Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 321 Ling Luoshi, get out here!

Changchun Valley is located in Shanju County, bordering Tibet.

This is a peculiar place in Dali. The people in the valley are free from illness and disaster, and have long lifespans. Everyone can live to be eighty or ninety years old, and there are many nonagenarians.

The Duan family of Dali once sent people to investigate, taking water, medicinal herbs and rice from Changchun Valley, but found nothing special. Originally, there was a martial arts tradition, but it was stolen by thieves a hundred years ago, and even the martial arts tradition was lost.

There are no amazing and mysterious martial arts secrets, nor any rare and precious materials or treasures. The people are just ordinary folks. How can they live long lives?

Let alone in the Song Dynasty, even in modern times, this kind of village is an anomaly among anomalies, worthy of being made into a dozen episodes of "Approaching Science" and investigated by experts and professors.

The legend of Changchun Valley has lasted for decades and originally attracted a large number of tourists. Even the Song Dynasty royal family was alarmed and ordered Dali to send Changchun Valley specialties as tribute. As time went on, the related legends gradually faded.

People, ordinary citizens.

Water, high-quality mountain spring water.

The rice doesn't taste as good as the rice from the Central Plains.

The medicine has the same medicinal properties as normal medicinal materials.

The martial arts have been lost to time and have left no trace.

Rumors circulate that Changchun Valley is a "village for the elderly" formed by gathering elderly people from all over the country in Dali, specifically to deceive tourists from other places and attract martial arts practitioners to live in seclusion.

Various rumors have been circulating one after another.

Today, almost no one cares.

Immortality has long been proven to be a myth in the realm of martial arts. Even powerful figures like Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng could not break through the limits of lifespan. Among all the masters throughout history, only Xiang Yutian lived to be three hundred years old thanks to the Evil Emperor's Relic.

It is said that Xiang Yutian tested the limits of absorbing essence and blood to prolong life. One cannot remain in the world forever. Once a certain point is reached, one must either completely disintegrate or shatter the void. Shattering the void is the correct path.

As for those "elixirs of immortality," they cannot be said to be entirely side effects. Throughout history, alchemists have discovered many byproducts during the alchemy process.

The most famous of all is... gunpowder!
There are also many powerful tonics to enhance one's abilities.

The medical principle behind longevity is to enhance physical strength, improve blood circulation, and strengthen internal organs.

As long as the medicinal effects are slightly reduced to a level that a normal person can tolerate, it is possible to refine miraculous medicines that enhance one's abilities, restore damage, and cure diseases.

Duan Zhengchun mentioned Changchun Valley only because he was worried that martial arts figures would cause trouble in Dali. He didn't care at all about the claims of immortality and longevity.

For Duan Zhengchun, if he were the only one who could live forever, and he had to watch his confidantes grow old day by day, their beauty turning to white hair, their faces full of wrinkles, and eventually dying of illness in their beds, he would rather slit his own throat on the spot!
After the banquet, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

The next morning, the group headed to Changchun Valley.

Such an interesting place! If we don't let Lan Fenghuang and Miss Wang go, they'll definitely cause a ruckus. With their martial arts skills, their safety is absolutely no problem. Let's just go on a spring outing together and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Changchun Valley.

Changchun Valley is located hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, Li Zhaoting and his companions are all martial arts masters and have excellent horses that can travel a thousand miles a day, so they treat it as a leisurely trip.

The ravine was deep and the forest dense, with towering peaks blocking the way. Miss Wang led the way, and with a powerful sweep of her Overlord Spear, she could clear a path. Along the way, she saw blooming flowers and green mountains and clear waters, which brought her indescribable joy.

Strange, demon-like shadows seemed to appear among the roadside flowers and groves. The mountains were deserted, the water flowed and the flowers bloomed. Looking around, there was not a single person in sight, which was quite strange.

The scenery along the way was beautiful and the landscape was serene. However, after seeing so many mountains and rivers and experiencing so many spiritual places, I was not particularly surprised, but rather became quite wary.

After walking through the jungle, I suddenly saw a sea of ​​flowers.

Li Zhaoting is considered learned and talented, Lan Fenghuang has been able to identify poisonous plants and flowers since childhood, Miss Wang is a bodyguard who escorts goods all over the country, Cheng Huaixiu has traveled all over the country, and Xiao Feng has traveled all over the country and seen countless strange things.

This sea of ​​flowers is beyond everyone's expectations.

Some flowers bloom several feet high, with leaves as large as boats; some have delicate, abundant blossoms and dense stamens like snow; some have emerald trunks and jade-like branches, reaching the sky; some have thousands of lotus blossoms, with overlapping petals, delicate pink and oily textures, and a fragrance as vast as the sea, an endless display of beauty.

There are two kinds of flowers that are the most mysterious.

A type of flower that resembles a plum blossom, divided into six petals, with flowers as cold and clear as ice, about the size of a cup, with gnarled iron trunk and branches, has an ancient and simple form, blooming in the cold, its pure and noble character standing out alone.

A type of drink shaped like a wine glass, resembling a morning glory flower, containing sweet nectar, a natural brew, with an enticing fragrance, is adorned with about eight or nine hundred flowers.

Li Zhaoting rubbed his chin.

The first type of plum blossom reminds one of the common killing move of the Tianshan Sword Technique, Snow Mountain Sword Technique, and Kunlun Sword Technique. All sects located in the snow mountains possess this martial art.

—Six-petaled ice flower!
This move is based on the imagery of plum blossoms, snowflakes, purity, and nobility. While various sword styles are similar, the move consists of three rings encircling the moon, with the Tianshan sword style being the most profound.

This flower resembles neither plum nor snow, naturally nurtured and naturally forming its own techniques. Simply strike according to the orientation of the petals and leaves, and you can naturally unleash wonderful moves, producing snowflakes and six-petaled ice flowers.

The latter type of flower is reminiscent of the Calabash Brothers, the seven Calabash Brothers combined into one Calabash King Kong, who was also knocked down by this naturally grown wine. This thing is neither a drug nor a deadly poison, but a kind of flower honey wine.

Similar to monkey wine.

Li Zhaoting picked up a cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Fine wine, truly fine wine! This naturally grown wonder is in no way inferior to monkey wine!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng picked a few flowers.

Xiao Feng was meticulous in his work, but drinking was his greatest hobby. He had been craving wine for a long time, and when he heard Li Zhaoting say that it was fine wine and not poison, how could Xiao Feng resist? He drank seventeen or eighteen cups in a row.

Lan Fenghuang, Jiang Yuyan, and Cheng Huaixiu also tasted a few cups, but Miss Wang did not drink any.

This is the rule for bodyguards.

Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited when you are out and about.

The Wang family's bodyguards carried "escort wine" when they went out.

The gourd contains Shanxi aged vinegar!
Li Zhaoting looked around and found several gourd vines at the foot of the mountain. He picked more than a dozen large gourds, hollowed them out, and filled them completely.

Take it back for Lu Xiaofeng and Tang Zhuquan to try.

If someone keeps taking the blame for you, you should at least get something in return!

As you continue forward, the trees along the way become increasingly tall, with towering trees that take six or seven people to encircle them everywhere, their canopies blocking out the sun, making the forest pitch black.

There are ancient medicinal herbs under the shade of the trees.

Most of them are characterized by their cold and toxic properties.

Blue Phoenix was overjoyed. She took out her medicine box and filled it to the brim, leaving no gaps. Only then did she stop, feeling unsatisfied, and lamented the rarity of the medicinal jade, unable to gather more herbs.

Natural treasures should not be picked at will.

After many medicinal herbs are harvested, their medicinal properties dissipate rapidly, requiring them to be stored in jade boxes made of medicinal jade. Sects specializing in medicine and poison all have jade boxes made of medicinal jade to store rare medicinal materials.

The world's most precious medicine box is in Wudang.

This object is called the "Purple Palace Golden Bowl," which was the alms bowl that Xuanzang used to beg for alms on his journey to the West. It can imbue water with pure spiritual energy and keep fruits fresh for a long time. Xuanzang used this amazing object to cross thousands of miles of desert.

After many twists and turns, the Purple Palace Golden Bowl was passed down to Zhang Sanfeng's mentor. After his mentor passed away, Zhang Sanfeng enshrined the bowl in the ancestral hall, where two ancient Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms, known for their ability to revive the dead and heal the wounded, were placed inside.

Lan Fenghuang enthusiastically explained to everyone.

"This herb is called Xuanzhen Xiaolu Grass. As long as its roots are removed from the earth, its medicinal properties will quickly dissipate, and it will turn into a weed in three days. If it is properly preserved, it can be used to refine Xuanzhen Wonderful Pills that can help one break through the foundation of internal strength."

"This herb is called the 'Soldier-Sacrificing Herb.' When forging weapons, it is soaked in cooling water to make the blades more resilient. It is also known as the 'Sword Laughing Herb'!"

"This is called Blue-veined Mulberry Grass, a highly toxic plant suitable for feeding silkworms."

"The most precious thing is this, Dragon Bone Grass. In the records of Miao territory, this thing has only appeared twice. Legend has it that it can only be nurtured in the place where a dragon fell. It can be used to refine a body-refining pill that gives people the strength of a dragon and a tiger."

Unfortunately, the prescription has long been lost.

"Perhaps the Louguan Sect in Chang'an has some records of it." "My father said that during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there was a Taoist master in the Louguan Sect who asked a Miao master to refine an elixir called the Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Pill, which could transform martial artists."

"Don't look down on Miao medicine. Since ancient times, medicine and poison have been inseparable. Sects that are good at using poison are bound to be good at treating diseases and injuries. Miao medicine is very strong!"

“When the Taoist master Louguan came to Miao territory, he exchanged medical knowledge with the high priest and left behind a scroll of external alchemy.”

"Master Zhang also came to Miao territory to exchange alchemy techniques. The 'Heavenly Silkworm Skill' among the Seven Wonders of Wudang was inspired by the Gu techniques of Miao territory. Unfortunately, most Miao martial artists practice Gu techniques and are not interested in internal and external alchemy!"

"me too!"

"I don't understand any of those things like Yin-Yang Dragon and Tiger, Metal God and Wood Mother, Yellow Woman and Charming Woman!"

"Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders!"

"To put it bluntly, he doesn't say a single human word!"

Lan Fenghuang pouted and looked up at Li Zhaoting.

The Li family places great emphasis on academic achievement.

Such a poor student's remarks definitely warrant family discipline.

Li Zhaoting smiled calmly.

It's no wonder Lan Fenghuang sleeps in class; she's a Miao girl, it would be strange if she could understand these things.

The concepts of Yin and Yang, and the dragon and tiger are still understandable.

What are Jin Gong, Mu Mu, and Huang Po?
Jin Gong is practically Sun Wukong!

Wood Mother ≈ Pig Wuneng!

Huang Po ≈ Sha Wujing!

Cheng Huaixiu had a little knowledge of it, Miss Wang found some analysis in the Jade Linglong, but Xiao Feng and Jiang Yuyan were completely clueless and silently ate their dry rations.

Xiao Feng frowned and said, "Second brother, I feel something is wrong. This place is too strange! It doesn't resemble the legendary immortal's cave, but more like a demon's den."

Cheng Huaixiu said, "Brother Li, my Clear Sword Heart keeps giving me warnings, telling me that there is danger here. The more opportunities I encounter along the way, the greater the danger ahead. But where does the danger come from, Brother Li? Can you sense it?"

Li Zhaoting smiled and said, "According to the information, the people living in Changchun Valley in Dali are about the size of a village. They need to trade with the outside world for their daily needs, such as eating, drinking, and relieving themselves."

Even if Changchun Valley has salt wells, and the local people can extract oil from crops and raise silkworms, there will always be a few essential supplies that they cannot produce.

They had to exchange supplies with the outside world.

We've traveled for so long, and we've seen green mountains and clear waters, a hundred miles of flower fields, natural wines, and rare medicinal herbs, but we've missed all traces of human activity. We haven't even seen a single footprint. Where have the people of Changchun Valley gone?

Is this normal?

Very abnormal!
Gold ingot!

"Smelling human scent, it barked twice!"

Li Zhaoting patted Yuanbao's head.

Yuanbao sobbed softly.

When exploring in high mountains and dense forests, animals have a more acute sense of perception than martial artists. Neither the Longevity Technique nor the Sword Heart Clarity can compare to a dog's nose.

After walking thirty or forty miles forward, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a wide, open road with no more high mountains or dense forests. What came into view was a valley and a few local people.

A man in his thirties or forties, holding a long pole tied with rope to a length of twenty or thirty meters, with a hook attached to the front with a net, Li Zhaoting asked, "Gentlemen, I'd like to buy some bird's nest, but I don't know where to buy it?"

The man at the head of the group spoke in a broken, colloquial dialect: “We have it all here! A bag of salt, a pound of bird’s nest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and silk are all fine too. How much do you want, sir? It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a peddler.”

"I'll take as many as you have!"

Li Zhaoting gave Jiang Yuyan a wink.

Jiang Yuyan untied two large burlap sacks from behind the old wine bottle, which were filled with salt and cotton cloth.

In trade deep in the mountains and forests, especially in remote tribes, gold and silver jewelry are of little use. The other party values ​​barter and prefers everyday necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

A big bag of salt is more effective than anything else!

Lan Fenghuang explained in a low voice: "These people specialize in collecting bird's nests and use them to exchange for oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. The marks on their waists and ribs from the ropes they used to bind them, as well as the abrasions on their arms and thighs, are not fake. Look at their shoulders; that patch is not because their clothes are torn, but because they have been carrying long poles for a long time and they have specially patched their clothes to make them thicker."

Cheng Huaixiu added: "Most manual laborers who have been engaged in carrying heavy objects on their shoulders for a long time are like this."

Clothing is a very valuable possession.

Thugs take off their clothes before they start fighting.

It wasn't to display the Azure Dragon on the left and the White Tiger on the right, but to prevent clothes from tearing. When you were broke in the summer, you could pawn your cotton-padded jacket and it would last you a month or two.

Doing manual labor, especially heavy physical work such as carrying bags or climbing mountains, can easily wear out clothes. You can't take off your clothes, otherwise they will chafe your skin. You can only use thicker cloth to patch up your new clothes.

Xiao Feng understood this the most deeply.

Qiao Sanhuai's clothes looked like this.

Jiang Yuyan whispered, "Master, Madam, I feel something is strange. We are dressed in gold and silver, riding tall horses. Even if you're not worldly, you can tell we're from a wealthy family. How could they mistake us for peddlers? What kind of peddlers would do that?"

Everyone has their own strengths.

Li Zhaoting was familiar with the customs and habits of various regions.

Cheng Huaixiu is familiar with manual labor.

Xiao Feng was familiar with all sorts of people.

Miss Wang is skilled at paving the way through mountains.

Blue Phoenix is ​​skilled at identifying medicinal herbs.

Jiang Yuyan understands the living habits of poor people best.

When Jiang Yuyan was little, she looked forward to the peddler coming to the mountains to sell his goods. Her mother would use the money she had worked hard to save to buy her a red ribbon or a piece of floral cloth. Even a five-year-old child could recognize what the peddler looked like.

Even if the people in the mountains are unsophisticated, they're still better than a five-year-old child, right? And speaking of which, these people sell bird's nest; they're very familiar with high-ranking officials and wealthy people!
Who in their poor family would eat bird's nest?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng and the others quickly became alert.

Li Zhaoting remained calm, carrying a sack, and followed several men into the valley. The further they went, the stronger the sense of danger became, along with the stench of corpses.

It's not because there are many corpses here, but because there is a great demon who has killed countless people. Because of the many killings he has caused, he has lived in the pile of dead bodies for too long, and the smell of corpses has seeped into his pores, making his body smell like corpses.

Like a rotten egg that's been boiled a hundred times.

A single sniff is enough to make one nauseous.

Yuanbao couldn't help but bare his fangs.

Li Zhaoting stopped at the entrance of the valley.

"Ling Luoshi, get out here right now!"

Its voice was like a lion's roar, echoing throughout the entire valley.

Valleys are the best sound amplifiers, capable of amplifying sound waves tenfold or a hundredfold, increasing their power infinitely.

(End of this chapter)