321 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

**Chapter 321: The Origins of Su Lingxiu and Tang Jinyan's Speculation** Li Xuan shifted his focus from the Tai-Cang Book back to compiling his Divine Martial Arts Manual. By now, he had already crafted several Lesser Divine Skills. As for the Greater Divine Skills, he hadn't managed to develop any yet. However, the theoretical frameworks for two skills, "Rebirth in a Thought (一念重生)" and "White Bone Metamorphosis (白骨化生)," had started to take shape, and it was only a matter of time before they would fully emerge. "With these Greater Divine Skills, I aim to perfect them, making the comprehension and cultivation process as accessible as possible. This ensures they can indeed be mastered and cultivated," Li Xuan mused. Yet, he was also aware that the more powerful the martial path, the greater the difficulty in comprehension, making it challenging to simplify. Should the difficulty be reduced too much, it might render the martial path less mighty than desired. Su Lingxiu was preparing to break through to the Divine Essence Realm. Unsurprisingly, she was also set to transform into a divine form. "Three martial paths have reached the Divine Arts Realm. However, the Mysterious Martial Path falls slightly short, but it's not a major issue." The Mysterious Martial Path had always been unique, involving formations, restrictions, and the Marvelous Mysterious Scheme (天地奇門之局). As one's strength increased, so did the power of these methods. Li Xuan's formations, arranged at the Divine Arts Realm, could be as potent as the realm itself. Every day, warriors seeking consultation would flood the Evergreen Pavilion, ranging from scattered cultivators to members of spiritual sects and families. Although the daily consultation slots were limited, for those suffering from severe injuries, old wounds, or even foundational damage, this was a life-changing opportunity they couldn't afford to miss. Li Xuan noticed Meng Shushu conversing discreetly with the visiting warriors, mentioning a particular name intentionally or otherwise, as if he was inquiring about someone. It seemed to be a subtle investigation. Meng Shushu specifically approached warriors from spiritual sects or families since, compared to scattered cultivators, they had access to more expansive networks of information and secrets. "I once heard of a warrior named Mu Qianliu, reputed for his exemplary strength and attractive demeanor. Do you know of him?" Meng Shushu inquired curiously. "Mu Qianliu?" The warrior from a spiritual sect was taken aback and looked at Meng Shushu with surprise. Why would this person mention Mu Qianliu? However, as Meng Shushu was affiliated with the Evergreen Pavilion and responsible for distributing elixirs, it wouldn’t be wise to offend him. On the contrary, it might be beneficial to curry favor, possibly earning an extra elixir. "The Mu Qianliu you're referring to is likely the renowned 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family. Indeed, his prowess is formidable, and his charming disposition is no exaggeration." The 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family was quite famous, especially in Luozhou. "A 'Charismatic Young Master'?" Meng Shushu asked, intrigued. "Why is he called that?" The warrior wore an odd expression. Why didn't Meng Shushu know this if he was familiar with Mu Qianliu's name? In the Spiritual Domain, particularly in Luozhou, Mu Qianliu's true identity might be lesser-known, but nearly everyone recognized the 'Charismatic Young Master.' "He’s known for his charm and flirtatious nature. You weren’t aware?" the warrior expressed his surprise. Meng Shushu was floored, struggling to accept this information. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Explain how he's flirtatious." "Well, that’s a lengthy tale…" The warrior coughed, his face pale from lingering old wounds. Meng Shushu handed him an elixir. Despite questioning several members of spiritual sects and families, only this warrior seemed to know of Mu Qianliu; others merely speculated he belonged to the Mu family. The warrior, delighted, pocketed the elixir and began recounting the romantic escapades of Mu Qianliu—the troubles brought on by his flirtations and the many affairs he had. There were also mentions of his extraordinary talent, said to have reached the pinnacle of the Refining Divine Realm, possibly already being a supreme power. Meng Shushu was dumbfounded. The image of a certain person crumbled in his mind, filling him with a sense of distress. "Mu Qianliu, I can't believe you're that kind of person!" His mind replayed scenes of elegance and grace—Mu Qianliu, the person who had captivated countless women, perhaps just another heartbreaker. Each time he recalled the delicate, affectionate figure leaning against Mu Qianliu, his anger stirred. What he thought was a match made in heaven had, in truth, been a deception. Merely one of Mu Qianliu's many ladies! In a daze, Meng Shushu turned to leave but stopped and asked, "Where is Mu Qianliu now?" The warrior, puzzled by Meng Shushu's reaction, shook his head, "No idea. The 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family has been missing for a while. Rumor has it he fled emotional debts, sought methods to become a supreme power, or went searching for new romantic interests." Meng Shushu felt devastated, the once unshakable image in his heart utterly collapsing. Upon returning to the Evergreen Pavilion, Meng Shushu sat brooding in a corner. Li Xuan caught a glimpse of Meng Shushu and, with a smirk, deduced that this fellow was acquainted with Su Lingxiu’s biological father, knowing he hailed from the Spiritual Domain. Now, he wished to find this person. "A 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family? What a character. That Mu Feiming, whom Xu Yan defeated, could he not be his son, the half-brother of Su Lingxiu?" Li Xuan dismissed it, unconcerned about Su Lingxiu’s lineage; how she dealt with it was up to her. Whether she acknowledged this father or not was entirely her business. Naturally, being his disciple meant she would not be bullied. Even if Li Xuan remained uninvolved, her senior brothers, Xu Yan and Meng Chong, and even junior fellow Fang Hao would stand up for her. As the day of consultations at Evergreen Pavilion ended, the doors closed, and Shi'er continued his dedicated practice. Zhou Ying approached the still-sitting Meng Shushu in the corner. Meng Shushu had been mingling with those in the consultation queue, and Zhou Ying had noticed, having guessed the purpose. "Meng Shushu, do you know who the lady's husband is?" Zhou Ying whispered. Meng Shushu looked up at her, his expression complex. Sighing, he said, "Better not bring him up." "You do know!" Zhou Ying frowned. "Tell me, what did you find out?" After a moment of silence, Meng Shushu asked, "Did Elder Sister Su instruct you on this matter?" Zhou Ying furrowed her brow, scrutinizing Meng Shushu. "Why are you looking at me like that? I've always called her 'Elder Sister Su' since childhood. Although my father scolded me to call her 'Aunt,' I preferred 'Elder Sister,' and she accepted. So, don’t give me nonsense about it being inappropriate." Meng Shushu remarked unhappily. Zhou Ying considered before bringing out a jade token, "The lady instructed that if there’s news from beyond the Inner Domain, or if warriors from beyond appear, you can use this jade token to leave the Inner Domain." She already knew it was the Spiritual Sect's jade token. "Is the lady’s father from the Mu family in Luozhou?" Zhou Ying asked, looking at the jade token. Meng Shushu nodded. The Mu family in Luozhou, an elite family with immense power, was reputed to have mastered techniques for cultivating spiritual herbs and held influence in the Spiritual Domain. "What did you find out?" Zhou Ying probed earnestly. "Mu Qianliu is...a rogue," Meng Shushu sighed, recounting everything he had discovered to Zhou Ying. "Renowned 'Charismatic Young Master'..." Zhou Ying's face turned sour. Had the lady been deceived? "Is the mastermind behind the hidden tower the Mu family?" Zhou Ying suddenly pondered. Considering the views of the Spiritual Domain's sects towards the Inner Domain, perhaps upon learning of the lady's offspring with Mu family bloodline, they sought to erase the romantic escapades of the 'Charismatic Young Master' in the Inner Domain to safeguard the Mu family's reputation. "I don’t know!" Meng Shushu shook his head, "But I’m certain, it has nothing to do with Mu Qianliu." "What makes you so sure?" Zhou Ying was filled with resentment. "The spiritual herbs, Mu Qianliu left them to help Elder Sister Su recover her health," Meng Shushu sighed. Zhou Ying fell silent for a long time, then asked, "Should we tell the lady her father is the 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family?" Meng Shushu shook his head, "I don’t know, let fate decide." He sighed, adding, "Perhaps not knowing is a blessing." Zhou Ying thought, nodding. Su Lingxiu was happy now; knowing her origins, with such a problematic father, might cause her distress. Meng Shushu and Zhou Ying decided to pretend nothing had happened and refrain from further inquiries into the 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family. Su Lingxiu successfully broke through to the Divine Essence Realm. **Additional Notes:** - **Mu Qianliu (木千流)**: A character from the Mu family, known as the 'Charismatic Young Master.' The translation emphasizes both his martial prowess and his notorious charm, maintaining the intended context and retaining the charisma. - **Luozhou (洛州)**: Identified as a region known for the Mu family, indicating the geographical and socio-cultural setting. - **Charismatic Young Master (風流子)**: "風流" can mean both charming and flirtatious, preserving his dual charisma and notorious reputation. - **Elder Sister Su (素姐姐)**: Meng Shushu's affectionate term for Su Lingxiu, showcasing personal ties beyond mere formality. No changes required to the above list at the moment. Gender and affiliations are consistent as per current knowledge of the characters involved. "Your disciple Su Lingxiu has broken through to the Divine Essence Realm, amplifying your Evergreen Divine Essence a hundredfold!" As Su Lingxiu reached a breakthrough, Fang Hao was in the final stages of crafting the flying boat. Boom! A flying boat, about a zhang long, surrounded by purple lightning and adorned with intricate pavilions and dragon carvings, floated before them. Fang Hao was immersed in the final touch of crafting it. Li Xuan glanced over and nodded in satisfaction. Wu Tiannan, having awakened from comprehending the Laws of Heaven and Earth, curiously watched from the side, utterly amazed by this extraordinary craft. Cai Ling'er was similarly enthralled. "It's almost a success!" Su Lingxiu exclaimed with delight. She had also poured her heart into the creation of the flying boat, offering numerous suggestions on its design. --- At Mercury Palace, though now only a second-rate spiritual sect, it once enjoyed times of glory. Even in its decline, it held considerable respect in Luozhou. Rumors circulated that the palace master of Mercury Palace was on the brink of breaking through to the pinnacle of the Refining Divine Heavenly Being. Tang Jinyan, daughter of the palace master and legitimate wife of Mu Qianliu, the 'Charismatic Young Master' of the Mu family, had returned to Mercury Palace in anger. Despite her frustration, she continued managing some of the Mu family's affairs, particularly dealing with her husband's romantic debts. With its ties to the Mu family, a top-notch family, few forces in Luozhou dared to target Mercury Palace. Besides, the 'Charismatic Young Master,' Mu Qianliu, had impressive talent, with some rumors suggesting he was already a supreme power. Regardless of Mu Qianliu's feelings for Tang Jinyan, as his official spouse, her status shielded her from disrespect, especially when her husband might be a supreme power. Mercury Palace was content to maintain its domain without ambitions of expansion, seemingly focused on continuity, which further deterred any ventures against it. Despite this security, Tang Jinyan felt distraught. From Jiao Ming, Ping’er to Granny Jing, those sent to the Inner Domain to capture the illegitimate offspring, had all left her without news, and even the Gate of the Spiritual Domain had been closed. This indicated either death or a permanent stay within the Inner Domain. The probability of their demise was ninety percent. Tang Jinyan experienced a wave of panic, fearing Mu Qianliu had left safeguards to protect that mother-daughter duo and eliminate Jiao Ming, Ping’er, and Granny Jing. After all, Granny Jing was at the Greater Heavenly Being Realm. She was restless, fearing the incident could incite Mu Qianliu's wrath enough to abandon her. Mu Qianliu's flirtatious nature left no room for deep affection toward her; theirs was an arranged marriage within the family to appease the elders. Mu Qianliu was not one to stay homebound; soon after their marriage, he departed, never to return. Though Mu Qianliu held no love for her, Tang Jinyan deeply admired him, committing her heart entirely to him. The thought of a lowborn woman tarnishing her husband's bloodline made her determined to eliminate such disgrace. She had cautiously handled a few women who harbored fleeting romances with her husband. Observing the family's elders' negligence and her husband's silence, her confidence grew bolder, her retribution harsher. To her chagrin, one woman brought a son to the Mu family's gate, one she intended to eliminate. Infuriatingly, that woman's son was a spiritual body! The excitement among the Mu elders was palpable, even admonishing her. Furious, Tang Jinyan retreated to Mercury Palace. She had not returned to the Mu family since then. The major setback with the Inner Domain matter had blackened her mood, stewing in perpetual anger. "My lady!" A maid entered cautiously. Despite being Tang Jinyan's personal maid, she had been punished several times since the mishap in the Inner Domain due to Tang Jinyan's foul temper. "What is it?" Tang Jinyan asked lazily. "It's about the Inner Domain..." The maid hesitated. "Speak directly. What about the Inner Domain now?" Tang Jinyan barked irritably. "My lady, that person seems to have arrived in the Spiritual Domain." The maid whispered. "What did you say?" Tang Jinyan sprang up, her face livid with fury. "Did she use the jade token to return to the Mu family and acknowledge her lineage? And the old fogeys accepted her?" With the Gate of the Spiritual Domain opened, some had entered from the Inner Domain. Could that wretched child be among them? Had she used the jade token her husband left in the Inner Domain to acknowledge her lineage with the Mu family? If true, being accepted by those old ones would indicate extraordinary talent! "Not to the Mu family, but... to Evergreen Pavilion." The maid cautiously added, "The Elixir Fairy Su Lingxiu of Evergreen Pavilion could be her!" "What are you saying? Impossible!" Tang Jinyan’s expression changed sharply, her voice shrill. "My lady, the initial reports named her Su Lingxiu. All evidence suggests the Elixir Fairy of Evergreen Pavilion could indeed be her, especially given the timing of Evergreen Pavilion’s emergence..." The maid laid out the latest intelligence in detail. As the information connected, the Elixir Fairy of Evergreen Pavilion was none other than the one Tang Jinyan sought to capture, a person from the Inner Domain! Tang Jinyan became restless, her face turning pale. If the news were true, and her attempts to send men into the Inner Domain to assassinate were revealed, the consequences would be unimaginable. "Evergreen Pavilion, Inner Domain, Xu Yan..." In that instant, Tang Jinyan formed a terrifying suspicion. The renowned Xu Yan of the Spiritual Domain might also hail from the Inner Domain; the timing of his rise was too coincidental. **Additional Notes:** - **Mercury Palace (水星宮)**: Identified as a declining yet historical second-rate spiritual sect in Luozhou. - **Tang Jinyan (唐金燕)**: Gender identified as she. Daughter of the palace master, married to Mu Qianliu. - **Jiao Ming (焦鳴), Ping’er (萍兒), Granny Jing (靜婆婆)**: Connected to the Inner Domain incident, ordered by Tang Jinyan to retrieve the offspring. - **Xu Yan (許炎)**: Mentioned as a potential Inner Domain native who gained prominence in the Spiritual Domain, observed by Tang Jinyan due to coincidental timing. The existing list aligns with the context provided, with no immediate changes.