Xu Yilin shook his head and sighed. He had already lost hope for Liu Wuxie while everyone else mocked his son-in-law.
The Treasure Pill Pavilion delivered a massive package of herbal ingredients and a cauldron. They were attentive and careful, providing everything he needed.
Liu Wuxie returned to his courtyard and closed the door. He wasn’t worried about being disturbed because no one usually came here.
He dumped all the herbs on the ground, making them pile up in the yard. He also brought out a big tub and got some clean water from the well. Since he didn’t have pill flames, he could only use some dried wood. He lit them up, set up the cauldron, and threw the herbs into it.
The Body-Refining Elixir couldn’t even be considered a first-grade pill. But it had unexpected effects basking in it and was most suitable for strengthening the muscles and bones.
Liu Wuxie was a bit rusty at first, but he quickly got used to it and sped up, and the whole courtyard was filled with a strong herbal smell. He spent half a day refining a basin of Body-Refining Elixir and poured one-third into the tub before stripping his clothes down to a piece of underwear and entering the tub.
The moment his skin came in contact with the water, a piercing pain from deep into his bones coursed through his meridians, clearing the impurities within his body. He also circulated the Desolate Devouring Art, and the spiritual energy in the courtyard formed a vortex above his head.
The Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron began to absorb the liquid rapidly, which could speed up his cultivation, allowing him to reach the Xiantian Realm quickly.
Liu Wuxie’s meridians ached terribly as they purged the impurities from his body. The water in the tub, once clear, turned black and foul-smelling. The tub reeked as the water darkened.
He cultivated for two hours and heard his bones pop and crackle. A soothing feeling filled his body. He felt as if he had cleansed himself from the inside out.
“That feels great!” Liu Wuxie performed a fist technique in the middle of the courtyard, adapting to the changes in his body. After he finished, he dried his forehead with a towel. Then he sat down, crossing his legs, and several martial techniques appeared in his mind.
“Now that I have resolved my need for a cultivation technique, it’s time to practice martial techniques. I used a blade in my past life and should stick to it in this lifetime.”
Finding suitable martial techniques out of so many cultivation techniques was difficult, and it was no different from finding a needle in a haystack. After all, not only did it have to be suitable to his cultivation technique, but it also had to be suitable to this world. This was because he couldn’t perform high-leveled martial techniques with true essence, or he might risk hurting himself from the backlash.
“Let’s go with the Blood Gleam Blade Art!” The Blood Gleam Blade Art was a technique of speed and power. The blade flashed like a ray of light and cut through anything in its way. This was the true essence of this art. It had seven forms, each more deadly than the last. The best defense was a fast attack, and the Blood Gleam Blade Art had both. It killed as soon as the blade was drawn.
Liu Wuxie took out a long blade from his room. This blade didn’t feel compatible with him, but it was still acceptable for temporary use. He could visit the Xu Clan’s workshop the next day to find a suitable weapon.
He practiced drawing his sword over and over again, and his clothes were soaked with sweat. He didn’t notice the time passing, and by the time he stopped, it was already evening. He had spent half a day on this simple exercise.
He faced a wooden pile with a mark carved in the center. At first, he couldn’t hit the mark at all. But as he practiced, he hit it once every three tries. His accuracy was getting better. The Blood Gleam Blade Art demanded a high level of precision. It was a technique that aimed to kill the enemy with one strike.
Liu Wuxie’s stomach growled loudly, interrupting his training. He realized he was starving. He hadn’t eaten anything since noon, and the hunger made him quit his training. He tidied up quickly and left the house. He headed for the Xu Clan’s Dining Hall.
Liu Wuxie usually avoided eating with his in-laws because they always scolded him.
It was the busiest time for dining, and thousands of Xu Clan members crowded the dining hall. The hall was impressive, and it had several levels. The deacons had their own section, which was relatively quiet, while the lower servants who cleaned the residence sat near the door, which was a noisy area.
Liu Wuxie had a private room in a corner for his dining area. When he entered the hall, everyone went silent. They looked down and ate their food. Some of them had scorn in their eyes.
But Liu Wuxie ignored the surrounding stares and walked into his private room. There was usually food ready for him, but the table was empty today. Even the table and chair where he usually ate were removed.
“That fellow still has the cheeks to dine? I would’ve killed myself with a beancurd if I was him.” Whispers came from the surroundings. The voice wasn’t loud, but Liu Wuxie heard them.
“Who moved my table and chair?” Liu Wuxie’s face became dark as he swept his gaze around. His gaze finally stopped on the deacon responsible for the Dining Hall. This person was in charge of this place and should have an explanation for the missing table and chair.
This deacon was in his forties and had been in the Xu Clan for over two decades. Everyone would usually address him as Tie Li, and his gaze was eerie because he didn’t like Liu Wuxie. But because of his identity as a deacon of the Xu Clan, he had no choice but to step forward.
“We’re short on tables and chairs, so we had to take them,” Tie Li said, and his blunt reply instantly caused a burst of laughter from the surroundings.
“Not enough?” A cold smirk rose on the corner of Liu Wuxie’s lips. The Xu Clan’s Dining Hall was spacious enough, and the surroundings had many unused tables and chairs. But only his table and chair were moved, which was an act of disregarding him.
“You’re right. There aren’t enough,” Tie Li sneered.
Through his memory, he found many scenes of Tie Li bullying Liu Wuxie. There was a time when Tie Li even gave Liu Wuxie leftovers or spoiled food. This happened more than once, and he received a beating a few times he protested.
“Tell me, who instructed you to do this?” A trace of murderous intent shot out from Liu Wuxie’s eyes, causing Tie Li to stagger.
“Feeding a piece of trash like you is no different from wasting food. I don’t like you, so I chopped your table and chair and used it for firewood. So what can you do to me?” Tie Li said, gesturing to slap Liu Wuxie.
To others, Liu Wuxie was just a trash at the first level of the Houtian Realm. Even the lowest servant could push him around, and Liu Wuxie would only complain to his father-in-law. This made everyone despise him even more, and he had to endure it silently.
But without any warning, Liu Wuxie gave Tie Li a frontal kick in his stomach. This sent Tie Li flying away. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as he crashed into the crowd, smashing all the tables and chairs in his way.
“How dare a piece of trash like you lay your hands on me!” Tie Li stood up. He didn’t suffer any injuries and wore a furious gaze. He grabbed a chair within his reach and dashed it toward Liu Wuxie.
The crowd quickly parted, giving the two ample space to fight. No one dared to interfere.
“You’re nothing more than a cook hired by the Xu Clan, and it looks like you need a beating for you to understand your position!” Liu Wuxie faced Tie Li head-on. After having his physique nourished by the Body-Refining Elixir, his strength increased by several folds. So even if he didn’t make a breakthrough yet, he wasn’t far from it. He could reach the fifth level of the Houtian Realm within the next couple of days.
He didn’t respect many people in the Xu Clan except his father-in-law. They had beaten him up many times over the years, and he had to get his revenge. He would give them what they deserved.
Tie Li was strong with cultivation at the fourth level of the Houtian Realm. He used his force to pick up the chair and slam it down on Liu Wuxie.
“You’re courting death!” Striding the Seven Stars Step, Liu Wuxie dodged Tie Li’s attack and kicked him in his foot. His kick made Tie Li fall flat on his face, hitting the ground. He lay on the threshold with his face covered in blood. Liu Wuxie held back because he didn’t want to kill him but merely teach him a lesson.
The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes. They didn’t know how Liu Wuxie became so powerful that he beat Tie Li.
Tie Li struggled to stand up, and his face twisted with rage. He grabbed a kitchen knife from outside the door.
“Tie Li, stop!” Someone stepped forward. It was okay if Tie Li hit Liu Wuxie, but they would all get in trouble with the Xu Clan if Liu Wuxie’s life were in danger.
“Screw you!” Tie Li had already lost his rationale from the humiliation of losing to Liu Wuxie. Like a wild beast, he slashed the kitchen knife at Liu Wuxie’s face.
“You want to die? Fine by me!” Liu Wuxie didn’t plan to kill Tie Li at first. But since Tie Li asked for it, he would grant his wish. He moved so fast that he left a blur behind. He appeared behind Tie Li and aimed a palm strike at his back. This strike would kill Tie Li with its force.
“Stop!” Xu Yilin appeared in the nick of time. Someone had informed him about the fight, and he came to stop this farce.