"Biography!"
Zhou Ruoxi looked at the title of the book Wan Yunting picked up and said in surprise, "Could this be a biography written by the owner of this place?"
"Mm, it should be..."
Wan Yunting nodded, then opened the cover to the first page. A few lines of text appeared, read from right to left. They were written in calligraphy, and the handwriting was excellent. He said, "This book is the autobiography of Kang, myself. If a destined person can read it, my wife and I will no longer be here!"
Wan Yunting read this line and turned to Zhou Ruoxi, saying, "As expected, the people living here were a couple. The owner's surname is Kang!"
She nodded, letting Wan Yunting continue reading...
So he continued to the second page. This page had a lot of text, and Wan Yunting read aloud, "My surname is Kang, my given name is Guangling. I am from Jizhou. The world is in turmoil, and war is rampant. The martial world is in great chaos. I, Kang, have traveled the jianghu for ten years. Fortunately, I met my esteemed teacher, Wu Ya. He brought me back to our sect, the Xiaoyao Sect!"
"It's the Xiaoyao Sect!"
Seeing that this person named Kang Guangling was from the Xiaoyao Sect, Zhou Ruoxi was surprised.
Wan Yunting, on the other hand, knew nothing about the major sects of the Huaxia martial arts world. Zhou Ruoxi said, "The Xiaoyao Sect was a very famous sect in ancient times, but this sect acted very low-key, and their disciples were few. However, whenever a disciple appeared in the jianghu, they would cause a great stir."
"So powerful."
Wan Yunting listened, surprised. It seemed the Xiaoyao Sect was quite formidable.
Zhou Ruoxi nodded and said, "But I heard later that the Xiaoyao Sect seemed to have declined. No disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect have appeared for a hundred years. Therefore, our martial arts world now believes that the Xiaoyao Sect may have gone extinct!"
Wan Yunting nodded and continued to flip through the third page of Kang Guangling's autobiography. It spoke of how Kang Guangling was brought back to the Xiaoyao Sect by his master, Wu Ya, and began practicing martial arts. Kang Guangling described himself as gifted, inheriting many of his master Wu Ya's ultimate skills.
For example, the Xiaoyao Sect's ultimate skill, the Eight Desolations Divine Art! This was an internal cultivation technique of immense power, as well as White Rainbow Palm, Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand, Tianshan Six Yang Palm, Minor Formless Skill, and so on...
Eventually, Kang Guangling also became the fifteenth generation sect leader of the Xiaoyao Sect. However, the Xiaoyao Sect had very few disciples. Kang Guangling only had a few senior and junior brothers and sisters.
In Tianqi 1642, the world was rife with war, and the martial arts world was in great turmoil. The experts of various sects, in order to compete for the position of martial arts alliance leader and assist the Ming Dynasty in repelling foreign enemies, held a martial arts competition to determine the alliance leader. Strong practitioners from all major sects participated.
As the sect leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, Kang Guangling set out to travel the world. He saw the common people caught in the flames of war, with bodies strewn everywhere and rivers of blood, like a living hell, with gruesome phenomena like cannibalism...
This made Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi's scalps tingle. They could almost imagine what kind of lives the common people lived in ancient times; it was simply hellish, chilling to the bone.
Kang Guangling also competed for the alliance leader position. He fought against the experts of various sects, became the martial arts alliance leader, and organized the chivalrous heroes of the jianghu to assist the court in repelling foreign enemies...
Until Tianqi 1644, when Li Zicheng's army breached Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself on Coal Hill!
Kang Guangling and his martial arts heroes never expected the Ming Dynasty to perish so suddenly. Eventually, the Qing Dynasty was established. However, Kang Guangling and other martial arts heroes initially refused to recognize the Qing Dynasty. They even created an organization to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming, gathering many powerful martial artists. They carried out various acts of sabotage against the Qing dynasty, which lasted for about three years...
However, they were betrayed by a traitor, which led to many martial arts heroes being captured or killed. Kang Guangling was no exception. He was pursued by Qing soldiers and fled to the Kunlun Mountains, where he was saved by a woman.
In his autobiography, Kang Guangling described the woman who saved him with beautiful prose. Her name was Li Qingshui, and she was also a chivalrous woman of the martial arts world.
Kang Guangling used many words to describe how he and Li Qingshui went from acquaintances to confidantes to lovers, and how they fell deeply in love...
Upon reading this part, Zhou Ruoxi's beautiful eyes were filled with emotion, as if she envied the love between Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui. Their love was profound, judging by the words used. This made Zhou Ruoxi, standing beside Wan Yunting, gaze at this man intently...
Wan Yunting seemed to sense the change in Zhou Ruoxi beside him. He turned his head and saw that her watery autumn eyes were fixed on him without blinking!
Seeing the man look back, Zhou Ruoxi's delicate face flushed instantly, her heart pounding. She quickly lowered her head, her hand holding the oil lamp trembling slightly...
Wan Yunting also came back to his senses. Seeing this adorable side of Senior Sister Zhou, he smiled and continued reading Kang Guangling's autobiography...
In the following years, Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui tried to revive the organization to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming. However, due to the previous betrayal and the heavy casualties suffered by the martial arts heroes, Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui's efforts over the next few years were in vain. At the same time, the Qing Dynasty changed its policies and appeased many martial sects...
The entire land had also recovered its peace, and few people were still plotting to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming. Eventually, Kang Guangling found peace. He took Li Qingshui back to the Xiaoyao Sect, and they spent some time in the sect.
However, Kang Guangling saw through the mundane world. He eventually brought Li Qingshui to the Kunlun Mountains, to the valley where Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi were now. They remodeled this cave, and they also discovered this Cold Ice Stone in the cave!
"Cold Ice Stone!"
Upon reading this, Wan Yunting turned his head to look at the icy blue stone bed behind him. Kang Guangling's autobiography explained that this Cold Ice Stone was condensed over a thousand years and had miraculous effects on cultivation and healing.
"So it really is Cold Ice Stone!"
Zhou Ruoxi also looked back at the cold ice bed and said, "I've read about this kind of Cold Ice Stone in an ancient book before. It indeed has miraculous effects on cultivation and healing. My master also said that a Cold Ice Stone appeared in the past, causing a fierce contention among the strong practitioners of the martial arts world, leading to bloodshed."
Wan Yunting exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement, "If this is true, then our healing on this cold ice bed will surely be quick!"
"Mmm, mmm."
Zhou Ruoxi also nodded happily. She hadn't expected to find such a legendary Cold Ice Stone after entering this cave.
This cold ice bed was precisely what Kang Guangling and Li Qingshui had made from that Cold Ice Stone. They practiced their dual cultivation daily on this cold ice bed...
"Dual cultivation...!"
Upon reading this, Wan Yunting felt a bit embarrassed. Zhou Ruoxi's delicate face also blushed. Although she didn't understand romantic relationships, she knew what dual cultivation meant.
"Cough, cough..."
Wan Yunting coughed lightly, perhaps out of embarrassment or perhaps truly from his injuries. He continued reading Kang Guangling's autobiography: "My wife and I lived a leisurely and peaceful life for twenty years. Then, during one of my excursions, I heard that our Xiaoyao Sect was being besieged by various sects. So, my wife and I left the mountain to fight against the various sects!"
"But I, Kang, knew that confronting the various sects this time would be a life-or-death struggle. I didn't hold out hope of surviving. Therefore, I organized this cave dwelling, left behind this cold ice bed, and also left behind our Xiaoyao Sect's supreme martial arts and two peerless swords. If a destined person can enter in the future, I hope he can inherit the legacy of my wife and me and rebuild our Xiaoyao Sect!"
"You attacked the Xiaoyao Sect with various sects back then?"
Upon reading the end, Wan Yunting turned to Zhou Ruoxi and asked. She shook her head and said, "I don't know. My master or other seniors never mentioned this matter."
Wan Yunting nodded and turned to the last page. On it, Kang Guangling wrote his final words: "Our Xiaoyao Sect has its own methods of alchemy. I, Kang, have refined two Yuan-Replenishing Pills that can enhance power and heal injuries. I hope that the two destined individuals can take them and overcome their tribulations!"
"Yuan-Replenishing Pills!"
Seeing Kang Guangling's final words, Wan Yunting couldn't help but look down at the smallest wooden box among the three on the stone table. Could it be that it contained the Yuan-Replenishing Pills that could enhance power and heal injuries?
Zhou Ruoxi was also surprised and shook her head, saying, "I don't know much about pills."
Wan Yunting closed the autobiography and put it down. Then, he reached out to pick up the small wooden box, but Zhou Ruoxi quickly said, "Junior Brother Wan, Senior Kang said that the pills and martial arts manuals are left for someone who inherits his legacy and establishes the Xiaoyao Sect. Do you intend to inherit it?"
This statement made Wan Yunting's expression freeze. He turned to look at Zhou Ruoxi and said with a smile, "Senior Sister Zhou, I just want to see if this box contains pills."
Zhou Ruoxi's delicate face stiffened. She then smiled shyly and nodded, retracting her hand that had been blocking him...
Wan Yunting then picked up the small wooden box. It was sealed with a yellow paper closure, indicating it was airtight. It should contain pills.
Seeing Wan Yunting about to tear open the seal on the wooden box, Zhou Ruoxi was still a little worried and said, "Junior Brother Wan, if they are indeed Yuan-Replenishing Pills, and you open them without intending to inherit Senior Kang's legacy, it wouldn't be right."
This made Wan Yunting pause his actions. He turned to look at Zhou Ruoxi, surprised that this Senior Sister Zhou was a bit rigid. He smiled and said, "Alright, at worst, I'll inherit his legacy and rebuild the Xiaoyao Sect in the future!"
"You really intend to inherit it?"
Zhou Ruoxi's beautiful eyes widened, not expecting him to actually intend to inherit the pills and martial arts manuals left by Senior Kang.
Wan Yunting immediately tore open the box's seal, smiling as he said, "Senior Sister, we are trapped here, and we are both injured. If these Yuan-Replenishing Pills can truly enhance our power and heal our wounds, then we can leave here sooner."
"Alright."
Zhou Ruoxi nodded. Although she felt it wasn't quite right, what Wan Yunting said seemed reasonable.
The most important thing for the two of them now was to escape this valley...