Invincible!

Chapter 2 Gambling
The social structure of the Great Zhou Dynasty remained at the level of the Song and Ming Dynasties.

However, due to the extraordinary existence of martial artists and true qi, productivity is significantly higher.

Although the city streets aren't exactly clean, they're not so muddy that you'd end up covered in mud if you went out.

"Lijiang is the capital of Jiangzhou, with a population of about 600,000. There were more than a dozen cities of this size during the Zhou Dynasty... Judging from the architectural standards, sanitation, and daily life, its development level reached the level of the 18th century."

Li Xian walked down the street, processing the bits and pieces of Li Xian's memories about clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

I don't recall any artillery or firearms; the productivity gap created by technology was filled by warriors.

During his observation, he paused in front of a stone bridge.

Memories of Li Xian kept flashing through my mind.

It was a night of torrential rain.

Li Xian was chasing after a carriage, crying and shouting.

"Yanran, how can I live without you, Yanran?"

When they reached the bridge, a dark figure darted out and kicked "him" into the river.

The river water was icy cold.

When I woke up again...

It's him.

Li Xian is dead.

……

There will be an explanation.

Li Xian withdrew his gaze, crossed the stone bridge, walked another hundred meters, and arrived outside Youlongfang.

Upon entering the market, a large courtyard not far from the archway comes into view, and the sign of Longquan Martial Arts School is clearly visible dozens of meters away.

As Li Xian stepped inside, he heard a woman's voice coming from within: "Muscles and bones are the foundation of strength. Only by penetrating with strength and forging steel-like bones can one turn back a galloping horse and capture a tiger or leopard alive!"

Once he entered the courtyard, he saw a woman who was about eighteen or nineteen years old, over 1.7 meters tall, with a slender figure and healthy-looking skin, teaching several disciples of similar age to her.

"To cultivate martial arts strength, one must focus on proper nutrition and diligent practice! Only when you are well-fed and watered can you study and practice diligently to master the power! As long as you eat chicken, duck, beef, ginseng soup, and medicinal cuisine every day, and practice a superior boxing style, strengthening your body and cultivating strength will be a breeze!"

The woman said indifferently, "Even the most stupid person wouldn't be unable to understand internal strength by the age of fifteen or sixteen. So, it's nothing for you to understand internal strength. Only when you have internal strength and have trained to the point of strengthening your bones and tendons can you make martial arts your foundation."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Li Xian, who had entered the courtyard.

"what's up?"

"Li Xian requests an audience with Master Zhou Juechen."

"To see my master?"

The woman glanced at him indifferently and pointed to a table not far from the door: "Register, queue up."

Li was puzzled.

A disciple standing nearby chuckled, "Do you think Master Zhou is just an ordinary martial arts school director, someone you can see whenever you want? Do you even understand the value of a fifth-level martial arts master who has undergone blood transfusion and marrow cleansing? He's one of the top martial artists in Lijiang City, a name known throughout the martial arts world!"

Another person chimed in, "The academy has been open for less than a month, and hundreds, if not thousands, of celebrities and wealthy businessmen have come to visit. If you see them all, how are you supposed to cultivate? You'd better get in line."

At this moment, the woman who was teaching the group martial arts seemed to have thought of something: "Wait, Li Xian? Li Xian? Master Zhou's student, the one known as one of the Four Great Talents of Lijiang?"

As he spoke, he stared at Li Xian for a while, scrutinizing him carefully.

The Four Great Talents of the Li River?

The original owner did indeed have such a nickname.

"I've seen you."

The woman recognized him by this time, and her tone softened slightly: "Come inside with me and wait a moment while I go and inform my master."

"Thank you."

Li Xian bowed and followed.

From my limited memories, Li Xian was indeed quite talented.

His teacher, Master Zhou, was a famous Confucian scholar in the Zhou Dynasty.

The apprentices, who had initially spoken with a mocking tone, subtly changed their attitude after learning Li Xian's name.

"It's him? A student of Master Zhou from Songfeng Academy!"

"I heard that he was expelled from the family by Master Zhou because he wanted to become the son-in-law of the Marquis of Dingfeng? Is that true?"

"Is this for real? He was the top scorer in the prefectural examination. The academic official once said that he had the potential to be the top scholar. Why would he marry into a noble family and ruin his future?"

The group huddled together, watching the famous figure enter the courtyard, and whispered among themselves.

On the other side, the woman quickly arrived at the study in the courtyard and knocked on the door.

"Hongyu? Come in."

A voice came from inside.

As the woman Hongyu pushed open the door, she saw Zhou Juechen, who was only twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, casually tossing several invitations onto the table.

The invitations were sent to prominent families in the Lijiang area.

“Perfect timing. Sword Saint Guang Yuanzi will soon be inviting heroes from Jiangzhou to a sword duel at Canglang Mountain. Please keep an eye on the martial arts school for me for a while.”

"clear."

Hongyu nodded and said, "Master, Master Zhou's student Li Xian requests an audience."

"Li Xian? That prized student that Uncle San used to talk about all the time?"

Zhou Juechen leaned forward slightly in surprise: "The one who came to the Dingfeng Marquis's residence?"

"It's him."

"Oh? Then I'll have to meet him."

Zhou Juechen snorted coldly: "I'd like to see what this number one idiot looks like. Anyone with eyes can see that the young lady from the Marquis's mansion married someone to avoid suspicion in order to find a backup plan, and he still willingly offered himself up, which made Third Uncle so angry that he couldn't eat."

"He came from a poor family, had limited experience, and had no access to information from the upper class. He had been in love with that young lady from the Marquis's family for a long time while she was studying at the academy. When he heard that the Marquis's family was holding a marriage contest, he naturally fell for it immediately..." "No access to information from the upper class? I don't believe that Third Uncle didn't give him some pointers!"

"It can only be described as being too infatuated."

"What's the use of being infatuated? At the banquet a few days ago, I saw Miss Liu from the Marquis's mansion and Young Master Yan being all lovey-dovey. Humph, do you think this great talent and romantic knows anything about this? Should I tell this 'Lord Li' the truth and get some revenge for my Third Uncle?"

Zhou Juechen was disappointed in him.

But Hongyu listened with a solemn expression and said, "This matter involves the young lady of the Marquis's mansion, the heir of the Prince of the County, and... a promising talent who has leaped over the dragon gate. Master wants to pull him out... the risk is extremely high."

When Hongyu mentioned the Marquis of Dingfeng's mansion and the heir of the Prince of the County, Zhou Juechen remained relatively indifferent. However, when she mentioned the words "Immortal Seedling," this martial arts master, who was quite famous throughout the Lijiang River region, showed a hint of fear.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Alright, bring him over."

He leaned back slightly: "I'd like to hear what he has to say when he comes to see me."

Soon, Hongyu left.

Before long, he had brought Li Xian to the study.

He glanced at Li Xian.

He is quite handsome.

Known as one of the Four Great Talents of the Li River, they were not only exceptional in their learning but also in their appearance.

He's just a little slow-witted.

Those who practice martial arts don't have so many hidden agendas.

Before Li could speak, he said directly, "If you want to follow my path and beg for Third Uncle's forgiveness, then don't bother asking. Go back to where you came from."

"Third uncle?"

Li was puzzled.

He is also a person who doesn't fuss over details.

Without overthinking or internal conflict, I got straight to the point: "That's not the case. I've come to ask Master Zhou about the method of blood transfusion and marrow cleansing. What are your conditions, Master Zhou?"

After a moment's thought, he added, "If Master Zhou could give me some more pointers on the key points of achieving perfect circulation and refining emptiness into truth, that would be even better."

"May I ask for the method of blood transfusion and marrow cleansing?"

Zhou Juechen was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Then, with an incredulous look on his face, he asked, "Still, the Heavenly Cycle is flawless, and one has refined emptiness into truth?"

"Yes."

Li nodded.

People can actually laugh when they're speechless.

Zhou Juechen was so angry he laughed: "You bookworm... scholar, do you even know what blood transfusion and marrow cleansing are? Do you even understand what it means to have a flawless circulation of qi and to refine the void into truth?"

"know."

Li Xian responded truthfully: "Martial arts have nine levels. The fifth level is blood exchange and marrow cleansing, which uses the methods of energy circulation and breathing to promote blood circulation and transform the body. The sixth level is the complete circulation of Qi and blood, which comprehends the meaning of Hunyuan and makes Qi and blood continuously generate. The seventh level is refining the void into the real, which involves controlling Qi and blood, using the false to cultivate the true, and cultivating true Qi."

After saying that, he knew that his question might seem a bit too ambitious in Zhou Juechen's eyes, so he explained again: "I have already made some progress in Ming Jin, Jin Gu, including internal lung training, and I also have some ideas about blood transfusion and marrow cleansing. Whether they are feasible or not still needs to be verified. Therefore, I came to Longquan Martial Arts School to ask Master Zhou for guidance."

Zhou Juechen felt a little tired watching him talk about martial arts so seriously.

Interlaced like mountains.

Does Li Xian really think that just because he's good at studying, he also has extraordinary talent in martial arts?
Seeing her master's speechlessness, Hongyu took the initiative to speak up to prevent him from cursing: "Young Master Li, the path of martial arts is not as simple as you think. To achieve success, one must pass three major hurdles: the hurdle of money for large amounts of nourishing medicine, the hurdle of physical fitness that requires a certain status to purchase techniques, and the hurdle of willpower and physical strength that cannot be endured without great perseverance and determination."

She stated frankly, "The first two trials are not difficult for Young Master Li, but the third trial... the pain of stretching and pulling bones is something that ordinary people cannot endure."

"I know."

Li nodded and then said, "This is not difficult for me."

After achieving the elixir of immortality, there is no path ahead; after reaching the pinnacle, one is no match for a child's spear—that is true hardship.

"Good, good, good! 'Not difficult' indeed!"

Zhou Juechen finally understood what it meant to be a blockhead.

I finally understand how my third uncle felt when he was so angry he couldn't eat.

He couldn't help but raise his fist.

The owner of the inn was furious, especially when he thought about how the man had given up his promising future to become the live-in son-in-law of the Marquis of Dingfeng.

He opened his drawer, took out a small booklet, and slammed it on the table: "You've made progress on the first four realms, haven't you! You're also thinking about Blood Transformation and Marrow Cleansing, aren't you! Here, this is my cultivation method from Ming Jin to Blood Transformation and Marrow Cleansing, containing all my flawless experience and insights! You better read it carefully and memorize it well! I want to see what you can achieve!"

Li Xian's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward, extending his hand: "Thank you."

Ok?
You actually took it?!
"Wait!"

Zhou Juechen pressed his palm down on the booklet: "If you really master it, I'll give you this Five Elements Technique for free! But what if you can't master it?"

"I will pay double the cost of the cultivation technique."

Li Xian said consciously.

"Me, a martial artist who has undergone blood transfusion and marrow cleansing, do you think I need your money?"

Zhou Juechen held up three fingers: "Three months! I'll give you three months. If you still haven't achieved anything by then, you'd better break off the engagement, apologize to your third uncle, and go back to your studies!"

Three months of blood transfusion and marrow cleansing?

A bit difficult!
but……

It's not entirely impossible.

Besides, a challenging life is what makes it fun, isn't it?
"can."

Li nodded.

Zhou Juechen released his grip and leaned back in his chair: "Hongyu, take him downstairs, force-feed him a few bowls of Eight Treasure Soup, and then give him a good beating, beat him to death."

(End of this chapter)