The bronze cauldron filled with jade liquid was the most essential item for Li Guanyi's survival.
The last time he accumulated jade liquid and poured it into his dantian, Li Guanyi successfully cultivated the martial art of the military, the "Breaking Formation Melody," to the twelfth layer, and gained a set of sword techniques. Now, this jade liquid had finally been accumulated for the second time.
Li Guanyi's gaze fell upon the broken cloud-shocking bow.
Recalling what had just happened, he pondered.
It seemed that not only could the martial arts of a法相-level expert complete the final step of jade liquid accumulation, but divine weapons could also achieve this step.
He just didn't know what changes would occur this time when the jade liquid poured out.
Perhaps it was due to the excessive mental strain from just picking up that bow, Li Guanyi felt a fatigue rising from the depths of his heart. Thoughts surged chaotically in his mind, not settling for a long time, and he could only suppress them with the bitterness of tea.
Xue Daoyong did not mention the bow again but instead talked about some past events of the Xue family, his words humorous and witty, interspersed with some rather thrilling experiences. Finally, he presented a table of light dishes: each person received a bowl of yellow millet porridge, a piece of grilled fish, some fresh vegetables, a few spices, and a fruit.
Li Guanyi said, "Senior, your lifestyle is quite simple."
The Xue family was a prominent household.
Just a moment ago, the old man had sent out a courtyard and land deed worth at least five hundred guan without batting an eye, yet when it came to food, it seemed no different from what ordinary folk would eat, even less than what the three martial artists at the Rejuvenation Hall had.
At this moment, he noticed Xue Shuangtao glancing at him, trying to suppress a smile.
Perhaps the mental exhaustion affected his perception, but Li Guanyi noticed something different.
He sniffed the small dish of spices and said, "This is…"
"Ginseng, Atractylodes, Poria."
Having suffered from severe poison for ten years, Li Guanyi had become somewhat of a doctor himself, often dealing with medicinal materials and spending a long time in the apothecary. In two lifetimes, with his outstanding talent, he could identify several main medicinal ingredients just by smelling them, and he took a taste of the yellow millet porridge.
It also contained corresponding medicinal materials, but the bitterness had dissipated, leaving a sweet flavor.
The qi and blood within him and the internal energy from "Breaking Formation Melody" became invigorated.
Even the immense consumption from just holding the divine weapon had been alleviated.
Xue Daoyong smiled and asked, "How is it?"
Li Guanyi thought for a moment and replied:
"Rehmannia glutinosa nourishes essence and fills the marrow, ginseng tonifies the spleen and boosts qi, nourishing qi and blood, all are sovereign medicines."
"Atractylodes and Poria assist ginseng in boosting qi; Angelica and White Peony nourish blood and harmonize the essence, aiding in heart nourishment, these few are ministerial medicines."
"Chuanxiong serves as an assistant medicine, invigorating blood and promoting qi; Licorice acts as a guide medicine, boosting qi and harmonizing, adjusting all medicines."
"This meal from the old senior is indeed a good thing for replenishing both qi and blood."
The old man was momentarily surprised, then laughed, saying to the girl beside him, "Look, throwing flirtatious glances at a blind man is a waste of good intentions. If there are good things, there must be guests who can articulate their merits for the host and guest to enjoy together, unlike your brother and younger brother, who only know to say it's delicious."
"Or just ask for another bowl."
"Chewing peonies is a great eyesore."
As he spoke, he looked up and saw that the young man had already devoured the yellow millet porridge, which was no less than a large dan, yet very gentle on the body. The young man noticed the old man was stunned and immediately laughed, saying deliberately, "Then, old senior, I have also become a great eyesore this time."
"Another bowl, please."
The old man laughed heartily.
He seemed to appreciate this young man even more.
Then he unhesitatingly refused, saying, "A hundred-year-old mountain ginseng and fish from the Heavenly Pool are beneficial for martial artists. Even I rarely take them out to entertain guests; how could there be so much prepared for you?"
"The young man's appetite is quite large."
Li Guanyi felt regret.
He still wanted to bring a portion for his aunt.
The girl looked at the previously composed young man, now appearing greedy, and finally burst into laughter, realizing he wasn't so hard to understand. After thinking for a moment, she pushed her bowl forward and said, "I haven't touched this bowl yet; if you don't mind, you can take it."
She then emphasized, "Of course, the fish cannot be taken."
Li Guanyi tried the fish and found it indeed very tender and delicious. The old gentleman had reminded him that this fish was raised on medicinal feed, beneficial for martial artists, but for those with weak bodies, it was like a potent medicine, potentially harmful. Li Guanyi finished the fish and said, "It truly is delicious."
"If I could eat such meals every day, I would be content."
Xue Daoyong laughed, "Hahaha, are you planning to eat the old man out of house and home?"
"Good!"
"If you can break through within three years and come to me, the old man will provide you with a meal every day."
"If you can break through within a year, you can eat every meal."
"I'll sell my pots and pans to feed you."
After a meal, both host and guest were delighted. Xue Shuangtao took Li Guanyi away from the Listening Wind Pavilion. The girl looked at Li Guanyi's clothing and said, "You are now a guest elder; your clothing and needs will all be according to my family's standards. It is getting late today; follow me to receive a full set of clothing, weapons, and dan medicine."
She paused, seeming a bit shy, yet trying to maintain an air of indifference, and said:
"You must come early tomorrow."
"I will teach you footwork and archery."
Li Guanyi nodded.
First, they went to receive weapons. In the current climate of national disputes and frequent conflicts, the court had loosened its control over certain weapons, such as swords, knives, wooden shields, and bows that required long-term training to use. However, the regulations on armor, crossbows, and long spears exceeding twelve feet were extremely strict.
The former was for personal safety in the world.
The latter was different.
Xue Shuangtao led Li Guanyi to the Xue family's weapon shop located within their estate.
She pointed to the weapons inside and said, "The knives here are divided into three types: the fastest light knife, the narrowest stabbing knife, and the heavy knife, all forged from fine iron, comparable to the famous weapons in the martial world, just differing in materials."
Li Guanyi chose a heavy knife that was entirely dark and suited for chopping, based on the characteristics of the Breaking Army Eight Knives.
The knife was thick, with a well-balanced center of gravity, perfect for cleaving.
The sheath was made of dark ironwood inlaid with copper, featuring a tiger's roar pattern.
The blacksmith glanced at it and said, "A three-hundred-refined heavy knife is not much different from the famous weapons in the martial world, priced at ninety-seven guan. The sheath is made of superior dark-patterned ironwood, treated to prevent insect damage and rust, inlaid with yellow copper, and the end of the sheath has a hollow for storing dan medicine."
"The sheath is priced at four guan and three mo, making the total one hundred and one guan. As a guest elder, you can pay only seventy guan."
Guest elders could obtain good weapons, but they still had to cover the basic material and labor costs.
This channel was something ordinary martial artists could hardly obtain; many could only use iron swords hammered out by the village blacksmith, nailing two wooden boards together as a sheath to roam the martial world.
Even Li Guanyi had to admit it was quite a bargain.
But now, he only had three taels of silver on him.
After a moment of silence, holding the knife, he looked at the girl.
Xue Shuangtao casually said, "Just put it under my name."
The blacksmith was surprised, glancing at the young and handsome Li Guanyi, then at the young lady, filled with suspicion, and nodded, "Alright, since that's the case, I'll put it under Miss's name."
Xue Shuangtao nodded and then took Li Guanyi to pick a bow.
The bow had to be at a level that Li Guanyi could barely draw fully, yet it was somewhat strenuous. The bow's body also matched the young man's height. The girl skillfully took out several bows to test, ultimately selecting three that suited Li Guanyi.
Bowmaking involves six materials: wood, horn, sinew, glue, silk, and lacquer.
The first bow was made from a type of purple bamboo, with excellent flexibility, using yellow cow horn on the inner side of the bow arm and cow sinew on the outer side, both enhancing elasticity for faster arrow speed.
It was priced at thirty guan.
Li Guanyi inquired about the glue used for this bow.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "It's made from Sichuan rat."
"Boiled from the flesh and skin of rats from Sichuan, it has good stickiness."
"The key is that it's cheap; of course, if you don't want it, there are others."
The second bow was made from Yimu for the bow arms, using the horn of the Mofeng and horse sinew, mixed with fish glue.
It was very sturdy, taking two years to make, priced at one hundred and ten guan.
This bow was even more expensive than the knife at Li Guanyi's waist.
Just as Li Guanyi was about to speak about the cheapest bow, he saw the girl raise her hand and point to a bow placed at the highest point, saying, "That one, take it down to have a look."
Li Guanyi saw that the bow was made of wood, yet its body appeared to be intertwined with golden threads.
The inner side of the bow measured two feet five, with three colors: pure white, middle green, and Mofeng.
The three colors were distinct.
Li Guanyi didn't understand bows but could recognize quality.
This item was very expensive!
The middle-aged steward praised, "Miss has a good eye!"
"This bow took fifteen years to complete. In winter, the bow body was dried, in spring, the horn was treated, in summer, the sinew was processed, and during the winter, it was placed in a rack to set its shape. It was made from zhi wood, which is rarely hollow and rarely bends, with a heart that has golden threads, providing excellent flexibility."
"It is made with rhinoceros horn, crocodile sinew, and mixed with shark glue from the South Sea."
"However, the bow's strength requires great effort to fully draw."
"It is priced at one thousand five hundred and thirty guan."
Li Guanyi's eyelid twitched.
How much?!
He pondered his words and said, "I think it's too expensive."
Xue Shuangtao shook her head and said, "Grandfather once said that bows, like swords and knives, are entrusted with life. Sometimes, if the bow's flexibility is stronger, it can shoot more arrows without breaking. With sufficient elasticity, arrows will fly faster; this slight enhancement may be the difference between life and death."
"Everything can be ambiguous, but life and death cannot be compromised."
"Take this bow down."
The middle-aged steward replied, "Yes, Miss."
Xue Shuangtao held the bow, casually nocked an arrow, and even without fully drawing it, she stepped forward, releasing an arrow that pierced through a tree as thick as a hug. The girl's hair fluttered, revealing her fair chin and a pair of apricot eyes, nodding in satisfaction, saying:
"Mm, just put it under my name."
"I remember when I was ten, my grandfather gave me a shop. The profits from these years should be enough."
"Here, sir, your bow."
She saw Li Guanyi momentarily stunned.
Reaching out, she supported the young man's wrist and lifted his hand, gently placing the bow in Li Guanyi's hands, saying, "Since ancient times, beautiful maidens have gifted swords to heroes. Although I am not a beauty, I believe in what my grandfather said; you will be a hero in the future."
"This Su Ni bow is gifted to you."
Li Guanyi: "…………"
"Thank you."
He looked at the knife at his waist, holding the bow.
He saw the girl in front of him with her hands behind her back, smiling slightly.
Li Guanyi felt that the charm of the young lady was unparalleled.
At this moment, an old man with white hair had already arrived at Guan Yi City.
He effortlessly shook off the official riders and junior disciples trying to follow him, saying:
"Master Zhu has not yet arrived; let us wander a bit."
"See if there are any interesting happenings, wouldn't you agree, old friend?"
He smiled with his head lowered, and in a space invisible to the naked eye, a gigantic Xuan Turtle nodded in acknowledgment.
The longest-living elder of the contemporary Yin-Yang family, "Si Ming."
He had come at the invitation.
(End of Chapter)