Chapter 47: Death to those who cross the boundary

Relying on his vision and hearing, which far exceeded those of martial cultivators at the same realm, Li Youyi secretly observed every street outside the residence and truly discovered several suspicious figures.

It was clear that they were already being watched.

"We haven't provoked anyone; we just moved in, and we're already in such big trouble. It turns out that Nine Licheng isn't a good place to settle down after all. We just want to survive, to live well—why is it so difficult?" Qin Ke was filled with worry, unable to sit or stand in peace.

She did not drink the Golden Crow blood, because the vast majority of the expedition members who drank it, just like Old Liu, grew massive bird heads. The pure immortal body transformation of Dr. Cai and Gao Huan was merely a low-probability event.

She still cared very much about her human appearance.

"Survival is the same everywhere; each place has its own difficulties."

Zhao Zhizhuo spoke to the newcomers: "Any gang that can gain a foothold in the suburbs of Nine Licheng must have a Five Seas Realm expert sitting in command; we cannot afford to provoke them. It wasn't like this before, and I don't know which family this Long Lin Gang is backed by, but they are far too bold. Perhaps we should take advantage of the early hour and head into the city to hide for the night? Or simply abandon this residence; it's rented anyway."

"That was two thousand six hundred silver coins, a deposit of one month's rent."

Li Youyi sat on the steps under the eaves and added: "Besides, the other side has already targeted us; how would they give us the chance to escape into the city? Fleeing now would only reveal our weakness. They would surely think we are easy to bully and would act even more unscrupulously."

Zhao Zhizhuo thought of another plan: "I could pretend to be out purchasing supplies and actually enter the city to seek an audience with the Young Clan Leader. If he steps forward, the Long Lin Gang will surely know when to retreat."

"I only fear that this Long Lin Gang acts with such airtight precision that they won't give us that chance."

For the safety of everyone in the residence, Li Youyi had to compromise, even if he was unwilling to be linked with the Cangli tribe. However, he was deeply worried that Zhao Zhizhuo would meet with misfortune after stepping out of the residence.

Zhao Zhizhuo smiled: "This life of mine should have been lost in Burial Immortal Town; it was Brother Li who saved me, allowing me to live until now. Now that everyone is in trouble, we must fight for a path to survival, and I naturally cannot shirk my duty. Besides, the Long Lin Gang may not be as cautious as we think."

With lives at stake, Li Youyi stopped being overly sentimental, but as he sent Zhao Zhizhuo away, he said solemnly: "If everyone survives this ordeal, there will surely be a generous reward in the future."

"Master Guan, how exactly do I use this Spring-Breaking Needle?"

Li Youyi did not know when the Long Lin Gang would strike, nor did he know how strong the enemy truly was, but reading *Water Margin* told him that surrendering was useless; surrendering would only lead to a more miserable fate.

Only by fighting!

Only by fighting could one carve out a place to stand.

Only by fighting could one carve out a piece of peace.

He now urgently needed greater power. If he could break through to open the fifth spring, he could control the Evil Camel Bell to a certain extent, giving him more confidence to face the stormy seas that might arrive tonight.

Inside the room that had just been cleaned.

Li Youyi took off his outer garment, sat cross-legged, and opened the jade box containing the Spring-Breaking Needle.

The Spring-Breaking Needle was as thin as a hair, yet crystal clear and transparent, emitting wisps of cold air, as if it were condensed from some kind of medicinal spring.

"First, adjust your state to the best possible condition. Once this Spring-Breaking Needle is driven into your central acupoint, it will melt rapidly, using its inherent medicinal power to soften the barrier, thereby making it easier for you to open the spring eye."

"The medicinal power of one Spring-Breaking Needle can only last for half an hour... Hmm, it has only been a dozen days since you opened the fourth spring; the difficulty of breaking through to the fifth spring is not small. You must be mentally prepared."

"Whoosh!"

From the blue-and-white ash jar, a wisp of soul mist drifted out, condensing into a semi-illusory hand that picked up the Spring-Breaking Needle.

After Li Youyi practiced the breathing technique, he clearly felt different from before. The magic power between heaven and earth seemed exceptionally dense and active, and the speed at which magic power flowed through the forty-eight trace meridians in his body was slightly faster.

This was the benefit of a great provincial city; the cultivation environment was incomparable to other places.

Living here long-term, the speed of breaking through realms would inevitably be faster.

He soon entered a tranquil state of harmony between man and nature, with all his consciousness and perception converging toward the central acupoint on his back. He began to sense himself, the magic power energy between heaven and earth, and the barrier in between.

"Sss—"

The Spring-Breaking Needle flew out, striking the central acupoint with precision and sinking into the barrier.

A wave of cold air instantly radiated from the center to his entire body.

Li Youyi's whole body trembled; he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and his limbs became numb, as if he had lost all sensation. Only the magic power in the forty-eight trace meridians continued to flow endlessly.

No wonder Master Guan said that opening the fifth, sixth, and seventh springs carried a certain degree of danger; it was indeed quite different from the first four springs.

Fortunately, Master Guan's technique was superb, and the Spring-Breaking Needle was used at just the right moment. If it were any other martial cultivator so eager for success, the risks would definitely not be small.

As time passed, under the erosion of the four forces—the heaven and earth magic power energy mobilized by the breathing technique, combined with the blood energy, magic power, and the Spring-Breaking Needle within his body—the barrier became significantly thinner.

But until the medicinal power of the Spring-Breaking Needle was exhausted, it still had not broken through.

"Use the second one," Li Youyi said.

"Use it now? There is no such thing as using them consecutively." Master Guan was worried that his body would not be able to handle it.

Li Youyi said: "I don't feel any discomfort; it should be fine."

"That is truly strange! After using the Spring-Breaking Needle, the acupoint will ache for a long time and require several days to recover. Even a pure immortal body isn't as resilient as yours."

Master Guan muttered this while picking up the second Spring-Breaking Needle and driving it in.

Half an hour later.

The medicinal power of the second Spring-Breaking Needle was exhausted. Li Youyi finally felt the pain in his central acupoint, but the barrier still had a thin layer remaining. With normal cultivation, it would only take a few more days to break through naturally.

But Li Youyi did not know what the situation would be tonight; he had to break through the fifth spring. He said: "Use the third one; I can handle it."

"This isn't a question of whether you can handle it or not..."

Master Guan was very hesitant; he had no confidence at all about using a third Spring-Breaking Needle.

"Rest assured, I don't like to joke with my life; I am definitely not overreaching. I truly feel that the pain in the central acupoint is still within a bearable range," Li Youyi said.

In another room.

Zhao Meng was also practicing the breathing technique. Perhaps it was because the heaven and earth magic power in Nine Licheng was dense, perhaps the external pressure was too great, or perhaps his accumulation was already sufficient.

He actually broke through the spring eye at the soles of his feet in one go, opening the first spring.

As the magic power flowed through his meridians across his entire body, his skin, which was already slightly golden, radiated a golden luster. His reddish-gold long hair looked like flames burning.

Such a physique, such a sight.

A cultivator who did not know the truth would likely think he had at least the combat power of the Five Seas Realm.

The sky gradually darkened, and Qin Ke had finished preparing the meal.

But Old Liu and Old Guan, waiting in the courtyard, were anxious and uneasy, having no appetite at all. Their gazes looked toward the main gate from time to time, and then toward the house.

So much time had passed, and Zhao Zhizhuo had not returned; it was highly probable that something had happened.

The two people who were cultivating also remained behind closed doors.

When the sunset finally dropped below the gray-hued Mang Mountain range, the large residence was completely swallowed by darkness. No one dared to light a lamp. Qin Ke, who was already very timid, crouched in a corner without saying a word, as if any sound could make her tremble with fear.

"Creak!"

Zhao Meng crawled out from the main hall door, which was three stories high. His body no longer glowed and had returned to normal. He complained: "This door is too small. Once I earn some money, I must build a big house and make an eight-meter-long bed. What are you all doing there? Light the lamps, otherwise, others will think we are afraid!"

At this moment.

Li Youyi also pushed the door open and walked out: "That's right! Even if we are to die, we must die in a bright place. You're all hungry, right? Sister Qin, go heat up the food. Uncle Liu, Uncle Guan, move the table under the poplar tree and move the lamps there too; we will eat in the courtyard."

Seeing Li Youyi so calm and composed, Qin Ke and the others seemed to be infected by this boldness, and most of their fear vanished as they each busied themselves.

Zhao Meng sat under the tree like a giant Buddha: "Zhao Zhizhuo must have met with misfortune. No one will come to save us tonight; we can only rely on ourselves."

The dishes on the table were steaming hot, and the fragrance filled the air.

The four of them sat on each side.

Li Youyi had a good appetite. Enduring the sharp pain in his central acupoint, he held his bowl and kept picking up food. Hearing Zhao Meng's words, he paused slightly: "Then let the Jade Emperor bless us; I hope the Long Lin Gang doesn't let me survive tonight. Otherwise, I will definitely make them pay the most miserable price!"

"When the fighting starts in a moment, everyone hide inside the house. Senior Brother, you protect them!"

The night gradually deepened.

The bustling sounds outside faded, and only the sounds of strings and pipes, carriage wheels and horse hooves, and coquettish laughter and cursing from the large brothel a hundred paces away across from the residence drifted over with the wind.

The layers of protective light gauze rising from the direction of the moat and the city walls were far more brilliant and bright than during the day.

Li Youyi sat alone under the old poplar tree, a bone lamp hanging from the branches above his head, the Huang Long sword leaning against the tree.

On the third floor of the brothel in the distance, two middle-aged men stood by the window, looking out at the solitary lamp and the lone shadow in the dim residence.

One of the middle-aged men, tall and thin with a black mole between his eyebrows, said: "To be so calm and composed—what courage. What is that placed on the table beside him... a spirit tablet?"

"Is this set up for us? How arrogant!"

The other middle-aged man, with thick whiskers and strands of white hair at his temples, said: "Let Master Qi make a move; let's first test what he's made of."

Li Youyi heard the movement outside and stopped studying the Spirit God cultivation method with the senior in the spirit tablet. He cast his gaze toward the open gate several zhang away: "I am not a person who likes to kill the innocent indiscriminately. Tonight, let this threshold be the boundary; death to those who cross it."

"Swish! Swish!"

Responding to him were two arrows flying from the darkness.

There was almost no sound of wind breaking, and the speed was extremely fast. Clearly, these were not ordinary bows and arrows. If he hadn't broken through the fifth spring and his perception hadn't greatly increased, he might not have been able to foresee it in advance.

Li Youyi rose from his seat, and while flashing his figure, he reached out and grabbed the two black arrows flying toward him.

The arrows were a foot long and as thin as iron wire.

But they were extremely hard and eerily weighed over a jin each.

He had studied the flying needle technique; the two black arrows left his hands in an instant, piercing through the half-foot-thick courtyard wall with two "bangs." In the darkness outside, two low, miserable groans immediately sounded, followed by the sound of bodies hitting the ground.

Suddenly.

"Rustle!"

Eerie movements sounded from underground, the ground became uneven, and wisps of black smoke rose from the soil.

Sweat, I messed up the scheduled posting today and set Chapter 46 to a different time.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 48 =====