Chapter 161: 160. Extending Life

160. Chapter 160: Extending Life

Li Yi was genuinely surprised.

This scholar from a prominent family, Fan Zhizhou, actually wanted to leave the Four Seas and Eight Zhou, abandon this world, and cross over into another realm—and his reason for crossing was simple: not for survival, not for fame or fortune, but merely to see the wonders of another world, or perhaps to seek a more promising path of cultivation.

Unexpectedly, Fan Zhizhou was a man with ideals.

"Crossing over isn't as easy as you imagine. In the Four Seas and Eight Zhou, you're someone with status and power, enjoying endless wealth and luxury. Once you cross over, frankly, with your current strength, you're worth nothing—not even a fart. Don't even dream of comfort; barely surviving with enough to eat would be a miracle. And crossing over is a one-way path: without a chance, you can't return. Stay in Sanyang City and be your city lord."

Li Yi struck him without mercy.

A Qi-Opening martial artist, in Earth's terms, isn't even a top-tier fighter—after all, this Fan Zhizhou couldn't even beat himself.

"If I never return, it's fate—I won't regret it. But, Brother Li, could you give me this chance?" Fan Zhizhou spoke with deep sincerity.

He had revealed so many secrets of the Four Seas and Eight Zhou without a single lie, all to show Li Yi his genuine intent.

"Everything comes at a cost. If you want me to take you across, fine—but only if you can offer enough value to make me consider it." Li Yi said. He had no objection to bringing someone back to Earth; the Second Heaven's Collapse was imminent, and if Fan Zhizhou truly went to Earth, he'd soon realize just how terrifying and evil Earth truly was.

The risks were beyond what this martial artist could handle.

Everyone on Earth now wanted to cross over—yet he'd never met anyone willing to abandon a life of comfort to suffer on Earth.

Isn't enjoying music and dance better? Why go to Earth for 996?

But when Fan Zhizhou heard Li Yi's words, his eyes lit up with excitement.

He'd assumed Li Yi would flatly refuse—yet now, there was actually room to negotiate.

It was just a matter of price.

If he could pay a sufficient cost, enough to move Li Yi, the crossing would likely succeed.

Thinking this, Fan Zhizhou said: "I understand your meaning, Brother Li. But this matter is too grave—I alone cannot offer you enough to satisfy you. Yet the entire Fan family might manage it. Please grant me some time; I will give you a satisfactory answer."

"Then I'm genuinely curious. But you still owe me a batch of Yin Horses—don't forget to deliver them to my mansion." Li Yi also wanted to see how much benefit he could extract from Fan Zhizhou.

To advance his martial cultivation further, he needed the next stage of cultivation methods.

As a scholar from a prominent family, Fan Zhizhou surely possessed a complete martial lineage—this would greatly aid Li Yi in the future, so he had no qualms about offering Fan Zhizhou a promise.

"Brother Li, rest assured—I will fulfill every promise I make," Fan Zhizhou declared again with solemn assurance.

Li Yi glanced at him and said no more: "I still need to kill ghosts and seize life spans. If I keep chatting with you, dawn will break."

Saying this, he mounted the Yin Horse again, leapt into the air, and vanished swiftly into the darkness of Sanyang City.

Soon after, he continued moving through the city, slaying ghostly reapers and seizing Yang Shou.

Though Fan Zhizhou couldn't see the ghosts, he knew what Li Yi was doing—he didn't stop him. The Four Seas and Eight Zhou had been harvesting Yang Shou for over a thousand years; the amount Li Yi stole in one night was negligible and couldn't shake the system. To change this, one must cross over and remake the world, as he had said.

"I wonder if this act will provoke the wrath of the Yin Gods. I recall this region of Xingzhou isn't under my Fan family's Yin God—it's under Meng family of Qingzhou." Fan Zhizhou fell into thought.

The Yin Gods patronized by prominent families harvest Yang Shou within each other's territories—a rule established since ancient times by ghosts and gods, designed to keep the families in check, to monitor and restrain one another, preventing deceit and cover-ups.

But Li Yi didn't care about any of that. He only wanted to reclaim the Yang Shou of those around him—that was all.

Around midnight.

Li Yi felt he had slain enough ghosts today; the total Yang Shou he had seized amounted to at least three hundred years. Even if half were lost, it was enough to make up for the deficits of his master, Zhao Qian, and Rong Niang. Though more Yang Shou remained to be taken, he didn't pursue it—he wasn't seeking to extend his own life, only to reclaim what had been stolen.

After finishing, he rode the Yin Horse back to his mansion.

"Senior Brother."

"Brother Yi."

As soon as he entered the room, he found Rong Niang and Zhao Qian had already woken—when they saw him return, they sighed in relief, their eyes filled with concern.

"Senior Brother, where did you go? We woke in the middle of the night and found you gone, the doors and windows open—we thought you'd gotten lost outside. We were so worried," Rong Niang hurried forward, scanning Li Yi. Seeing he was unharmed, she relaxed somewhat.

"You shouldn't wander at night, Brother Yi. Your strength lets you ignore taboos, but you still must be cautious—don't risk your life. When I saw you vanish, I nearly died of fright," Zhao Qian added, her face tense with fear that Li Yi might vanish so strangely again.

Li Yi pulled down a bundle of white bamboo from the Yin Horse's back: "Sorry I left without telling you. I just went to kill ghosts. The Four Seas and Eight Zhou are terrifying—every first of the month, countless ghosts wander the world, using special methods to steal Yang Shou from the living. How can you have lived here for decades without noticing? Rong Niang, while you slept, a ghost came to your bedside, breathed through this ghost bamboo, and stole a month of your Yang Shou."

"Look—you already have several white hairs."

Saying this, Li Yi walked over and plucked a few white hairs from Rong Niang's head.

Both looked—and it was true.

Rong Niang's face twisted in horror: "This… how is this possible? Senior Brother, are ghosts really stealing Yang Shou from the living?"

"Brother Yi, what you're saying is terrifying. Isn't this only supposed to happen in Ghost Street? How can it happen here too?" Zhao Qian's eyes widened in sudden dread.

She had never imagined that every first of the month, an invisible ghost came to her bed to steal her Yang Shou.

Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines.

"This touches on a colossal secret of the Four Seas and Eight Zhou. I can't explain it to you now—it won't help. Just know this: every first of the month, ghosts come to steal your Yang Shou. Though each steals little at a time, the constant drain adds up."

Li Yi shook his head slightly: "This is why people in the Four Seas and Eight Zhou have short lifespans. Though martial artists live a few decades longer, it's still limited—most of their Yang Shou goes to ghosts and gods. Tonight, I reclaimed all the Yang Shou you lost. Each white ghost bamboo represents one year of Yang Shou—I took back three hundred years. I'll restore them to you now."

The two stared, stunned—as if their entire worldview had shattered. They stood frozen for a long time, unable to respond.

Li Yi knew it was hard for them to accept such a horrifying truth at once—even he, an outsider, had been shocked and incredulous, let alone Zhao Qian and Rong Niang, natives of this world.

After a long while.

Rong Niang and Zhao Qian slowly accepted this terrifying, cruel truth.

"Then… Senior Brother, what should we do now?" Rong Niang trembled: "Even after this month, there's next month, and the month after. Not just me—Master, Junior Brother, everyone… everyone is being drained by ghosts and gods."

Li Yi sighed: "Honestly, I can't fix this. It's been a thousand-year problem in the Four Seas and Eight Zhou. Only a martial artist stronger than a Law-Form cultivator could break it. Right now, my strength isn't enough to handle this. All I can do is protect you few. As for others… I wish I could help, but I can't."

"But don't lose hope. When I reach the Spirit-Refining realm, the Yin Gods won't dare touch you. A Spirit-Refining master can protect a region from ghostly interference."

"Enough of this for now. First, restore your Yang Shou. I learned the method from the ghost officer I killed—I don't know if it works."

Saying this, he took a white ghost bamboo and blew a breath into it. True enough, in his spiritual sight, a white mist emerged.

"Rong Niang, open your mouth and inhale this life essence," Li Yi ordered.

Rong Niang opened her lips, drew a deep breath—and immediately felt a special energy enter her body. It was nourishing, like a supreme medicinal pill, filling her with warmth and comfort.

As the white bamboo turned black, one year of Yang Shou was consumed—but on Rong Niang, it only restored half a year.

"Rong Niang, how do you feel?" Li Yi asked.

"It's wonderful—I feel younger, more energetic, my blood and qi seem stronger. It's unbelievable," Rong Niang said, carefully sensing her own changes.

"Good. That means the Yang Shou was successfully restored. To avoid delays, Zhao Qian and Rong Niang, exchange Yang Shou with each other—take back what you lost. Give the rest to Master, and to Shouhou. As for any leftover… do as you wish. Give it to whoever you like." Li Yi said.

"Brother Yi, what about you?" Zhao Qian said: "You spent eighty years of Yang Shou buying the coffin fungus for Father. You're the one who needs it most. You should take the lion's share—we'll each take a little, the rest is yours."

"Me?"

Li Yi smiled: "My eighty years of Yang Shou are still intact. Who dares come to collect from me? I kill every one that shows up. If they're not afraid of death, let them come."

"Huh? You can just… refuse to pay?" Zhao Qian was stunned—she'd never heard of such a thing.

Li Yi said: "Martial artists in the Four Seas and Eight Zhou can't see ghosts, so they can't stop them from taking Yang Shou. But I'm different—I see ghosts with my eyes, crush them with my fists. Ghosts can't even approach me, so I don't fear losing my Yang Shou. My lifespan is long. It's you all who are short-lived—take more. If it's still not enough, I'll go steal more next first of the month."

"Senior Brother, isn't stealing Yang Shou from ghosts and gods dangerous?" Rong Niang said: "Please don't risk yourself for us. One time is enough—don't do it again."

"Don't worry. Stealing now might be risky, but when I grow stronger, it'll be safe." Li Yi said: "And then, I won't just steal Yang Shou—I might kill those evil gods and end ghostly life-draining forever."

"By the way, keep this secret. Don't tell anyone except Master. Most people in the Four Seas and Eight Zhou are still blind to this. If you reveal such a secret, you'll bring disaster upon yourselves."

"Brother Yi, I understand—I won't say a word," Zhao Qian nodded urgently. Rong Niang immediately affirmed she wouldn't speak either.