Chapter 328

Li Youyi turned and walked toward the stone staircase, using the Myriad Things Staff-Spear to tear an opening in the array’s light screen, bringing Yang Qingxi, Yang Qingchan, Qi Xiao, and Tuoba Butuo inside.

"Why did it take so long to open the array? Did you take all the good things for yourself first?" Yang Qingxi stared at him suspiciously.

Li Youyi sighed: "I had to check for danger first, didn't I? What if there were killing arrays or killing talismans? If everyone rushed in together, wouldn't we all die here?"

"Good heavens, so much immortal soil; there must be dozens of catties, right?"

"I think more than that; it might even be a hundred catties."

Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo exclaimed.

Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan immediately rushed over, instantly stunned by the patch of immortal soil the size of a square zhang, having never seen such immense wealth.

One tael of immortal soil was worth ten thousand Spring Coins.

If there were a hundred catties, it would be worth ten million Spring Coins.

More importantly, immortal soil was never hard to sell; high-grade elixirs, instruments, and talismans all required the addition of immortal soil. Even refining Longevity Pills and cultivating a Longevity Body required it.

Li Youyi walked behind the two Yangs, sniffing the fragrance on them, and said gloomily: "If I, Li Youyi, were a greedy person, you wouldn't even see a grain of immortal soil. The greatest pain in this world is being misunderstood and wronged."

Never mind Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan, even Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo believed him, secretly feeling a pity and thinking that Li Youyi valued character too much. With so much immortal soil, never mind keeping it for himself, even killing them to silence them would have been understandable.

Yang Qingchan was moved and looked at Yang Qingxi: "I believe you now! He is indeed a person worth trusting; although he is a bit overbearing at times, that’s what makes him charming, right? Even I am starting to be moved."

For Yang Qingchan, the immortal soil here was simply a timely rain.

It was enough to allow her to quickly raise her physical strength and thereby explode with her full power.

"Ninety-six catties in total; forty-eight catties each."

"Old Qi, Tuoba, you two take four catties each from my share first and use them to cultivate your physical bodies. After you finish refining and absorbing them, come find me for more."

Li Youyi quickly distributed the immortal soil.

Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo were naturally overjoyed, thanking him repeatedly and feeling a sense of respect for Li Youyi from the bottom of their hearts.

Even Yang Qingxi looked at him repeatedly, as if she were getting to know Li Youyi all over again. Eight catties of immortal soil were worth eight hundred thousand Spring Coins.

Li Youyi scolded her lightly: "What are you looking at? Do you think everyone is as selfish as you, Young Lady Yang?"

"When have I been selfish?" Yang Qingxi was unconvinced, her round eyes glaring at him.

Li Youyi said: "Did you share a portion of the harvest from the outer treasury with me? Before, when I asked you to help me, you were dawdling and hesitant; wasn't that because you wanted to maximize your own benefits? Eh... forty-eight catties of immortal soil, worth four million eight hundred thousand Spring Coins..."

Yang Qingxi knew what he was trying to do, so she immediately put the immortal soil into her ancestral field, her red lips curling up as she smiled and said softly: "Five million Spring Coins, Qingxi will definitely pay it back, but this immortal soil is of great use to me, so I ask the Divine Son to grant me some time. If there is anything you need from Qingxi in the future, just give the order, and Qingxi will never hesitate again and will definitely cooperate fully."

A strange feeling arose in Li Youyi’s heart; Yang Qingxi had always liked to put on airs, maintaining the arrogant and cold demeanor of a leader of the younger generation, and this was the first time she had humbled herself and acted small in front of him, referring to herself as "Qingxi."

It was like a wild horse becoming docile in front of him, willing to let him ride it. Even if this docility was feigned, it had a unique charm.

Li Youyi knew very well that this was because he had broken through to a four-star spirit-mind master, truly surpassing her in cultivation.

"Boom!"

A deafening sound of collapse and shattering came, several times louder than a thunderclap.

The entire cave dwelling shook violently, the ground trembled, and cracks appeared on the stone walls. Rubble rolled down continuously, and miscellaneous items were smashed to the ground.

Even though the cave dwelling was full of experts, they were all terrified, their faces changing drastically as they hurriedly fled outward.

"Could it be because we broke into the inner layer and touched something we shouldn't have?" Tuoba Butuo said.

Li Youyi decisively denied this: "The sound came from very far away and was accompanied by a powerful energy. A terrifying battle has erupted in the underground immortal mansion; at least Longevity Realm giants are fighting."

Yang Qingxi’s face was heavy: "Ordinary Longevity Realm experts couldn't cause such a commotion in the underground immortal mansion. It’s possible that a Transcendent has broken in!"

She knew some inside information and was aware that in the past year, the tombstones and grave mounds on the ground had been spreading, attracting the high attention of all forces in the Lingxiao Life Realm.

Countless experts from all over the world had gathered in the Prefecture.

Especially since Tang Wanzhou’s disappearance, which had stirred up huge waves in the Northern Territory, Transcendents had arrived at the entrance of the underground immortal mansion and had been trying every possible way to break in.

Joy appeared in the eyes of Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo.

Because of Li Youyi, they would certainly not betray the Rice Sect. But they knew very well that the Rice people could never truly accept humans, always viewing them as outsiders.

If the Transcendents of Snow Sword Tang Ting and Zuoqiu Gate Court broke in and destroyed the Rice Sect’s main altar, they could save everyone imprisoned in the Divine Prison, and they and Li Youyi would have a chance to regain their freedom.

After all, Li Youyi joining the Rice Sect was also forced by circumstances.

They opened the stone gate and escaped the cave dwelling.

Outside was a boundless stone forest, and everyone fled toward the direction of the main altar.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The loud noises were incessant, and the entire world was shaking; they had no idea which direction the fighting was in.

The stone pillars in the stone forest were constantly collapsing, the earth was caving in, boulders were rolling down, and passages were breaking.

Li Youyi looked back toward the direction of the massive hole connecting to the Black Swamp of Underworld Flowers below, sensing the aura of Zen Sea Viewing Mist.

He had a subtle soul connection with Zen Sea Viewing Mist, but having been in the underground immortal mansion for a full year, this was the first time he had sensed her.

"You guys go first!"

Li Youyi didn't explain, performing the Clear Void Cicada-Catching Step, turning into a wisp of blue smoke and weaving through the falling rocks as he rushed toward the massive hole that was tens of miles wide.

"Could it be the big commotion caused by her and the three masters? They were indeed very strong in their lifetimes, but their strength shouldn't have recovered much yet."

Li Youyi put on the Prefecture Governor’s official robe, covering it with a Dharma-instrument robe, in case of emergency.

Following a river of blood, he arrived near the massive hole.

He saw that dazzling energy beams covered the hole, which was tens of miles in diameter; from top to bottom, the released power fluctuations contained the might to destroy heaven and earth.

Separated by more than ten miles, Li Youyi dared not approach any further.

Sanskrit Zen chanting rang in his ears, and the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish on his chest transmitted a burst of heat.

This strange situation had occurred when he walked into the main entrance hall a year ago. Some kind of Buddhist-Daoist power had connected with the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, triggering it.

Just as Li Youyi was preparing to take out the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish to check, several terrifying auras came from behind, approaching him at an unimaginable speed.

"Swish! Swish..."

Three figures in succession rushed over his head, their speed as fast as three meteors; he couldn't see what they looked like.

But he could be certain that they must be the three Longevity Realm giants of the Rice Sect.

"Why aren't you running yet? Return to the main altar!"

Yao Qingxuan appeared beside Li Youyi as if out of thin air, the Dharma Qi light on her skin surging, looking like immortal jade, her face full of a stance as if facing a great enemy.

"Pa!"

A sound of Zen came from above the massive hole.

The next instant, a withered bone wearing a Buddhist kasaya descended from the sky in the bright light, and with a wave of its large sleeve, it struck the three Longevity Realm giants who were intercepting it, sending them flying back, their bodies crashing into the depths of the rock with loud bangs.

Even the aftermath alone sent sand and stones flying.

A single ray of Buddha light could pierce through several miles of rock layers. Thousands of rays of Buddha light shone, frightening even Yao Qingxuan into retreating.

The combat power of that withered bone far exceeded her estimates.

Yao Qingxuan grabbed Li Youyi’s left wrist, wrapped his whole body in Longevity Dharma Qi, pressed him tightly against herself, and fled at the fastest speed.

Golden Buddha light flew around the two of them, and the rock layers collapsed continuously.

Even the bronze skeletons supporting the rock layers melted instantly when struck by the Buddha light.

Li Youyi’s body felt weightless as he was pulled along by Yao Qingxuan; at this moment, he couldn't care about finding Zen Sea Viewing Mist, as even Longevity Realm giants had to stay far away to save their lives.

He asked: "What happened? What is that thing, and why are you, Master, so afraid of it?"

Yao Qingxuan’s eyes were heavy, staring ahead as various scenes flew backward: "I don't know the reason, but a Transcendent-level monk-skeleton has awakened, and it has pierced through the three heavens of the main altar and reached the Sacred Heart layer. It is currently unclear what its purpose is; perhaps it is for those nine pages of the Starlight Book."

"A month ago, the hole it pierced from the Mortal layer to the Sacred Heart layer was discovered. For the past month, the entire main altar has been searching for it, until today when it finally made its move."

"No one expected that a monk-skeleton that had just awakened would be so powerful. In its lifetime, it must have been a Martial Dao Son of Heaven."

An ancient Son of Heaven awakening—this made Li Youyi think of Zen Sea Viewing Mist.

He wondered what level she had recovered to now?

However, Zen Sea Viewing Mist was not simply recovering combat power; she had grand designs, wanting to reverse life and death and re-cultivate a flesh-and-blood body, walking a difficult path.

And she had never completed the "Yang Marriage."

Li Youyi asked: "Is the awakening of monk-skeletons common in the underground immortal mansion?"

Yao Qingxuan said: "The underground immortal mansion is very special and related to ancient immortals; the cultivation methods of the ancient Bogaluo Sect’s Buddhist cultivators are also very strange, and the Sacred Heart layer hides great secrets. These various mysteries have caused seven incidents of monk-skeleton awakenings over the past thousand years, and their states and strengths have all been different."

"What is the same is that in the initial stage of awakening, their strength is not very strong and can be easily suppressed and subdued. As time passes, their combat power gradually becomes powerful."

"That taboo on Coffin Mountain, the master of Xu Fu and Hall Master An, is one of them. It is the most powerful of the seven monk-skeleton awakenings and is suspected to be the awakening of an ancient Son of Heaven monk-skeleton, but it also took hundreds of years to possess Transcendent-level strength."

"It is precisely because Coffin Mountain has this taboo that the former Nine Li Tribe, which had millions of people, was terrified and paid tribute every year to exchange for peace and tranquility in Lizhou. The Nine Li Tribe had no Transcendents and thus no right to speak, being suppressed by a dead person."

Mentioning the Nine Li Tribe, Yao Qingxuan’s tone carried sarcasm and a sneer, clearly extremely disappointed in the Nine Li Tribe of the past thousand years. But in her eyes, a sharp light flickered, clearly showing she wanted to break all of this.

Li Youyi stared at her breathtakingly beautiful immortal face and finally asked the question he had always wanted to ask but dared not: "Master, why did you fake your death back then and secretly join the Twin Rice Sect?"

(End of chapter)