He saw a hole in the ground, about as thick as two arms, with a dark opening.

"So this Crab Treasure was trying to escape back into this hole?"

Li Xian cut a branch and inserted it into the hole. After a while, the branch was crushed.

"There's more than one Red Mountain Crab in the hole."

"I should mark this hole. It'll be much easier to catch crabs here in the future."

"It's a pity there's no water around. Otherwise, I would've brought an iron pot and cooked here, wouldn't that be fantastic?"

Li Xian sighed silently and returned to Black River Village.

On the way, he dug out the wild boar and mountain monkey he had hunted from the earth. He carried the mountain monkey on his shoulder and held the wild boar in his right hand.

Li Xian didn't like eating monkey. So he gave the mountain monkey to the villagers, asking them to cook mountain monkey millet porridge.

He took the wild boar back home.

"I originally wanted to hunt a tiger beast."

"But since you came knocking on my door, well, I'll eat you first, and then it's not too late to hunt a tiger beast."

Li Xian patted the wild boar.

The meat was very firm. Wild boars have strong reproductive abilities, are common in the mountains and forests, and are quite aggressive.

Before Li's father passed away, he and his father hunted in the mountains and were often attacked by wild boars. A hunter has one benefit, occasionally the owner would reward some game meat.

It was usually wild boar meat.

"Wild boar meat is very gamey, but I pinch my nose and eat it."

Roasting it over a strong fire until the skin gleams with oil, the charcoal flavor effectively covers the earthy smell.

Add some seasonings, and it's not too bad going down. Li Xian ate over ten pounds of meat. Even with the [Consumption] skill, he was somewhat full.

[Skill: Consumption]

[Skill Level: 689/1000 Mastery]

These days, consuming wild goods rapidly increased the skill level of Consumption.

After eating and drinking his fill and regaining his energy, Li Xian picked up a black pot and went to the creek to prepare to brew Essence Food.

With the last experience.

First, chop enough wood and pile it aside. Then light a fire, fetch water...

Once the water boiled, he placed four Crab Treasures into the pot. The mountain crabs began to struggle violently once in the pot.

Li Xian closed the lid and pressed it down with a stone.

"Such strong vitality; they haven't died even after cooking for so long."

Li Xian clicked his tongue and fed the firewood on the side, silently timing it, pouring cold water every quarter of an hour.

Black smoke lingered...

Because it was at night, no one could see it.

Moreover, in the depths of the forest, human traces were few. He himself was a Nursing Home guard, so he wasn't afraid of anyone guarding the wood.

Waiting for the Essence Soup to be ready was a long and boring task.

Li Xian didn't want to waste time idly, so he practiced martial arts not far away. The Daluo Saber required large swings and couldn't be wielded well in the forest.

Practicing "Jade Palm" was better.

The Entry Palm Technique revealed its extraordinary nature. When practicing the Jade Palm, Li Xian clearly felt that this palm technique was more refined.

The increased Qi was more impressive.

There were several killer palm techniques in the Jade Palm, one move "Green Robe Entwining" emphasized speed, as if drawing a saber from a sheath, striking a person and leaving a difficult-to-remove palm mark.

Back then, Zhao Han and others were struck by this palm.

One move "Overturning River and Sea," the palm force was vigorous, and the Inner Qi gushed out, capable of killing people several zhang away.

...

Li Xian practiced each move steadily. Silently accumulating proficiency.

So it went… practicing martial arts… adding water… feeding the firewood… practicing martial arts again…

Repeat in cycles.

"No wonder the lady recruits so many servants."

"When I open a manor to practice martial arts in the future, I must recruit more servants. Otherwise, it really can't be done."

Li Xian wiped his sweat; doing everything himself was truly exhausting.

He opened the wooden lid.

Seeing the mountain crabs finally died, but it would undoubtedly take more time to cook it into soup.

So he continued to add firewood and water.

Li Xian could clearly feel the firewood's heat was insufficient. Every time he poured cold water and boiled it again, it took quite some time.

Time was thus consumed here.

"These mountain crabs are just the lowest level of demon, yet they take so much effort."

"They say even a skilled woman cannot cook a meal without rice."

"But a martial artist cannot cook without a pot, rice, firewood, and water."

Li Xian sighed.

But what needed to be done still had to be done, repeating constantly. When the eastern sky brightened, farm women started coming up the mountain to fetch water.

"Old Master Li, what are you cooking here?" The farm women curiously asked.

"Nothing, just go about your business." Li Xian waved them off.

The farm women dared not disturb Li Xian, so after fetching water, they told others not to come up the mountain easily.

Thus, Li Xian enjoyed peace and quiet.

"There was one more mountain crab this time, so it took much longer."

When it was about to succeed.

Suddenly seeing a crack forming at the bottom of the pot, about to split open, Li Xian's heart skipped, thinking he was careless: "I was intent on quickly brewing Essence Food, but didn't realize the pot's material was mediocre. Such alternating heat and cold, it's no wonder it breaks!"

Heartbroken over a pot of Essence Treasure, in a moment of panic, he directly used his hand to block the crack, and with a sizzling sound, his hand got burned. Li Xian resisted with Qi, but it was still unbearably painful.

"Quick, bring me a pot." Li Xian shouted towards the village.

His Inner Qi was quite extraordinary, and this shout was heard by the entire village. Uncle Fu was startled, immediately instructing the villagers to bring iron pots, utensils, and iron nets.

Rushing up the mountain to support.

Thinking there was an enemy attack.

Unexpectedly, upon reaching the mountain, they didn't find any enemies. Li Xian asked for a large pot, saying, "You can all go back down."

He didn't explain much, just breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brewing Essence Food involves so many intricacies."

Li Xian patted his chest, feeling a bit scared. After changing pots, he continued cooking for another three hours before finally producing a pot of Essence Soup.

Opening the wooden lid.

The milky white broth appeared before him, much thicker than last time. Li Xian was excited, prying open the crab shell and using his fingers to scoop out the crab roe.

Swallowing it.

[You consumed inferior Essence Food, Skill Level +16]

Threads of the Essence of Heaven and Earth flowed out from his abdomen.

Li Xian performed Qi Circulation and Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure. Layer upon layer of obstacles, all to keep the essence.

But the Essence of Heaven and Earth is indeed wild and untamed. The more you wish to keep it, the more it opposes you.

Qi Circulation is like a moat river. The Essence of Heaven and Earth forces its way through. Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure are like towering city walls, yet the Essence of Heaven and Earth scales the wall and drills through the gaps.

In the end, it still scattered away.

Li Xian was not discouraged.

He retained the essence for a longer time!

Wherever the Essence of Heaven and Earth flowed, it brought a faint chill.

"It truly works."

"Moreover... Qi Circulation is more effective than Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure. The more abundant my Inner Qi, the more robust the Qi Silk that weaves through the various points."

"The stronger the Essence of Heaven and Earth interception time!"

Li Xian's eyes shone brightly.

He fears not failure, only stagnation. Seeing the dawn, he would wholeheartedly pursue in that direction unwaveringly.

He cracked open the second crab treasure.

This crab had scarce roe, only the size of a nail.

"Perhaps even Martial Artists waiting for their turn would dismiss this meager Essence Treasure."

"But to me, even the flesh of a mosquito is still meat..."

Li Xian chuckled self-deprecatingly. He swallowed the tiny portion of crab roe into his stomach, using the enhancement of "consumption" to barely let a trace of the Essence of Heaven and Earth emerge.

The Inner Qi of his whole body circulated.

This time it lingered for over ten breaths, clearly feeling that this wisp of the Essence of Heaven and Earth was intercepted by the Qi, darting left and right, changing several positions before drilling out through the flesh.

The third crab was the same.

Until the fourth crab...

A "Crab General" about the size of three fists.

"I hope it won't disappoint me!"

Li Xian cracked open the crab shell, eager for more roe. Seeing a large chunk of crab roe, it did not disappoint, and he instantly beamed with joy.

"Crab General!"

"The amount of roe in this one crab is much more than three small crabs put together!"

He devoured it.

This crab roe contained about ten strands of the Essence of Heaven and Earth. Through consumption enhancement, it transformed into fourteen strands.

Like an unruly child, they scattered in all directions, darting chaotically throughout his body.

Three strands of the Essence of Heaven and Earth moved incredibly fast, escaping Qi Circulation and crossing Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure in the blink of an eye, dissipating into the world.

The remaining eleven strands "wrestled" with Li Xian for quite some time. Trying to break through Li Xian's "defense," but it wasn't so easy.

"Whew..."

Several strands of the Essence of Heaven and Earth still forcefully broke through, scattering again.

Six strands remained...

"These six strands of the Essence of Heaven and Earth, I will hold onto for as long as I can!" Li Xian clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his Inner Qi operating throughout his body.

Blood solidified like stone, pores closed like jade.

Sitting immobile, like a stone statue.

"Another strand..."

In the struggle, another strand of the Essence of Heaven and Earth dissipated.

Li Xian did not know that his current tussle with the Essence of Heaven and Earth is known as "Washing the Fetus."

Martial Artists battle the heavens, the earth, and other people.

Forcibly retaining the Essence of Heaven and Earth... is going against the heavens. The longer the Essence of Heaven and Earth lingers inside, the more clay it washes away.

Little by little, it adds up...

Finally, one day, the clay embryo showed signs of transcendence. Here emerged the mark of the "Immortal Mechanism in the Palm."

"Alas!"

Li Xian sighed deeply, and four more strands drifted away.

After consuming an Essence Treasure, is it all for nothing in the end?

"Never mind, never mind."

"In a few more days, I'll go catch some mountain crabs again."

Li Xian was about to rise when his eyes suddenly widened with surprise.

He felt... a strand of the Essence of Heaven and Earth that should have drifted away was unexpectedly blocked by Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure, and inexplicably dove back into the depths.

"Could it be... could it be..."

Li Xian felt a strong premonition rising. He focused his concentration solely on capturing this wisp of the Essence of Heaven and Earth.

One moment...

Two moments...

This wild and untamed Essence of Heaven and Earth, now alone without companions, kept trying to break through, seemingly growing weary.

The hasty scattering gradually slowed.

Finally, it lay quietly in one place, motionless. Li Xian dared not be careless, continuing Qi Circulation without pause.

Until dusk settled, he regained his senses...

He...

Retained a strand of the Essence of Heaven and Earth!

"My dilapidated and leaky clay embryo actually retained a strand of the Essence of Heaven and Earth?!"

Li Xian stood up.

His eyes glowed brightly but could not hide it, though it was only as thin as a hair, almost imperceptible. The growth brought by this one strand of the Essence of Heaven and Earth was hardly noticeable.

But this step forward was of great significance.

It was like telling him that the "Martial Arts First Realm" was no longer an unreachable horizon.

He had found a path! A correct path, and he had taken a step along it.

That wisp of the Essence of Heaven and Earth began to be absorbed by the flesh.

For the first time, Li Xian's clay body shook, shedding some of the clay dust.

Martial Artists undergoing rebirth, drink the Essence of Heaven and Earth, striving for transcendence.

And today...

Li Xian also had a small taste. This gain was enough to delight him.

...

...

The next day.

But just early morning.

A B-class Nursing Home member from Yihetang Manor came to Black River Village, shouting into the village, "Li Xian, madam summons you back to the manor!"

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