2: Stunningly beautiful woman
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
The first watch of the night.
Atop a certain mountain peak.
Ji Xuanqing, dressed in green robes, sat cross-legged on a flat stone. At this evening hour, she exhaled softly, her breath turning into mist as it left her lips. She slowly opened her eyes and murmured, "Has it already been ten years since I came to this world..."
Over these past few years, Ji Xuanqing had been Cultivating every single moment.
Only by grasping some power could she feel at ease.
It took Ji Xuanqing two years to learn the language of this world. Previously, she had remained silent, wanting to wait until she had learned it before speaking. She hadn't expected those people from the Xie Family to almost mistake her for a mute and send her away as a child bride. If she hadn't been smart enough to punch that matchmaker and act like a savage, they wouldn't have given up.
Ji Xuanqing opened her palm and clenched it into a fist. Now that she possessed some power, she didn't need to panic.
Ji Xuanqing stood up and looked at the sky; it was already getting dark.
Over these years, she had gained a comprehensive understanding of this place and the Xie Family.
The Xie Family was a wealthy merchant Family in the suburbs of Nanyang City, Jiangdu District, with their own manor. Ji Xuanqing was the Sixth Young Miss of this Xie Family, Xie Miaomiao. Setting the name aside, her status was decent; she had countless nephews and younger siblings below her, and countless elder brothers and sisters above her—the Family was flourishing.
Currently, the Xie Family was headed by Old Madame Xie, her grandmother.
Below her were the Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Fifth Uncle, followed by the First Wife, Second Wife... all the way to the Ninth Wife. The Sixth Wife was Ji Xuanqing's mother.
Ji Xuanqing had even more brothers, sisters, and younger siblings.
After finishing her thoughts, Ji Xuanqing stood up and stretched. Her peerless figure traced a perfect silhouette under the faint moonlight.
Mhm, it's time to go back.
Ji Xuanqing picked up the wooden sword she used for practice. A white light flashed in her beautiful eyes, and with a light tap of her foot, she cleared several meters in a single leap. Her speed was extremely fast, leaving behind only faint afterimages. If the Xie Family members saw this speed, their jaws would surely drop.
Returning to the Xie Family Manor, she found the curfew in effect; no one was allowed out at night, so she could only scale the wall. Ji Xuanqing leaped lightly over the perimeter wall and stood atop the tiled roof.
Her green dress fluttered in the breeze as her eyes turned toward a section of the Xie Family courtyard.
She then headed toward her room. After returning, she sat on the bed and pondered.
According to what she had learned over the years, one could learn martial arts in this world, and it was possible to develop Blood Qi and Internal Energy, things that only existed in novels.
To practice martial arts, one needed to clear their Twelve Meridians to become a Third-rate Expert.
Ji Xuanqing was a Third-rate Expert who had cleared the Twelve Meridians and was about to clear the first of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to become a Second-rate Expert.
Even her Second Uncle, Xie Yujun, was unaware of this.
After all, who would believe that a weak girl who had never practiced martial arts could become a Second-rate Expert like her Second Uncle in just three or four years? Unless, of course, her talent was unbelievably strong.
The reason Ji Xuanqing could Cultivate so quickly was because of a transparent panel that others couldn't see, which showed her attributes:
[Name: Ji Xuanqing]
[Blood Qi: 99.9]
[Internal Energy: 39.9]
[attribute points: 10]
[Cultivation Technique: Xie Family Three Origin Art]
[Martial Skill: Xie Family Straight Punch (Perfection), Green Yuan Sword Technique (Perfection)]
She had discovered the wonders of this panel after she started practicing martial arts with her Second Uncle, two years after her Transmigration.
As long as a living being or spiritual item died within Ji Xuanqing's field of vision, the attribute panel could absorb it and turn it into attribute points to improve her martial arts, Internal Energy, Blood Qi, and so on. It was essentially a universal Spirit Medicine.
Phew. Taking a deep breath, Ji Xuanqing focused her gaze on the attribute points. There were still ten points. She looked at the Blood Qi and Internal Energy on the panel, struggled for a moment, but ultimately gave up. She needed more attribute points; this small amount wasn't enough to clear the first of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
She could only wait until tomorrow to camp out at the livestock slaughterhouse in Nanyang City. That was Ji Xuanqing's main source of attribute points.
It was precisely by relying on the attribute points from the slaughterhouse that her martial arts had progressed so rapidly over the years.
For now, this was all she could do. After finishing her thoughts, Ji Xuanqing walked to a bronze mirror. The person in the mirror wore a green robe, with eyes as bright as the moon and slender willow-leaf brows. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall from her shoulders to her waist. Her forehead was framed by light bangs, and her chest had begun to show some curves. With her exquisite features and tall stature—she was much taller than her peers due to martial arts practice—she had grown into a graceful young lady at just fourteen years of age.
Looking at the extremely beautiful face in the mirror, Ji Xuanqing couldn't help but touch her cheek and chuckle narcisistically, "I didn't expect that after turning into a girl, I'd be this pretty. It's not bad."
Early the next morning, after finishing the breakfast brought by her maid, Ji Xuanqing immediately rushed toward Nanyang City.
Entering Nanyang City, she headed straight for her destination.
People were coming and going. Generally, those who came to buy meat had some Family wealth; for ordinary people, being able to eat meat once a month was considered good. Every era is the same.
Bypassing the front and heading to the back of the slaughterhouse, she saw purple attribute orbs. As long as Ji Xuanqing was within three meters, they would be automatically absorbed.
"attribute points +0.03"
"attribute points +0.02"
"attribute points +0.03..."
There were fewer people in the back, aside from butchers and transport personnel. Freshly slaughtered meat was more expensive than meat that had been sitting out, so few people came here.
Because they were just ordinary livestock and wild beasts, the gain was somewhat slow, but it was better than nothing. Ji Xuanqing strolled around slowly.
"Miaomiao, why are you here?" A voice full of vigor reached Ji Xuanqing's ears.
She heard the sound before seeing the person. A figure dressed in grey martial attire suddenly appeared beside her, looking at her.
Ji Xuanqing naturally knew who it was. She turned slightly and said, "Greetings, Uncle Qin Lie. Miaomiao was just wandering out of boredom. I didn't know Uncle Qin Lie would be in Nanyang City."
Ji Xuanqing's Green Yuan Sword Technique had been taught by this uncle. Because he had some history with the Sixth Mother—Ji Xuanqing's mother—she had asked him to teach Ji Xuanqing martial arts. Ji Xuanqing kept this help in her heart.
"The headquarters just had some matters for me to attend to," Qin Lie said with a wave of his hand.
Seeing Ji Xuanqing's current graceful appearance, Qin Lie couldn't help but sigh. "You've grown so much... Then... your... your mother... is she well?"
"Mother is well. She even mentioned you to me," Ji Xuanqing replied softly.
"Mhm, that's good then." Qin Lie nodded.
"Right, Miaomiao, I have something to tell you. The Blazing Sun Gang is planning to select one person from Nanyang City to go to the headquarters for training, so they've asked me to be a recommender," Qin Lie said casually.
"Uncle, what do you mean?" Ji Xuanqing asked.
Qin Lie nodded and said, "Mhm, if you want to go, I'll give you a recommendation letter. After all, Nanyang City is too small. If you want better resources, joining the Blazing Sun Gang will allow you to learn stronger martial arts and get better resources. Of course, in the end, it still depends on yourself."
Joining the Blazing Sun Gang? Ji Xuanqing pondered. Given her current resources, she didn't know how long it would take to become a true Martial Forest expert. Joining should be fine; every year, people from the Xie Family also joined the Blazing Sun Gang. In this region, joining a major Gang like the Blazing Sun Gang meant gaining a powerful status, second only to the imperial court. Even the Xie Family and other families had to act according to the Blazing Sun Gang's whims. One could only imagine how strong they were!
"Alright, then Uncle Qin Lie, what do I need to do?" Ji Xuanqing asked after making her decision.
"Get stronger! The selection will likely take place in a few days. You can only participate with a recommendation letter."
"Mhm, Miaomiao will remember this kindness." Ji Xuanqing cupped her hands in thanks.
Looking at this girl, Qin Lie seemed to see his past self.
"It's just a small favor. Hurry and focus on your Cultivation. I'm looking forward to seeing you show off your skills." Qin Lie chuckled.
Watching Qin Lie leave, Ji Xuanqing was quite interested in that spot in the Blazing Sun Gang. That way, she could learn even more powerful martial arts.
Ji Xuanqing wanted to be a member of the Martial Forest and learn powerful and miraculous martial arts. She remembered Uncle Qin Lie saying that powerful martial arts could even make one like a superhuman, invulnerable to blades and spears.
She wanted to see what this world was truly like.