Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Chapter 670: Chapter 356: Borrowing Wealth to Start the Cauldron, Corruption of the Cauldron Body, Dissipating Qi of the Flower Cage? Overturned as Expected_2

Nangong Liuli said, "So it seems, but it doesn’t make us..." Her pretty face flushed slightly. Li Xian laughed, "We are considered members of the same sect." Nangong Liuli felt embarrassed, the feeling was strange yet delightful. She was born into an aristocratic family and had always enjoyed family protection, never thinking of leaving her family, let alone establishing her own sect. This simple act of initiating the tripod, like being the master of a house, starting from scratch, inherently brings a sense of achievement. She dispelled distracting thoughts, picked up a piece of braised meat, and fed it to Li Xian, saying, "Don’t talk while eating, eat well."

Li Xian laughed, "There’s also a saying: don’t talk before sleeping. Sister Liuli, can you do that?" Nangong Liuli scolded, "You lecher."

After eating and drinking one’s fill, they casually rested in the breeze and slept under the bright moon.

Early the next morning, business was pressing. With operations split into two paths, Li Xian hurried to the island within an island to purchase Essence Treasure Meat. Nangong Liuli sent someone to bring word to the government office, preparing ahead for the banquet matters, sending invitations, writing banners, seeking help... the miscellaneous tasks were numerous.

The island within an island was surrounded by a lake, containing dozens of pavilions and jade mansions. The "Seeking Martial Arts Pavilion," resembling a tower, stood more than ten feet tall, entirely red, with a simple, ancient appearance. Inside, "Essence Treasure Meat" was sold, along with martial arts equipment, poison powder, concealed weapons, and personal armor.

The Essence Treasure Meat came from demons. During the decline of the Great Wu, the Dynasty’s fortunes scattered, the situation chaotic, disasters arose. The forces of evil took advantage, fueling the flames.

Martial artists hunted demons to sell their meat. This was the "meat industry," the meat industry, wood industry, ship industry... industries with complex relationships, deeply intertwined; without insider knowledge, it was hard to obtain Essence Treasure Meat. Li Xian proceeded to the Seeking Martial Arts Pavilion, took a glance, knowing that the eastern section sold demon meat, also called "Essence Meat."

Demon meat had peculiar characteristics, stored in specially made "jade boxes."

Li Xian looked around, admiring the luxurious decorations, thinking, "I’ve been in the Flower Cage Sect for a while, but it’s my first time here." He walked over to a jade box for a closer look.

He saw the box filled with clear water, inside it a fish spine, complete with tendons and bones, moving back and forth. This was the "Red Mouth Yellow Fish Fish Spine," a common Essence Treasure Meat, priced at "seven hundred seventy-three taels" of silver.

Li Xian thought to himself, "So this is Essence Treasure Meat, the first time I’ve seen it. The ways of initiating the tripod are numerous, and choosing Essence Treasure Meat is vast and profound. Unfortunately, there’s no guidance, so I have to explore on my own." He moved forward.

Suddenly, he saw a jade box emitting a glow. Inside was an eyeball, about four inches in diameter, belonging to the "Light-Swallowing Toad’s Eye," an extremely rare demon resembling a giant toad, dwelling while chasing the sun, fond of consuming human flesh and blood. Its eyes radiated intense light, cooking it in fierce fire to remove its toxicity, the essence was very concentrated.

However, it wasn’t suitable for sharing, only the entire eye could be swallowed. Essence Treasure Meat was varied, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Li Xian observed with curiosity, pondering, "There are many strange and exotic beasts in this world, sometimes easily confused with demons. The lady spoke to me, saying demons and martial artists are absolutely incompatible. Martial artists desire to cook demons, while demons seize the chance to devour martial artists. Like the lady’s Strange Horse White Cloud, Moon-chaser, Clear Breeze... though possessing special abilities, they don’t belong to demons. Alas... understanding the intricacies, it is hard to grasp immediately."

After walking around, he chose the Essence Treasure Meat "Man-Eating Boar Belly," which was documented: resembling a transformed farm pig demon, the demon body being over ten feet, its fur like needles, its skin resembling armor. It devoured the people of an entire village, scenes too horrifying. More than a dozen disciples encircled and killed it, resulting in one death and four injuries, the demon was slain, immediately extracting the demon’s belly, the rest were discarded, sold for eight hundred twenty-nine taels.

The meat was purple-black, with fur attached on the skin. The meat still squirmed. Li Xian observed its solidity, abundant size, easy to share, Li Xian and Nangong Liuli split it evenly, with some remaining edges, which could be given to disciples and sect members, encouraging them to help with enthusiasm, quite pleasing. He then handed over the silver to purchase the Essence Treasure Meat.

Thus, everything was ready, only the eastern wind was lacking. Nangong Liuli had prepared the banquet matters well.

The next day, the Cyan Ox Residence opened its doors wide, setting up a street banquet, for a time drums beat and colorful lions danced in the streets, the sound of firecrackers roared, to initiate the tripod and simmer the food. Common folk entered freely, the more guests, the better.

Within Cyan Ox Residence, Nangong Liuli assisted Li Xian with his attire, elegant and refined, deeply satisfied, saying, "This smelly little brother has grown really handsome." Her fingers brushed lightly, her heart rippling. Though she didn’t like the Flower Cage Sect, being deeply entangled there, she had to follow its rules, letting Li Xian receive the passing guests and socialize during the banquet.

The banquet was lively, many disciples congratulated, "Elder Li is truly a dragon among men, recalling when you first joined the sect, we sat on the same flower boat, now you’ve soared high, don’t forget us." "At your age, Elder Li, I was struggling in the mud. Compared to Elder Li, alas, truly unworthy as a flower thief." "Long have I heard Elder Li is a dragon among dragons, a phoenix among phoenixes, today I finally get to see, indeed extraordinary, elegant beyond ordinary people."

Li Xian modestly responded. Elders like Han Zisha, Ye Cheng, and others attended the banquet to congratulate and fulfill their social duties.

This segment used up hundreds of taels of silver. The festivities were bustling, the banquet held three times. Signifying the "Water Stone Treasure Tripod" was preoccupied. That night, Flower Cage Sect disciples voluntarily sought to help Li Xian with tasks like fetching water, in exchange for "Essence Soup," "silver," and other benefits.

Li Xian laughed, "Thank you, brothers, I won’t let you down." Generously scattering wealth, employing dozens of disciples, he took the chance to test, suddenly executing the "Vast Green Waves" move of Jade Palm, punching into the air, at the moment of striking, "Only I have a Heart Skill" resonated strongly. The palm wind instantly surged forth, creating a turbulent wave of mist. Though seemingly turbulent, it hid dozens of undercurrents striking.