Chapter 742

As time passed, the twenty three-flower realm cultivators gradually regained their strength, and Li Yi's control over Chijin Mountain deepened further—he no longer needed to worry about surrendering this treasure mountain to others.

Taking advantage of the interval while these three-flower realm experts were recovering, Li Yi began studying the next realm: Chaoyuan.

Five Qi Converging on the Primordial is simple in theory: circulate and nourish the Primordial Spirit with the five elemental energies until the Primordial Spirit blossoms into a Dao flower and reaches perfection.

But Li Yi was no ordinary cultivator—he was an Evolver, already possessing a soul, and now nurtured by the heavenly treasure, the Crimson Lotus; entering the Chaoyuan realm came easily to him.

Yet to match his own immense magic power, an ordinary Primordial Spirit was insufficient; he intended to base his formation on the Law-Form realm of the Four Seas and Eight Zones, combining the strengths of Chaoyuan and the heavenly treasure Crimson Lotus to cultivate a unique Primordial Spirit Law Form all his own.

Before that, Li Yi's first task was to condense his soul into a Law Form, then use that Law Form as a seed to transform into a cultivator's Primordial Spirit.

Yet just as Li Yi was studying the Law-Form cultivation methods of the Four Seas and Eight Zones,

one day,

the merchant mistress Heng hurried to the city lord's mansion, found the relatively relaxed Li Yi, and delivered a crucial piece of news.

"Chishan City will change—Great Yi, prepare in advance," Heng opened with.

Li Yi was taken aback. He was now master of Chijin Mountain, with twenty three-flower realm cultivators stationed here—how could any change occur?

"Please elaborate, Mistress Heng," he said without immediate skepticism, his tone earnest and patient.

Heng said: "I received word from other merchant mistresses: the Divine Blood Warriors of Shenmu City intend to challenge you, the Mountain Lord, to reclaim Chijin Mountain. Mu Tuo, the Divine Blood Warrior driven off by Nan Shan Bo, will return."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi immediately understood.

This Divine Blood Warrior, still bitter, sought to stir up trouble again—but unluckily for him, he had chosen the worst possible timing; Chijin Mountain was now strong and well-staffed, brimming with experts.

Many cultivators had already regained their one-flower realm cultivation; in a few more days, two-flower realm experts would be plentiful. Li Yi himself had undergone refinement by the Divine Blood, his body transformed, his strength greatly enhanced.

"If he dares come, he will die," Li Yi sneered. "I took Chijin Mountain—I can hold it. Perfect. I still need the Divine Tree leaves of the Shenmu line to smelt Chijin and forge Chijin Divine Weapons."

"When will the Shenmu line's warriors arrive at Chijin Mountain?"

Heng paused, surprised that Great Yi showed no fear or anxiety at the news of the Shenmu warriors' approach—instead, he seemed eager to confront them. She knew the Shenmu line was far stronger than Chijin Mountain.

"If all proceeds normally, they will arrive at Chishan City at noon tomorrow," Heng added seriously.

Li Yi nodded. "Thank you for the warning. Your merchant mistresses' intelligence network is indeed swift—you learned of this major event a full day in advance. I was right to entrust Chishan City to you."

Heng said: "Such a major event would reach every merchant mistress in Shenmu City—it's not my skill. The true generosity lies with you, Great Yi, for letting me govern Chishan City, granting me access to sufficient Chijin so that those merchant mistresses would risk offending Shenmu City to inform me."

"Then we must reward these merchant mistresses afterward," Li Yi smiled. "Chijin Mountain has nothing in excess except Chijin. I am no stingy mountain lord. Once all is stable, they will receive their due rewards—including you, Mistress Heng."

Heng smiled. "I have already received my due reward. Before achieving greater merit, I cannot claim benefits that do not belong to me."

Li Yi said: "You are a wise merchant mistress. Stay in Chishan City these next few days. I will handle the Shenmu line's warriors."

"With those words from the Mountain Lord, Chishan City will remain stable," Heng said.

She needed positive reassurance from Li Yi; otherwise, the hard-won stability of Chishan City might collapse again. After all, the Shenmu line's warriors were infamous here—enough to drive away the few remaining inhabitants of Chijin Mountain.

She also needed positive responses from Li Yi, or else the hard-won stability of Chishan City would collapse again—after all, the warriors of the Divine Wood lineage were renowned here, enough to drive away the few remaining people inside Chishan Mountain.

Li Yi's expression grew grave again. He was confident, but he would not underestimate the depth of a great city. He knew only one Shenmu warrior—Mu Tuo—and had no idea whether others of greater strength would come.

If they sent a Hundred-Mountain Lord, he might as well flee across realms immediately.

"Rather than wait for them to come to Chijin Mountain, I should take the initiative—strike them mid-journey, probe their strength, and avoid being trapped tomorrow." His gaze shifted slightly; a plan began forming in his mind.

Instantly, auspicious clouds appeared beneath Li Yi's feet, lifting him into the air.

He projected his voice toward the Chijin Mountain range: "All cultivators who have regained their three-flower realm strength, gather at the city lord's mansion—urgent matters to discuss."

He sent his voice echoing toward the Chishan Mountain range: "Those who have restored their cultivation to the Three Flowers Realm, please gather at the City Lord's Mansion—there is an important matter to discuss."

from the direction of the Chijin Mountain range, streaks of five-colored auroras shot skyward.

The cultivators secluded in caves and mountain retreats, hearing Li Yi's call, halted their cultivation and emerged—all knew that their crossing into the Wildlands had not been for leisure; there was always a price for gain.

One by one, the cultivators swiftly flew in—some riding clouds, others stepping on five-qi, some transforming into divine light. In mere moments, twelve cultivators had gathered.

Twelve arrived because only these twelve had regained three-flower realm status.

Eight others, their lifespans nearly spent and their realms severely regressed during their time in the Wildlands, had failed to reignite their Dao arts and remained hidden in their caves, unable to answer the call.

"Twelve have reached the three-flower realm?" Li Yi glanced over them, satisfied with the result.

After such a short time since crossing realms, this level of recovery was already impressive.

"Great Yi, is something amiss?" Yun Feizi, the Divine Woman, arrived riding clouds and asked immediately.

The others also turned to Great Yi.

Li Yi said: "Last time we seized Chijin Mountain, a Shenmu line warrior escaped. Now I've received word they plan to arrive at noon tomorrow to challenge me as Mountain Lord and reclaim Chijin Mountain."

"How audacious! To seize our refuge? Great Yi, no need for you to act—I'll handle it myself tomorrow. I've already blossomed two Dao flowers; opposing a Mountain Lord-level warrior should be no problem," said Yuan Yang True Person.

He had once been a peak three-flower realm cultivator; now with two Dao flowers reblossomed, his recovery was swift.

"Indeed," said Daoist Qing Feng. "Since this place is called Chijin Mountain, it must not be surrendered. Master Tiangong said Chijin-forged Dao artifacts surpass even the finest inherited Dao weapons. Holding Chijin Mountain ensures we'll have Chijin Dao weapons in the future. Even if Great Yi hadn't spoken, I'd defend this mountain to the death—I won't yield."

After experiencing the End of the Dharma Age, they knew how blessed it was to have abundant spiritual energy and Chijin Dao weapons. Now someone sought to take it all away—how could they endure it?

"If they dare come, they bring death. Tomorrow at noon, we strike together and send these Shenmu warriors to their graves," said a man around thirty, more like a battle general than a cultivator—his name was Tian Jian, once one of the Thirty-Six Protectors of the Heavenly Dao Sect, expert in slaughter.

Yun Feizi now said seriously: "Tian Jian, don't be reckless. Listen to Great Yi's plan. This world isn't simple. Even two Immortal Ladies, working together, couldn't defeat the former Mountain Lord of Chijin Mountain—how much less us, still not fully recovered?"

Tian Jian nodded, then turned to Li Yi, awaiting his orders.

"If they dare come, it's suicide. Tomorrow at noon, we strike together and send these Divine Wood warriors on their way." The speaker was a man around thirty, not resembling a cultivator but more like a battle general; his name was Tianjian, once one of the Thirty-Six Protectors of the Heavenly Dao Sect, expert in slaughter.

Though they had once been arrogant, unruly cultivator masters,

before Li Yi, they all bowed and obeyed. The Death Oath was one thing—but more importantly, merely standing there, Li Yi radiated a terrifying divine energy.

He hadn't even reached Chaoyuan yet.

If he ever entered the three-flower realm, even forty-nine top cultivators together couldn't shake him.

Such strength and potential naturally inspired trust.

"All of you are senior cultivators—you know the principle: strike first, gain advantage. Since they plan to challenge me at noon tomorrow, we strike today—ambush them mid-journey and annihilate them."

Li Yi said: "If we capture several Divine Blood Warriors and send them to Shenmu City, we might trade them for many Divine Tree leaves. If they have a Hundred-Mountain Lord among them, we'll gain a day to evacuate Chijin Mountain—avoid being surrounded and dying pointlessly."

All present nodded in agreement with Li Yi's plan.

"All of you are senior cultivators—you should know the principle that the first move holds the advantage. Since the enemy plans to challenge our mountain lord at noon tomorrow, let's strike today, annihilating them on the way."

Balanced strategy—not passive waiting. If it were them, they'd do the same.

If they waited until tomorrow's assault, and lost, escape might be impossible.

"Great Yi's plan is sound. Ambushing mid-journey allows offense and defense. I suggest sending a few forward first to test their strength," Yuan Yang added.

But Shen Xu Daoist suddenly spoke: "No need. We can activate our Dao arts mid-journey, locate them, then strike together as one. If they survive this combined assault, they're strong. If unharmed, we flee. If wounded, we emerge to finish them."

All turned to Shen Xu Daoist, eyes widening in surprise.

"Taiyi's plan is sound—striking en route allows both offense and defense. Old Daoist suggests sending a few forward first to test the enemy's strength," Yuan Yang Daoist added.

But the Shenxu Daoist suddenly spoke up: "No need. We can activate our Dao arts en route, locate them, then launch a unified strike. If they survive this combined assault, they're certainly strong—if they're unharmed, we retreat immediately; if they're severely wounded, we emerge to clean up the remnants."

Li Yi studied Shen Xu Daoist. Indeed, the old are wiser. These cultivators, having lived so long, knew every clever stratagem.

"Agreed. No delay—depart now." Li Yi immediately adopted the plan and set off, fearing leaks and delays.

He identified a direction, then rode the clouds toward Shenmu City.

The twelve cultivator experts followed instantly, not daring to lag.

"Good, let's do it then—there's no time to lose, let's depart now." Li Yi immediately adopted the plan and set off at once, lest the news leak and complications arise.

He identified a direction, then rode the clouds toward Shenmu City.

The twelve cultivation experts immediately followed after him, not daring to delay a moment.