Zhou Shijie stood dazed, utterly bewildered. It was noon, and the first snow had been falling for several hours, causing the lake surface to gradually frost over.

Screams echoed up and down.

Cao Shuang, Lin Bei, Yuwen Hou... the elders of each clan, though not dead, ended in miserable states. Nearly all were disabled or half-disabled. Ou Yezi tried to partake in the spoils but ended up losing his cherished finger, drastically reducing his forging skills.

"This... this..."

Zhou Shijie gazed blankly down the street. He saw Li Xian supporting the lady as they headed into the distance. Despite the jealousy, he felt a growing admiration in his heart.

"What an incredible woman, with such strategy and depth, and means of action. Her ruthlessness is terrifying, her presence mesmerizing."

For a long time...

Warriors from various clans surged onto the streets. The grand elder of the Cao Family, "Cao Zhengge," arrived fully armed, clad in silk armor and wielding the Black Tiger Vajra Spear.

The Lin Family, Chu Family, and Yuwen Family were all the same. Upon hearing the news, the grand elders of each family immediately mobilized. Layers of government soldiers and clan warriors gathered, creating a might even greater than before.

Zhou Shijie couldn't help but feel more admiration: "You bunch of useless fools, occupying one place for so long without any progress, becoming decayed and backward. Even if you rush here, the lady is long gone. What use is there in numbers?"

Lin Aoshan had been observing from the side of Dragon Gate Tower. The clan elders knew she had dealings with Li Xian and feared that she might interfere when they targeted Li Xian. Lin Aoshan was highly ranked and respected within the clan, and inheriting her father's position was crucial.

Thus, the Lin Family elders secretly used fragrance to render her unconscious and sent her back to the family. Upon waking, she learned of the drastic changes at Pond Lake and quickly followed along.

The scene before her was truly horrifying.

"Lin Bei, my little nephew!" Lin Aoshan glanced over to see Lin Bei with severed limbs and his chin sliced off, exclaiming in shock.

Cao Zhengge, Lin Houlong, Chu Dongxue, and Yuwen Liang, the grand elders of the four families, with grim faces, transported the injured to Dragon Gate Tower to seek medical attention.

Once the situation stabilized and no lives were at risk, Lin Houlong asked, "What exactly happened? For years we've divided the Golden Scale without any trouble. Why is it so brutal this year?"

Cao Shuang and others were tormented and delirious, barely able to speak. Lin Bei's chin was sliced off, rendering him tongue-tied and unable to explain. Yuwen Hou's tongue was embedded with a jade pearl, ready to shatter, preventing him from speaking.

The other clan elders remained silent as well.

After a while, an elder from the Lin Family spoke, "It's Lady Zhe Jian... the Golden Scale has been taken by Lady Zhe Jian." He then recounted the events in detail.

"Ah!" Lin Aoshan gasped, her eyes flickering.

"What a formidable Lady Zhe Jian! To dare cripple the elders of our Cao Family!" Cao Zhengge exclaimed angrily.

Yuwen Liang remarked, "Lady Zhe Jian possess great skills. Though she hasn't gone far, if we pursue with all our might, we might catch up. However, with our current strength, who could detain her? We likely can't withstand even one strike from her."

Everyone remained silent. The vicinity of Pond Lake was encircled with a web of inescapable traps, yet she easily evaded them. Facing her head-on would make it even harder to capture her.

Cao Zhengge said, "Lady Lin, you are a Heavenly Patrol officer. This thief dares to harm our clan elders. Please report to the Court and have her listed on the Red List. Someone will deal with her!"

"No... not appropriate..." Lin Aoshan frowned and said, "Little nephew of the Cao Family, this matter involves the interests of two parties clashing. Despite the casualties, it doesn't warrant a place on the Red List. You are asking me to abuse my power, which is quite inappropriate."

Her status was prestigious and special, thus even before the clan elders and senior members, she could call them "little nephew." The younger generation, she called "little grandchild." She couldn't be bothered to count the exact generational differences.

"Hmph!"

Cao Zhengge responded curtly, "The Lin Family respects you as their matriarch, pampering and complying with your every wish. Among the injured are also elders from your Lin Family. Right now, only your position as a Heavenly Patrol officer can avenge us, yet you refuse to fulfill even this!"

"Do you think I'm a fool, Cao Zhengge? If we need to deal with Lady Zhe Jian, we have other means; there's no need to trouble our matriarch," Lin Houlong shouted, stepping forward to shield Lin Aoshan.

Cao Zhengge said nothing.

Chu Dongxue said, "It's not appropriate. Should this matter escalate, news of the Golden Scale at the lake will surely spread, tempting others. Back when the Golden Scale descended from the heavens, there were ten tails in total. Now seven have been divided, leaving three tails remaining."

"If word gets out... can we still smoothly retrieve the remaining three tails?"

This statement awoke everyone as if from a dream. After a long silence, each agreed, "Revenge is never too late for a gentleman, even after ten years."

"Better to plan for the long term!"

...

Atop Dragon Gate Tower.

Gu Nianjun gazed out over the lake and sighed, "Lady Zhe Jian... truly formidable. Wherever she goes, turmoil follows. It seems this time is no exception."

...

...

Matters were temporarily settled.

The clans in Prefecture City had no plan for retaliation and took no action. Li Xian stayed at Han Yue Residence, calming his mind. After two more days of rest, he planned to hurry back to Yihetang Manor.

"With two days left, if you want to explore anywhere, do it quickly. Who knows when you'll next visit the Prefecture City again."

"But the clan families of the Prefecture City might not harm me, but they could harm you. Take care of your own safety."

The words of Madam Wen lingered.

The courtyard was empty, and Li Xian enjoyed the tranquility, saying, "Oh Golden Scale, Golden Scale, this small pond, your swim isn't that smooth."

In the small pond at Han Yue Residence, the Golden Scale swam freely, its reflections shimmering, casting light on the courtyard walls and trees.

"With only two days left, it's necessary to have some fun; though the Prefecture City is fraught with danger, this vast world is quite broad compared to Qingning County."

"In just a few days in the Prefecture City, I saw my brother, took the Treasure Sword, seized the Golden Scale; it truly was quite a fulfilling experience."

Li Xian applied rouge to cover the red mole on his brow. After some thought, he darkened his face, added a scruffy beard, and filled his chest with a breath, broadening his frame somewhat.

The streets were bustling.

The affairs of Pond Lake were a hot topic in every tavern across the city. The prodigies demonstrated divine skills, amazed by the splendid dishes, reaching the peak at Martial Arts Tower, and the struggle for the Golden Scale at Pond Lake. Showcasing mystical martial prowess, a single arrow determining the situation. It was truly thrilling and full of marvelous tales.

But in the later part... the four clans' failure to seize the Golden Scale, Madam Wen's support for her husband, the troops besieging Pond Lake, and the resultant casualties were left unmentioned thanks to the efforts of the Cao, Lin, Chu, and Yuwen families.

After the first snow, a festival followed.

Every household was adorned with red lanterns, celebrating with great joy and excitement. The citizens of the Prefecture City ranged from poor to rich, but all were neatly dressed, strolling through the streets with their families, each with their own flair. Li Xian wandered around idly, feeling the pocket inside his breast, with still a few dozen taels left.

He decided to spend it all, buying some street snacks: fragrant glutinous rice balls, deep-fried small crabs... The Prefecture City was where seven rivers converged, abundant in fish produce. Crabs and fish should have been cheap, but various industries were monopolized by prominent families, collectively raising the prices. When they finally reached the hands of the buyers, they were not cheap anymore.

It was past midnight when he finally returned to Han Yue Residence.

The residence was tranquil.

The leisure mood gradually faded, and Li Xian shed his disguise, thinking: "Going out of the city for a stroll still requires changing appearance and makeup."

"Strength..."

"Now I've made more and more enemies, as Madam's methods are ruthless, and enemies are numerous. Being alongside Madam, enemies abound, it's only a matter of time."

"The only solution is to quickly enhance my strength."

"With strength, one can maintain inner peace and handle everything with ease."

Li Xian played with the Golden Scale.

Reflecting on the harvest from the banquet at the layered tower, he thought: "As the ancients said, regret having too little knowledge only when it's needed. The same is true for Martial Arts. This grand banquet at the layered tower, with Basic Martial Arts: Four Directions Fist, Clear Wind Leg, Daluo Saber, and Entry Martial Arts: Jade Palm, all had remarkable effects. The accumulation of a Martial Artist will reveal its effects at a certain moment in the future!"

"If I achieve Perfection in Thunderbolt Finger and apply the essence of Thunder Shock Finger to archery, coupled with employing Chest Drum Thunder Sound for shooting, how formidable would that power be!"

[Skill Level +2]

[Skill Level +3]

[Skill Level +1]

...

The killing force of Thunderbolt Finger was immense, Li Xian practiced diligently. He extended a finger, pointing at snowflakes in the air. The snowflake trembled and shattered into powder.

"Among the four killing moves of Thunderbolt Finger, the Thunder Shock Finger has another ingenious use: it can transmit shock through the fingers, making it easier to shatter hard materials. Like rocks in the wilderness or stone lions in front of a house."

"But if it's a living tree trunk, the vibrations won't shatter it."

And so, two days later.

October 27.

The snowfall in the Prefecture City grew heavier, and a carriage left the city.

The weather was cold, the earth frozen, the fragrant carriage, the beautiful lady.

"The Baiyun recognizes the way back, it's cold outside, come in and warm yourself,"

said Madam Wen.

Li Xian lifted the carriage curtain and stepped into the compartment. Ice beads had formed on his eyelashes, and he exhaled white mist.

The carriage compartments were a zhang wide and a zhang long. In the middle was a stove, very warm. Li Xian sat by the stove, the snow and frost on him quickly melting.

Madam Wen snapped, "Look at you, you're making a puddle of water everywhere."

She lay sideways on a jade couch, supporting her cheek with her hand. Her pale feet were exposed, her toes slender, her big toe slightly raised, like a lotus in June. She was charming in countless ways, exuding endless allure.

Li Xian warmed his hands and took hold of Madam Wen's feet, applying a massage technique. Madam Wen was momentarily stunned, then her gaze softened, and she felt quite comfortable. A slight itch underfoot seemed to penetrate straight to her heart, stirring dormant desires.

Li Xian said, "Madam, why did we not take the waterway?"

"The waterway is troublesome," Madam Wen said: "At the end of October, frost and snow fall from the sky. Wujiang will freeze over, and large boats need to break the ice to sail, and with special weather, it may take a few days to wait."

"And every winter, water bandits run rampant. There are countless cases of robbing ships and seizing property. It's better to travel by carriage and horse."

"I see," Li Xian applied a little more pressure, Madam Wen raised an eyebrow, tapping Li Xian's chest with her toes, and snapped: "You're being too rough today, how could you be so careless."

"Sorry, Madam..." Li Xian said: "I was thinking about something."

"What is it?" Madam Wen asked.

Li Xian took out the Golden Scale from his chest and said: "I thought of offering this to Madam."

Madam Wen's smile first appeared, "Why? I haven't asked for it. Since the Golden Scale chose you as its master, it's yours. Why don't you cherish such a rare opportunity?"

"Madam is broad-minded and treats Li Xian well, Li Xian keeps it in mind," Li Xian said: "Around this time last year, I was still among the servants, waiting for Madam to return to the manor. I never thought that just in a year, I could ride in the same carriage with Madam."

"All this is because of Madam's nurturing. I can't repay you. I just want to give everything I have and make Madam happy."

"With this sentiment, I am already happy," Madam Wen said: "The Human Yellow One Hundred and Six, the Golden Scale in the pond. Countless exceptional talents struggle to find such a chance. Since you have the talent and the fortune, make good use of it, and when your strength grows in the future, repay me properly then."

"Please, Madam, accept it!" Li Xian said solemnly.

Madam Wen said coldly, "You are so stubborn, you won't even listen to me?"

Li Xian remained silent. Madam Wen chuckled coldly, "Asking me to accept it, that can be done. But when you return to the manor, you must accept punishment on your own."

"Thank you, Madam," said Li Xian.

Madam Wen said, "Under your reclining chair, there is a hidden clasp. Open the clasp, take out the Heaven and Earth Box, and put the Golden Scale inside."

The Heaven and Earth Box was pitch black and circular, requiring two hands to hold it, resembling a jade carving. Opening the box lid, the interior was exquisitely detailed beyond words, with seven divine peaks towering inside. Mist filled the air, resembling a miniature universe.

Li Xian thought inwardly: "Constantly saying you don't want it, yet you have even prepared a box. If I didn't give it to you, you'd skin me alive."

The Golden Scale entered the box.

"Madam, I've heard others say that the Golden Scale contains Magic Essence. I don't understand and would like Madam to explain," Li Xian said.

"About this..." Madam Wen said: "There's no harm in telling you."

"The Heavenly Essence Thirty-six, Earthly Treasures of the Seventy-Two, Human Yellow One Hundred and Eight all contain [Magic Essence]."

"Consumption of these Essence Treasures may lead to the comprehension of [magic] beyond Martial Arts!"

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