Chapter 739: Third Batch of Experts

Yun Feizi clearly did not want to miss this third opportunity to cross over; even as the Divine Maiden of Tian Dao Sect, one of the former Three Great Sects of the Dao Court, she now lowered her stance, humbly pleading with Li Yi to take her across.

After all, if she missed this chance, she had no idea when the next crossing would come.

Li Yi said, "For this crossing, I need twenty Qi Refining practitioners of the Three Flowers Realm. Since the Divine Maiden is interested, I naturally won't refuse—after all, I owe my life to the assistance of Xiang Xiangzi and Xuan Yuezi, without whom I likely wouldn't be alive today."

"Too humble of you, Master Taiyi," Yun Feizi replied, inwardly thrilled but suppressing her joy, speaking with utmost courtesy.

Li Yi nodded, then turned to the other elderly cultivators. In a world devoid of spiritual energy, merely surviving was already a miracle; few could maintain their youthful appearances, so all bore the unmistakable signs of age.

"Elders, there are nineteen remaining crossing slots. This time, I'll make the decision myself: which of you can forge Dao Treasures? I have some excellent forging materials, but no one to work them."

At these words,

everyone turned simultaneously to an old man whose hair and beard were nearly gone.

"This humble Daoist, Tian Gong Dao Ren of the Daoqi Sect, greets Master Taiyi. In the art of forging, this old man knows a little."

Daoqi Sect?

Li Yi immediately said, "There's a Daoist named Tang Yi who also comes from Daoqi Sect—he is..."

"That's my younger brother," Tian Gong Dao Ren said.

Li Yi recalled what the Bald Daoist had once said: he knew the Great Method of Summoning Wind, and his elder brother knew the Great Method of Calling Rain—only together did they form the supreme Dao art of Wind and Rain Summoning. Later, the technique had been fully restored—apparently, the Bald Daoist had already found his elder brother.

"So that's it. Had I known earlier, I should have brought you across with the Bald Daoist last time, to reunite the brothers." Li Yi said; "How does your forging skill compare to your brother's?"

"I have learned the Wind and Rain Summoning art. My forging technique is identical to that of my younger brother," Tian Gong Dao Ren replied.

"Good. I'll rely on you from now on," Li Yi said.

Tian Gong Dao Ren answered, "Master Taiyi is too kind—it is my duty."

Li Yi then asked, "Is there anyone here skilled in elixir refining?"

Immediately, two Daoists pushed forward from the crowd, bowing respectfully and announcing their lineage: "Dao Dan Sect, Supreme Elder Dan Hua Zi, Dan Ling Zi, greet Master Taiyi."

"I invite both of you to join this crossing," Li Yi bowed in return.

Dan Hua Zi and Dan Ling Zi were overjoyed—Li Yi had noticed their elixir skills. Yet in the End-Dharma world, elixir refining, like forging, was useless.

But in a world rich with spiritual energy, they could finally shine.

Li Yi added, "This crossing also requires the aid of powerful elders. Among you, are there any still at the peak of the Three Flowers Realm?"

But at this, many exchanged glances and shook their heads.

In the End-Dharma world, cultivators who still retained the Three Flowers Realm were few indeed.

Li Yi asked again, "Even those who have fallen from the Three Flowers peak count."

At once, several elderly Daoists stepped forward.

"This humble Daoist, Yuan Yang Dao Ren, was once at the peak of the Three Flowers Realm. Now, only one Life Flower remains, barely clinging. Might I have the honor to serve Master Taiyi?" A middle-aged Daoist, his face lined with deathly pallor, spoke with resignation.

"I am Shen Xu Dao Ren. I too was once at the peak of the Three Flowers Realm. Two Flowers still remain—I offer my life in service to Master Taiyi." A man named Shen Xu Dao Ren stepped forward immediately; his condition was better, holding a feather fan like a true transcendent.

"I am Qing Feng Zi. My Three Flowers have withered; now I stand only at the peak of the Five Qi Convergence Realm. Might I still earn Master Taiyi's notice?" A shabby-looking old Daoist hesitated, then finally spoke.

Once, these three had been among the pinnacle of the Dao world—second only to those who had achieved Dao and Great Perfection. Now, time had worn them down, their realms collapsing further, stripping away all former glory.

They even feared their diminished states would make them unworthy of Li Yi's notice.

Li Yi bowed respectfully and said, "I rely on the aid of these three elders."

"No, no," the three Daoists were stunned, hastily returning the bow, then inexplicably filled with joy.

They never imagined that despite their fallen realms and dwindling lifespans, they would still be valued.

Others watched, envious but silent.

After all, these men had once been peak Three Flowers cultivators; even fallen, they could quickly restore their strength if spiritual energy was abundant—this was their advantage, not something to envy.

After naming seven, Li Yi turned again to Yun Feizi and said, "Divine Maiden, I grant you three crossing slots—as repayment for the aid of your Tian Dao Sect's Daoist ladies. The remaining ten will be chosen from those with little time left."

Yun Feizi was startled, then quickly smiled again: "Thank you, Master Taiyi, for your generosity."

The Divine Maiden Yun Feizi, upon hearing this, was momentarily surprised, but soon smiled again: "Thank you, Taiyi, for your generosity."

she immediately selected three Three Flowers cultivators.

Two men, one woman.

The two men had once been among the Thirty-Six Guardian Gods of Tian Dao Sect, but after the End-Dharma era, few remained. Yun Feizi refused to let this lineage die out, so she gave them the two slots.

The woman was an elderly woman, her face wrinkled—Yun Feizi's former guardian, fiercely loyal and deeply indebted to her. She did not wish to see this faithful guardian waste away in the End-Dharma world; she wanted to bring her across, to give her new life.

Yet that woman was an old crone with a face full of wrinkles—Yun Feizi's former guardian, who had remained fiercely loyal to her and owed her deep gratitude; she could not bear to see this former guardian waste away in the End Dharma Era and wished to bring her across the boundary, granting her a new life.

ten more cultivators with little time left were quickly chosen. Their hearts surged with excitement, and they expressed their gratitude to Li Yi.

Li Yi's actions won deep favor—he gave the ten slots to the ten with the least remaining lifespan, not based on seniority or connections. Though he showed favor to Tian Dao Sect, it was only because the sect's Daoist ladies had earned it beforehand—this was entirely justified.

Li Yi's action truly won the people's hearts: he granted the ten cross-boundary slots to the ten with the least remaining lifespan, not based on seniority or personal connections. Though he showed favor to the Tian Dao Sect, those slots had been secured earlier by several Immortal Maidens of the sect—this was entirely justifiable.

Li Yi said again, "Divine Maiden, after we leave, who should control the Thunder War Machine and manage this place?"

Yun Feizi immediately replied, "Zhen Ren Zi Yu is fair and competent—he is most suitable."

She recommended one.

Immediately, a middle-aged Daoist in purple robes and a jade crown walked forward, solemn-faced, and bowed to Master Taiyi.

"Zhen Ren Zi Yu, I entrust this place to your care. Next time I cross over, I will bring everyone else with me—please remain patient," Li Yi said.

"It is my duty. Master Taiyi, go without worry—I will see to this place," Zi Yu Zhen Ren replied earnestly.

Li Yi nodded and immediately granted Zi Yu Zhen Ren control of the Thunder War Machine.

Though its firepower meant little to him, in this End-Dharma world it was a devastating weapon—since it required no spiritual energy, the original energy reserves could sustain it for over a century.

Although the Thunder Fighter's firepower meant nothing to him, in this End Dharma cultivation world it was a devastating weapon, for the fighter required no spiritual energy to operate, and the energy reserves left behind were sufficient to sustain it for over a century.

"This is Life Water, rich with vast life essence—it prolongs life. How to use it is entirely up to you, Zi Yu Zhen Ren," Li Yi said, then handed him a bottle filled with Life Water from the Zi Jin Mountain of the Wildlands.

"This is the Water of Life, brimming with vast life essence—it can prolong life and extend years. How to use it is entirely up to Zi Yu True Person." Li Yi then filled a bottle with the Water of Life, drawn from the Purple Gold Mountain of the Wildlands, using a nutrient solution vial.

It was far more potent than spiritual energy—a single drop could restore the lifespan of one near death.

But Li Yi had plenty of it; this bottle meant nothing to him, yet here it was a true heavenly treasure.

Zi Yu Zhen Ren froze, instinctively taking the bottle.

Even through the glass, he felt a surge of vibrant life essence leaking out. Just one breath filled him—he felt his aging body reversing, growing young again, his lifespan extending.

"This—this..." Even he, always composed, trembled with excitement.

This bottle of Life Water was a miracle elixir in the End-Dharma world.

With it, dozens—even hundreds—of cultivators could be sustained for a hundred or two hundred years, free from the fear of lifespan depletion.

With these, dozens—even over a hundred cultivators—could be sustained; for at least one or two centuries, they need not fear depletion of their lifespan.

Li Yi wasted no time—he immediately used the Cloud Soaring Art to lift the twenty End-Dharma cultivators and crossed through the portal once more, returning to the Red Mountain City of the Wildlands.

Li Yi did not hesitate. He immediately summoned the Cloud Soaring Technique, lifting the twenty cultivators of the End Dharma Era, and crossed through the boundary gate once more, returning to the Red Mountain City of the Wildlands.

it was a world utterly different.

As the crossing portal closed,

the connection to the End-Dharma world vanished.

The twenty cultivators stared in disbelief at this new world. Every pore of their bodies opened, greedily drinking in the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

With sufficient spiritual energy to sustain them, their strength rapidly returned. Their aged bodies began to rejuvenate; impurities within them were swiftly purged.

Each now radiated five-colored light; the nearly withered Dao Flowers atop their heads began to bloom.

Yet the collective intake of spiritual energy by twenty End-Dharma cultivators created a massive disturbance.

In mere moments, spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave toward them; even the heavens above churned with invisible storms.

"Let me assist you," Li Yi said generously, then waved his hand, releasing a cluster of Life Water into the sky, where it dispersed as mist.

The mist dissolved into a torrent of life essence, which was swiftly absorbed by the twenty cultivators. With this aid,

many of their Life Flowers bloomed brilliantly, their skin shedding old, withered layers to reveal fresh, youthful flesh.

Their meager remaining lifespans were greatly replenished; their recovery accelerated further.

"What a world rich in spiritual energy! Here, I'll regain my peak in no time," Yuan Yang Dao Ren sighed.

But Shen Xu Dao Ren immediately warned, "Don't be careless. This world's abundance of spiritual energy means powerful cultivators dwell here—our strength may not let us roam freely."

The strength of spiritual energy reflected the power level of a world.

This was nearly universal consensus.

Hearing Shen Xu Dao Ren's words, all were startled. Their joy of crossing faded; they immediately shed their arrogance, focusing on restoring their strength to face unknown dangers ahead.

The strength of spiritual energy reflects the power level of a world.

This is nearly universal consensus.

Upon hearing Master Shenxu's words, everyone's hearts tightened; the joy of crossing realms was greatly diminished, and they immediately shed their arrogance, rushing to restore their strength to prepare for unknown dangers that might come.