Liver penetrates martial arts, instantly becoming a saint.

Chapter 351 Shijie loses his arm, Nianjun is surprised and suspicious, he sees through Li Xian, or is he Bai Mian?

Beside Gu Nianjun's boat stood another man, refined in appearance, with a dignified bearing, dressed in white, and holding a jade fan—none other than the accomplished scholar and warrior, Zhou Shijie. Seeing the disgust in Gu Nianjun's expression, Li Xian guessed it was contempt for his status as a womanizer. He thought to himself, "As long as I have nothing to be ashamed of, what do you think of me have to do with anything?"

Having escaped the encirclement and with his escape route clear, he was confident of fleeing. He calmly cupped his hands and said, "Miss Gu, it's been a long time. To see you again in this state is truly moving!"

Gu Nianjun frowned deeply: "I never imagined that you...you would become a flower thief. To aid and abet evil is utterly despicable! The way you look is truly...truly...repulsive."

Li Xiansu disliked Gu Nianjun's arrogant and instructive manner. She deliberately smiled and said, "What's wrong with being a flower thief? It's carefree and unrestrained. Would Miss Gu like to become a flower thief too?"

Gu Nianjun cursed, "Utterly despicable! Having a brother like you is a lifelong stain on Xiao Fan. It was absolutely the right thing to do to tell you to stay away from Xiao Fan. You don't deserve to be his brother."

Zhou Shijie paused, staring intently at Li Xian, observing him closely, and secretly comparing them in his mind. He indeed felt that the two were somewhat similar, and thought to himself, "No wonder Li Xiaofan is also so repulsive. It turns out they come from the same lineage, sharing the same filthy blood." He said in a deep voice, "Nianjun, in my opinion, like brother, like brother. Li Xiaofan is definitely not a good person either."

Gu Nianjun pointed at Li Xian and said, "Xiao Fan doesn't have such a brother. You can scold him, but don't drag Xiao Fan into it."

Zhou Shijie said, "Nianjun... I think that Li Xiaofan is quite cunning. This is no exaggeration." Gu Nianjun glanced at him indifferently, and Zhou Shijie immediately shut up.

Zhou Shijie changed his tune and advised, "This boy has a very deep connection with the Flower Cage Sect. I think he is beyond redemption and can hardly be persuaded to come back. If we encounter him on this trip, we must not let him go back to the mountains."

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "Zhou Shijie's words are indeed reasonable. When we met in Li Xianfu City, he was ruthless and already showed his evil nature. At that time, I judged that this person was not worth getting close to. He might affect Xiao Fan's future. Today, when we meet again, it has indeed come true. If Xiao Fan wants to achieve great things in the future, having this flower thief brother to hinder him, tarnish his reputation, and ruin his good name would be very..."

She said, "Li Xian, if you have any conscience and care about Xiao Fan, you should bind yourself and surrender now. Accept punishment and absolve yourself of your sins."

Li Xian observed his surroundings and saw that the current was subtly carrying him away. As they talked, the distance between them gradually increased, which was advantageous to him. So he said nonchalantly, "Accept punishment? Whose punishment? Is it the law of the Great Wu Dynasty? But can this law punish you now? Xiao Fan has his own path to take, why should I go through all this trouble?"

Gu Nianjun frowned and said, "If we break the law, we should be punished. I'm only advising you for Xiao Fan's sake."

"You should know that the name 'flower thief' is universally condemned. Xiao Fan has lofty ambitions, but his mission has failed before his reputation is tarnished. How will he ever establish himself again?"

Li Xian thought to himself, "Though every word you utter is for Xiao Fan's sake, every single one of your words is unforgiving towards me. Humph, am I, Li Xian, so pedantic that you think you can make me feel guilty and admit defeat with just a few words?" He sneered and said, "Fine, you've reminded me. Xiao Fan is my brother. If anyone dares to look down on him or deny him a foothold in the future, I will kill him!"

Li Xian sneered, "Speaking of the laws of the Great Wu Dynasty, your Gu family should be punished more. Your Gu family once received imperial favor, and several officials in the court bear the surname Gu. Yet, your Gu family is not necessarily loyal to the dynasty. You have likely done many things that are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. Between your crime of treason and disloyalty and my crime of indulging in pleasure, I wonder which is more serious?"

With the affairs of Flying Dragon City settled, Wen Caishang was captured and bound. Over the course of several days, the two spent a close time together. Li Xian, having explored her body, found it endlessly pleasurable and was reluctant to part. He even took the opportunity to peruse this "book," discussing various matters of the world. Li Xian, being short-sighted, mostly listened to Wen Caishang's eloquent pronouncements. Wen Caishang was erudite and insightful, often able to pinpoint the crux of the matter. She unintentionally mentioned the "Gu family," her words laced with sarcasm. Having always disliked the Gu family, she was even more unforgiving.

Gu Nianjun's face paled, and she wanted to argue, but upon hearing Li Xian's sharp words, her confidence faltered, and she even took a half step back. Then she said coldly, "I'm not arguing with you. I said that I only advised you to turn yourself in for Xiao Fan's sake. Clearly and honestly clear your name according to the law."

Zhou Shijie immediately said, "This man has committed heinous crimes. According to the law, he should be beheaded and his head displayed to the public."

Li Xian said, "What if I don't?" Gu Nianjun said, "You have no other way to go. Your sins are immeasurable, and your evil deeds are numerous. It's bad enough that you're harming yourself, but you're also dragging Xiao Fan into it. I absolutely will not allow this."

Li Xian asked, "What do you intend to do?" Gu Nianjun replied, "I will capture you myself."

Zhou Shijie thought to himself, "Although I was defeated instantly in our fight in the tomb that day, I simply couldn't use my martial arts at the time. Now, without any external interference, how could I not defeat him? Hmph, those women from the Sword Sect must have been bewitched, claiming he could contend with a martial artist of the third realm. Last time we met, aside from his cunning archery, how could he possibly defeat me? With such a golden opportunity, how could I not regain my confidence and avenge all my humiliation?" He roared, "You little flower thief, I'll take care of it. Nianjun, I'll be right back! Watch how I capture this brat alive!"

He leaped into the air, his feet treading on the giant waves, and raised his palm to strike Li Xian. He harbored a deep-seated resentment and prejudice against Li Xian, his narrow-mindedness and lingering grudges deeply influenced by his arrogance. For a moment, he only saw past glories and failed to grasp the current situation.

He was naturally gifted, but his nature gradually led him to become just another ordinary person. He unleashed his "Wave-Treading Skill," and the wind from his palms stirred up surging waves. The surrounding martial arts practitioners cheered and praised him endlessly.

Zhou Shijie struck out with one palm, then immediately retaliated with several more palm strikes in mid-air. The palm strikes piled up, creating a surging, turbulent wave. These moves contained elements of "Wave-Treading Skill," "Raging Wave Palm," and "Shock Force Fist." He had exhausted all his life's learning, and was secretly pleased with himself.

Seeing the towering waves sweeping in, Li Xian unleashed the "Azure Waves Raging" move from the "Azure Palm" technique, striking out with a single palm in mid-air, his inner energy swirling into waves that collided with the enemy's wave in an instant.

The two waves collided, producing a deafening roar, the water surging and shaking the heavens. Within the waves lay the interplay of internal energy, numerous martial principles, and evolutions. The spray and droplets of water all contained considerable killing power.

Zhou Shijie was inherently frivolous and impatient for quick success. His martial arts techniques were flamboyant, and his internal energy was loose. He was more than capable of bullying wandering martial artists. Li Xian, on the other hand, was diligent and hardworking, cultivating step by step, day by day. His martial arts techniques were exquisite, perfect, and flawless, and his internal energy was pure, refined, and powerful. In their clash, although Zhou Shijie launched several attacks with all his might, he was no match for Li Xian's single palm strike. Although the waters seemed to surge and the two were evenly matched, Zhou Shijie was in reality utterly defeated!

Li Xian thought, "This Zhou Shijie is ungrateful. I could have killed him when we were in the tomb. He provoked me repeatedly, and I spared his life. Now he's being so aggressive. Hmph, then don't blame me for being ruthless." He stepped forward and unleashed a burst of energy from his palm. The water splashing from the collision of the two waves paused in mid-air for a moment before being violently pushed towards Zhou Shijie. This move is called "Going Against the Current." When martial arts are developed to a high level, it can reverse the flow of water, making it extremely powerful. It is not originally a move of the "Azure Palm." After Li Xian reached the pinnacle of his martial arts, he combined what he had observed: there was a long waterfall flowing against the current at the Dragon Banquet in the past. He traveled upstream by boat. He incorporated this move into the Azure Palm. The move is fierce, but due to his limited perspective, it is far from perfect. He dares not use it lightly against masters, for fear of revealing a weakness. Just now, he exchanged a powerful blow with Zhou Shijie and knew that Zhou Shijie was weak and powerless. Therefore, he used this move in the moment. In an instant, countless water droplets shot out like sharp weapons, enough to leave Zhou Shijie a bloody mess and kill him.

Zhou Shijie was horrified. During their earlier exchange, he had already sensed the difference. This young man was several times stronger than before, his moves endlessly varied, his inner energy surging powerfully. Now, he felt trapped, with no choice but to fight to the death, pouring his entire body's inner energy into the fight. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief when things seemed evenly matched. But in an instant, he was utterly defeated; his prized moves couldn't withstand the power of a single palm strike.

He was always proud and arrogant, showing off among his peers. This defeat left him with a pang of bitterness in his chest. Then came terror. The water droplets attacked like sharp knives, and he used his jade fan to defend himself. The jade fan was made of a special material, tough yet lightweight, but his skills were limited, and he couldn't parry them all. In an instant, he was already wounded. The killing intent was far from over; he was already flustered and completely disoriented, demonstrating the vast difference in their abilities.

Suddenly, a crimson whip lashed out. The whip was thin, yet its force was like a mountain, knocking down a shower of water droplets, temporarily relieving Zhou Shijie's immediate crisis. However, the power of Li Xian's palm strike had not yet completely dissipated. Zhou Shijie had boasted wildly, using all his strength to create waves and attack, but he was no match for Li Xian, and his killing move had backfired. The water he had stirred up was all pushed back by Li Xian, turning into a barrage of water droplets. They were relentless, one after another. One droplet was knocked down, then another appeared, like a waterfall cascading from the sky. To protect oneself, one needed to endure the waterfall's spray without getting one's clothes wet. Zhou Shijie lacked this ability. The whip swirled rapidly, forming a protective barrier that enveloped Zhou Shijie.

Then came a series of sharp "snap, snap, snap" sounds. Water droplets struck the whip, and the two streams of internal energy clashed. In the end, the whip was stronger, and the water droplets were turned into white mist. The sound of this exchange was enormous, and for a moment, water mist filled the air.

Zhou Shijie survived, but after personally observing the two exchanges, he realized the difference in skill. Li Xian's palm strike was powerful enough to kill him dozens of times over; its depth was astonishing. He also saw that the whip technique was remarkable, dancing wildly like a dragon or snake. Looking back, he saw that Gu Nianjun had protected him, but instead of joy, he felt a tightness in his chest, a deep melancholy. He rarely saw Gu Nianjun display her skills, assuming her martial arts were ordinary, but her knowledge, appearance, and family background were exceptional. That's why he had risked his life to pursue her. This encounter, however, deepened his sense of inferiority.

Feeling utterly hopeless: "Ah! Nianjun is so amazing. I'm inferior to her in martial arts, and to him in literature. I... am inferior in every way. What face do I have to pursue her?"

Caught between two attacks, his fate was not in his own hands, and he had nowhere to turn. His desperate thoughts ultimately proved futile. Considering that Gu Nianjun had kindly saved him, he dared not blame her. All his old grudges and new hatreds were directed at Li Xian. He thought to himself, "How can I, Zhou Shijie, a dignified and respectable man, tolerate such humiliation? I would rather fight to the death than suffer such a cowardly fate."

Holding a jade fan, a surge of energy welled up within him, and he attempted to break free of the whip barrier. Gu Nianjun was startled, unsure why Zhou Shijie had suddenly gone mad, but she knew that if she didn't retract her attack, the crimson whip would severely injure him. She gritted her teeth and had no choice but to withdraw her strength. Zhou Shijie roared, "You villain, prepare to die!" He used his fan to defend himself, breaking free of the barrier. He then desperately attacked Li Xian.

A sudden barrage of water droplets rained down upon him. Zhou Shijie, having suffered a series of setbacks recently, was already in a sensitive state. He frantically fought off the water droplets, trying to vent his frustration and anger. His eagerness to succeed, his anger filling his chest, ironically hampered his execution of the attack, leaving numerous oversights.

After resisting for a moment, Zhou Shijie had already suffered hundreds of wounds all over his body. Fortunately, Gu Nianjun had already resisted eighty percent of the power, and the force of the "Azure Palm" had been reduced by eighty or ninety percent. Zhou Shijie's reckless actions had saved his life. However, his right arm was lost. It was affected by the palm's energy, and the flesh and blood of his arm were torn off, and the meridians, bones and blood vessels were destroyed, exposing the white bone.

Zhou Shijie screamed and fell backward. Gu Nianjun brandished her crimson whip, wrapped it around Zhou Shijie's waist, and pulled him back onto the ship. Zhou Shijie was in excruciating pain. Looking at his gruesome right hand and thinking about the future crippling effect, he found it extremely difficult to accept and fainted with a cry of "Ah!"

Gu Nianjun channeled her internal energy to help him circulate his blood and qi. He quickly regained consciousness. Zhou Shijie wailed, "My right hand... Nianjun... my right hand is ruined?" Gu Nianjun's face was grim. Seeing Zhou Shijie covered in blood, looking so miserable, the injury to his arm was unbearable to look at. The once elegant man was now in such a sorry state. Although she didn't understand why Zhou Shijie had suddenly gone mad, his actions in suppressing the flower thief were ultimately without fault or selfishness. It wasn't appropriate to blame him now, so she said in a deep voice, "This hand is probably not easy to save for the time being."

Zhou Shijie said bitterly, "Nianjun, avenge me, avenge me! This scoundrel is ruthless and cruel; he actually... he actually crippled my right hand."

Li Xian said loudly, "You rushed up here yourself, why blame me? That woman was kind enough to protect you, but you were overcome by inferiority and wanted to show off. Now you've crippled yourself, only making yourself a laughingstock. I'm afraid the beauty won't be interested, and the heroes will also despise you. A banished prince with both literary and martial talents, now a half-crippled and half-broken good-for-nothing." He had extremely sharp eyesight and observed Zhou Shijie's expression change several times just now: resentment, anger, inferiority... He made wild guesses and deliberately provoked him.

Zhou Shijie's face turned deathly pale. Every word was like a dagger to his heart; he felt a sharp pain in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat. He coughed up a mouthful of blood. He recalled recent events:

Zhou Shijie and Gu Nianjun arrived in Flying Dragon City and visited Fu Haoran and his apprentice Li Xiaofan. Initially, they made friends with the sword sect members and other young talents, which was extremely pleasant.

Later, he gradually realized that his martial arts skills were somewhat weak, and he felt inferior. However, thanks to his good fortune, he still had many admirers. Later, Gu Nianjun went missing, and Zhou Shijie accompanied the Sword Sect into the tomb to search for her.

The women of the Sword Sect gathered and exposed He Wentian's true identity. Zhou Shijie made several disgraceful mistakes, his reputation ruined, his prestige completely gone, and his manners utterly lost. The women continued to berate and insult Zhou Shijie mercilessly. His former friends, including Wang Dezhong, Hua Wu, and Yue Kai, all silently distanced themselves.

Zhou Shijie tried several times to leave, but to save his life, he had no choice but to endure. Seeing this, the elders of the Sword Sect thought, "This Zhou Shijie may not be a hero; at first glance, he looks respectable, but upon closer inspection, he's utterly ordinary. But he did come with us to rescue the women. His initial intentions were good. If we force him to leave and cause him to die here, it would be a failure on the part of our Sword Sect."

Although the team leaders, including Xiao Wanjian, Hu Yueyue, and Duan Yixin, had mistakenly trusted He Wentian because of him, they couldn't completely shirk their responsibility. So they gathered together to discuss the matter and secretly passed on a message: the disciples of the Famous Sword Sect should not treat Zhou Shijie rudely.

Although the female disciples felt resentful, they obeyed. Zhou Shijie, now able to catch his breath, could follow the Sword Sect to save his life. But the cold stares he received along the way pierced his heart. Later, He Wentian showed signs of utter defeat.

Gu Nianjun captured He Wentian and they reunited. Zhou Shijie immediately ran over, exclaiming happily, "Nianjun, you're alright!" Seeing Zhou Shijie there, Gu Nianjun guessed he was looking for her and smiled, "Of course I'm alright, I'm sorry to have worried you."

Zhou Shijie said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." He thought to himself, "I really don't know much about what happened in the tomb. If Nianjun finds out about all these things, even she will despise me. What should I do? I absolutely cannot let her know."

He then followed Gu Nianjun closely. The elders of the Sword Sect had instructed him not to offend Zhou Shijie with his words. The disciples of the Sword Sect disliked Zhou Shijie, and naturally disliked Gu Nianjun as well. Therefore, they rarely sought to talk to the two of them. The words "Li Xian" were like needles, piercing both the Sword Sect and Zhou Shijie. They simply avoided discussing his merits and harms.

Gu Nianjun wanted to find out more about the matter, but Zhou Shijie stayed close by. Even when the sword sect disciples talked, they were mindful of their elders' instructions and spoke in a roundabout and tactful manner, quickly slipping away after a few words. Gu Nianjun, oblivious to their intentions, remained unclear about the events. With Zhou Shijie interfering, it was even more difficult for her to grasp the whole picture.

They later returned to the city. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance kept the matter secret and never spoke of the tomb's contents.

Gu Nianjun knew nothing about the siege of the Flower Thief in Flying Dragon City, how the women were rescued, the attack on Wen Caishang, or Li Xian'ou's battle against the Sword Sect. She visited the Sword Sect several times, hoping to inquire about these matters. She was quickly asked to leave, pleading that the matter not be made public or leaked.

Zhou Shijie suggested, "Nianjun, this matter involves a scandal within the sword sect. The Five Swords Alliance has lost all the women. It's utterly absurd. I know about these things. If you want to know, just ask me. Why reopen their wounds?"

"We've been in Flying Dragon City for too long, so let's leave as soon as possible. I'll tell you more along the way."

Gu Nianjun thought so too, and stopped inquiring about other matters. But one thing lingered in her mind, and she said, "But we still need to wait a while." She thought to herself, "I need to ask that lady again if she knows the background and identity of that... young master. The world is vast, and if there is not even the slightest bit of information, then... then it will truly be difficult to see him again."

He then went to visit Bixiang Pavilion. Zhou Shijie had witnessed the passing of Feilong City and, after a little deduction, knew that "White-faced Red Bow" was Li Xian. He dared not tell Gu Nianjun about this. Seeing that Gu Nianjun's visit to Bixiang Pavilion had been fruitless, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But seeing that Gu Nianjun showed no intention of leaving, Zhou Shijie thought, "If I stay in Flying Dragon City any longer, I'll inevitably come into contact with the Sword Sect disciples, or run into Wen Caishang or Li Xian. Nianjun will surely find out about everything in the tomb. I need to find a way to lure her away."

After much deliberation, he suddenly noticed that "An Weicheng" was imprisoned in a jail. It turned out that An Weicheng had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing out, and was immediately arrested afterward.

Zhou Shijie had a sudden inspiration: "That Li Xian is a thief. If we capture some thieves, we can interrogate him and find out about Li Xian's evil deeds. This will surely make Nianjun hate him. We can also use the capture of the thieves as bait to get Nianjun to leave Flying Dragon City."

So he invited Gu Nianjun to catch the flower thief. Gu Nianjun replied, "There are countless flower thieves in the world. Of course, we must catch them, but there's no need to rush." ​​She was still keeping an eye on Bixiang Pavilion, hoping to meet them again.

Zhou Shijie knew that Gu Nianjun was devoted to the White-Faced Red Bow, and he also knew that this man was Li Xian. He probed, "Nianjun, many chivalrous heroes of the martial world participated in capturing the flower thief. Do you remember the archer you encountered before?"

Gu Nianjun, indeed intrigued, said, "Oh? Tell me quickly." Zhou Shijie was deeply disappointed, but forcing himself to endure the setback, he said, "He was involved too. But he was one step ahead of us; the flower thief scattered in all directions. If we were to catch the flower thief, and if we happened to run into him, we might even be able to cooperate in punishing the wicked!"

Gu Nianjun's thoughts drifted, his past archery prowess flashing before her eyes. Her eyes were filled with a dreamy admiration as she thought, "If we could work together again, it would be...it would be wonderful. I haven't seen him shoot an arrow in so long; that kind of skill...it's hard to find anywhere else." She changed her mind and said, "Alright! Let's catch the flower thief!"

She summoned the martial arts heroes of the city and summoned An Weicheng. They devised a plan to capture the scattered flower thieves. The flower thieves had fled in all directions and committed numerous evil deeds. Her efforts to capture them quickly proved effective.

Hearing the infamous name of "Flower Thief Li Xian" along the way, he wondered to himself, "Could it be someone with the same name?" Zhou Shijie, who was nearby, embellished the story of Flying Dragon City and told him about it later.

Gu Nianjun truly despised him. Later, she set up this trap, luring the beggar thief into it. Unexpectedly, she encountered Li Xian, and there was no way to argue her point, her prejudice already deeply ingrained.

When Zhou Shijie saw Li Xian again, he was filled with jealousy and hatred, and his reason was no longer intact. Under the guise of eliminating a scourge, he actually wanted to vent his personal grievances. However, Li Xian had grown stronger and more powerful, and with one blow, he utterly destroyed Zhou Shijie's body and mind.

With a few more words, he revealed the truth. Zhou Shijie was completely astounded, and suffered severe mental and emotional damage over the next few months. His heart was almost shattered.

Seeing Zhou Shijie in such a miserable state, and hearing Li Xian's harsh words, Gu Nianjun immediately shouted, "You scoundrel, how dare you spout such nonsense! You are truly beyond redemption. Even if Zhou Shijie were to give up, he would still be a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you."

Filled with utter disgust, she lashed out with her crimson whip, aiming it at Li Xian's plank boat. Enraged, she showed no mercy. Knowing the boat's importance, Li Xian braced himself, causing it to somersault and deflect the whip's strike.

Gu Nianjun snorted coldly. The moment her whip struck the air, it flicked, unleashing the "Water Condensation Immortal Melody." She channeled the celestial melody into the whip. This melody could make water sticky. When her whip struck the water, it caused the water to become sticky and adhere to the whip. This created a new water whip extending beyond the original whip, longer and more unexpected. She then used the momentum to strike again.

The water whip lashed upwards. This move was extremely difficult to detect, but Li Xian, with his double pupils and extraordinary eyes, had already sensed it. With his feet on the edge of the boat, he rocked the boat from side to side, his chest thumping out with a faint, muffled thunderous sound, which, instead of making a loud noise, was transmitted to the lake water below the boat through the rocking.

After being shaken several times, the lake water suddenly boiled and churned!

It turns out there's a great mystery behind this. It contains the "Thunder Finger" killing move from the "Gang Thunder Finger" technique, and the "Immortal Melody of Yang" from the Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword.

The Thunderclap Finger technique aims to create a thunderous sound from the chest without making a sound, transmitting the power of the thunderous sound to the fingertips before striking with the finger, thus greatly increasing its power! Li Xian skillfully utilizes this technique, but instead of using his fingers, he transmits the sound through the boat into the lake. He also combines this with the ingenious use of "Playing the Yang Immortal Sound".

This caused a turbulent, boiling, and churning sensation beneath the boat. Gu Nianjun's water whip was shaken apart and boiled, its power greatly diminished, making it difficult to regain its shape.

By this time, his boat had already sailed far ahead. Li Xian laughed, "Hahaha, it seems you all can't do anything to me. Farewell for now, and we'll meet again someday!" He plunged his sword into the water, stirring it violently, and the boat's speed increased dramatically. Even though it was difficult to catch up by boat, using his light footwork might endanger their lives, so they hesitated for a moment. They were anxious but truly helpless.

A wandering swordsman remarked, "This lad is extremely arrogant; are we really going to let him get away like this?"

Gu Nianjun said coldly, "Hmph, let him get carried away. He won't get away." She took out a silver bow from the cabin. She gently stroked the bow and said calmly, "My archery skills have improved a lot recently. Wait until he travels a few more miles, feels safe, and relaxes his guard. Then I'll take an arrow and shoot him. I'll definitely capture him alive."

The wandering swordsman exclaimed, "Miss Gu, what a brilliant plan!" Gu Nianjun replied, "It wasn't my plan. This trick was to release the hunters back into the mountains. It was taught to me by a... a young master." Her expression was casual.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shijie's expression changed drastically. He exclaimed in surprise, his eyes trembling, and he hesitated to speak.

Gu Nianjun was extremely confident. Her archery skills were already excellent, and with guidance, she was considered one of the best among her peers. She was very confident that she could win with her archery skills. Seeing that the time was ripe, she took a step forward, used her light footwork to fly into the air, and shot an arrow.

Li Xian sneered inwardly, "You dare to shoot at me before you've even finished your training?" He hooked an ordinary bow and arrow with his toe. He had seized it during the earlier brawl. He quickly nocked the arrow and fired.

With three quick, sharp shots, Gu Nianjun was easily shot down. Gu Nianjun was startled, a vague sense of familiarity creeping into her mind. She thought, "That's it, this boy's archery skills are quite good; he could easily shoot down those three arrows. I was careless just now."

Recalling what Li Xian had taught her, she nocked an arrow and shot it again mid-air. She fired three more arrows in quick succession, each one far surpassing the last, each shot shattering the stone and striking the heavens, unstoppable and unstoppable.

Li Xian casually fired again, each arrow striking precisely the target. Gu Nianjun was astonished and speechless. Gathering her strength, she nocked the bow and drew the string once more, and suddenly felt the world slow down. This sensation was extremely mysterious.

A sudden inspiration, a serendipitous coincidence, allowed the artist's heart and mind to surge wildly through their fingers, flowing to the arrow shaft and converging at the arrowhead. The arrowhead shone with a bright light, a testament to the artist's concentrated spirit. Others could not see the light, yet they could feel it. This arrow was imbued with the artist's full spirit.

Gu Nianjun thought to himself, "Ah! So this is what a spirited arrow feels like! So this is what it's like to shoot an arrow. So...so amazing!" He experienced it firsthand, and understood all its mysteries. He also realized that such an arrow is rare and precious, requiring the right time, state of mind, and circumstances. It might be the strongest arrow he could ever shoot in his entire life.

Even with increased cultivation and greater martial arts prowess in the future... without this moment's opportunity, this state of mind, and all of this, it would be utterly impossible to unleash such an arrow. She released the bowstring, her spirit infusing the arrow, making it faster and more powerful. It pressed directly against her opponent, leaving him no escape!

Gu Nianjun said with lingering satisfaction, "How could the enemy possibly defend against such an arrow! It's a pity that I'll never experience that kind of skill again..."

Suddenly her eyes narrowed. The arrow, which had been poised to strike with great force, trembled slightly. She gazed into the distance and saw Li Xian draw his bow again, not yet releasing the arrow, but his spirit was sharp and radiant.

She tensed up and watched intently. She saw Li Xiansong shoot out an arrow, also an arrow of spirit, but with even stronger spirit and sharper intent, and she vaguely recognized it somewhere before.

Li Xian arrived late, piercing through Gu Nianjun's spirit, leaping a great distance and striking her near her feet. With a thunderous crash, he pierced through the plank boat, splashing water several feet high. Gu Nianjun was utterly bewildered. "This...how is this possible? How is this possible? He...he...how could he also know how to shoot an arrow?"

The image of the arrow lingered in my mind, and suddenly my head went completely blank. I was utterly at a loss.

(End of this chapter)