Chapter 16

“Now you may begin to observe and contemplate the secret map. After one hour, I will return to retrieve it.” Liang Jingtang handed the jade box to Xia Daoming, gave him these instructions, then turned and left, closing the door to the secret chamber.

Xia Daoming sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, calmed his eager and tense emotions, then opened the jade box.

Inside the jade box lay an ancient scroll made of some unknown beast hide.

As the scroll unfurled, an indescribable aura of ancient timelessness emanated from it.

The image depicted a dark abyss and lakes, rivers, and streams, all flowing into a vast ocean.

Beneath the abyss and the lakes, rivers, and streams lurked a massive monstrous beast.

The beast resembled a serpent but had four legs beneath its body; a pair of raised fleshy nodules crossed between its eyes, and its entire form was covered in scales—it was the legendary Jiao.

The Jiao was sometimes called Jiao Dragon, but it was not a true dragon; it was the intermediate stage between a serpent and a dragon.

The Jiao lurking beneath the abyss and lakes, rivers, and streams each assumed different postures, yet without exception, all faced the vast ocean.

The Jiao lies dormant for a thousand years, then enters the sea and transforms into a dragon!

Yet within the ocean depicted on this scroll, no true dragon appeared.

“If a true dragon were present, this would surely be the Divine Charm Map of Transformation into Dragon,” thought Xia Daoming, and immediately he focused his gaze on the secret map.

The moment he fixed his gaze, a vast, overwhelming force surged straight into his mind.

“Boom!”

It felt as if a tremendous sound had erupted within his skull.

Then the abyss, lakes, rivers, and even the Jiao lurking beneath them all seemed to come alive.

An indescribable, profound insight welled up in Xia Daoming’s heart; gradually, he became immersed in it, forgetting his very existence.

The abyss and lakes transformed into acupoints; the rivers became meridians; the Jiao turned into the hidden currents of qi and blood coursing silently through them.

More changes emerged—acupoints dense as stars, meridians winding and twisting, interconnecting in countless ways.

Unconsciously, Xia Daoming felt his head throbbing painfully, as if it were about to explode.

All the transformations seemed to recede, growing distant and blurred.

Xia Daoming suddenly snapped back to awareness.

The scroll remained unchanged, lying still before him; the abyss, lakes, rivers, Jiao, and the ocean connected to the rivers—all motionless, utterly unaltered.

“Strange. Master said that during the first viewing, one feels only a strong mental shock and faintly perceives the map’s changes—even a martial genius can barely see a single meridian and its internal qi flow the first time.”

“Why did I immediately perceive four meridians and their internal qi movements, with only the last two slightly blurred? Fifth to eighth rank corresponds exactly to four meridians.”

“Could I have glimpsed almost the entire secret of the Great Martial Master realm in one go? Only the seventh and eighth ranks remain unclear—perhaps another viewing will clarify them?”

Looking at the motionless scroll, Xia Daoming was deeply astonished.

At that moment, the door opened.

Liang Jingtang stepped inside.

He saw Xia Daoming’s face pale, his clothes soaked in cold sweat, clinging to his body; he frowned slightly, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

Only two possibilities explained this state.

One: the viewer had truly glimpsed the essence of the Jiao realm during the first observation, causing a violent mental shock.

Such a person was a genius with potential to become a Martial Grandmaster—extremely rare.

Liang Jingtang naturally did not believe Xia Daoming belonged to this category.

The other: the person had average martial talent, and merely glimpsing a hint of the Jiao’s divine charm caused overwhelming mental shock, trembling spirit, and uncontrollable fear.

In Liang Jingtang’s view, Xia Daoming was clearly the second case.

Yet the disappointment in Liang Jingtang’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by resignation—and even a quiet shake of his head: “I must be growing senile. Could I really expect him to surpass Yuchi Xiao and the others in martial talent?”

“Master!” Xia Daoming rose immediately upon seeing Liang Jingtang and bowed respectfully.

“Don’t rush. You’ll adapt much more during the second viewing, and see more wonders and secrets.” Liang Jingtang carefully rolled up the scroll, sealed it back in the jade box, and spoke casually to comfort him.

Xia Daoming’s face showed a subtle look of surprise; his lips parted, but he changed his words at the last moment and said, “Yes, Master.”

“Enough. You’re surely exhausted. Go back. Come again tomorrow.” Liang Jingtang waved his hand, expression calm.

Still, he felt a tinge of disappointment.

“Then your servant takes leave!” Xia Daoming bowed slightly and departed.

Leaving the Jiao Martial Hall, Xia Daoming’s mind replayed the Jiao wonders he had glimpsed in the secret chamber.

“It seems I truly glimpsed the hidden qi mechanics of ranks five through eight. Only the seventh and eighth ranks remain unclear—I’ll need another viewing in half a year to clarify them.” As he neared his home, Xia Daoming clenched his fist tightly, eyes gleaming with excitement, quickening his pace.

The new house stood in Pear Blossom Alley, Ta Wu District, two alleys away from the Jiao Martial Hall.

From afar, Xia Daoming saw two young girls holding red lanterns on either side of the gate, while Liu Qiaolian stood at the intersection, looking around anxiously.

Soon, Liu Qiaolian’s eyes brightened slightly; she hurried forward with light steps, stopping only when she reached him, then curtseyed deeply: “Welcome home, Master!”

“Why are you waiting for me out here at this hour? Stay inside.” Xia Daoming smiled; a warmth stirred in his heart, adding a touch of belonging to this world he had lived in for over a year.

“It is my duty,” Liu Qiaolian said.

“Cancel this. No matter when I return, wait for me inside. You’re so beautiful—standing outside at night invites lecherous men.”

Liu Qiaolian opened her lips to speak, but upon hearing his next words, her cheeks flushed faintly with shy embarrassment; she bowed again: “I shall obey, Master.”

“That’s better.” Xia Daoming smiled.

Back home, two other girls had already served steaming hot meals.

These past days, Liu Qiaolian had not only purchased a larger two-courtyard residence for Xia Daoming, but also bought four lively, pretty young girls.

They were named Xia He, Yue Gui, Yu Lan, and Qiang Wei.

Xia Daoming preferred quiet; he used the rear courtyard and residence as his living quarters and training ground.

The front courtyard and residence served for receiving guests, meals, and the servants’ living space.

Xia Daoming sat eating while Liu Qiaolian stood beside him; if he needed anything, he simply instructed the four maids.

Xia Daoming was unused to eating at home with beautiful women standing like attendants in an upscale club, but he did not urge Liu Qiaolian to sit.

He had already said so several times; repeating it would be pointless—he could only slowly adapt to this decadent master’s life.

After dinner, he leaned back in a wicker chair in the rear courtyard, sipping snow-silk grass tea brewed by Yue Gui, enjoying the gentle kneading of Liu Qiaolian’s delicate hands, inhaling the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from her—there, for a moment, he thought it wouldn’t be so bad to live this slow, peaceful life in this world forever.

After all, in his previous world, crushed by constant 996, he couldn’t even rise when a beautiful woman lay beside him; every night, he only wished to close his eyes and sleep properly—he had never dared dream of such luxurious, decadent, evil master’s life.

Now he was living it. What more could a man ask for?

Yet this thought vanished instantly in Xia Daoming’s mind.

For he knew this was a chaotic age, a world far more brutally survival-of-the-fittest than his previous one.

Without formidable martial power to protect it, all this was but a mirage, a fleeting dream—gone in an instant.

So he must grow strong.

Only then could he slowly enjoy this beautiful, decadent life.

As he thought this, Xia Daoming downed the tea in one gulp, gently patted Liu Qiaolian’s hand, and said, “Lian’er, I’m going to cultivate.”

“Yes, Master. As you instructed, I went to Changchun Hall and bought two pills that strengthen blood and qi, with mild medicinal properties. They’re called Silver Deer Pills, said to be brewed from silver deer antler and other rare herbs. Please take them.” Liu Qiaolian turned, stepped before him, and offered a small brocade box with both hands.

“These are for you. Take them. I don’t need them.” Xia Daoming smiled.

“Ah!” Liu Qiaolian’s body trembled slightly; her lips parted in shock, staring at Xia Daoming—but quickly she said, “Master, this is utterly impossible! You’ve finally gained entry into Master Liang’s school—you must fully replenish your blood and qi to become a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master as soon as possible. How could you waste such a fortune on me?”

“Besides, I’m just a woman, already past my prime, with only average martial talent. Even with supplementation, my progress would be limited. As long as I still have youth and beauty, serving you and sparing you from trivial worries is enough. I no longer dream of martial advancement.”

“Nonsense! What’s wrong with being a woman? Haven’t you heard ‘women need not yield to men’? And how old are you? Only twenty-three—still younger than me by a year.”

“If you hadn’t suffered misfortune and clung to the notion that you’re merely a woman, pouring all your money into Liu Zhong, you’d be at least Third Rank now.”

“It’s not too late to catch up—supplement vigorously. If you keep such self-deprecating thoughts, then you’re truly lost.”

“Besides, this money was earned by your own hard work. Why shouldn’t you use it to buy pills for yourself?”

“Everything I have belongs to Master. All I wish in this life is to repay your kindness, and to see you become a Great Martial Master,” Liu Qiaolian suddenly knelt, head bowed.

As she spoke, two glistening tears slipped down her cheeks and fell to the ground.

“Feudal thinking destroys people!”

Watching Liu Qiaolian’s plump, alluring figure kneeling before him, radiating an indescribable stubborn resolve, Xia Daoming felt both tenderness and helplessness.

Yet his expression gradually turned stern.