Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Chapter 673: Chapter 357: Surging Inspiration, Sudden Enlightenment, Heart Protection Divine Intent, Unparalleled in the World

Inside the Treasure Tripod, rot begins, Li Xian sees through with Heavy Pupils, easily grasping the situation. Shi Yufei, having practiced an "Ear Method," discerns objects through sound. He lightly taps the tripod body, listens to its echo, and understands the situation, as the two descend the steps.

The surrounding green plants stack up like peaks, and mist veils the air. The heavy rain just stopped, washing the grass green and trees lush, dust completely fading. Shi Yufei displays ’Unique Martial Arts’ and softly whispers, "Previously, the disciple who assisted in the water transportation, you must find a way to retrieve him and instruct that the matter should not be exposed. The tripod’s decay must be hidden from elders and disciples. If exposed, it might cause panic with no beneficial results."

These words only Li Xian could hear clearly.

Li Xian looks around, whispering, "As far as I’ve heard, every year around March and April, exactly when the vegetation thrives, is when the Treasure Tripod is vigorous. Many elders rush back to activate the tripod; it seems the matter cannot be concealed for long."

Shi Yufei nods and says, "Correct. The Treasure Tripod is crafted from Water and Wood Essence and Water Stone Essence. This tripod changes with the years and months, absorbing nutrients and moistening like the plants in the mountains. Spring is vibrant, summer is flourishing, autumn declines, winter is silent. Common tripods are fired constantly by fierce flames for days without rest. Essence Food successfully emerges from the oven, and the tripod body suffers damage, which inevitably reduces its life span unless left empty for half a month or more, allowing all residual warmth to dissipate. Better quality tripods require a shorter empty period. During March and April, when everything revives, vitality thrives, all things nourish the tripod body, and after only a few days, it can be reactivated. This is the excellence of this tripod."

"Therefore, during March and April, elders return to specifically activate the tripod frequently. Although you have only entered for about half a year, your reputation is significant within the Water Altar. Undoubtedly, the outside elders have heard of your deeds, but while they know you, you do not know them."

"If they know the tripod is decayed, surely morale will scatter. Delaying the cooking of Essence Food is minor; frightening everyone until their courage disperses is major. Historically, every peak of a Dynasty, decline of aristocratic families, and collapse of sects had such signs beforehand."

The Flower Cage Sect elders gauge merits, methods, endurance, and power; the best activate seven or eight tripods annually. The weaker activate three or four tripods annually. Only after ten or several years of accumulation can martial arts greatly progress. Though great progress is difficult, small progress is easy.

Martial Arts Second Realm has six advances, each advancement is distinct, martial arts evolution, strength, and life span all enhance easily. Li Xian has invested time into practice, digesting Essence Treasures, refining martial arts. He is nearing the first advance of the Second Realm.

Li Xian muses, "A stable tripod staves off restlessness among people; when the tripod’s integrity dissolves, people scatter. Once they scatter, regardless of an ancient Dynasty or millennium-old family, naturally fragmentation ensues. This matter, though mysterious, does follow a traceable pattern."

Shi Yufei further states, "The tripod is immediately abandonable; I’ll venture out to supplement a new tripod. Quickly remedying it can assume no incident occurred." Li Xian grows curious, asking, "How to supplement a tripod? The tripod body is thick and heavy; ordinary flower boats probably can’t bear its weight. Instantaneously, there’s a danger of sinking."

Shi Yufei, without withholding teachings, laughs, "You’re asking the key point. This matter is something ordinary martial artists can’t encounter in a lifetime. Methods for transporting tripods are bizarre and varied. Let me tell you a common method called the ’Five-Boat Lift Sky Method.’ Five boats are required, one at the center, the main boat, while four are at four corners, acting as secondary boats. The main boat’s deck supports the Treasure Tripod."

"Each secondary boat erects a long pole, with iron chains tied at the pole’s head. The iron chains bind the Treasure Tripod, exerting force to pull the tripod, easing the main boat’s pressure. At this moment, the five boats share life and death; if the main boat sinks, the secondary boats immediately overturn under the tripod’s weight. If secondary boats sink, the main boat can’t bear its weight, the keel breaks, the boat is destroyed, people perish, and further dragging sinks the secondary boats."

Li Xian says, "Transporting the tripod this way is too perilous. Even if the river water is shallow and narrow, it can’t pull the tripod. Assuming it is a riverway, the riverwater is rapid; transporting with five boats is unavoidable and extremely difficult to control."

Shi Yufei says, "Correct, this method is cumbersome and extremely limited. The difficulties of navigating and encountering unforeseen incidents are many. If intercepted by Water Bandits, only paying fortune can find a path. Calculating water transportation, climate, and wind direction must be accurate before daring to reluctantly navigate."

Li Xian asks, "Will this time’s tripod transport also use this method?" Shi Yufei shakes his head saying, "The water surrounding the Water Altar is complex, veiled in mist. The Five-Boat Lift Sky Method is cumbersome and sluggish, extremely difficult to attempt. On this trip, I still need consideration, but perhaps use ’Submerged Tripod Method.’"

Li Xian asks, "Please enlighten, General Envoy." Shi Yufei says, "This method requires a relatively light tripod body, consuming immense resources. First, purchase a thousand stone of ’Gold-Eye Fish,’ refining thick fish oil. This fish oil boasts strong buoyancy, excellent adhesiveness. Then smear fish oil on the tripod body, drying it, wrapping the Treasure Tripod into a grease ball."

"Then take iron chains, tie the tripod at the ship’s bottom, and submerge. The ship’s body transports on the water’s surface, with chains elongating to drag the tripod underwater, journeying with the ship’s movement. Despite the fish oil wrapping, the tripod body is quite heavy; without ship-coupled connections, it would still sink by itself. The tripod body remains submerged underwater, hence referred to as the submerged tripod method."

"This method progresses very slowly, the ship journeying like dragging an anchor, causing severe damage to the ship’s body. When the tripod reaches, the ship body is destroyed, but the boat navigating is covert, also can resist dark currents. Still, substantial drawbacks exist, with the Gold-Eye Fish oil easily gnawed by fish beasts; if fish oil is lost entirely, the tripod body then sinks. The ship must sever the iron chain itself, avoiding association, watching helplessly as the Treasure Tripod sinks into the lake. Otherwise, the boat’s destruction and people’s deaths are extremely tragic."

"Therefore, it requires dispatching masters to dive into water and drive away fish beasts in the lake."

Li Xian suddenly comprehends, exclaiming, "Transporting tripods is fraught with various ingenuity, each method has its strange tactics and pros and cons."

Exiting Wanglong Mountain, the path is all damp and sticky, the Shi Yufei carriage stops by the roadside, hastening the journey, his clothing is disheveled, merely wearing a robe, entirely soaked by treated mist. Shi Yufei sits in the carriage and opens the curtain, solemnly saying, "The matter of the tripod decay is challenging to probe its cause. I’ll devise ways to seek tripods tomorrow; you might as well act as if none of this is known."