Chapter 013: Breaking Through to First-Class

Of course, the amount of medicinal herbs used for the exchange was over ten times the actual cost, and it was this margin that brought profit to Azure Cloud Stronghold. As a result, they quickly accumulated a vast amount of herbs, nearly emptying the storerooms of every nearby bandit camp.

Much of this success was thanks to Fang Xian. Ordinary healers, when crafting medicinal pills, had only about a fifty percent success rate—sometimes even less—while Fang Xian succeeded every single time, with no wastage whatsoever. Thus, the stockpiles of herbs grew ever more abundant.

With the warehouse now well supplied, Fang Xian began preparing in secret to concoct the Body-Tempering Elixir—not for his own use, but for Ye Qingyun and Ye Hongxiu, so that they could break through and become first-class experts.

Half a month slipped by. Tomorrow was to be the day of the grand wedding. That evening, in a room atop the mountain, Ye Hongxiu was cultivating in tranquility. Suddenly, her body quivered—a faint, delicate stream of internal energy was born within her meridians. It grew rapidly, then broke through a critical channel.

“I’ve broken through. I’m a first-class expert now!” Once Ye Hongxiu realized what had happened, she was elated. She had thought it would take years more to reach this level, never expecting to do so on the eve of her wedding.

The next morning, Ye Hongxiu was eager to share the news with Fang Xian—he was the first person she wanted to tell. But as she was about to go, the women who had come to dress her for the ceremony stopped her. It was improper for the bride and groom to see each other before the auspicious hour; they would meet only after the ceremonies, when she was led into the bridal chamber.

“My dear, I know you’re thinking about the groom, but you mustn’t be impatient. Come, let me tell you a few things you should know for your wedding night—wouldn’t want you two to be flustered at the crucial moment.” Zhou Tianming’s wife, heavily pregnant, came over to instruct Ye Hongxiu in the mysteries of the wedding night.

Though only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she had already borne two daughters and was now carrying her third child. Her belly was pointed, and everyone said it would be a boy—a long-awaited hope for the Zhou family.

“Oh, must it really be like that?” Ye Hongxiu listened with a mixture of curiosity and embarrassment; she even whispered a few questions, blushing furiously at her own boldness.

At last, the auspicious hour arrived. Surrounded by a crowd, the couple performed the ceremonial bows—to Heaven and Earth, to their elders, and to each other—then were led into the bridal chamber. Ye Hongxiu quickly pulled off her red bridal veil. “Brother Fang, I have something to tell you.”

“What, you’re taking the veil off already?” Fang Xian stared in surprise.

“It’s all right. I’ll put it back on, and you can take it off again later. I have to tell you—last night, I broke through to the rank of first-class expert. I’ve cultivated inner energy!” Ye Hongxiu announced with pride. Fang Xian was the very first person she told—not even her father knew yet. In her heart, Fang Xian now came first, above all others.

“Really? Congratulations, Hongxiu—no, I should say, congratulations, my wife.” Fang Xian beamed with genuine joy, making Ye Hongxiu blush with happiness.

“I have your prescription to thank for it. Or rather, I should thank my husband’s prescription.” Ye Hongxiu replied, cheeks aflame with delight.

“So the prescription really works—that puts my mind at ease,” Fang Xian nodded.

“Dear, there’s no need to rush when it comes to mastering martial arts. Take your time, and you’ll achieve it naturally,” Ye Hongxiu counseled. She knew Fang Xian had been eager to grasp the martial techniques within the Myriad Stars Diagram, but had yet to succeed.

“I’m not in a hurry. After all, I’ve only been practicing martial arts for less than a month, and my physique already rivals that of a second-rate fighter. Once I comprehend those techniques, I’ll be second-rate myself,” Fang Xian said with a smile.

His cultivation path was quite unlike others. By visualizing the Myriad Stars Diagram, he’d started on a level far above ordinary martial artists—at the doorstep of first-class mastery. In fact, the mysterious energy coursing through his meridians felt superior even to ordinary inner energy. Perhaps, in the future, he could reach unimaginable heights.

“Sir, it’s time to come out and toast the guests!” called Erniu from outside, summoning the groom to his duties.

“Coming, coming!” Fang Xian answered loudly, nodded to Ye Hongxiu, and left.

The stronghold was awash with festivity. Over a dozen tables filled the main hall, with dozens more set up in the square outside. Anyone of some importance had been invited to the feast, while the common folk received gifts of supplies. The entire settlement pulsed with joy.

Fang Xian was not much of a drinker; even the wine served was little stronger than beer. But with so many well-wishers offering toasts, he soon felt the effects of intoxication.

In that moment, the mysterious energy in his meridians suddenly sped up, quietly dispelling the effects of the alcohol. Revived, Fang Xian returned to the fray, matching the guests cup for cup, until he’d laid low Zhou Tianming, Daniu, Erniu, and most of the high-ranking members of the stronghold.

Only Ye Qingyun guessed how Fang Xian could drink so much without succumbing—he knew inner energy could neutralize alcohol. Still, Ye Qingyun drank deeply himself, half-sober, half-tipsy. After all, the cabbage he’d raised for seventeen years was finally being taken by this “pig.” Though he approved of Fang Xian, as a father he couldn’t help but feel a pang of loss. He insisted on three bowls with Fang Xian before finally collapsing onto the table in a drunken slumber.

After felling most of the company, Fang Xian returned to the bridal chamber, tipsy. The delights of the wedding night belong only to the couple and are best left to their memory, but suffice it to say, it was unforgettable for them both.

When Ye Hongxiu finally drifted into deep slumber, Fang Xian found himself wide awake, lying still in that tranquil interval after passion. At that moment, the Myriad Stars Diagram suddenly came alive in his mind, its mysterious trajectories becoming astonishingly clear.

Quite by accident, Fang Xian comprehended the martial techniques within the diagram: the Star-Moving Fist, Starlight Sword, Starstep, and Star-Gaze—each specializing in fists, swords, footwork, and ocular arts, respectively.

The Star-Moving Fist gathered the brilliance of the stars into the fist; when unleashed, it felt like shoving a great celestial body—immensely powerful, fierce, and unstoppable.

The Starlight Sword consisted of nine rapid strikes, as quick and dazzling as flickering starlight. Each blow was sharp and deadly, the nine forms linking together, growing ever more formidable with each successive strike.

Starstep was a teleportation-like movement technique, marking locations with starlight. So long as the starlight touched a spot, Fang Xian could reach it in an instant—though the distance depended on the strength of his cultivation. It was a peerless technique, rare beneath the heavens.

Star-Gaze was an ocular art, not offensive in itself, but allowing the user to gather the “Eye of the Stars,” perceiving the tiniest details at great distances—much like a telescope. Especially at night, its vision was as clear as day, leaving nothing hidden.

“Congratulations, host, on mastering martial techniques. The system rewards you with a Falling Star Sword.” As Fang Xian attained these martial arts, the system generously bestowed a divine weapon, forged from meteorite iron—able to slice through steel as if it were mud, so keen it could sever a hair blown against its edge.

For now, however, Fang Xian had no intention of revealing such a weapon. A common longsword would suffice for daily training. Such a divine blade should only be used in moments of dire need, for if its existence became known, it would surely attract the covetous eyes of powerful adversaries and bring disaster to Azure Cloud Stronghold.

“The Star-Gaze technique could be useful for learning archery—mastering a ranged technique would certainly enhance my strength,” Fang Xian mused, already planning his next moves.

The next morning, Ye Hongxiu felt some discomfort, but as a martial artist and now a first-class expert, she recovered quickly—though she walked with a slight awkwardness.

“Please, Father, have some tea.”

“Honored father-in-law, please accept this tea.”

Since Fang Xian had no parents of his own, the couple visited Ye Qingyun to offer him tea. Ye Qingyun, deeply gratified, saw the joy in his daughter’s eyes and knew she had found her true home. Though his heart was bittersweet, his happiness for her was greater, and he blessed the newlyweds.

After the wedding, they moved into a courtyard to the east of the main hall—a private abode divided into front and rear sections. Fang Xian and Ye Hongxiu took up residence in the rear, while two servant girls stayed in the front.

Erniu did not come with them, for Fang Xian had instructed him to guard the clinic, watch over the newly prepared medicines, and ensure that the daily medicinal baths for the senior members continued without interruption.