Chapter 80: Seven Springs Trial Grounds

The medicinal diet kitchen was located on the east side of the Purple Forest. It was quite spacious and neatly arranged with over a dozen sets of stone tables and chairs.

Medicinal diet!

It was concocted from the blood of exotic beasts and dozens of precious medicinal herbs. Naturally, one could not expect much in terms of taste; it was merely edible.

Yet, after eating it for just one month, everyone's physical strength and endurance had improved significantly. They were full of vigor, and the power within their bodies felt inexhaustible.

For the past month, Seeing Yao Yin had been in her cave dwelling every day, practicing the "Heavenly Wind Palm Technique," the fundamental martial art of the Medicine King Sect that she had chosen. She slept for no more than two hours a day.

The palm technique's Qi energy struck the cliff walls with a thunderous roar. Li Youyi couldn't sleep at all and was forced to passively join her in this grueling grind.

The process of practicing martial arts moves and breathing techniques was simultaneously tempering the silver meridians within their bodies.

It was precisely because of the support of the medicinal diet that Seeing Yao Yin could push her body to such extremes, developing her physical potential without fear of collapse.

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

Li Qing and the four Wu Xiu who had opened Eight Springs were also desperately practicing the Nine Kings' fundamental martial arts they had chosen in the Silver Beach Valley. On the other side of the valley, the younger, lower-realm Wu Xiu were doing the same.

Effort is merely the most trivial basic condition for success.

Everyone was fighting with all their might; they were fighting for their lives.

……

Today's medicinal diet was quite special; during the brewing process, it continuously emitted a pungent, rich fragrance.

In the bronze cauldron where the diet was being brewed, it boiled incessantly, overflowing with five-colored, smoke-like medicinal Qi, and the precious light illuminated the stone room. Even before tasting it, everyone knew that today, the cauldron must have been infused with many precious medicines.

That Eight Springs Wu Xiu of the tiger-like deviant race, who practiced the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes, saw everyone's gaze fixed on the bronze cauldron and laughed: "Are you all anticipating this? The Hidden Sect is still too humane; they know this is your last meal, so they brewed a higher-quality medicinal diet to send you on your way."

In just one month, he had practiced the first axe of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes to the Heavenly Dao Law Convergence realm and had tempered several silver meridians within his body; naturally, he was in high spirits.

A year from now, he dared not imagine what heights he could reach.

A child of the deviant race who had 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 was a mortal enemy.

Naturally, everyone was at each other's throats; there was 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 go and fetch their portions.

The medicinal diet was not rationed.

As long as it wasn't taken away or wasted, how much one could eat depended entirely on one's appetite.

Deviant race members with massive bodies naturally had an advantage; there was no helping it, as deviant race members of the same realm had stronger combat power than ordinary humans.

Following custom, Li Youyi first filled a basin for the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors. The basin he used was no smaller than those of the deviant race Wu Xiu. For this period, the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors had been eating to their hearts' content, practically living in the medicinal diet kitchen, and their bodies had grown noticeably larger.

But according to Master Lingwei, they needed to grow to two inches in length before their combat power could rival that of a Five Seas Realm Wu Xiu.

Currently, they were 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 kitchen, looking toward the group 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 was a bear-like deviant race member, his body far larger than ordinary deviant race members, just like Yao Zhengsheng, and he possessed innate divine strength.

Hidden Twenty-Four said indifferently: "Two are quite good! One is a human with Ninety Meridians at Nine Springs, Li Qing, who, upon arriving at the Hidden Sect, could withstand one axe from Hidden Nine."

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

Not all the Hidden Ones of the Hidden Sect lived in seclusion; after reaching a certain realm of cultivation, many were dispatched.

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

Or to infiltrate hostile forces, hide within tribes, or infiltrate the Lingxiao Palace……

Although the vast majority of Hidden Ones remained in a state of silence, there were still Hidden Ones specifically responsible for collecting information.

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

Hidden Twenty-Three was surprised: "A Pure Immortal Body, and the chief's granddaughter at that, actually sent to the Hidden Sect?"

"I heard there is something wrong with her body, and she had to come to the Hidden Sect 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. 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 had been silent for many years; the person mentioned in the news he suddenly sent back must be extraordinary. It seemed he had underestimated him before.

Seven Springs?

Insect Master?

After finishing the medicinal diet, the twenty-six youths gathered in the plaza.

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

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

"But there is one iron rule: you must not, by any means, target competitors weaker than yourselves in cultivation."

That Eight Springs tiger-like deviant race Wu Xiu said: "That means one can only fight those of the same realm, or lower realms can kill higher realms. However, if a lower-realm Wu Xiu dares to provoke me, can I kill them?"

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

Li Qing scanned the crowd and said in a threatening tone: "Then I must advise you all: do not come here to throw your lives away. My sword is faster than it was a month ago, and it is thirsty for blood."

Hidden Twenty-Three said: "I have another 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 only ones remaining, Li Youyi and Seeing Yao Yin: "Let's go!"

All three groups boarded ships at the edge of the Blood River to head to different trial grounds.

They boarded a flat-bottomed boat over ten meters long and drifted downstream.

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

Seeing Yao Yin sat at the stern, head bowed in deep thought, her entire 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 composed of two smaller boats joined together, connected by chains.

After traveling several dozen miles, Seeing Yao Yin couldn't help but ask: "I have to undergo the trial with him?"

"Those of the same realm naturally undergo the trial in the same place. The trial ground for Seven Springs Wu Xiu is the gathering area of the soldier-grade fierce insects, the Winged White Spiders," Hidden Twenty-Four said.

Seeing Yao Yin's small face grew grave. The protection period was over, and in this trial, the Winged White Spiders might not be the most terrifying danger.

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

Li Youyi's glabella lit up, overflowing with spirit light particles, slightly illuminating the darkness.

"We're almost there!"

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

Li Youyi was a person who listened 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 Seeing Yao Yin; her skin was somewhat striking even in the darkness.

Li Youyi asked: "What do we need to 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 you will 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 while you're at it. If you have enough, you can exchange it for precious medicine."

"I will leave you here. Good luck."

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

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

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

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

Seeing Yao Yin said: "That is exactly what I wanted to say! No matter what thoughts you have, nothing is more important than life. We are competitors, but why can't we first wear down the others?"

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

"Good!"

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

Seeing Yao Yin was itching with hatred and hated him to death.

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

She did indeed have a unique, innate body fragrance, and in this dark, desolate cave, the scent would undoubtedly be amplified.

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

Li Youyi sat up abruptly. The previously low cave became spacious, and about ten zhang above their heads grew a crimson precious medicine.

"It has grown to 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 peak state. Only after finding no trace of fierce insects nearby did he leap up.

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

But soon, her guilt vanished, replaced by shock.

At ten zhang high, with their Gushing Spring 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 Gushing Spring Realm Wu Xiu at all.

In the last month, Li Youyi had newly mastered three moves of Heavenly Dao Law Convergence, including "Huang Long Ascending to Heaven."

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

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

Even though "Huang Long Ascending to Heaven" had reached Heavenly Dao Law Convergence, leaping ten zhang was already his limit. The magic power beneath his feet had dissipated, and Li Youyi found it difficult to control his descent.

Seeing Yao Yin was shocked and hurriedly performed the Heavenly Wind Palm Technique, pushing out a palm, stirring up a wind force that swept up the falling Li Youyi.

"Whoosh!"

Li Youyi took advantage of the momentum to borrow the force, drifting back onto the boat. Holding the nearly hundred-jin crimson Cistanche, he laughed: "Many thanks!"

"I was just saving myself! Who knows if the commotion you caused after falling would wake up a large group of Winged White Spiders?" Seeing 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, 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 the physical body by a large margin."

Worth nearly a hundred million—even though Seeing Yao Yin was the chief's granddaughter, she was slightly shaken.

Li Youyi naturally had to take the risk. Picking this Cistanche meant that feeding the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors until they were two inches long was just around the corner.

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

"You'd better keep it for yourself!"

Seeing Yao Yin sat back on the boat, her expression somewhat worried, and said: "The medicinal fragrance emitted by the precious medicine might disturb the 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."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 81 =====