.

...

...

Yihetang Manor.

Autumn had deepened, and the weather had turned cooler.

Li Xian looked at the vermillion gate of the manor, suddenly dazed. This time last year, he feared he couldn't survive the winter and sold himself into the manor. Protecting himself and helping his younger brother enter the Prefecture City to seize fortune.

Everything… started from here.

With time passing by, many changes occurred over the year, and Li Xian had greatly transformed. Yet the situation remained the same; outside the manor were still many impoverished people, seeking refuge in the manor as the winter approached, to find a way to survive.

The steward of the Servant Room, Zhao Han, was selecting suitable servants to enter the manor.

"Sir, please have mercy and let me into the manor."

"Without any money, my little grandchild cannot survive this winter."

An elderly woman knelt on the ground, pleading, her family in dire straits, willing to sell herself to survive.

Zhao Han frowned and said, "The Servant Room mostly recruits strong men. You do not meet the criteria; please return."

The old woman pleaded endlessly, and finally, in despair, dragged her ragged clothes, stumbling away. Li Xian recalled himself a year ago, witnessing similar tragedies. But now, that woman and her child had become dead bones beside the road, frozen and starved to death.

He had watched helplessly, wanting to help, yet utterly powerless.

Li Xian quietly followed and asked, "Old lady, can you cook and tend the fire?"

The old lady was stunned and immediately knelt down, "Yes, yes, I can."

"Very well, the kitchen is short of someone to tend the fire. Come." Li Xian added, "The winter is harsh; walking back and forth is inconvenient. Better bring your child here."

After saying this, he quickly left.

He couldn't help all the miseries in the world. All he could do was see less of them.

The old lady kowtowed repeatedly, grateful beyond words. This winter, she wouldn't die.

In the inner yard.

The setting sun was like blood. Madam had just emerged from seclusion yesterday, and today she was leisurely spending time sitting in the inner yard. She saw Li Xian returning and asked, "Little Immortal, Prefecture City has arranged a banquet for outstanding talents, and your name is on the invitation list. What do you think of it?"

"Madam, you know too?" Li Xian said, "This banquet for outstanding talents is full of schemes and plots. I should keep a distance from it."

Madam Wen said, "Of course, I know. The invitation even arrived at our manor."

"It seems they not only invited you but also want to invite me."

"Then, Madam..." Li Xian was puzzled.

"Since they invited, why not go for a walk?" Madam Wen smiled lightly, "Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid." Li Xian shook his head.

"Since you're not afraid," Madam Wen said with a smile, "I want you to win for me, surpassing all the talents in the Prefecture City. Can you do it?"

Li Xian said, "I can definitely do it."

"Oh?" Madam Wen said, "Though the Prefecture City is small, there are still many remarkable talents. You have quite the confidence."

"Since Madam requests it." Li Xian cupped his hands, "Then I will surely accomplish it."

"Good, very good." Madam Wen did not hide her delight, "You go and rest now. Don't practice martial arts tonight, bathe, and sleep early."

After Li Xian went back to his room to rest, Madam Wen said to the shadows, "Come out."

"Madam." Uncle Xiang came respectfully, kneeling on both knees, palms overlapped, palm centers against his forehead, palm backs touching the ground, lying prostrate.

"Have you gathered everything?" Madam Wen's tone was gentle, but to those who knew her, it contained an underlying coldness.

"No..." Uncle Xiang said, "Except for the One-Heart Gu, all other materials have been collected."

"That Gu object is rare; it was within my expectations that you couldn't find it." Madam Wen crossed her legs, "It's no matter; at worst, I'll handle it personally at the Southern Border."

"Madam... this old servant... this old servant dares to ask a question." Uncle Xiang said, "Do we really need to help that boy with spinal transformation? Even if we do, why use... that method, which is a clan-transmitted technique, unique and singular. What virtue or ability does Li Xian, a mere poor child, have to receive such an honor? It's... somewhat inappropriate."

"There's no inappropriateness; I have my considerations, no need for further words." Madam Wen said softly.

"May this old servant ask one more question." Uncle Xiang said, "Madam, your actions toward Li Xian, are they..."

Madam Wen remained silent and flicked her sleeve. A forceful wind enveloped Uncle Xiang, throwing him out of the inner yard, landing heavily on the ground.

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