After the Great Dao died

Chapter 13 Chen Lingxi, a rough gem in martial arts?

Jiang Yuan turned his head, his sharp, hawk-like eyes landing on Chen Lingxi in the corridor.

Her gaze first swept over the quiet flower arrangement in his hand, paused slightly, and then fixed on Chen Lingxi.

It was as if one could see through that thin winter coat to the bones beneath his skin.

Jiang Yuan's brows furrowed slowly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which then turned into curiosity.

"what?"

Another low, soft "hmm" escaped from his throat.

The two soft exclamations were not loud, but they were exceptionally clear due to the silence in the room.

Everyone was stunned. Following Jiang Yuan's gaze, all they saw was the young official slave holding a flower arrangement, his head bowed and eyes lowered.

Lin Longyue also noticed Jiang Yuan's unusual behavior. She turned her gaze slightly and landed on Chen Lingxi, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

Princess Yunhe, who was sitting in the East Hall, had been whispering something to her maid, but she stopped and looked over curiously.

He Duan was puzzled.

He knew Jiang Yuan was arrogant and had very high standards. Just now, he was very picky about the carefully cultivated disciples of the West Courtyard, and he was even less interested in ordinary people. So why did he show such a demeanor when he saw this government slave today?

Chen Lingxi felt the sharp, almost tangible gaze, and her heart skipped a beat, but she still maintained a respectful posture, keeping her eyes lowered and motionless.

Jiang Yuan ignored everyone else and strode towards the corridor!

He stood in front of Chen Lingxi, his tall figure bringing an invisible sense of oppression.

"You," Jiang Yuan said, his voice deep and resonant, "raise your head."

Chen Lingxi did as instructed, slowly raising her head to meet Jiang Yuan's scrutinizing gaze.

Jiang Yuan carefully examined Chen Lingxi up close.

The boy's face was still somewhat pale, but it was no longer sickly; instead, it exuded a warm, jade-like quality.

He had handsome features, but there was an inescapable air of melancholy between his brows.

What Jiang Yuan cared about most was that the boy stood there, seemingly thin, but his back was naturally straight, his shoulders were relaxed, and his breath was long and subtle, as if he had become one with the surrounding cold wind, without any of the shivering and listlessness of an ordinary laborer.

"Who are you?" Jiang Yuan asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, this is Chen Lingxi, a servant in the West Wing, who has come to present flower arrangements on the orders of the young lady."

Chen Lingxi answered in a steady voice, leaving no room for error.

"The official slave Chen Lingxi..." Jiang Yuan read the name aloud, then suddenly reached out.

They were actually going to cleanse and examine Chen Ling's bones!

Instantly, everyone was puzzled.

A low murmur arose.

"Mr. Jiang is going to examine the bones of a government slave?"

"Government slaves, who are never well-fed or clothed, what good character can they possibly have?"

He Duan could no longer hide the astonishment on his face.

Zheng Qingya frowned slightly, looking at Chen Lingxi with a hint of confusion.

Jiang Yuan's expression became extremely focused, and his large hand landed on Chen Lingxi.

This time, his movements were slower and more solemn than when he examined the bones of anyone before.

The first finger landed near the Baihui acupoint on the top of Chen Lingxi's head and pressed gently.

Chen Lingxi felt a warm yet extremely penetrating energy seep in from the top of her head and instantly travel down.

Jiang Yuan's fingers then slowly pressed down on Chen Lingxi's cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, one by one.

His fingertips seemed to have eyes, able to see every minute shape, density, and fit of the bones.

That strange energy also penetrated deeper, probing the vitality deep within the bone marrow and the trajectory of blood and qi circulation in the blood vessels.

The arena was completely silent. Everyone held their breath and watched as Jiang Yuan's iron hands slowly moved across Chen Lingxi's body.

From the spine to the shoulder blades, from the arm bones to the finger joints, and then to the waist, hips, leg bones, and ankles...

Jiang Yuan's expression grew increasingly solemn, and the astonishment in his eyes deepened.

He sensed that the body beneath him did not have a top-notch skeletal structure, and some parts even showed subtle signs of long-term strain and malnutrition.

but!

However, those areas that should have been stiff, sluggish, and fragile miraculously exhibited a strange elasticity and vitality.

In particular, the spine and the large bones of the limbs are much tougher than they appear on the outside!

The pathways for the circulation of Qi and blood are also much wider and smoother than when ordinary martial artists first begin.

Moreover, the tenacious vitality hidden deep within the blood and qi meridians is now more clearly felt upon closer inspection!

This is no ordinary thing!

Time passed little by little.

A thin layer of sweat had appeared on Jiang Yuan's forehead.

This was the first time he had ever spent so much time and energy examining the bones of so many people.

Finally, he withdrew his hand.

Quiet.

silence.

Everyone looked at Jiang Yuan, awaiting his verdict.

Jiang Yuan exhaled a long breath of stale air, which condensed into a straight white arrow in the cold air.

His eyes held a hint of surprise as he looked at Chen Lingxi.

"Princess!" Jiang Yuan's voice was slightly hoarse, yet loud and clear, echoing throughout the courtyard: "This Chen Lingxi is indeed a fine and promising talent, surpassing many others in the courtyard!"

"His qi and blood are abundant and resilient, his meridians are wide and unobstructed, and what's even more rare is that his bones harbor an indomitable tenacity and vitality, making him more suitable than Zheng Qingya to cultivate my Mountain-Crushing Strength!"

His words were forceful and resounding.

The room became even quieter.

He Duan, the instructor of the West Courtyard Martial Arts Hall, took a deep breath.

He looked at Jiang Yuan, then at the silent, gaunt government slave, and felt a sense of absurdity.

Is this government slave a promising martial arts talent with exceptional potential?

But how could the discerning eye and bone-reading skills of a Silver Bone Realm expert be easily deceiving?

Zheng Qingya stood there, stunned. The joy of being chosen had not yet faded, but now he was somewhat bewildered by this sudden change.

"I can't master the 'Crushing Mountain Force' anymore?"

At this moment, Jiang Yuan turned his head and looked at Chen Lingxi again.

"Would you be willing to cultivate martial arts with me?"

Chen Lingxi looked at Lin Longyue.

Lin Longyue nodded silently, her imposing aura overwhelming.

"I only wanted to meet Jiang Yuan, and it would be best if I could get in touch with him. If I couldn't, I would look for another opportunity. I didn't expect it to go so smoothly."

"It seems that the spiritual energy has changed my physique. Am I truly a martial arts prodigy?"

Chen Lingxi suppressed her joy and bowed deeply.

"Chen Lingxi agrees!"

Jiang Yuan nodded in satisfaction, but there was a hint of regret in his eyes.

"This young man surnamed Chen has extraordinary potential, but he is merely a government slave."

He has virtually no chance of regaining his freedom; otherwise, I might have taken him as my apprentice.

As he thought of this, he couldn't help but glance at Lin Longyue in front of the East Hall.

He had exceptional eyesight and could see that Lin Longyue's blood and qi were like a furnace, and her meridians were almost entirely channels for blood and qi, forming a complete fire net!

This is a sign that one has reached the pinnacle of the Bronze Crimson Realm and is about to step into the Silver Bone Realm.

"The young lady of the Lin family is only eighteen years old, but she is already about to step into the Silver Bone Realm. In the future, she will probably be at least a Golden Body person."

"I was recruited to the Baosu Marquis's residence by her, and received a large sum of money and a high salary. What harm is there in giving him a government slave assassin who cultivates the Collapsing Mountain Technique?"

He thought to himself.

Lin Longyue turned her head slightly and said, "The matter has been settled, and Mr. Jiang must be exhausted."

Liu Que, take Mr. Jiang back to the courtyard and treat him well.

Liu Que, the manager of the West Garden, did not hold the lion-shaped hand warmer in front of Lin Longyue, but responded respectfully.

Jiang Yuan smiled and bowed to Lin Longyue, then said to Chen Lingxi, "I grant you a day of rest today. Come to my courtyard at dawn tomorrow."

Liu Que left with Jiang Yuan.

Lin Longyue was clearly in a good mood, and her gaze towards Chen Lingxi carried a hint of surprise.

Princess Yunhe, however, seemed more interested in the vase of flowers that Chen Lingxi had brought. While examining it carefully, she lazily said, "Longyue, it seems you're quite lucky. There are countless government slaves in the Ministry of Justice."

The vast majority are useless wretches, but you happen to have acquired such a person.

Not only is he skilled in flower arranging, but he also possesses some martial arts talent.

Lin Longyue smiled at Princess Yunhe: "Chen Lingxi, come with me."

She entered the East Hall, took the main seat, and saw that Chen Lingxi had already entered the East Hall and bowed to her.

"You're lucky." Lin Longyue held a porcelain cup, lifted the lid, and gently blew away the jasmine flowers floating on the surface of the tea. "This Jiang Yuan is a martial arts expert who has reached the Silver Bone Perfection stage."

His body has more than two hundred bones, all of which are silver-white, with silver marrow and blood surging, making him incredibly powerful in battle.

In particular, his "Collapse Mountain Force" is like a mountain collapsing when unleashed, making it a truly deadly move.

If you can learn even a fraction of his true skills, you will be of use to me.

Chen Lingxi listened with her head down.

Lin Longyue took a sip of tea and gently flicked her sleeve: "I have already sent someone to transfer your slave status from the Capital Office to my Baosu Marquis's residence."

From now on, you will no longer need to go to the court every month to register for the case; you can go every two months.

If you can perform meritorious service in the future, I will be merciful and exempt you from your status as a government slave. What harm is there in making you a foreign household or even a miscellaneous household?

At that time, all you need to do is wait for a general amnesty, and you will be able to return to your status as a free person. Your Chen family will no longer have to be slaves for generations!

Upon hearing Lin Longyue's words, Chen Lingxi sneered inwardly.

The capital and the surrounding areas were under the tightest control of the imperial court, and as a government slave, there was little chance of escape in the Gyeonggi Province.

If he truly develops some skill in martial arts and becomes useful to the Marquis of Baosu's mansion, then in the future, he will likely be even more unable to escape the cage and become a loyal servant of the mansion, doing dirty work.

Would those people in high positions possibly show you mercy and grant you freedom?

He sneered inwardly, but his face showed a look of surprise. He even stepped forward and bowed to Lin Longyue.

"I am willing to serve you, Miss."

Lin Longyue nodded slightly, her gaze returning to its usual cool and aloof state.

"Follow Mr. Jiang and cultivate yourself well, so I can see if you are truly the fine talent Mr. Jiang speaks of."

"From now on, you will receive a monthly allowance of ten taels of silver, and you will be allowed to have your daily meals provided by the martial arts training hall. You will also be entitled to a medicinal bath once a month."

"Go down."

This was a real benefit, and Chen Lingxi felt even more delighted. She bowed and withdrew.

Princess Yunhe stepped out from behind the screen and said with a smile, "Since the thick fog that never dissipated on the mountain west of Yuanjiang Prefecture has cleared up, there are more and more martial arts experts in Yuanjiang Prefecture."

Your duel with the young lady of the manor is drawing ever closer; Jiang Yuan alone is probably no match for her.

"Would you like me to lend you a few experts?"

Lin Longyue's mind conjured up the hateful and arrogant face of Chu Linzi, the daughter of the manor lord, and a hint of disgust appeared in her eyes.

Even if we borrow someone else's help, and win, I'm afraid Chu Linzi will still laugh at us.

Lin Longyue shook her head, then seemed to remember something: "Princess, has the flower arrangement made from the locust branches been delivered to the Mirror Palace?"

"It's not that easy," Princess Yunhe said. "Countless important figures have sent flower arrangements to Consort Chun's Mirror Palace."

Consort Chun is quite open to flower arrangements, but she only admires four or five plants a day. We, on the other hand, have a long way to go.

Lin Longyue frowned, somewhat worried.

Princess Yunhe knew what Lin Longyue was worried about: "Don't worry, I have informed the Siyuan Bureau. They will take good care of it and won't let the flower arrangement die."