Chapter 101

The flat boat made a large turn and arrived at the Silver Beach Valley.

Hidden Twenty-five stood straight on a gentle slope with higher terrain on the shore, looking as if he had been waiting for them for a long time.

"It's over, we dawdled too long in the ash region, I reckon the higher-ups have noticed!" Yin Twenty-four whispered, becoming nervous, knowing full well how severe the Hidden Sect's punishments were.

Li Youyi said: "Don't be afraid, leave it to me."

Hidden Twenty-five looked at the three on the boat and said with a sunken face: "Where have the three of you been?"

The flat boat docked.

Li Youyi was the first to disembark, passing by Hidden Twenty-five, and said indifferently: "Does where the Hidden Person goes need to be reported to a Hidden Person? Is this the rule of the Hidden Sect?"

Hidden Twenty-five was stunned for a moment.

Yin Twenty-four walked over, revealing a sympathetic look: "Someone who isn't even a Hidden Person yet dares to consider himself one; how big do you think his heart is?"

Hidden Twenty-five's expression changed, his heart filled with unease, and he quickly caught up to Li Youyi, his attitude becoming much more respectful: "It was the Hidden Lord who asked me to invite the three of you."

"For what reason?" Li Youyi asked calmly with his hands behind his back.

Hidden Twenty-five lowered his head: "It seems to be related to the matter at Burial Xianzhen."

Li Youyi patted his shoulder and laughed: "Don't be scared by Yin Twenty-four, I'm not that petty. Lead the way, I happen to have something to report to the Hidden Lord as well."

"Fell from the spider cave into the ash region and even encountered six Ember Spirits."

The Hidden Lord's gaze beneath the mask was deep and grave as he asked: "How did you escape?"

Li Youyi said: "Our cultivation is too low; we didn't know what we had encountered. After stumbling into a cluster of purple mist, we returned to the spider cave. I feel this matter is of great importance; the ash region may have already spread to the vicinity of the Hidden Sect, and it's even possible that the underground of many places in Lizhou has been swallowed by it."

The Hidden Lord was clearly more aware of what the ash region represented than Li Youyi; the sense of relaxation on his body vanished completely as he paced back and forth, saying: "Don't worry about this matter; I will go find and investigate it myself. I asked you here for another urgent matter."

The Hidden Lord then briefly recounted the situation at Burial Xianzhen.

Li Youyi's expression remained calm, but the three behind him were more excited than the last, wishing they could sprout a pair of wings and fly to Burial Xianzhen immediately.

There was no help for it; for mortals like Yin Twenty-four and Yin Twenty-five, what could be more attractive than transforming into a Pure Immortal Body?

Although Seeing Yao Yin was a Pure Immortal Body, the "Nine Springs Ancestral Field" hurdle had blocked countless proud and arrogant Pure Immortal Bodies from becoming top geniuses.

A Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body and an Eight Springs Pure Immortal Body were worlds apart.

The former was a top genius, looking down on their generation.

The latter might not even be able to compare to a Nine Springs mortal.

Furthermore, Seeing Yao Yin had cultivated ninety-two trace veins at the Eight Springs Realm. Once she broke through to Nine Springs, she was almost certain to exceed a hundred veins, possessing a foundation like that of a seed for a successor of a million-sect gate.

In the Jiuli clan, Cangli would no longer be the only one leading the trend.

The Hidden Lord secretly praised Li Youyi's steady demeanor, saying: "Logically speaking, you are not yet a Hidden Person, and it is far from the time for you to emerge and measure yourself against the heroes of the world. But special circumstances call for special measures; you will lead the team this time, with two tasks."

"First, gather medicine, the more the better."

"Second, you must secretly assist the geniuses of the various Jiuli tribes participating in the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice. The Hidden Sect has received news that some will take the opportunity to hunt them down."

Li Youyi said: "The Sui Sect?"

"The Sui Sect alone isn't that crazy. When you arrive, you will naturally know."

The Hidden Lord thought for a moment and added: "By the way, it's best not to expose your identity as Li Youyi; many forces are looking for you right now."

"My plan is to push Seeing Yao Yin to the forefront, and you and Hidden Twenty-five will use the Disguise Technique to pose as her two attendants and head to Burial Xianzhen. She has been in the Hidden Sect for a short time, and only the chief of the Medicine Li tribe knows about this, so it can deceive people."

Yin Twenty-four said: "Hidden Lord, what about me? Am I not going with them?"

"The Five Seas Realm Hidden Persons will be led by Hidden Nine; you have other tasks."

The Hidden Lord kept Li Youyi behind alone and took out a medicine bottle: "There are five pills in total to suppress the Six Desires Talisman. Additionally, I have learned that if you can invite the nine great high priests to act together, they can help you refine the Six Desires Talisman within your body. So, you don't need to worry too much about this matter."

"Before you set off, go to the treasury of the Coffin Sea Pavilion and collect a high-grade dharma artifact-level night-traveling suit from the forty-fifth Supreme Elder; its stealth ability is stronger, and its bonuses to defense and speed are far beyond what low-grade dharma artifacts can compare to. Most importantly, it can isolate Shi Liuyu's sensing of the Six Desires Talisman on you."

The Hidden Lord continued: "After you go to Burial Xianzhen, find the Dyeing Cloud exotic medicine and break through the Nine Springs Ancestral Field as soon as possible. Then, start preparing to impact the Five Seas Realm; only by reaching the Five Seas Realm can you be considered to have initially stepped into the ranks of the young generation's experts. A Hidden Person cannot be too far behind the successors; you must catch up to Cangli as soon as possible. Have you forged the golden trace veins?"

"Golden trace veins, is it this?"

Li Youyi was very direct, taking off his outer garment and stimulating the nine golden trace veins within.

Those brilliant golden rays of light were so piercing that the Hidden Lord couldn't even open his eyes, and he said with some loss of composure: "You forged nine so quickly? And you did it with Eight Springs cultivation?"

"Isn't this according to your requirements? Forging nine is better than most successors."

Li Youyi suddenly sensed something, recalled carefully, and an strange look appeared in his eyes. Why did the Hidden Lord's true voice just now sound somewhat familiar?

The Hidden Lord quickly suppressed his excited emotions, pondered for a moment, and said: "You'd better not impact the Five Seas Realm yet; settle down more in the Gushing Spring Realm. In the Jiuli clan, do you have a sweetheart? Li Ling? Seeing Yao Yin? Yin Twenty-four? The Hidden Sect can help you play matchmaker."

Li Youyi walked out of the mountain gate and encountered Yin Twenty-four.

She said: "You really have a lot of face; for such a big matter as gathering medicine in violation of rules, the Hidden Lord doesn't pursue it at all."

"If you have something to say, say it." Li Youyi said.

Yin Twenty-four was not polite with him at all: "Help me gather three Dyeing Cloud exotic medicines that can help a Pure Immortal Body transform."

"Three? You really dare to ask." Li Youyi said.

Yin Twenty-four said: "The higher the cultivation, the more Dyeing Cloud exotic medicine is needed... Don't worry, I'll pay for them."

"Can you afford it? Just say you're buying on credit... Forget it, money owed is still money, I'll do my best!" Li Youyi relented.

Yin Twenty-four smiled beautifully.

The third day of the ninth month, six days until the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice.

Li Youyi wore a bamboo hat, carried an insect tube on his back, and sat at a street noodle stall in Jiuli City, eating noodle soup in large mouthfuls.

The tips of his fingers drew a long ribbon of dharma Qi in the air. The dharma Qi ribbon extended continuously along the ground into the distance, only dispersing after extending ten zhang, merging with the air.

"Is this the distance the Ancestral Field dharma Qi can reach?"

The Hidden Lord clearly underestimated Li Youyi; why would he need exotic medicine to break through the Nine Springs Ancestral Field? He had naturally broken through that morning.

As for the legendary Tenth Spring, Li Youyi truly had no idea at all.

Even the three masters only had a half-understanding and couldn't provide him with help. From here on, he could only rely on himself to explore.

After receiving the secret letter, Zhao Zhizhuo rushed to the noodle stall and sat opposite Li Youyi, his mood both excited and worried: "It really is you, Li Mou. How dare you come to Jiuli City? The Yang clan, Xue clan, Earth Wolf King Army, Coffin Mountain, and all kinds of assassins—martial cultivators from all over the world are looking for you. It's too dangerous; come with me to the clan school to hide for a while. The First Armor is very worried about your safety."

When saying this, he fished a prepared money bag from his bosom and placed it in front of Li Youyi: "I can only repay this much for now."

Li Youyi opened the money bag, counted it, and then pushed a bowl of noodle soup on the table over: "I secretly arranged to meet you because there are a few important matters."

"What matters?"

"You've been staying at the clan school for these past few months; you've seen Seeing Qi Shanshan, right?"

Zhao Zhizhuo nodded, and then an strange look appeared on his face as he laughed: "This Pharmacist Qi is no ordinary person!"

"How so?" Li Youyi said.

Zhao Zhizhuo whispered: "She is merely a mortal, her beauty cannot compare to those Pure Immortal Bodies, and her cultivation talent cannot catch up to heaven's proud daughters like Yang Qingxi. But a hero like Cangli was actually infatuated with her; because of this, he has already had several arguments with the clan head and the mistress."

Li Youyi was dumbfounded.

He knew Seeing Qi Shanshan's methods were brilliant, but to think they were brilliant to this extent—Cangli, whom even Yang Qingxi couldn't take down, had actually been taken down by her!

Zhao Zhizhuo laughed: "Shocked, right? Actually, I can understand. Cangli is indeed highly gifted, but he has been strictly required by the tribe since he was a child, his shoulders filled with the responsibility of reviving the Jiuli clan. Everyone tells him what to do, but no one cares what he wants to do."

"Such a person who lacks care and has no experience in relationships—how could he not fall when encountering an expert in emotions?"

Li Youyi nodded in deep agreement.

But he thought deeper, suspecting whether it was Chan Hai Guan Wu within Seeing Qi Shanshan who was directing all of this.

"Where is she now?" Li Youyi asked.

Zhao Zhizhuo said: "She was taken by Cangli to Burial Xianzhen, saying he wanted to help her gather Dyeing Cloud exotic medicine to transform into a Pure Immortal Body."

Li Youyi's expression was grave; the situation had become much more complicated. To move against Seeing Qi Shanshan, or rather Chan Hai Guan Wu, he had to get past Cangli first. He said: "What about my senior brother and Cai Yutong and the others?"

Zhao Zhizhuo said: "They apprenticed at the Jiuli Dao Academy and have already headed to Burial Xianzhen to participate in the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice."

This was within Li Youyi's expectations; after all, even Yang Qingxi could know that the two of them had transformed into Pure Immortal Bodies, so there were no secrets to speak of, and naturally, apprenticing at the Jiuli Dao Academy was the best choice.

But Li Youyi always felt that this was even more dangerous.

"Old Zhao, do you want to fully recover your cultivation?"

Zhao Zhizhuo, who was eating noodles, suddenly heard Li Youyi ask this, and he was struck as if by lightning, frozen there. After a long while, the expression on his face returned to normal: "Can that senior help me recover to the Five Seas Realm?"

"It's the fifth realm of the Five Seas Realm... don't get excited, eat your noodles first." Li Youyi said.

Zhao Zhizhuo had no mood to eat noodles anymore, saying: "Li Mou, just say it, what do you want me to do? As long as you can help me recover my peak cultivation, even if you want me to die the next day, I am willing."

"I don't want you to die, it's not that exaggerated."

Li Youyi now had the entire Jiuli Hidden Sect as his backing, so his courage naturally grew, and he didn't need to worry at all about Zhao Zhizhuo's cultivation being too high and causing a backlash.

How could Li Youyi not have been worried before?

A person's mindset will inevitably change as their own strength grows. Who knew if Zhao Zhizhuo, after recovering his cultivation, would still be a reliable person?

"Let's go, I'll take you to meet a friend. Remember, no matter how incredible things happen, don't ask anything, and keep your mouth shut. Old Zhao, don't let down my trust!"

After finishing the noodles, Li Youyi led Zhao Zhizhuo out of Jiuli City and arrived at the pier by the Sui River.

From afar, he saw a large ship flying a flag with the character "Medicine".

Seeing Yao Yin stood on the deck at the bow, her posture graceful and gentle, wearing a cyan veil, followed by two little maids in white.

Servants of the Medicine Li tribe were moving boxes of cargo onto the ship.

The three had acted separately; after leaving the Jiuli Hidden Sect, Seeing Yao Yin and Hidden Twenty-five went to the clan mansion of the Medicine Li tribe and arranged everything properly.

Seeing Yao Yin greeted Li Youyi and Zhao Zhizhuo as they boarded, possessing the elegant temperament of a young lady from a great family, a faint smile always hanging on her face.

"Pay respects to Miss Yin."

Zhao Zhizhuo knew some legends about this Pure Immortal Body of the Medicine Li tribe and was very surprised in his heart, not knowing how Li Youyi had managed to get close to her.

Seeing Yao Yin pulled Li Youyi into the cabin alone and asked: "Who is that?"

"An expert, a very high-level one."

Li Youyi's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he had already secretly begun to plan some things.

Seeing Yao Yin knew Li Youyi wouldn't cause extra trouble, so she didn't ask more, saying: "I am the granddaughter of the Medicine Li tribe chief, just returned from learning arts in a mysterious place outside the prefecture. You and Hidden Twenty-five are my personal bodyguards, having come from outside the prefecture. You must have a new name!"

"Sima Tan."

Li Youyi chose a name and asked: "Mysterious place? Did the Hidden Sect not make detailed arrangements?"

"The more vague it is, the more deterrent power it has; they will imagine it themselves." Seeing Yao Yin said.

Walking into the cabin arranged by the Medicine Li tribe, Li Youyi was preparing to continue studying the application of dharma Qi in the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field when Zhao Zhizhuo knocked on the door to pay a visit.

After entering, he lowered his voice: "Li Mou, do you know that this Miss Yin's background is extraordinary, and she is absolutely not as weak and approachable as she appears? Legend has it that she has killed many people in the Medicine Li tribe, and her notoriety is widespread. You must not be deceived by her appearance!"

Seeking monthly tickets!

(End of chapter)