A night without words.

The next morning, as the fledglings chirped early, it was autumn outside and spring inside. The climate was pleasant, the scenery beautiful.

Li Xian rose at the hour of the dragon, opened the window, and saw the scenery of the inner courtyard, feeling soothed. A red flower hung into the room, its vibrant color glistening with dew.

Although the room was not large, behind the screen was a hot spring pool. It was connected to underground water, flowing warm and suitable year-round.

Li Xian jumped into the pool, soaking in the clear water.

The fatigue of the previous night dispersed completely.

The water was smooth and light like silk, seemingly weightless. Li Xian submerged in the pool, playing freely in every direction. It felt as if he were swimming in the heavens, floating in the air, indescribably refreshing.

Li Xian sighed, "This level of martial artist truly knows how to enjoy life. Of course, when one has lived long enough, they naturally seek enjoyment."

Beside the pool stood a jade platform, in which a piece of white jade the size of a palm was placed. Wiping it with a hand, the white jade secreted fragrant dew. Washing with it ensured a day of fresh scent, free from dirt.

This jade was called "Deep Dew Jade," and it was obtained from the deep sea. It was highly priced and beloved by women, belonging to the category of "vulgar trinkets."

Li Xian quickly washed and dressed. As usual, he helped Madam Wen braid her long hair, adorned her with clothes and jewelry, inserted silver hairpins, hung earrings... and so on.

Madam Wen said, "Did you rest well last night?"

"Very well," Li Xian replied.

"As I mentioned before, helping you shape your foundation and build up your spine is not an empty promise," Madam Wen said. "Starting today, I will forge your bones and tendons, to erect your great mountain of a spine."

...

...

Half an hour later, everything was ready.

In the inner courtyard stood a large vat, pitch-black and deep, carved with herbal patterns. Madam Wen said, "This is the Divine Medicine Vat, a treasure and strange object, capable of enhancing the medicinal properties."

The table was laden with medicines, including Ran Dragon Tendon, Que Dragon Bone, Qianqing Dew, and other great medicines, unheard and unseen.

The Five Dragon Tendons and Five Dragon Bones, combined with various herbs, beast blood, ginseng, exotic plants... boiled with Dragon Roar Charcoal for an hour, would yield a pot of Nine Nine Eighty-One Bone and Muscle Forging Soup.

Madam Wen said, "Apply the Body Exposure Ointment first, then jump in."

Li Xian undressed completely, applied the ointment, and entered the boiling medicinal soup. Initially it felt scalding hot, then gradually cooling. The medicinal effects permeated his body, causing a subtle aching between muscles and bones.

Madam Wen said, "This Nine Nine Eighty-One Bone and Muscle Forging Soup costs no less than a thousand taels of silver. It will be charged to your account."

Li Xian found the experience immensely beneficial, but earning silver was easy, finding opportunities was hard. He thanked Madam Wen.

Madam Wen laughed lightly, "Do you know why I told you to rest early last night?"

Li Xian said, "I don't know."

Madam Wen circled the medicine vat, observing the heat, and said softly, "The Nine Nine Eighty-One Bone and Muscle Forging Soup aims to mend and restore deficiencies, restoring the body's integrity. People are born with deficiencies, and cultivation is about striving forward. But few know that it's equally important to bow one's head and mend those missing pieces."

"Advancing in the Martial Arts Realm doesn't compensate for losses. It's like a disabled person; as they age, their disability doesn't improve. But the body steadily becomes stronger."

"Sometimes, the strengthening body covers over deficiencies, appearing no different from a complete person. But objectively, the deficiency always exists, just harder to discover and fix."

"The mundane clay embryo is hard to dissolve. Mending the missing leaks at your stage is just right. Too early or too late is not good, but you are already late; you started martial arts late."

"This Bone and Muscle Forging Soup, based on the number nine, is to fill in the gaps to perfection. But the effect of one treatment is ultimately limited. Therefore, you need to soak in it ninety-nine and eighty-one times."

"As for the cost, you'll have to calculate that yourself."

Li Xian's countenance changed. Nearly a hundred thousand taels of silver—how could he repay that? He said with a wry smile, "Madam, I can't possibly repay such an amount."

Madam Wen chuckled softly, "If you can't repay the silver, it's no matter. I have other ways for you to repay slowly. Just soak peacefully, and don't worry about anything else."

Thus did he soak for several days, the medicinal soup replaced dozens of times. Li Xian felt reborn, his bone quality dense, vitality bursting through skin and flesh.

When changing the medicinal soup, Li Xian's body, skin, and bones seemed exquisitely sculpted. The "Perfect Appearance" gained more meaning, resembling a treasure body.

For a martial artist, eating, nourishing, training, and soaking are all indispensable. Li Xian had practiced martial arts for a year, and today he finally tasted the sweetness of "soaking."

"Good, very good!" Madam Wen gently caressed this body, overflowing with indescribable joy, her beautiful eyes rippling. Once his Primordial Yang was full, she would indulge fully.

"When returning from Prefecture City, we will take a trip to the Southern Border. I will plant the One-Heart Gu, ensuring his eternal bond to me, inseparable by even a fraction."

"I want both his true heart and his false intentions. The debt he owes me will take a lifetime to repay. Very well, very well."

Madam Wen's thoughts surged, her gaze fluctuating.

"Little Immortal, you have undergone bone and muscle forging forty-two times. From now on, in addition to forging muscles and bones, we can begin shaping the spine!" Madam Wen said.

"I am at Madam's disposal," Li Xian cupped his hands and said.

Madam Wen said, "This method of shaping the spine is a great secret of mine. Feel free to enjoy it without asking many questions. If you truly wish to know, I can tell you once the time is ripe in the future."

Not long after.

In the inner courtyard stood another large vat, red and black, the fragrance enveloping the senses. The vat was decorated with mountains, flowers, and beasts. Lifting the lid was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

Inside were numerous rare poisonous creatures: snakes, centipedes, spiders, snow silkworms... densely packed, numbering in the thousands. Li Xian had hunted the mountains and visited river regions, seeing quite a few poisonous snakes and insects. He could name and describe the characteristics of hundreds. But these vat creatures were so diverse in form that he couldn't name a single one.

All were strange species.

Li Xian thought to himself, "How curious, snakes and spiders should rightly smell foul. How is it that here, they smell so fragrant?" He observed with curiosity but couldn't discern the mystery.

Madam has cultivated them for a long time; although very toxic, they all exuded a fragrant aroma.

"You may enter," Madam Wen said.

She saw Li Xian grasp the vat's edge about to jump in. Joy filled her heart as she pulled him back, saying, "I forgot, you must hold this fragrant jade in your mouth before you sit inside. Otherwise, just one small taste from the many poisonous creatures in the vat could take your life."

Li Xian said, "Good!" The fragrant jade in his mouth cooled his entire body. The treasure took effect, and he was no longer afraid of poison. After sitting down, countless poisonous creatures came biting, injecting their venom.

Hundreds of strange poisons entered his body simultaneously. Any one of them could be lethal, yet when combined, their opposing properties neutralized the deadly effect.

These various poisons were carefully cultivated, and the toxins carried medicinal properties. As the poisonous substances spread throughout his body, so did the medicinal effects.

Next, the toxicity should be removed, leaving only the medicinal properties.

The myriad of bites caused immense pain. Li Xian forcibly endured it, his eyebrows tightly knit, sweat dripping from his forehead, yet he did not show any weakness. Madam Wen raised her eyebrows and thought, "What a good young man, he can endure such pain." She admired him greatly.

The multitude of toxins spread throughout his body and gradually adhered to his spine, as if coated in a layer of black lacquer. The spine was eroded by the poison, causing the whole body to feel numb and soft, but the medicinal effects nourished, warming the entire body.

Destruction, recovery.

Repeatedly...

Many more days passed.

Li Xian went without sleep or rest, unaware of the passing of day and night, not noticing the changing seasons. Even as the weather grew colder, he did not feel it.

Every day at hour of the dragon (7-9 a.m.), he endured the bites of countless poisons. He then bore the toxins, using the "Ninety-Nine Eighty-One Bone and Muscle Forging Technique" to strengthen his muscles and bones. By midnight, he used a special method to remove the toxins from his spine.

Continue forging bones and muscles.

Forging muscles and bones, raising the great mountain of the spine. Both progressing side by side, there was joy amid the suffering, and endurance amidst the joy. The progress was encouraging, compensating for deficiencies and losses, doubling his Qi power. The Qi Lake surged and flowed into the Dantian, increasing by several more measures.

Another few days passed.

All eighty-one sessions of muscle and bone forging were completed. The method of molding the spine was nearing its end.

Madam Wen reminded, "This phase... is extremely painful. If you cannot endure it, end it immediately."

The method of molding the spine must accompany severe pain. At this stage, the spine molding was almost complete. Li Xian's spine was like a mountain, unusually imposing. Madam Wen was already satisfied, but seeing that Li Xian still had strength remaining, she wanted to push further.

To try... can the spine truly be like a divine mountain, supporting the heavens and connecting earth and sky!

Such a man, if it can be done, is rare!

Li Xian said, "Madam, proceed!"

"Good, good." Madam Wen said with slight excitement, applying the clan's method to complete the final step.

The poison vat's toxins, more strange, more toxic, more rare, destroyed the bones and fractured the veins mercilessly. The "spine like a mountain" that Li Xian had built was hollowed out by the toxins, with trees in the mountain chopped down, birds and beasts driven away and slaughtered, presenting a desolate scene.

Madam Wen frowned slightly, having gone through this stage before, she also molded her spine like a divine mountain, but the circumstances were different then; she maneuvered her way through it effortlessly, but now there was no such ease.

She said, "This step requires you to use your determination to drive out the poison. Try to recall how it was when the Yellow Dragon Army pressed down, how you shot that arrow full of determination."

"If it doesn't work, then give up. Although you will be seriously injured, with some rest and healing, you could still recover."

There was a touch of disappointment in her words. Her emotions conflicted, she certainly would not allow Li Xian to surpass her, yet she also hoped Li Xian's potential was not less than hers.

Li Xian's spine ached intolerably, but his determination surged, saying, "Madam..."

"Ready to give up?" Madam Wen shook her head. Li Xian responded, "Please, Madam, fetch my bow and arrows."

"You..." Madam Wen was taken aback. Fetching her own bow, Li Xian drew the bow and shot an arrow, his determination soaring to the sky, the arrow like a rainbow, shooting high.

The poison in his spine receded by half.

Madam Wen's eyes flickered with admiration, "What a shot!" Li Xian's determination was like a torrent, his long hair fluttering. He endured the dangers, gradually rebuilding the divine mountain layer by layer.

"This young man... what impressive determination," Madam Wen said with brilliance in her eyes, "Such flair, such determination, his future prowess. Excellent, truly excellent, the One-Heart Gu must be obtained quickly."

Early October.

The great task was accomplished. Li Xian's body emitted five-colored radiant light, determination pierced the sky, supporting the heavens and connecting the earth and sky. The spine was molded like a mountain range, his physique perfect.

A red mole between his eyebrows, glowing with a shimmering red light.

His temple hair lightly lifted.

This aura and appearance were exceedingly rare in all of Yu Nan Dao.

Madam Wen personally nurtured him, her joy inexpressible. She walked over slowly, pinched his flesh, embraced him, and asked, "How do you feel?"

"Very good," Li Xian said, "but I can't quite describe it."

"Take your time to savor it," Madam Wen said softly, "Tempering your muscles and bones, molding your spine. It consumed a lot of my time. Rest for two hours. We'll practice swordsmanship."

"Alright." Li Xian embraced Madam Wen intimately, naturally, thinking inwardly, "Could it be that Madam has developed genuine feelings? I will never be blindly loyal, nor do I want to be ungrateful, future matters... forget it, I won't think about it for now."

That night...

The two practiced sword together, the shadows of their swords flickered frequently. In the First Layer of swordsmanship, the Yang Sword was fierce and swift, the Yin Sword gentle and graceful. By the Second Layer, the Yang Sword became gradually softer, while the Yin Sword was insidious and perilous.

When they practiced to the move "Verbal Duels," the two could even communicate through their swords. Without needing to speak, without requiring Qi Condensation and Sound Transmission. This Sword Technique was exceedingly miraculous!

Day turned to night, night to day.

Li Xian molded his spine like a mountain, supporting numerous extraordinary appearances. In his youth, full of spirit, his swordsmanship, though somewhat weak, already showed promise. Madam Wen had been renowned for long, but never had she seen such a promising young man during her younger years, the Immortal Companion Sword silently influencing, truly stirring genuine feelings.

This emotion was no coincidence. Cunning in her calculations, it was because of this knack for calculation, everywhere managing Li Xian, controlling his emotions and intentions. Making Li Xian pose no threat, she believed it all under her control, naturally indulging herself.

Once the floodgates are opened, how to control oneself?

The next day, at noon.

[Your Dual Swords Unite, Setting Sun Bloodsword skill level +398]

[Food Essence Realm, skill level +1]

Madam Wen had beads of sweat on her forehead, her swordsmanship had progressed. She sheathed her sword in her sleeve, her face slightly flushed, saying, "Tonight, you assist me in retreating into seclusion."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.