Chapter 91

Chapter 92: The Incomprehensible Ancient Leather Book, Xie Lingfeng Arrives

Li Xuan flipped through the ancient leather book, page by page, a total of eighteen pages, each page depicting a pattern.

But each time he looked at a page, the first time it seemed to be a certain terrain or another pattern, the second time it seemed to be random scribbles.

The third time, it seemed to have turned into another pattern.

The more he looked, the more confused he became, and he couldn't even be sure what was actually depicted.

"This book is somewhat special, but I can't understand it."

Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

Closing the ancient leather book, he looked at the two characters "Tai Cang" and couldn't help but wonder, "What does 'Tai Cang' mean?"

Li Xuan couldn't resist and opened the ancient leather book again. This time, the patterns in the book seemed different.

The lines were clearly unchanged.

"Could it be some kind of martial arts technique? But it's too profound; at my level, I can't understand the hidden deeper meaning?"

Li Xuan was puzzled.

"If it really is a martial arts technique, wouldn't it be more powerful than the martial arts I created?"

He flipped through the ancient leather book again.

"It doesn't seem like a martial arts technique; it feels more like a map."

He closed the ancient leather book and put it away.

He played with the jade ruyi, squinting his eyes, recalling the contents of the ancient leather book, and carefully pondering.

To his surprise, every time he recalled, the patterns in the ancient leather book seemed different, as if they were constantly changing.

"This is strange, what is this?"

Li Xuan frowned and couldn't help but take out the ancient leather book and flip through it again.

As usual, the first time he looked at it was different from the second time, but he couldn't explain why he felt different.

"This ancient leather book is not right. It doesn't seem like a martial arts technique, a map, or a talisman. It's strange and peculiar. Perhaps when my strength improves, I might understand something."

Li Xuan mused. Meng Chong couldn't understand it; to him, it was just some lines, and he couldn't grasp their meaning.

"Can my eldest disciple Xu Yan see something in it?"

Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

If Xu Yan could understand something from it, would the system give him feedback?

It's hard to say.

After all, the patterns in the ancient leather book weren't drawn by him.

"Let Xu Yan take a look."

Li Xuan made up his mind.

Xu Yan is so talented; perhaps he can see something.

On the second day after Meng Chong returned, Xu Yan also returned from Donghe County. With his sword intent, Xu Junhe had already started to refine his organs.

The Xu family's strength was improving, and the speed was not slow.

Li Xuan sat in a chair, with several books on the table beside him. He was currently reading a book on potions.

"The borderlands have no concept of elixirs, only some simple potions, and there is no theory of principal, secondary, and auxiliary ingredients..."

The more he read, the more he felt that the new martial arts system he had conceived was feasible.

The ancient leather book was on the table.

Xu Yan came to pay respects: "Master!"

Li Xuan nodded, and Xu Yan's gaze was drawn to the ancient leather book.

"Master, what is this book?"

As a lover of stories, he had read too many of them. If anyone was familiar with stories, no one could compare to him.

This ancient leather book looked like a unique edition.

He immediately became interested.

"Take a look."

Li Xuan said casually.

Xu Yan excitedly picked up the ancient leather book.

"Tai Cang?"

Seeing the two large characters on the cover of the ancient leather book, he asked curiously, "Master, what is 'Tai Cang'?"

"When your strength reaches a certain level, you will naturally understand."

Li Xuan replied evasively.

Xu Yan opened the ancient leather book and looked at the lines, which were twisted and crooked but seemed to follow a certain pattern, forming an unknown shape.

It looked somewhat like a map.

Or perhaps some kind of terrain?

He couldn't understand it, so he flipped to the second page, the third page...

After flipping through the entire ancient leather book, Xu Yan looked puzzled and asked, "Master, what are these lines? Could they be a treasure map?"

His eyes lit up as he said this.

Li Xuan saw Xu Yan's expression and knew he hadn't understood anything, and he hadn't even noticed the special nature of the patterns in the ancient leather book.

He only saw simple lines.

"My disciple can't understand it either. Could it be because his realm is too low? Forget it, I'll keep it for now."

Li Xuan thought to himself.

He raised his hand and took the ancient leather book, saying, "When your strength and realm reach a certain level, you might understand."

"Don't think too much. Focus on your cultivation. Consolidate your innate realm, and in a few days, I will teach you the advanced techniques beyond the innate realm."

Li Xuan knew his disciple had a strong imagination, so he added this to prevent him from wasting time on speculation and neglecting his cultivation.

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan didn't think much about it. After paying respects, he went to cultivate outside the city, discussing and exchanging insights with Meng Chong about the Eight Trigrams.

...

The capital of the Qi Kingdom.

Xie Lingfeng had been pondering the theory Xu Yan mentioned: to achieve a clear sword heart, one must first have a clear mind, not disturbed by external things.

What kind of state is it to have no women in one's heart?

"Seems like having no women in one's heart doesn't mean really abandoning women, but not being disturbed by external things? What kind of realm is this?"

Xie Lingfeng looked puzzled.

He vaguely felt that he understood something, but he also felt that he didn't.

"My comprehension is too poor. Xu Yan has explained it so clearly, but I still can't understand it."

He sighed in his heart.

Suddenly, he had a thought.

"Xu Yan once said he used the Qi Empress's harem to hone his mind and improve himself... Can I do the same? To hone my mind and clarify myself, so I can have a chance to achieve a clear sword heart."

"Only with a clear sword heart can I have a chance to enter the true path of the sword!"

Xie Lingfeng thought this and couldn't sit still.

He immediately went to see the Qi Emperor, borrowing his harem to hone his mind, hoping to gain something.

"Great man, do you have any requests?"

The Qi Emperor was delighted when he learned that Xie Lingfeng wanted to see him.

An opportunity has come!

Perhaps I can obtain martial arts techniques?

Xie Lingfeng looked at the Qi Emperor, finding it hard to speak. After all, borrowing someone's harem to hone one's mind was a bit too much. He had a thin skin and didn't know how to start.

The Qi Emperor saw his troubled expression and was even more delighted, thinking that he had a request, so he smiled and said, "Great man, if you have any requests, just say them. I will do my best to fulfill them!"

"Since that's the case, I'll speak directly."

Xie Lingfeng, thinking that Xu Yan had already borrowed the harem to hone his mind, figured it shouldn't be a big deal for the Qi Emperor.

So he said, "It's like this. Recently, I want to hone my mind. I heard from Xu Yan that he used the Qi Empress's harem to hone his mind, and it was very effective. So I came here with the same intention."

Damn!

The Qi Emperor cursed in his heart: "What kind of damn great man is this? Why doesn't he learn something good and instead learn from that Xu Yan kid?"

"That's my harem, my concubines, and he wants to borrow them to hone his mind?"

"What does he think I am?"

"Too much, I can't take it anymore!"

But his face remained smiling, and he waved his hand, saying magnanimously, "I thought it was something big, but it's just about honing your mind. It's a small matter, a small matter."

"Someone, pass my order. Let my concubines dance to help the great man hone his mind."

The Qi Emperor gave the order directly.

Xie Lingfeng was deeply moved. The Qi Emperor was broad-minded and righteous, no wonder Xu Yan didn't rebel.

Such a generous and righteous ruler is rare in the world.

He bowed with gratitude, "Your Majesty is righteous, I am deeply grateful!"

"Not at all, it's an honor to help the great man!"

The Qi Emperor pretended to be carefree.

But in his heart, he had already cursed Xie Lingfeng to the extreme.

The harem was very lively.

The Qi Emperor's concubines danced energetically. If they could gain the favor of the great man, they could directly become phoenixes on the branch.

Compared to waiting for the Qi Emperor's favor in the harem, it was much better to seize the opportunity and become the personal woman of a martial arts great man, which was a hundred times better than being an imperial concubine.

Xie Lingfeng sat on the wall, staring at the Qi Emperor's concubines, and sighed, "No wonder they are the concubines of a national ruler, with graceful postures and different charms."

"But how do I hone my mind?"

"Right, no women in the heart means that even though beauty is before me, it doesn't make my heart move."

After watching for a while, Xie Lingfeng couldn't take it anymore, being young and full of energy.

He ran away.

"Slowly, must go slowly!"

In the imperial study, the Qi Emperor's face was dark. He felt his hair was turning green.

"How is it?"

He asked in a deep voice.

The chief eunuch replied, "The great man watched for a while and then left, but after half an hour, he came back to watch again, and then left..."

"Did nothing?"

"No, similar to Xu Yan, but he didn't watch as long as Xu Yan."

The Qi Emperor felt a bit relieved.

But for some reason, he also felt a bit disappointed, not having the chance to send his concubines.

If he sent his concubines, the great man would have to do something in return, right?

Damn!

The Qi Emperor cursed in his heart, "I am the emperor, how can I be so lowly!"

It's really frustrating!

The harem matter couldn't be hidden, and the ministers looked at the Qi Emperor strangely.

The Qi Emperor was furious.

What kind of great man is this, all brought by that rebellious son!

Thinking of this, the Qi Emperor was furious and gave an order, "Go, bring my rebellious son here. I will personally beat him thirty times!"

The chief eunuch said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince left the capital yesterday."

The Qi Emperor fell silent.

The Crown Prince was originally just muddling through, eating and waiting to die, but when he heard that the great man had gone to the harem, he was startled and his face turned pale.

This great man was brought by him.

He guessed he would be beaten again, so he hurriedly left the capital, unable to stay.

Xie Lingfeng felt his mind had improved, and he was no longer as moved by beauty. On this day, Guo Rongshan brought him news.

Xu Yan's master, the mysterious great man, was willing to meet him.

He was overjoyed and immediately set off with Hu Shan for Donghe County to meet the great man!

"Master, these days, did you go to the Qi Empress's harem and sleep with her concubines?"

Hu Shan asked curiously.

Xie Lingfeng's face turned black, "Don't talk nonsense. I am Xie Lingfeng, not that kind of person. I went to hone my mind."

Hu Shan looked skeptical.

"Master, how did you hone your mind?"

Xie Lingfeng's spirit was lifted, "These days, I have gained something. I should be close to the state of no women in the heart."

Hu Shan: ???

"Hu Shan, you don't understand. This realm can only be comprehended, not described. Once comprehended, the door to the sword path will be right in front of you."

Xie Lingfeng was filled with longing.

The two traveled non-stop from the capital to Yunshan County in Donghe County.

Outside Yunshan County, Xu Yan and Meng Chong were waiting.

"Brother Xie!"

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan arrived.

"Brother Xu, thank you!"

Xie Lingfeng said solemnly.

"You're welcome."

Xu Yan patted Meng Chong's shoulder, "Let me introduce you. This is my junior brother Meng Chong."

"Brother Meng, nice to meet you!"

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan bowed.

"Let's have a chance to spar."

Meng Chong said eagerly.

"Sure!"

Xie Lingfeng nodded.

But he was secretly shocked by Meng Chong, who felt like a human beast, extremely fierce.

Even without a fight, he could sense that Meng Chong's physical body was stronger than steel, and even a first-rank martial artist in the Inner Domain would find it hard to break through his physical defense.

"This is true martial arts. He can probably harden a first-rank martial artist with just his physical body."

Xie Lingfeng was secretly amazed.

In a small courtyard, Li Xuan sat in a chair, playing with the jade ruyi.

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan were about to arrive.

The Inner Domain techniques were also about to be obtained.

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan were both grandmaster martial artists from the Sword Respecting Cliff, a major force. Their techniques were top-notch in the Inner Domain.

Finally, he could glimpse the Inner Domain martial arts techniques and provide some reference for his own martial arts.

The Blood Devil Scripture was ultimately a demonic technique and incomplete, though it had its merits, but its limitations were clear.

They arrived!

Li Xuan made himself more relaxed, a mysterious aura emerged, and the jade ruyi in his hand seemed to become more mysterious.

"Brother Xie, please come in."

Xu Yan pushed the door open.

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan's hearts were tense, finally about to meet this mysterious great man.

They took a deep breath and stepped into the door.

As soon as they stepped in, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan were immediately shocked, their faces showing astonishment.

In the courtyard, a young man lay in a chair, relaxed, playing with the jade ruyi. At first glance, it seemed as if a sacred light enveloped the young man.

The light illuminated, mysterious and unfathomable, majestic and unapproachable, as if he transcended the world, or sat outside of time.

At this moment, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan were deeply moved.

Great man!

An unparalleled great man!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

They couldn't help but kneel down.

"Xie Lingfeng (Hu Shan) pays respects to the senior!"

Kneeling, they bowed three times, hitting the ground hard.

Xu Yan and Meng Chong looked stunned.

Such a grand salute upon arrival?

The bows were even more intense than when they became disciples.

They even created two small pits on the ground!

Looking at his master, he was as unfathomable as always.

Li Xuan was secretly delighted. This mysterious aura was truly amazing, with such an effect.

"Stand up."

His voice was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"Yes, senior!"

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan stood up respectfully, not daring to breathe heavily.

But they were extremely excited.

A great opportunity!

Such a great man, if he could receive some guidance, it would surely be greatly beneficial!