Chapter 81

The Medicinal Diet Hall is located on the east side of the Purple Forest, quite spacious, with over ten sets of stone tables and chairs neatly arranged.

Medicinal diet!

It is concocted by boiling the blood of exotic beasts with dozens of precious medicinal herbs; naturally, one cannot pursue taste, only that it is edible.

Yet, after eating it for just one month, everyone’s physical strength and endurance have improved significantly, their energy is full and vigorous, and the power within their bodies feels inexhaustible.

For the past month, Yao Yin has been in her cave dwelling every day, practicing the "Heavenly Wind Palm Technique," the fundamental martial art of the Medicine King she chose, sleeping no more than two hours a day.

The palm technique’s Qi energy strikes the cliff walls with a thunderous sound; Li Youyi has no way to sleep at all and can only passively join her in this grind.

The process of practicing martial arts moves and breathing techniques also serves to temper the trace meridians within the body.

It is precisely because of the medicinal diet's support that Yao Yin can push her body to such extremes, developing her physical potential without fear of her body collapsing.

As long as one person is striving, everyone else's rhythm is set in motion.

Li Qing and the four Wu Xiu who have opened eight springs are also desperately practicing their chosen Nine Kings fundamental martial arts in the Silver Beach Valley. Across the river, the younger, lower-realm Wu Xiu are doing the same.

Effort is merely the most trivial basic condition for success.

Everyone is fighting with all their might, and more importantly, they are fighting for their lives.

……

Today's medicinal diet is quite special; during the brewing process, it continuously emits a rich, mouth-watering fragrance.

In the bronze cauldron where the diet is brewed, it boils incessantly, overflowing with five-colored, mist-like medicinal Qi, the precious light illuminating the stone room. Even before tasting it, everyone knows that today, the cauldron must contain a significant amount of precious medicine.

That tiger-like chimera youth who practices the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes, seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on the bronze cauldron, laughed: "Are you all looking forward to it? The Hidden Gate is still too humane, knowing this is your last meal, so they brewed a higher-quality medicinal diet to send you on your way."

In just one month, he has already practiced the first axe of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes to the level of Heavenly Dao Law Integration, tempering several silver trace meridians within his body, naturally feeling high-spirited.

A year from now, he cannot imagine what heights he might reach.

A chimera child who has opened five springs said in a childish voice: "The higher the cultivation, the greater the danger of the trial. Whose last meal this truly is, is hard to say right now."

Everyone sitting here is a life-or-death enemy.

Naturally, everyone is at each other's throats; there is no need for fake pleasantries or false harmony.

……

When the precious light overflowing from the cauldron reached its peak, the old man brewing the diet instructed everyone to come and fetch their portions.

The medicinal diet is not rationed.

As long as it is not taken away or wasted, one can eat as much as their appetite allows.

The massive chimera naturally have an advantage; there is no helping it, as chimera of the same realm have stronger combat power than mortals.

Li Youyi, following custom, first fetched a basin for the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors; the basin used was no smaller than those of the chimera Wu Xiu. During this time, the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors have been eating their fill, almost living in the medicinal diet room, and their bodies have grown visibly larger.

But according to the spirit tablet Master, they must grow to two inches in length for their combat power to be comparable to a Five Seas realm Wu Xiu.

Right now, they are at most an inch and a half.

Three black-clad figures walked along the bluestone path beneath the telekinetic stone wall, arriving at the center of the martial arts plaza outside the medicinal diet room, looking toward the people eating their final meal.

"Twenty-four, I heard this batch is of high quality. Who do you think will survive to the end?" Hidden Twenty-Three is a bear-like chimera, his body as large as Yao Zhengsheng’s, far taller and broader than ordinary chimera, possessing innate divine strength.

Hidden Twenty-Four said indifferently: "Two are quite good! One is a mortal with nine springs and ninety meridians, Li Qing, who just arrived at the Hidden Gate and could withstand one of Hidden Nine's axes."

"The other is the granddaughter of the Medicine Li tribe leader, Yao Yin, who possesses a Pure Immortal Body. Both are very competitive!"

Not all Hidden people of the Hidden Gate live in seclusion; once their cultivation reaches a certain level, many are dispatched.

Either to travel the world and fight for a new identity.

Or to infiltrate hostile forces, lurk within tribes, or hide in the Lingxiao Palace...

Although the vast majority of Hidden people are in a state of silence, there are still Hidden people specifically responsible for gathering information.

Therefore, the Nine Li Hidden Gate's understanding of external information is no less than that of the Nine Li Dao Academy.

Hidden Twenty-Three was surprised: "A Pure Immortal Body, and the granddaughter of the tribe leader, actually sent to the Hidden Gate?"

"I heard there is a problem with her body, and she had to come to the Hidden Gate to seek a glimmer of survival," Hidden Twenty-Four said.

Hidden Twenty-Five, a youth even younger than Hidden Twenty-Four, said: "It is said that Hidden Five sent back some news related to this batch of people. Besides that Li Qing, he also specifically mentioned Li Youyi. Have you heard?"

Hidden Twenty-Three shook his head.

A look of doubt appeared in Hidden Twenty-Four's eyes. Hidden Five has been silent for many years; the person mentioned in the sudden message must be extraordinary. It seems he underestimated him before.

Seven springs?

Insect master?

After finishing the medicinal diet, the twenty-six boys and girls gathered in the plaza.

Hidden Twenty-Three's voice was like thunder: "I am Hidden Twenty-Three, I arrived only three years before you. I have bad news for everyone: from now on, the protection period is over."

"You can use any means to eliminate competitors, allowing yourselves to survive to the end more easily."

"But there is one iron rule: you must not, in any way, deal with competitors weaker than yourself."

That tiger-like chimera eight-spring Wu Xiu said: "That means we can only fight those of the same realm, or lower realms can kill higher realms. But if a lower-realm Wu Xiu dares to provoke me, can I kill him?"

"Of course you can," Hidden Twenty-Three said.

Li Qing scanned the crowd, saying in a threatening tone: "Then I must advise you all: do not come seeking death. My sword is faster than it was a month ago and is craving blood."

Hidden Twenty-Three said: "One more piece of bad news: the trial officially begins now. Those who have opened nine springs and those who have opened eight springs, follow me."

Hidden Twenty-Five said: "Those below seven springs, follow me."

After everyone had left, Hidden Twenty-Four looked at the remaining Li Youyi and Yao Yin: "Let's go!"

All three groups boarded ships by the Blood River to head to different trial grounds.

They rode a flat-bottomed boat over ten meters long, drifting downstream.

All three had extremely reserved personalities. Hidden Twenty-Four stood at the bow, his spine straight and upright, though slightly thin and frail, making it impossible to tell he was a Five Seas realm powerhouse.

Yao Yin sat at the stern, head bowed in thought, her whole body glowing white, beautiful enough to be a painting in itself.

Li Youyi sat in the center of the boat.

He discovered that this flat-bottomed boat was made by joining two smaller boats together, connected by chains.

After traveling several dozen miles, Yao Yin couldn't help but ask: "Must I trial with him?"

"Those of the same realm naturally trial in the same place. The trial ground for seven-spring Wu Xiu is the gathering area of the soldier-level fierce insect, the Flying-Winged White Spider," Hidden Twenty-Four said.

Yao Yin's small face became solemn. The protection period had already ended, and in this trial, the Flying-Winged White Spiders might not be the most terrifying danger.

The flat-bottomed boat entered a tributary of an underground river only a few meters wide; because there were no glowing plants, the light became dim.

Li Youyi's glabella lit up, emitting particles of spiritual light, slightly illuminating the darkness.

"We're almost there!"

Hidden Twenty-Four glanced at Li Youyi: "A word of advice: once inside the cave, try not to use spiritual light; use your perception. If you wake up a large group of Flying-Winged White Spiders, the two of you will likely be buried inside."

Li Youyi is a person who listens to advice, and his glabella dimmed.

Even without light, with his current cultivation, he could still see the figures of the two women within a few meters. Especially Yao Yin; her skin was somewhat striking even in the darkness.

Li Youyi asked: "What must we do to pass the trial?"

"It's just the first trial; you don't need to do anything. Just ride this boat safely through the spider cave. Generally speaking, the boat will drift downstream and exit the cave in three days. I will wait for you at the exit," Hidden Twenty-Four said.

Is it that simple?

Going into the territory of fierce insects and hoping not to disturb them—how is that possible?

Hidden Twenty-Four walked to Li Youyi's side, unfastened the chain connecting the two boats, and added: "By the way! The spider silk in the cave is a treasure. You can collect some along the way; if the quantity is sufficient, you can exchange it for precious medicine."

"I will leave you here. Good luck."

Hidden Twenty-Four released magic power from his body, enveloping the small boat beneath him, and returned upstream.

Li Youyi and Yao Yin rode the boat, now half the size and only a few meters long, continuing to drift downstream with the Blood River. Everything around them was pitch black and unusually quiet, with only the sound of flowing water.

The underground river passage became even lower, and the two had to lie flat to pass through.

Li Youyi could hear Yao Yin's heartbeat accelerating, so he whispered: "I know you have a misunderstanding about me. But I suggest that for this trial, it's best we don't kill each other. If we break the boat, we'll all die here."

Yao Yin said: "That is exactly what I wanted to say! Whatever thoughts you have, nothing is more important than life. We are competitors, but why can't we wait until we've worn out the others?"

"Also, don't be greedy for small gains and invite disaster. Collecting spider silk will certainly make it easier to disturb the Flying-Winged White Spiders. Let's just pass through the spider cave safely."

"Fine!"

Li Youyi had just agreed when he sensed something and sniffed hard: "So fragrant... this scent really makes one want to take a risk..."

Yao Yin was grinding her teeth, hating him to death.

She felt Li Youyi was deliberately teasing her with his words.

She indeed had an innate, special body fragrance, and in this dark and desolate cave, the scent would undoubtedly be amplified.

"It's medicinal fragrance; there is precious medicine nearby."

Li Youyi suddenly sat up; the previously low cave became spacious. About ten zhang above his head grew a crimson precious medicine.

"It has grown to a crimson red; in other words, this is a five-hundred-year-old Cistanche."

Li Youyi mobilized his magic power, surging toward his ears, eyes, and nose, raising his perception to its strongest state. Only after finding no trace of fierce insects nearby did he leap up.

After Yao Yin sat up from her flat position, her snow-white, jade-like cheeks couldn't help but feel hot, knowing she had misunderstood him.

But soon, her guilt vanished, replaced by shock.

At a height of ten zhang, with their Spring-Surging realm cultivation, it was absolutely impossible to reach it directly.

Yet, the man before her had magic power surging beneath his feet, actually able to walk on air as if stepping on invisible stairs. His movement technique was so brilliant it didn't look like a Spring-Surging realm Wu Xiu at all.

In the last month, Li Youyi had newly practiced three moves of Heavenly Dao Law Integration, including "Yellow Dragon Ascending to Heaven."

Taking nine steps in the void, he finally grabbed the crimson Cistanche; it felt slightly hot to the touch.

After tearing it from the cliff crevice, Li Youyi’s body fell rapidly.

Even if Yellow Dragon Ascending to Heaven reached Heavenly Dao Law Integration, leaping ten zhang was the limit. The magic power beneath his feet had already dissipated, and Li Youyi found it difficult to control his descent.

Yao Yin was shocked and hurriedly performed the Heavenly Wind Palm Technique, pushing out a palm that stirred up a gust of wind, sweeping up the falling Li Youyi.

"Whoosh!"

Li Youyi took advantage of the momentum, drifted back onto the boat, holding the nearly hundred-jin crimson Cistanche, and laughed: "Many thanks!"

"I was just saving myself! Who knows if the commotion caused by your fall would wake up a large group of Flying-Winged White Spiders?" Yao Yin's pretty face was very cold, full of resentment: "Didn't we agree at the beginning? Don't be greedy for small gains; passing through the spider cave safely is the most important thing."

"This is not a small gain!"

Li Youyi corrected: "This is a hundred jin of five-hundred-year-old Cistanche, worth nearly a hundred million. Cistanche replenishes Yang and benefits the blood; if eaten entirely, it is enough to improve one's physical body by a large margin."

Worth nearly a hundred million—even though Yao Yin was the granddaughter of the tribe leader, she was slightly shaken.

Li Youyi naturally had to take the risk. Harvesting this Cistanche meant that feeding the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors to two inches in length was just around the corner.

"You did help a little just now, so I'll cut off two jin for you later," Li Youyi said generously, not wanting to owe a favor.

"You'd better keep it for yourself!"

Yao Yin sat back on the boat, looking somewhat worried, and said: "The medicinal fragrance emitted by the precious medicine might wake up the Flying-Winged White Spiders. I suggest you throw it away. Greed will cost you your life, and I don't want to suffer along with you."