Chapter 170: 169. The Chains and the Threshold

169. The Chains and the Threshold

In the afternoon.

The former Han Family Martial Arts Hall, now Li Yi's residence, was filled with a rich aroma—kitchen staff had simmered a pot of premium yellow lamb meat, hired from the best chef in Sanyang City, infused with many tonic herbs to nourish qi and blood, and even added a terrestrial treasure, making the already nourishing lamb even more exquisite.

Yet despite this delicacy, no one had any appetite.

Especially Zhao Ge, who stood in the front courtyard with his hands behind his back, frowning at the closed gate ahead, his thoughts long since left the food, fixed instead on awaiting news from the battle beyond the city walls.

Li Yi had challenged five of the Meng family's Qi-Opening experts and one Qi-Condensation powerhouse.

Such a situation could not be called anything but grave.

But Zhao Ge was powerless to act, for he could not intervene in a battle of this caliber; even if he sacrificed his life, he might at best take down one Qi-Opening expert—but with a Qi-Condensation master present, he couldn't even manage that, and his presence would bring no help, only chaos, forcing Li Yi to lose focus.

Better to wait here in silence for good tidings.

Still, Zhao Ge had prepared himself: if Li Yi lost, every last person in Zhao Shiwu's Martial Arts Hall would die today, all perishing together. He would not tell his disciples this, for it would serve no purpose—only cause panic and invite unnecessary trouble.

This waiting was agonizing.

Each minute felt like a year.

Zhao Ge dreaded the worst outcome; he hoped Li Yi would defeat his foes and resolve this great disaster, for after so hard-won gains—seizing two martial halls, avenging their honor, rebuilding Zhao Shiwu's Hall—he could not bear to see it collapse again.

As time slowly passed.

Until a horse's neigh rang outside the gate, jolting Zhao Ge, who had been standing with closed eyes, into sudden alertness.

Before he could move, the main gate swung open, and Li Yi's towering figure appeared in view—uninjured, only speckled with enemy blood, striding forward with steady steps.

"Good!" Zhao Ge roared, releasing the pent-up tension in his chest.

Li Yi's safe return spoke volumes.

"Master, why are you standing here? Hmm? What a wonderful smell—this is yellow lamb soup. I've returned just in time, right as it's ready to serve." Li Yi inhaled deeply, feeling his whole body relax.

Clearly, the lamb soup had been enhanced with some extraordinary mountain treasure, one that strengthened qi and blood.

"You're back, that's all that matters," Zhao Ge smiled, stroking his beard. "How was the battle? Was it dangerous?"

"It went well. That Qi-Condensation master was hard to kill—he took two spears and still lived, even used his condensation qi to fly. But I caught him off guard; even when he reacted quickly, it was too late. In the end, he was spent, and died beneath Great Green Mountain." Li Yi said, "The rest of the Qi-Opening experts were no threat. One woman, though, was strong—she held out against me for a hundred breaths before exhausting her entire qi and blood and finally dying."

The Meng family of Qingzhou still possesses real experts—far stronger than Jin Zhihuan or Han Tianbao in their prime.

Zhao Ge nodded: "That's true. Clan elites have top-tier Blood-Refining and Qi-Opening methods, and their foundational training is solid from childhood. Moreover, their internal rivalries and sparring create warriors far superior to our self-taught types. But for you, Meng De, they're still nothing."

"Naturally," Li Yi said. "But this time I acquired the Fan family's Blood-Refining and Qi-Opening method. Once I reach Qi-Opening, my strength will grow even further—I won't fear them. After eliminating these Meng family experts, we'll likely have peace for a long while. The Fan Prefect said he'd mediate once I won this battle."

"Good fortune—we may even avoid the Ghosts Claiming Lifespans, though only within Sanyang City."

"Let's not dwell on aftermaths, Meng De. Come, let's eat. I had Skinny Monkey buy ten jars of fine wine—we must drink until we're both drunk." Zhao Ge dismissed the looming troubles; he only felt he'd survived another trial and deserved celebration.

Li Yi quickly waved him off: "Master, I can't hold my liquor—I get drunk easily. Let's skip it."

"That won't do," Zhao Ge boomed. "How can a hero like you not drink?" He called for Skinny Monkey and several other disciples, preparing a feast.

Killing a Qi-Condensation master was no small feat—it deserved celebration.

Though it had just happened, the news would spread throughout Sanyang City within days; Li Yi's name would reverberate across Xingzhou, making him a true figure of storm and stress.

Soon.

A private banquet was held within the residence.

Zhao Ge, Skinny Monkey, Rong Niang, Zhao Qian, and Zhao Shiwu's Blood-Refining disciples—Yuan Tianfei, Zhu Wei. Though Li Yi didn't know these disciples, Zhao Ge and the others had brought them to the Li residence for the banquet—they must be core members of Zhao Shiwu's Hall, trustworthy individuals.

Without Zhao Ge's approval, even ordinary Zhao Shiwu disciples couldn't meet Li Yi, let alone attend a private banquet.

They chatted, drank, feasted, and the oppressive atmosphere of impending storm vanished entirely, replaced only by laughter and joy.

Li Yi savored this rare moment of rest—he hadn't paused since arriving in the Four Seas and Eight Continents, always cultivating or fighting enemies, even battling ghosts at night. Only now, with the death of a Qi-Condensation master, did everything truly come to a close.

The banquet lasted until deep night.

Even Li Yi's formidable physique was heavily intoxicated—he staggered back to his room and collapsed into sleep.

He didn't wake until noon the next day, finally stirring from a full night's rest.

He slept soundly, feeling refreshed and thoroughly at ease.

After a quick wash and grooming, he stepped outside.

After wandering the residence, he found Zhao Qian in the training ground, seated in meditation beneath a tree, attempting to become an Evolver.

But soon, Zhao Qian opened her eyes, a look of frustration in them.

Clearly, her cultivation had failed.

"Zhao Qian, what's wrong? Stuck at some stage?" Li Yi walked over and asked.

"Big Brother Yi."

Zhao Qian's face brightened upon seeing Li Yi; she stood quickly and bowed, then said: "Big Brother Yi, I've followed your cultivation method, but I've hit a wall at the second step. I can sense the cosmic energy you mentioned, but I can't draw it in—I can't absorb it into my body."

"I've tried many times. Always failed."

Her face grew somber: "Maybe I just have no talent. I can't learn your cultivation method."

"Don't rush to conclusions. Keep meditating. I'll guide cosmic energy directly into your body—see if you can absorb it." Li Yi paused, then found a solution.

"Then I'll try again, Big Brother Yi." Zhao Qian nodded eagerly, unwilling to waste his kindness, and resumed her meditation.

Li Yi sat beside her, forming a divine seal and activating the White Bone Contemplation cultivation technique.

The surrounding cosmic energy had been thin, but under the White Bone Contemplation technique, it gathered rapidly—within moments, the energy around Zhao Qian thickened. He then directed his intent, forcing the cosmic energy swiftly into her body.

Li Yi refused to believe that with such a torrent of cosmic energy flooding her, Zhao Qian couldn't absorb even a drop.

Once she crossed this first threshold, the door to cultivation would be open.

Zhao Qian, in meditation, soon sensed the anomaly—the brilliant cosmic energy flowed through her body like a river of stars, immersing her in an indescribable sense of ease.

As the cosmic energy repeatedly washed over her, and the surrounding concentration kept rising,

finally, after surpassing a threshold, the cosmic energy began to merge with her cells, slowly seeping into her body.

Zhao Qian's cultivation door had opened—she had successfully become an Evolver.

At that moment, every cell in her body rejoiced, beginning to absorb cosmic energy.

"I did it, Big Brother Yi! I succeeded!" Zhao Qian snapped out of meditation, thrilled.

Li Yi opened his eyes, ending the White Bone Contemplation technique, and noticed something during this guidance process.

No wonder people in this world couldn't open the door to cultivation.

He understood.

Cosmic energy here was too thin, too low in concentration. The bodies of cultivators, living long in this world, had grown insensitive to it. In other words, the people of this world had regressed—they could no longer cultivate.

To reopen cultivation, one needed not only a method, but sufficient cosmic energy concentration, and someone to guide it. Only under such intense stimulation could the body's evolutionary door reopen.

Otherwise, this cultivation door would remain forever locked, impossible to open.

"Now's not the time to celebrate," Li Yi said. "Zhao Qian, keep meditating. See if you can draw cosmic energy into your body without my help."

"Yes."

Zhao Qian regained her confidence—now that she'd made progress, she had motivation. She immediately adjusted her state and resumed cultivation.

Soon, she entered meditation again.

As before, no issue—she sensed cosmic energy drifting around her. Though less abundant this time, when she tried directing it with her intent, she was astonished to find it responded—flowing into her body, slowly absorbed.

Once, twice, thrice, fourth time… she truly mastered the method.

With each attempt, she drew in more cosmic energy, and her absorption efficiency slowly improved.

"Big Brother Yi, I can absorb cosmic energy now!" Zhao Qian opened her eyes, her gaze bright, her heart overflowing with joy.

Li Yi nodded: "Indeed. Once the lock on your cultivation door is opened, you can cultivate normally. Otherwise, you remain stuck at that stage, unable to pass."

He understood—this lock came from the heavens and earth, from generations of inheritance in this world.

Only Li Yi, an outsider, could break it—only the White Bone Contemplation technique could gather enough cosmic energy to briefly alter the environment and re-stimulate the body's evolutionary door.

Thus, cultivation methods could never spread in this world.

Even if Zhao Qian learned the method, she couldn't teach others—her ability to draw cosmic energy was too limited; she couldn't break the lock, couldn't open the door.

"Big Brother Yi, I've learned the cultivation method—will I now become a genius like you, transformed and reborn?" Zhao Qian's eyes sparkled with hope.

"It depends on your progress. But transformation like mine is still extremely difficult. Yet once you lay a foundation with this method, reaching Qi-Opening will be effortless, and becoming a Qi-Condensation master will be easy. This method isn't suitable as a mainstream cultivation path here—it's best for building foundations." Li Yi replied.

"That's enough. Soon I'll surpass Father." Zhao Qian beamed.

"What are you two chatting about? So happy?" Rong Niang, hearing the noise, walked over curiously.

Zhao Qian ran to her, linking arms: "Sister, I have good news! With Big Brother Yi's help, I've finally entered cultivation! Big Brother Yi says if I keep practicing, I'll break into Qi-Opening soon, and become a Qi-Condensation master someday—hehe."

"Little sister, you've entered cultivation?" Rong Niang was astonished.

She had cultivated alongside Zhao Qian—she knew how hard the method was.

Li Yi said: "Rong Niang, you're just in time. Your cultivation is probably stuck at the final stage too—you can't guide cosmic energy with your intent. That's because an invisible lock seals your path. I'll now break this lock for you, and open your cultivation and evolution."

"An invisible lock? Brother, what do you mean?" Rong Niang asked, curious.

Li Yi said: "It's a chain imposed by heaven and earth upon your world's people—a natural evolution. Don't question it. Begin meditating now, and you'll soon understand why."

"Then please help me, Brother." Rong Niang didn't hesitate—she immediately entered meditation.

Li Yi did as before—using the White Bone Contemplation technique to gather vast cosmic energy, continuously washing over Rong Niang's body, stimulating her awakening, opening the door to cultivation.

Rong Niang did not disappoint—like Zhao Qian, she shattered the lock and successfully absorbed cosmic energy.

"Is this what cultivation feels like? So strange."

Rong Niang opened her eyes, a look of wonder on her face: "Brother, I feel subtle changes in my body—it seems I'm growing stronger."

"Your cultivation has just begun. After several months of consistent practice, the effects will be remarkable," Li Yi said. "But don't neglect your martial arts. This method is time-consuming—practice it only in spare moments, or it'll be counterproductive."

With such thin cosmic energy, cultivation could never go far—but as a supplement to martial arts, its effect would be astonishing.

"Alright, keep cultivating, strive to master it soon. I'll stay in the residence these few days—if you have questions, ask me." Li Yi said.

Now that both had entered cultivation, he could rest easy—and prepare to cross over and leave.

But before leaving this time, Li Yi had many things to do; after all, he had come all this way, so he must gain something—he couldn't make the trip for nothing.

Thus, over the next few days, Li Yi had Jin Dafu find him a tutor to learn the world's script. His memory was excellent, and his learning speed was rapid; within just two days, he had nearly mastered the world's script and could read cultivation techniques.

During this time, Li Yi also gathered several cultivation-grade herbs, preparing to take them back to Tianchang City.

Master Zhao Ge seemed to know Li Yi was leaving; he actively leveraged the Zhao Family Martial Hall's connections to equip Li Yi with all the herbs and handed over every single martial lineage of the Zhao Family Martial Hall—from methods of training skin and bone to those of cultivating marrow and blood through acupoints, as well as the Shaking Mountain Fist fighting style.

Li Yi had now acquired the martial lineages of both the Zhao Family Martial Hall and the Han Family Martial Hall—his gains were immense; if he brought them back to Earth, they would cause a massive uproar.

This was a complete martial lineage, worth far more than any single technique.

But Li Yi also took this opportunity to pass on the cultivation method to his master Zhao Ge and Skinny Monkey, allowing them to enter the path; he hoped that after he left, the Zhao Family Martial Hall would produce several experts and talents.

He did not teach anyone else—the reason was simple: they were not familiar.

After finishing these tasks, Li Yi began packing his belongings to leave Sanyang City. He had originally intended to leave the sniper rifle with Zhao Qian, but Master Zhao Ge firmly refused; such a weapon had already been exposed, and leaving it behind would invite disaster—it must be taken away, absolutely not left in the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

Li Yi agreed; the sniper rifle's existence had already been revealed, and leaving it behind would bring more harm than benefit.

In addition to the herbs and martial lineages, Li Yi also took fifty ghost bamboos—fifty years of yang lifespan. He felt he had no personal use for them, but perhaps he could sell them; if they sold well, he might return to the Four Seas and Eight Continents later to raid ghosts and spirits for more stock.

During these days, Fan Zhizhou found Li Yi again.

"Brother Li, the matter with the Meng family is settled. The Meng family is willing to make concessions, ceding Sanyang City to you. From now on, ghost spirits will never collect lifespan within Sanyang City. They also wish to reconcile—our grudges end here, and they will not pursue this further," Fan Zhizhou said.

"So quickly?" Li Yi showed surprise.

Fan Zhizhou smiled bitterly: "Brother Li, you don't know—the cultivator you killed was named Meng Kuohai, a martial genius born once every hundred years in the Meng family. His strength had reached the peak of Qi Condensation, with a real chance to break through to Qi Transformation. If even he died, how could the Meng family dare to pursue this further? Would they really send a Qi Transformation expert? For a single Sanyang City, it's not worth it. Brother Li, you have the power to kill a Qi Condensation expert—so the Meng family's compromise was inevitable."

"Excellent. Now I can leave Sanyang City without worry," Li Yi nodded. With the final matter settled, he felt considerably lighter.

"Brother Li is leaving?" Fan Zhizhou paused: "Could you delay a few more days? I've contacted my clan lord—he's willing to cooperate with you. As a sign of sincerity, the Fan family is prepared to give you the methods for Qi Condensation, even Qi Transformation."

"Cooperation is certainly good, but next time. I have matters to attend to back home, and after I've handled them, I'll return to the Four Seas and Eight Continents," Li Yi said.

"Then when will you return next time?" Fan Zhizhou asked.

"Two or three months, maybe," Li Yi said.

"That's acceptable," Fan Zhizhou nodded, accepting it; two or three months was something he could wait for—at least it wasn't three or five years.

Li Yi said: "I know you, City Lord Fan, are very interested in cross-realm matters. Next time, we'll discuss it—I hope you'll be prepared."

"Very well. I'll await your return with anticipation," Fan Zhizhou said, pleasantly surprised.

"But after I leave, I don't want any trouble to come to the Zhao Family Martial Hall," Li Yi then shifted tone, speaking with serious gravity.

"Naturally. The Fan family protecting one martial hall is no problem," Fan Zhizhou this time pledged with the Fan family's name, not his own.

Li Yi nodded: "Good. Then when we meet again, we'll discuss cooperation."