Chapter 102

The small boat turned a large bend and traveled to the Silver Beach Valley.

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

"It's over, we were delayed too long in the ash region, I guess the higher-ups 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 small boat docked.

Li Youyi stepped off the boat first, passed by Hidden Twenty-Five, and said lightly: "Does where the Hidden One 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 One yet dares to call himself one; how big do you think his ego is?"

Hidden Twenty-Five's face changed, his heart uneasy, and he quickly caught up to Li Youyi, his attitude much more respectful: "It was the Hidden Lord who asked me to invite the three of you."

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

Hidden Twenty-Five lowered his head: "It seems to be related to the matter at Burial Immortal Town."

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 Ash Spirits."

The eyes beneath the Hidden Lord's mask were deep and solemn, asking: "How did you escape?"

Li Youyi said: "Our cultivation is too low; we don't know what we encountered. After rushing into a mass 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 perhaps even the underground of many places in Li Prefecture has been swallowed by it."

The Hidden Lord was clearly clearer than Li Youyi about what the ash region represented; the looseness on his body vanished completely, and 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 Immortal Town.

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

No way around it; for mortals like Yin Twenty-Four and Hidden Twenty-Five, what could be more attractive than transforming into a Pure Immortal Body?

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

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

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

The latter might not even be better than a Nine-Spring mortal.

Not to mention, Yao Yin had cultivated ninety-two trace veins at the Eight-Spring realm. Once she broke through the Nine Springs, she would almost certainly exceed a hundred veins, possessing a foundation like that of a seed for a successor to a thousand-gate inheritance.

In the Nine Li Tribe, Cang Li 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 One, 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; this time, you will lead the team. There are two tasks."

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

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

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 now."

"My plan is to push 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 Immortal Town. She has been in the Hidden Sect for a short time, and only the Medicine Li tribe leader knows about this, so it can cover eyes and ears."

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

"The Five-Sea realm Hidden Persons will be led by Hidden Nine; you have other tasks."

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

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

The Hidden Lord continued: "Once you reach Burial Immortal Town and find the Dyeing Mist Exotic Medicine, break through the Nine Springs Ancestral Field as soon as possible. Then, start preparing to impact the Five-Sea realm. Only by reaching the Five-Sea realm can you be considered to have initially stepped into the ranks of the young generation of experts. The Hidden One cannot be too far behind the successor; you must catch up to Cang Li as soon as possible. Have you tempered the golden trace veins?"

"Golden trace veins, is this it?"

Li Youyi was very direct, took off his coat, and excited the nine golden trace veins within.

The brilliant golden light stung the Hidden Lord's eyes so much he couldn't open them, and he exclaimed somewhat out of character: "You tempered nine so quickly? And you did it with Eight-Spring cultivation."

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

Li Youyi suddenly sensed something, recalled carefully, and an strange look appeared in his eyes. Why was the real voice the Hidden Lord just exposed somewhat familiar?

The Hidden Lord quickly suppressed his excited mood, pondered for a moment, and said: "You'd better not impact the Five-Sea realm yet; settle down more in the Spring-Gushing realm. In the Nine Li tribe, do you have a sweetheart? Li Ling? Yao Yin? Yin Twenty-Four? The Hidden Sect can help bridge the gap."

Li Youyi walked out of the mountain gate and met Yin Twenty-Four.

She said: "You really have a big face; the Hidden Lord didn't pursue such a big matter as unauthorized medicine gathering at all."

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

Yin Twenty-Four didn't stand on ceremony with him at all: "Help me gather three Dyeing Mist 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 Mist Exotic Medicine is needed... Don't worry, I'll pay for them."

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

Yin Twenty-Four smiled sweetly.

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

Li Youyi wore a bamboo hat, carried an insect tube, sat at a street noodle stall in Nine Li City, and ate the noodle soup in large mouthfuls.

The tips of his fingers drew a long ribbon of magic Qi in the air. The magic Qi ribbon extended continuously along the ground into the distance, stretching ten zhang away before dissipating and merging with the air.

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

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

As for the legendary Tenth Spring, Li Youyi truly had no bottom line 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 immediately rushed to the noodle stall and sat opposite Li Youyi, his mood both excited and worried: "It really is you, Brother Li. How dare you come to Nine Li City? The Yang tribe, Xue tribe, Earth Wolf King Army, Coffin Mountain, and various assassins, the Wu Xiu of the whole world are looking for you. It's too dangerous; come hide in the clan school for a while. The Clan Head is very worried about your safety."

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

Li Youyi opened the money bag, counted it, and then pushed a bowl of noodle soup on the table toward him: "I secretly invited you because there are a few important things."

"What things?"

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

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

"How so?" Li Youyi asked.

Zhao Zhizhuo whispered: "She is only a mortal body, her beauty is not as good as those Pure Immortal Bodies, and her cultivation talent cannot compare to heaven-favored girls like Yang Qingxi. But a hero like Cang Li was actually infatuated with her; because of this, he has already clashed with the Clan Head and the Matriarch several times."

Li Youyi was dumbfounded.

He knew Qi Shanshan's methods were brilliant, but to think they were brilliant to this extent! Cang Li, whom even Yang Qingxi couldn't take down, was actually taken down by her!

Zhao Zhizhuo laughed: "Shocked, right? Actually, I can understand. Cang Li is indeed extremely talented, but he has been strictly required by the tribe since he was a child, and his shoulders are full of the responsibility of reviving the Nine Li tribe. Everyone tells him what to do, but no one cares what he wants to do."

"Such a person who lacks love and has no experience in emotions. When meeting an expert in emotions, how could he not fall?"

Li Youyi nodded in deep agreement.

But he thought deeper, suspecting whether it was Chan Hai Guan Wu in Qi Shanshan's body who was directing all this.

"Where is she now?" Li Youyi asked.

Zhao Zhizhuo said: "She was taken to Burial Immortal Town by Cang Li, saying he wanted to help her gather Dyeing Mist Exotic Medicine and transform into a Pure Immortal Body."

Li Youyi's face was solemn; the situation had become much more complicated. To move against Qi Shanshan, he had to pass Cang Li's hurdle first. He said: "What about my Senior Brother and Cai Yutong and the others?"

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

This was within Li Youyi's expectations; after all, even Yang Qingxi knew they had transformed into Pure Immortal Bodies, so there was no secret to speak of. Naturally, apprenticing at the Nine Li 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 time, the expression on his face returned to normal: "Can that senior help me recover to the Five-Sea realm?"

"It's the fifth realm of the Five-Sea realm... Don't get excited, eat your noodles first." Li Youyi said.

Zhao Zhizhuo had no mood to eat noodles anymore, saying: "Brother Li, just say it, what do you want me to do? As long as you can help me recover my cultivation from my peak period, 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 Nine Li Hidden Sect as his backing, so his courage naturally grew, and he didn't need to worry about Zhao Zhizhuo's cultivation being too high and backfiring on him.

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 his cultivation recovered, 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 Nine Li City and came to the pier by the Sui River.

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

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 Nine Li Hidden Sect, Yao Yin and Hidden Twenty-Five went to the Medicine Li tribe's mansion and arranged everything properly.

Yao Yin greeted Li Youyi and Zhao Zhizhuo as they boarded the ship, possessing the elegance of a great lady, with a faint smile always on her face.

"Greetings, 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.

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

"An expert, the very high kind."

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

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 leader, just returned from studying in a mysterious place outside Li Prefecture. You and Hidden Twenty-Five are my personal bodyguards, coming from outside the prefecture. You must have a new name!"

"Sima Tan."

Li Youyi chose a name and asked: "A mysterious place? Didn't the Hidden Sect make detailed arrangements?"

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

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

After entering, he lowered his voice: "Brother Li, do you know that this Miss Yin's background is extraordinary, and she is by no means 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!"

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