Chapter 268

"The folk customs of the Four Seas and Bazhou are still simple and honest. Whether they know you or not, they throw a punch first when they meet. But who was that young martial artist just now? I don't recognize him... And Sanyang City is not a wealthy place. A martial artist who can open nine meridians and is so young would generally only be a disciple of a noble family. Ordinary martial arts schools can't raise such people."

At this moment, Li Yi, riding on the Yin horse, was still thinking about what had just happened.

However, out of ignorance of the current situation in Sanyang City, he hadn't used his full strength when returning the punch just now; he had only crippled one of the other party's arms.

Very soon.

The Yin horse leaped into a mansion in Sanyang City, then stopped its steps. Immediately following, a cold wind blew, and this Yin horse turned back into the state of an ordinary mud horse.

And such a big commotion caused by Li Yi's arrival could not go unnoticed.

"Who is it? How dare you break into the mansion of the senior disciple of our Zhao Zhao Wuguan?" Two experts in the Blood Cultivation Realm immediately rushed over.

Li Yi recognized one of the martial artists; he had seen him a few times and had some impression of him. It seemed his name was Yuan Tianfei. He had always been the backbone of the Zhao Zhao Wuguan before the incident, and although he was arrested later, he was also rescued. Now that three months had passed, Yuan Tianfei had recuperated to his peak state, his blood and energy were vigorous, and he even had the opportunity to impact the Meridian Cultivation Realm.

"Yuan Tianfei, it's me, I'm back." Li Yi said at this moment.

"Senior Brother?" Yuan Tianfei immediately stopped in shock, then hurriedly cupped his fists and saluted: "Greetings, Senior Brother. Just now I thought a thief had broken in; I didn't expect it to be Senior Brother who had returned."

While speaking, the other Blood Cultivation expert beside him also immediately saluted, but he had never seen Li Yi because he had already finished his apprenticeship when the Zhao Zhao Wuguan had its incident. It was only later, after the Zhao Zhao Wuguan grew and took Sanyang City, becoming famous in one fell swoop, that he returned to the school.

"It's been more than three months. How is the Zhao Zhao Wuguan now? How is Master?" Li Yi asked directly.

"With Senior Brother's reputation pressing down, everything at the Zhao Zhao Wuguan is fine. Master is also in good health, without illness or disaster, but he often talks about Senior Brother, hoping for Senior Brother's return." Yuan Tianfei immediately said: "Master was worried that after Senior Brother left, there would be no one to look after the mansion, so every once in a while, he would send two disciples to guard here to prevent some petty thieves from sneaking into the mansion to do evil."

"Master is still as thoughtful as ever. It's good that everything is safe and sound." Li Yi nodded and said: "When I came earlier, I met a young martial artist in the Meridian Cultivation Realm on the street. He was dressed luxuriously and didn't look like he was from a martial arts school, but rather like a disciple of a noble family. What's going on? Do you know the reason?"

Yuan Tianfei immediately said: "Senior Brother, I do know a little. Since Senior Brother left, many young experts have inexplicably appeared in the city. According to 'Thin Monkey', he once saw a powerful Qi-condensing expert secretly visiting Master, but Master made me keep this matter confidential and not spread it. And some time ago, many carriages entered the city, each one magnificent and luxurious, not belonging to local tycoons... From all these things, it's not hard to guess that it must be the Fan family that has set their sights on Sanyang City, sending many experts into the city. Perhaps it's not just the Fan family; maybe there are other noble family experts involved."

"I suppose these noble family experts are all here for Senior Brother's reputation. However, although there have been many noble family experts recently, they haven't committed the slightest offense against our Zhao Zhao Wuguan; they have even treated us with great courtesy. Sometimes, disciples in the school even receive inexplicable gifts and gestures of goodwill from some people. Unfortunately, Master has kept his mouth shut about these matters and hasn't revealed a thing to us. What I know are just some superficial guesses. Whether the matter is right or wrong, it still needs Senior Brother to distinguish."

Li Yi understood roughly the reason after hearing this.

He had told Fan Zhizhou about the cross-dimensional matter before, and they had agreed that he would come to Sanyang City again in about three months. Now that the time had arrived, the noble family behind Fan Zhizhou probably couldn't sit still and all wanted to participate.

However, he remembered asking Fan Zhizhou to keep this matter confidential before he left.

Now it seemed this secret had not been kept.

Li Yi also understood. Fan Zhizhou was just an ordinary disciple of a noble family. The cross-dimensional matter was of great importance; he probably couldn't handle it alone. And now that so many noble family experts had entered Sanyang City, although Sanyang City looked calm on the surface, it was actually surging with undercurrents.

If he didn't return to the Four Seas and Bazhou in about three months, he believed that in six months at most, these noble families would be unable to restrain themselves from taking action against the Zhao Zhao Wuguan.

"It seems some things still need to be dealt with. I can't let my personal affairs implicate Master. It's good that I came this time; it saves me from any more trouble later." He thought to himself.

He then said: "Yuan Tianfei, please return to the Zhao Zhao Wuguan first and tell Master that I have returned. Afterward, I will go to the Zhao Zhao Wuguan to visit Master."

"Senior Brother, there's no need to be so polite. We are all family. I will go and inform Master about Senior Brother's return right away. I believe Master will be very happy to know the news of Senior Brother's return."

Yuan Tianfei cupped his fists and saluted respectfully, then immediately ran away, soon leaving the Li Mansion and disappearing at the end of the street.

Li Yi watched Yuan Tianfei leave, then he said to the other junior brother: "Junior brother, please help me look after the mansion. If anyone wants to find me, refuse them all and tell them that I will go to the City Lord's Mansion for a banquet in a few days. Be careful; most of the people looking for me at this time are disciples of noble families. They act lawlessly. If they dare to take action, you should play the coward to save your life first; I will help you get justice later."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your concern. I understand." This disciple in the Blood Cultivation Realm nodded, then he immediately walked toward the outside of the mansion.

Just after he had arranged some things, at this moment, a middle-aged man who was broad and fat nodded and bowed, bringing a maid and a servant, and trotted over to welcome him.

"Greetings, Master. This servant has failed to serve you well; I ask for Master's forgiveness." Jin Dafu said respectfully.

Li Yi took a look: "Jin Dafu, how has the mansion been during the time I was away?"

"Thanks to Master's blessing, everything is well." Jin Dafu said: "And after the martial arts school incident subsided last time, this servant racked my brains and finally got some of the mansion's industries running. Now we can collect more than 15,000 taels of silver every month. It's just that this servant was really too busy and took the liberty to recruit a few accountants and add a few servants. I ask Master to take a look later."

"I don't want to manage these trivial matters. You handle it yourself. You are a smart person; I believe you have a sense of proportion in many things." Li Yi said calmly.

"Thank you for your trust, Master. This servant would never dare to have selfish motives; everything is for Master's sake." Jin Dafu felt immense pressure at this moment because he discovered that Li Yi's momentum at this moment was even more terrifying than it was three months ago.

Just standing beside him made people feel terrified and awestruck.

In reality, this was not momentum at all, but the gap in life levels.

"Master, have some tea."

At this moment, a beautiful maid with a graceful figure and light movements respectfully handed over a cup of tea.

Li Yi glanced at her and also remembered this maid. It seemed her name was Su Qiaoer, and she was carefully selected by Jin Dafu and sent to the mansion to serve him. However, he had no interest in this beautiful maid.

Picking up the tea and drinking it in one gulp, he then said: "Where is my Eight-Treasure Deer? How is it being raised? Is it dead?"

"It's living in the backyard. How could this servant be careless with Master's Eight-Treasure Deer? I have been providing for it well, but the expenses are really quite high; it eats five or six thousand taels of silver a month." Jin Dafu immediately said: "This servant is personally responsible for the Eight-Treasure Deer's food and drink; I wouldn't dare to have the slightest selfish motive."

He knew very well the status and position of the Eight-Treasure Deer in this mansion, so he wouldn't dare to mistreat that mountain treasure, no matter who else he mistreated.

"Let's go take a look." Li Yi then strode toward the backyard.

However, before he even arrived, the Eight-Treasure Deer living in the backyard heard the commotion and smelled Li Yi's scent, and immediately walked out from a side room.

Compared to the emaciated look from more than three months ago, the current Eight-Treasure Deer could be said to have changed its appearance. Not only was its body sturdy and its muscles full, but it had also grown a size larger, and even the new antlers had grown halfway out. The whole deer seemed to have been reborn, with a feeling that it had become a spirit.

After seeing Li Yi, the Eight-Treasure Deer trotted over immediately, then lowered its head and eyes in front of him, sniffing his scent, appearing very docile.

"Raised well. It seems that during the time I was away, you, Jin Dafu, were indeed attentive. It was not in vain that I spared your life back then." Li Yi said, then inspected other parts of the mansion. Seeing that everything was cleaned up quietly and some previously damaged door rooms had been repaired, he knew that this Jin Dafu hadn't been lazy.

"How is it over at Great Green Mountain?"

"People are taking care of it; everything is fine." Jin Dafu said respectfully.

Li Yi said: "That's good. Go and collect a reward of 1,000 taels later; consider it a reward for you. Also, bring a horse; I'm going out."

"Thank you for the reward, Master. This servant will go and prepare the horse." Jin Dafu felt very happy at this moment. He didn't really care about the 1,000-tael reward, but after these three months of performance, he had finally established his roots and stood firm; he didn't have to worry about being suddenly replaced.

You have to know that the aftermath of the last martial arts school incident was still there, and he was close to the destroyed Jin Zhao Wuguan. If he were replaced, what awaited him would be retaliation and then an inexplicable death.

In the entire Sanyang City, only Li Yi could protect him; no one else could.

As a black steed was led out, Li Yi brought the things he needed for this trip, rode the horse, rushed out of the mansion, and headed straight for the Zhao Zhao Wuguan.

And at this time, Zhao Ge, as the master, also received the news from Yuan Tianfei. After knowing of Li Yi's arrival, he immediately instructed his disciples to prepare a grand banquet to welcome Li Yi. In addition, he specifically arranged for 'Thin Monkey', Rong Niang, and Zhao Qian to welcome him at the entrance of the Zhao Zhao Wuguan.

However, these three people were no longer what they used to be. After Li Yi helped them open the path of evolution last time, they could be said to have been reborn within three months. Their martial arts realms had advanced by leaps and bounds, and they had now reached the peak of the Blood Cultivation Realm. They were currently accumulating blood and energy, preparing to impact the Meridian Cultivation Realm.

According to this cultivation speed, he believed that within half a year, all three of them would be able to break through successfully because they were all very young, their blood and energy still had room to rise, and they had not reached their peak.

By then, the Zhao Zhao Wuguan would have five Meridian Cultivation experts, which would definitely count as a local powerhouse in Sanyang City.

And as their bodies continued to evolve and their potential increased, becoming powerful Qi-condensing experts in the future would not be a problem.

"Brother Yi is here."

Suddenly, Zhao Qian's eyes lit up. She saw a person riding a black steed on the street in the distance, heading straight for the martial arts school. An instinctive judgment let her know that this was Li Yi returning before she could even see the person clearly.

"It really is Senior Brother." Thin Monkey also became a bit excited.

Rong Niang, who was on the side, didn't speak, but her beautiful eyes were shining with an inexplicable luster. Her heart was instantly lifted, and she was looking forward to it.

"Whoa~!"

Li Yi arrived on horseback. He pulled the reins to stop in front of the martial arts school, then flipped down.

"Brother Yi."

"Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother."

The three people greeted him one after another, all with joy on their faces.

"Not bad, you all look very spirited. I'm relieved to see this." Li Yi nodded with a smile, then observed them, satisfied with their state.

Sure enough, it's different when the body evolves.

Unfortunately, the cosmic energy of this world is thin, and three months is not enough for them to open their spiritual medium, but the benefits of physical evolution to martial arts have already appeared. Now they can be considered good talents in the Four Seas and Bazhou, and their future achievements will definitely not be low.

"Brother Yi is also more imposing than he was a few months ago." Zhao Qian said. As an evolver, she could now more keenly perceive the gap between herself and Li Yi.

"I suppose Senior Brother's strength has improved again recently. This is normal. With Senior Brother's talent, breaking through in cultivation is as simple as eating and drinking. More than three months have passed; Senior Brother must have reached a new realm." Thin Monkey said with a smile, flattering him.

Li Yi said: "My cultivation has been delayed for a period of time recently; there hasn't been much progress, I've just reached the Meridian Cultivation Realm. By the way, is Master in the martial arts school?"

"Master heard that Senior Brother returned and is already waiting in the main hall." Rong Niang said with a smile.

"Let's go, let's go pay respects to Master first." Li Yi said.

The few people responded and immediately followed behind.

After Li Yi entered the Zhao Zhao Wuguan, he found that there was a new batch of disciples in the school. They were very young, all children around ten years old. They were being taught by other junior brothers, currently tempering their muscles and bones, preparing for learning martial arts in the future.

"Senior Brother, these are a batch of disciples recruited recently. However, they haven't passed the assessment yet. After another three months, only those who pass the assessment can enter the Zhao Zhao Wuguan to become official disciples." Rong Niang explained on the side.

Zhao Qian also nodded and said: "The martial arts school has reopened, and new disciples are indispensable. Without disciples passing it down from generation to generation, the martial arts school won't last long. However, after suffering a loss last time, Father values character more than talent when recruiting disciples this time. If the character is not good, even if the talent is good, Father won't accept them."

"That's for sure. In terms of talent, who can compare to Senior Brother? The martial arts school is not short of experts now; what it lacks is core strength, so naturally, character is more important." Thin Monkey said with a smile.

"Indeed, character is more important than talent. The martial arts school can't cultivate an ungrateful wretch, right?" Li Yi nodded in agreement.

While talking, the few people soon arrived at the main hall of the Zhao Zhao Wuguan.

At this moment, Zhao Ge, as the master, was already standing at the entrance of the main hall.

Compared to three months ago, Zhao Ge had also undergone tremendous changes. The wrinkles on his face had disappeared, his slightly hunched back had straightened up again, his originally somewhat emaciated body had become strong again, and even his originally gray-white hair had completely turned black. The whole person seemed to have become twenty years younger, making people almost unable to recognize him.

This transformation was normal.

Because Zhao Ge's injuries were all healed. In addition, the lost lifespan had been replenished, and he himself had also opened the path of evolution. His body's functions had been enhanced, and his blood and energy had not only returned to their peak but also had a trend of continuous rising.

In the future, as long as he didn't encounter the matter of ghosts and gods taking his lifespan, he had great confidence that his martial arts realm would advance further and break through to become a powerful Qi-condensing expert.

His faith had returned. Zhao Ge didn't show the slightest decadence in his whole body; instead, he was high-spirited, standing with his hands behind his back, like a mountain lying in everyone's heart.

With such a master sitting in charge, even if Li Yi left, few people in Sanyang City could stir up any trouble.

"Disciple Li Yi, pays respects to Master." Li Yi took three steps in two, immediately stepped forward, and cupped his fists in salute.

"Good, good, good. It's good to be back. We are all family; there's no need for such formalities." Zhao Ge was overjoyed and immediately helped Li Yi up.

As soon as he touched him, he felt the surging and monstrous blood and energy in Li Yi's body. This blood and energy were simply unfathomable, like a calm, great river. If it were to stir up waves, it would be incomparably terrifying.

This is... Meridian Cultivation? Zhao Ge was shocked again.

Although they hadn't seen each other for more than three months, it was within reason for Li Yi to reach Meridian Cultivation, but this body of blood and energy was simply not human.

"Your blood and energy..." Afterward, Zhao Ge still couldn't help but ask: "Incredible, your physique has actually transformed again. Could it be that there is really no end to this path of cultivation?"

Although he was also an evolver, compared to Li Yi, it was like heaven and earth.

"Father, why do you only care about Brother Yi's cultivation? Brother Yi just returned today; shouldn't we properly welcome Brother Yi?" Zhao Qian said hurriedly.

"Right, right."

Zhao Ge woke up instantly. At this moment, he patted his head, feeling that it was inappropriate to talk about cultivation at this time.

"Come, disciple. It's rare to be back this time; you must accompany Master to drink a few jars. Today, our family will not return until we are drunk."

He laughed loudly at this moment, feeling very happy.

Li Yi felt the heroism in Master's laughter and knew that Master's spirit had returned. He was also very happy in his heart. Although he didn't like drinking, he planned to accompany him to the end today.

However, just as the Zhao Zhao Wuguan was holding the banquet.

In the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion in Sanyang City, experts were also gathered, and the atmosphere was solemn.