Li Xian picked up the brush and painted, capturing the beauty of the moonlit figure on paper. His painting skills were still shallow, but his understanding was high, knowing how to play to his strengths while avoiding weaknesses. Knowing that his strokes were shallow and ink cheap, he found it hard to paint Wen Caishang’s features, so he decided not to paint them at all. He only painted her vague silhouette, setting it amidst various scenery.
Wen Caishang looked at the painting with joy and wanted Xiaotuan to treasure it. Li Xian said, "Madam, I will paint for you every day in the future. This painting is of shallow skill, quite shaful, and is of no great significance, no need to treasure it."
Wen Caishang said, "It’s the thought that counts. Even though your painting skills are still shallow, I like it very much." With a flourish of her sleeve, she handed the painting to Xiaotuan, applied so kind of ointnt to prevent the ink from dispersing, and stored it in a box for safekeeping.
Li Xian had originally planned to sell the painting as a ssage to draw the attention of the Flower Cage Sect. Seeing that this plan could not work, he devised another sche instead. He thought to himself: "I paint for her every day, she surely wouldn’t rush to gouge out my eyes."
Wen Caishang softly said, "Well then, Mr. Li, how is your understanding of the Magic Dao? Have there been any mishaps? The Magic Dao Golden Light is known as the Six Yards Golden Light, able to instantaneously leap six yards."
"Don’t underestimate the re six-yard distance. Sotis, life and death lurk within a hair’s breadth, and this distance can be incredibly useful."
Her words concealed a hidden danger. Last night she had a conversation with He Wentian, then went to the side pavilion to observe Li Xian’s actions. Though she was often deceived by Li Xian’s sweet words when they were together, her reason returned once they parted. She anticipated Li Xian was innately cunning, and once caught, he wouldn’t resign to his fate. He spoke sweet words of lifelong companionship and deep loyalty, but must be secretly plotting an escape route. Hence, she watched over him in secret, and if there were any unusual movents, severe punishnt would be executed, including the gouging of his eyes.
Seeing Li Xian eat and drink Essence Treasure, she felt sowhat pleased. She watched him throughout the night, noting how he grasped the Magic Dao, how he exhibited spells, integrating the Magic Dao with Swordsmanship, all of which she observed closely.
Li Xian’s "Golden Light Technique" surpassed others, more clearly than anyone. She also knew that Li Xian only understood the "Golden Light Recipe - Part 1," unaware of the details in Part 2. She thought: "This child doesn’t realize his Golden Light Technique is unusually strong, still thinking it’s no different from others. If I were to ask directly, he wouldn’t dare hide anything and would reveal all. But this would be no fun. I’ll test his loyalty first. I will tell him about the Six Yards Golden Light; let’s see if his Eight-Yard Golden Light also becos Six Yards, hiding his power, intentionally deceiving ."
Upon hearing "Six Yards Golden Light," Li Xian was surprised: "It turns out the recipe states the Golden Light Technique can only leap six yards. My Eight-Yard Golden Light is much stronger." He honestly said, "Ah? Six Yards Golden Light?"
Wen Caishang deliberately said, "Indeed. The Six Yards Golden Light... From ancient tis to now, whoever achieved the Magic Golden Light reached only six yards."
Li Xian said, "Madam, I seem to be a little different." Wen Caishang pretended not to know, "You’re different? How so?"
Li Xian said, "I can leap eight yards."
Wen Caishang’s eyes flashed with joy, feeling greatly gratified yet slightly guilty. In surprise, she said, "Oh? Try it and see."
Li Xian displayed the "Golden Light Technique," transforming his body into a stream of light, leaping an eight-yard distance.
Wen Caishang, already aware of Li Xian’s uniqueness, was nonetheless astonished to witness it again. From ancient tis, consuming Golden Scale, Yellow Nine Ginseng, Dew of Dawn would yield the Magic Golden Light of six yards; why is it only you who reaches eight yards?
Wen Caishang thought to herself: "Could it be that my Mr. Li is truly so gifted? He possesses both Perfect Appearance and Heavy Pupil Appearance. Dual Appearance in one body, rare in the world. Indeed, he cannot be judged by common sense; my husband should exactly be like this."
She secretly reveled in it, the test was over, and she earnestly asked, "Mr. Li, why is your Golden Light so strong, do you know the reason?"
Li Xian said, "I also don’t know. I followed your instructions, Madam, eating and drinking Essence Treasure as usual, and naturally beca eight yards. I thought all Golden Lights were like this; it was only your reminder that made realize it’s special."
Wen Caishang chuckled softly and said, "Ah, my Mr. Li, with such talent, you will eventually surpass one day."
Li Xian felt his scalp tingle, thinking, "This old lady, if my cultivation nears hers, she’d surely stir up trouble, how could she allow to surpass her." He said, "The landscape of Martial Arts is indeed alluring. But I am more infatuated with the soft embrace of Madam."
Wen Caishang’s eyes brightened: "You, your words are the most false, if I believe you, I’m afraid you’d even take away the clothes I’m wearing."
She loved hearing the sweet talk, without consideration of truth or falsehood. When with Li Xian, she often found it hard to employ sches. Sotis she even got deceived by him.
She then said, "Well, this matter is beyond scrutiny; not everything in the world needs to be clear-cut. You have this fortune, just follow it well."
"Since you have acquired the Magic Dao, I am half a teacher to you concerning these matters and should convey them clearly to you."
Li Xian imdiately sought guidance. Wen Caishang said, "The Magic Dao is the authority conferred by heaven and earth, with infinite wonders. Using the Magic Dao consus your own Qi Power."
"The Magic Dao must be perford within one’s capacity, as overexertion brings the danger of depletion and death. So are born with abundant Qi Power, making the Magic Dao easier for them. It depends on the individual."
"And the Magic Dao can be practiced like Martial Arts, enhancing its clever and magical use. Like your Golden Light Technique, transforming the body into flowing light, leaping yards wide. During lateral shifts, it’s effortlessly easy, requiring no ticulous practice."
"But if there’s a wall in front of you, could you pass through it?"
Li Xian, possessing both "Perfect Appearance" and "Heavy Pupil Appearance," both advantageous to Qi Power, had fully recovered, executing the Magic Dao without hindrance. Seeing a wall, he imdiately transford into golden light and leaped forward.
The wall blocked his way, halting the stream of light. Li Xian’s form reappeared, and he asked, "Madam, do you an that if I practice diligently, I can leap through walls?"
Wen Caishang did not answer, instead, she said again, "There is a screen over there, try passing through it."
The screen was made of silk, exquisitely crafted, embroidered with a pattern of a phoenix spreading its wings. Li Xian approached the screen, transforming into a stream of light, also blocked and intercepted by the screen, though several hundred tiny light glimrs passed through the gaps of the screen.
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