The next day, Lǐ Xián woke up feeling refreshed and practiced his swordplay in the side courtyard. His sword technique was indeed much more potent at the Grand Accomplishment level than at the Minor Accomplishment level.
If he were to face a dog demon in the Mid Spirit Gathering Realm now, Lǐ Xián was certain he could kill it with a single strike. Although his own cultivation was also in the Mid Spirit Gathering Realm, with the aid of his formidable swordplay, his power could surely rival that of the Late Spirit Gathering Realm.
The Lǐ Family Swordplay was also incredibly exquisite. The original owner had started learning it at the age of ten. Later, after Lǐ Xián's parents fell ill and passed away one after another, the original owner lived alone with no one to discipline him. He frequented gambling dens and developed a gambling habit.
From the original owner's memories, Lǐ Xián knew his parents were ordinary people. Although his father had also wanted to step onto the path of martial arts, his aptitude was unfortunately dull, and he couldn't break through to the Spirit Gathering Realm relying on the ancestral Lǐ Family Swordplay. He achieved nothing in his lifetime.
As for the original owner, if he hadn't changed, he would likely have been even more unreliable than his father. The gambling debt of five hundred taels of silver was already costing him his life. If not for his transmigration, this body might not even exist.
Just then, Lǐ Xián heard a knock on the door from outside. He went to open it and saw Táng Shīyǐng standing there with a maidservant.
Táng Shīyǐng glanced at Lǐ Xián and said coldly, "Where were you again last night? The maidservant brought you food but didn't see you here."
Lǐ Xián wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled, "I'm sorry to have made you worry. I just went out for a stroll and came back soon."
Táng Shīyǐng looked a bit surprised. She glanced at Lǐ Xián. This Lǐ Xián seemed a little different from before; he used to be carefree, but now he was polite and courteous.
Táng Shīyǐng put on a stern face and asked, "Did you take money to gamble again?"
"No. Last night I really just went out for a stroll," Lǐ Xián replied.
Táng Shīyǐng said, "That's good. If I ever find out you gambled, you'll have to live here for the rest of your life."
Táng Shīyǐng instructed the maidservant to place the food box on the table in the room and take the old one away.
Seeing the sword in Lǐ Xián's hand, Táng Shīyǐng asked, "Are you practicing swordplay?"
"Yes! I had almost abandoned the Lǐ Family Swordplay. Practicing a bit can help loosen my muscles."
Táng Shīyǐng said, "It's good that you're practicing. Try to see if you can reach the threshold of martial arts cultivation. Even just a Ninth-grade Spirit Gathering Realm cultivation would allow you to get some task in the Tang Family, which is better than doing nothing."
"Okay, I will," Lǐ Xián said without elaborating further.
Táng Shīyǐng pondered for a moment and then said, "How about this, I'll teach you the Tang Family's Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art. This technique might help you reach the threshold of the Ninth-grade Spirit Gathering Realm faster."
Táng Shīyǐng felt that instead of letting Lǐ Xián gamble pointlessly, it was better to let him stay at home and cultivate a technique.
The Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art was a foundational technique of the Tang Family, and all its members had to learn it. Since Lǐ Xián had married into the Tang Family, he was also a member, so there was no problem with him learning the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art.
Lǐ Xián said, "Okay."
He was just worried about not finding any suitable techniques and was thinking about whether to ask Táng Shīyǐng about learning a Tang Family technique. He didn't expect her to bring it up herself.
Táng Shīyǐng's cultivation was average among the Tang Family disciples, only in the Mid Spirit Gathering Realm, which was comparable to Lǐ Xián's current strength. She taught Lǐ Xián the incantation of the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art a few times and showed him how to circulate Qi according to the incantation and how to condense spiritual energy.
Lǐ Xián had a good memory and quickly memorized it thoroughly.
Táng Shīyǐng was somewhat surprised. "Your memory is so good, and you circulate Qi according to the incantation without any mistakes. If you continue like this, you will surely reach the threshold of martial arts cultivation."
Lǐ Xián said, "Actually, I have already stepped into the Early Spirit Gathering Realm."
Lǐ Xián felt that he could now reveal some of his strength appropriately, to avoid any suspicion from the Tang Family if his power were suddenly exposed during a conflict with the casino boss. Moreover, if the forces behind the casino boss were to make a move, he might need to rely on the Tang Family to resist them.
Táng Shīyǐng was surprised. "Really?"
"Yes! I had some insights while practicing the Lǐ Family Swordplay a few days ago, and I broke through naturally," Lǐ Xián said.
"That's good that you broke through. Practice diligently, and I'll see when I can ask my father to find you a position in the Tang Family."
With that, she turned and left with her maidservant.
As she turned, Lǐ Xián caught a glimpse of her. The stern expression on her face seemed to soften slightly with a hint of a smile. She was indeed happy about his improvement in strength.
Lǐ Xián continued to practice the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art for a while. He felt that with this technique, circulating spiritual energy became much easier, and when unleashing power, it could be condensed into a more potent force. Previously, he didn't know how to circulate spiritual energy and could only rely on the swordplay to condense the power of spiritual energy.
Lǐ Xián felt his strength had improved again, and he was very happy. His stomach also rumbled with hunger, so he stopped to eat breakfast. He had a huge appetite and quickly finished three steamed buns with a plate of small dishes.
Lǐ Xián rubbed his belly, let out a satisfied burp, and continued to practice the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art. Two hours later, he still hadn't reached the introductory level of the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art.
The status panel also showed:
【Current Martial Arts:】
【Lǐ Family Swordplay (Grand Accomplishment)】
【Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art (Not Yet Introduced)】
【Current Vital Energy: 0 Cards】
This was within Lǐ Xián's expectations. Táng Shīyǐng had cultivated the Dragon Elephant Condensing Origin Art for over a decade and was only in the Mid Spirit Gathering Realm. He had just started practicing, so it was naturally impossible to reach the introductory level.
However, cultivating like this was too slow. He still owed the casino boss five hundred taels of silver, which at this rate, would be five hundred and fifty taels after one night. This matter gnawed at him like a bone stuck in his throat. Therefore, Lǐ Xián urgently wanted to increase his cultivation to gain more confidence.
He looked outside. It was noon, and the sun was high in the sky.
Lǐ Xián picked up the iron sword stained with demon blood from last night and walked out of the side courtyard. He headed towards the outskirts of the city on a secluded street.
Lǐ Xián walked quickly. After half an hour, he passed through the city gate and arrived at the outskirts of Fengyang City.
At this time, many commoners were coming and going. The city guards did not stop people entering or leaving the city, so Lǐ Xián did not encounter any obstruction like he did last night.
Lǐ Xián walked on the country roads. When he encountered wild beasts, he would check his status panel for any notifications.
However, Lǐ Xián did not dare to venture too deep into secluded areas, fearing he might encounter an extremely powerful demon he couldn't handle.
"Did you hear about what happened last night?"
"What happened?"
"Someone disappeared from the He family's residence last night. They say a demon snatched them away."
"What kind of demon dares to be so bold as to enter a house and snatch someone? Did the He family report it to the authorities?"
"They did! The constables from the yamen came to investigate but couldn't find anything after searching for a long time, and then they left."
"Alas! The demons are so powerful that the yamen constables probably won't dare to get involved!"
"Yes! We have to lock our doors tightly at night and paste talismans from the temple on our doors to ward off evil spirits and demons!"
Lǐ Xián overheard the conversation of a few passersby and intentionally followed behind them, arriving at a small village.
Along the way, he encountered a few stray dogs and wild cats, but his status panel did not show any notifications.
However, Lǐ Xián felt that the stray dogs in the village seemed terrified, with their heads hanging low, looking timid and shrinking back. They didn't bark at strangers. The village was eerily silent.
There were likely demons present in this village.