Chapter 567: Chapter 329: The Women’s Admiration, Praising His Skill, Another Chance Encounter, and a Naturally Formed Mystic Pill!

He said, "He Wentian has deep thoughts; it seems there is a road ahead, but in reality, there is none."

The women felt a little disappointed. Li Xian said, "There’s not much food here, and waiting will only lead to freezing and starvation. When the stone gate opens, our enemies will surely follow. By then, a fierce battle is inevitable, resulting in heavy casualties. As for what we should do now, it’s difficult to move forward or upward, so we can only move deeper to explore the mysteries inside. However, going inside also holds dangers, and I can’t predict what situations we will encounter. I’ve decided to explore; whether you want to follow is up to you."

Zhao Chunxia greatly admired this, thinking, "Though he bears a heavy responsibility, he doesn’t overestimate himself. This young man is uniquely steady, increasingly making one admire him. Though the same age as Wang Long, his capability to handle things is far superior." The women conversed for a moment and all wished to go together.

Prisoner Canyon stretched inward, densely covered with vegetation. Li Xian thought, "Going inside is definitely fraught with danger, but once stepping into a perilous place, how can one have a foolproof plan? I can only be very cautious and do my best while leaving the outcome to fate."

Before setting off, Li Xian prepared order and supplies.

He divided the women into six teams: one team for each of the Five Great Sword Sects and one team for the Jianghu freelancers. Each team was further divided into squads. Those closely related were prioritized to form squads, so they could look out for and take care of each other. Monitoring everyone’s whereabouts all the time, the arrangement was both appropriate and reasonable.

Li Xian then further detailed essential tasks, deciding who would carry food, who would patrol, who would handle miscellaneous tasks, and who would gather fruits and grains, etc. Every detail was planned thoroughly to prevent chaos in unexpected situations. The elders were weak but knowledgeable and needn’t labor over miscellaneous tasks, but merely rest and provide advice.

Li Xian selected outstanding individuals from each sect: Lin Aoshan, Luo Feiyan, Yi Qianqian, and Mu Hongchou to assist him. A total of one hundred and seventy-two people from the sword sects, plus the Jianghu freelancers, amounted to nearly two hundred people, each having their own role and position, cooperating with one another.

The elders all admired Li Xian, admitting they were no match for him, thinking, "This youth is truly a genius, so young yet so skillful in handling things. We are embarrassed to be called elders, his commanding talent truly puts us to shame." They sighed again, thinking, "If we escape this danger, these young women may have more troubles added."

That night, everyone lit fires to keep warm. The servants and cooks left hastily, leaving some surplus food. Fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and meat filled three to five carts, enough for two days. Li Xian lay down on a snow blanket, slowly falling asleep, recalling the past when he led the Black River Village folk against mountain bandits. Applying that experience to this situation, he mused, "Every crisis is also a gift. Without the Black River Village experience, commanding these women now would likely leave me at wit’s end. Moreover, the lady disciples of the sword sects are not weak. Used appropriately, they could also help me escape danger."

Early the next morning, Li Xian got up to practice with the spear, improving his spearmanship to accumulate skill level. Zhao Chunxia practiced ’Spring Observation Treasure Manual,’ where the snow blanket gradually sprouted green buds during her inner cultivation. Li Xian contemplated, "Don’t underestimate the foundational strength of the sword sects. I myself have a copy of the Avoiding Jade Scripture, also a Health Care Skill, but haven’t had the opportunity to practice it. Currently... it’s best to continue honing the Broken Demon Spear. Madam once gifted me the ’Finger-Flashing Golden Light,’ which has been neglected for too long and I’ve yet to dabble in it. Once we’re out of this danger, I’ll refine each skill carefully."

Li Xian moved gracefully.

[Skill Level +1]

[Broken Demon Spear]

[Skill Level: 6678/35000 Perfection]

[You absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth, Skill Level +1]

[Bone Shaping and Embryo]

[Skill Level: 8/100]

His spearmanship increasingly improved. After half an hour, everything was ready, so they headed deeper, leaving red thread marks along the way. The canyon path was long and shadowy. After traveling about a day, the vegetation along the way gradually changed, with more green moss and less snow. Seeing the women tired, Li Xian ordered to rest overnight on the spot.

All the women, daughters of Jianghu, were either shy or bashful by nature, but they were not pedantic and understood the big picture. They collaborated, dividing labor, cooking meals, and building thatched shelters... A few women, intelligent and skillful, prepared delicacies and set up private tents for Li Xian.

They served tea and water, taking care of everything comprehensively. Li Xian, caught off guard, accepted the food and tea with a smile. The night passed peacefully, and they set off again the next day. Thus they traveled for two more days without knowing the canyon’s end.

The traveling food was all consumed, but along the way, some exotic fruits and herbs were found. Mixed with snow in the pot, it made a wild fruit vegetable soup, just enough to stave off hunger. After another day’s journey, the women’s cultivation sustained them from unbearable hunger, but without food replenishment and in the cold harsh environment, their spirits were inevitably diminished.

That night, they set up camp again to rest. Feeling the ground differently, Li Xian thought it felt slightly soft. Thus he rooted his hair, sensing the details beneath the ground. Surprised by the sensation, he went ahead alone. Using his Lightweight Skill, he hopped around several times, casting his hair to sense the earth’s details.

After half an incense stick’s time, Li Xian returned to the camp and said to everyone, "Moving further will lead to marshland, which with its peculiar soil has strong adhesion. Even with cultivation, one cannot be careless. We need to link ourselves with ropes and move forward."

All the women knew the road ahead was long and agreed to follow. The next morning was dimly lit; everyone tied themselves with ropes as they stepped into the marshy area. Li Xian, utilizing the mysteriousness of the Lightweight Skill, took a few steps ahead to scout out the situation.

The canyon path was deep and dark. As they went further, light gradually disappeared. Li Xian opened his Heavy Pupils, scanning around for hidden dangers. But he discovered a hidden spectacle: a crevice in the mountain wall, with a faint glow inside.

Inside was a naturally formed stalactite cave, dazzling with colorful hues, occasionally resonating with the sound of spring water. In there was a stone, shaped like a large cauldron, hollow inside, with a white elixir within the cauldron.

Surprised and overjoyed, Li Xian recalled Madam Wen mentioning that the "Alchemy" is vast—man may refine elixirs, but so can nature. In places with unique geography or feng shui, heavenly elixirs may be nurtured.

This stone cauldron naturally formed; it possesses the shape, therefore the function. Once the cauldron is complete, the elixir reveals itself. The mystery of heaven and earth works in mysterious ways, naturally culminating in the refinement of a pill.