Chapter 123: Thirty-Three Li Below the Mountain

Mount Thirty-Three Li rose abruptly from the edge of the grassland, strikingly prominent. It was shaped like a pyramid, but not perfectly symmetrical. From a distance, one could discern steep cliffs, lush ancient trees, and waterfalls resembling heavenly rivers cascading down.

Li Weiyi had seen this mountain peak before. When he first arrived in this world, he had gazed at it from outside Burial Immortal Town and could see it. The reason he gazed at it then was because the colossal stone figures standing outside Burial Immortal Town all faced the direction of the mountain peak, so curiosity led him to take a look. Upon seeing it again today, many parts of the mountain emitted mystical golden-yellow divine radiance, interweaving with the ethereal clouds and mists that drifted halfway up the slopes. It truly resembled a divine and majestic peak, completely different from half a year ago.

As the gigantic dragonfly flew closer to it, the more its terrifying oppressive presence could be felt, like a wall at the edge of the world.

At the foot of the mountain, a winding great river flowed past. Along the riverbank, colossal stone figures also stood, varying in size and weighing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of catties, all gazing intently in the direction of Mount Thirty-Three Li, like a special ritual.

Li Ling's gaze was profound as she secretly observed the scene before her: "I never knew there was such a mystical realm in Lizhou. This mountain is extraordinary; its form contains an unseen power, as if an ancient immortal stands before us."

Li Weiyi said, "I heard that this place is called Mount Thirty-Three Li because a tablet was discovered with this inscription on it."

"That's right, the stone tablet is at the foot of the mountain," Zuoqiu Ting said.

Li Weiyi curiously asked, "This divine mountain before us occupies far more than thirty-three li. How could it be named that?"

"It's not that it occupies thirty-three li; it's thirty-three li tall."

Zuoqiu Ting looked towards the left front. Over the vast grassland, countless demonic birds flew, obscuring the sky and sun, emitting dense and piercing cries. Beneath the dark, dense flock of birds, a team of demon cultivators moved across the ground.

"Large numbers of demon cultivators from Tianya Ridge have also arrived here, indicating that the Five Seas Realm cultivators of the Jiuli clan have escaped. Brother Sima, you don't need to worry now, do you?" Zuoqiu Ting said.

A four-armed golden ape sat on a carriage at the very front of the demon cultivator team, each hand holding a magic artifact. It opened its eyes, revealing fiery, orb-like pupils, and glanced at the three people on the gigantic dragonfly in the distance, revealing a chilling coldness. If not for the interference of the Zuoqiu Sect's inheritor, Cang Li would have already been encircled and killed. Why would their efforts have been wasted like this? Cang Li's sister was also quite strange; its fiery divine eyes couldn't quite see through her.

They arrived at the bank of the great river at the foot of Mount Thirty-Three Li, where the water roared and the air was thick with moisture. Zuoqiu Ting retracted the gigantic dragonfly into his insect bag, and the three of them walked towards the Zuoqiu Sect's camp.

Li Weiyi looked at the insect bag on his waist, which was only palm-sized. Even if the dragonfly could grow and shrink, the space seemed too cramped.

Zuoqiu Ting saw through his thoughts and said, "This insect bag is refined from the lung leaves of a Five Seas Realm cultivator. The larger the Qi Sea within the lung leaves, the larger the space inside the insect bag. However, the success rate is very low; it's difficult to refine even one from ten lung leaves. The larger the Qi Sea, the greater the refining difficulty."

"In the future, I'll give you a large one."

Li Weiyi said, "Doesn't that mean every Five Seas Realm cultivator's corpse holds considerable value?"

Zuoqiu Ting paused slightly, surprised, and said, "Your perspective on this matter is quite novel."

The Zuoqiu Sect's camp was set up beneath a twenty-meter-tall azure spirit banner. Azure light enveloped the surrounding area, as hundreds of armored ghost figures flew back and forth within it, guarding the camp. Two elders from the Zuoqiu Sect came out to greet them, bowing to Zuoqiu Ting. The three communicated via spiritual energy transmission.

Behind them, Li Weiyi also used spiritual energy transmission to ask Li Ling, "Is the Jiuli clan not interested in the treasures within Mount Thirty-Three Li?"

Li Ling replied, "Immortal soil, bone-forging golden springs, rainbow-dyed exotic medicine... any of these are incredibly precious, invaluable treasures for nurturing future generations. How could the Jiuli clan not want to acquire them? However, cultivators from the Spring Realm and Five Seas Realm have successively encountered trouble on their way into Burial Immortal Town. This is a signal that a great war is imminent. The older generation of the Jiuli clan naturally had to abandon their interests in the Immortal Realm's space, and instead seize the opportunity to strategize outside, possibly striking first against the Four Great Sects."

Li Weiyi sniffed, intrigued, and was drawn to a green python in the great river behind the camp. This green python was over thirty meters long, its body more than a meter in diameter, and its head as massive as a house. Its eyes were like lanterns, and its scales appeared to be cast from bronze. A strong, fishy odor emanated from its body.

Standing atop the green python's head was a young man with his upper body exposed, carrying a heavily armed battle saber on his back. His eyes conveyed a wildness. After he saw Li Weiyi and Li Ling, he rode the green python to the camp, leapt down, and smiled, "Li Ling, is this Sima Tan?"

Li Ling nodded.

The young man with the battle saber quickly bowed and saluted Li Weiyi: "My name is Shang Zhi, from the Beast Li tribe. Thank you, Brother Sima, for your immense help on the path of Spring Realm cultivators. The entire Jiuli clan will surely remember this favor. Haha, it's just a pity I wasn't there at the time to witness Brother Sima's magnificent feat of defeating the Four Great Sects single-handedly."

The direct lineage of the Medicine Li tribe bears the surname 'Yao,' the direct lineage of the Beast Li tribe bears the surname 'Shang,' and the direct lineage of the Tool Li tribe bears the surname 'Qi.' Many disciples from the direct lineages were also bestowed the surname 'Li' by the Jiuli Divine Hall, considering it a great honor.

Li Weiyi was not an aloof or arrogant person, and asked with a smile, "Brother Shang, were you also invited by the Zuoqiu Sect?"

"Young Master Zuoqiu greatly helped the Jiuli clan, so it's only right for me to lend a small hand," Shang Zhi added in a low voice. "Besides, Mount Thirty-Three Li has far more rainbow-dyed exotic medicine than other places. If I can gather enough to transform into a Pure Immortal Body, that would be a huge gain!"

Transforming into a Pure Immortal Body was the obsession of countless cultivators. Among the inheritor seeds, which one wasn't a Pure Immortal Body? Among the powerful figures of major factions, Pure Immortal Bodies made up a significant proportion. Shang Zhi was not a Pure Immortal Body, yet he was favored by Zuoqiu Ting, showing how formidable his combat power was in the first stage of the Five Seas Realm. He was likely one of the few Nine Springs Grandmasters among the younger generation of the Jiuli clan.

Zuoqiu Baiming emerged from a building in the camp. He was a Pure Immortal Body of the second stage of the Five Seas Realm, over two meters tall, with broad shoulders and long arms. He exuded the aura of a powerful expert, and glanced indifferently at the three, then walked towards Zuoqiu Ting.

Zuoqiu Baiming transmitted his voice with spiritual energy: "Another mortal? Has the Jiuli clan declined so much? In the first stage of the Five Seas Realm, they don't even have a single Pure Immortal Body who has opened their Ancestral Field?"

An elder from the Zuoqiu Sect said, "Stop complaining. You'll lead the team into the mountain this time. They can assist and handle some of the dirty and strenuous work."

Zuoqiu Baiming sighed, "I'm afraid of being dragged down by them. Anyway, if they die in the mountain, don't blame me for not saving them. Ah, it's just a shame we didn't have time to bring more people this time; otherwise, why would we need to invite people from the Jiuli clan?"

"Sima Tan's strength is still quite formidable; he will be an important asset to you," Zuoqiu Ting said.

Zuoqiu Baiming wore an unconvinced expression.

Zuoqiu Ting walked towards Li Weiyi and the other two, smiling, "The ethereal clouds and mists of Mount Thirty-Three Li become incredibly dense every three days. Only then can Five Seas Realm cultivators enter the mountain. There are still several hours until the next entry, so you should rest and prepare first."

"Oh, and even at the foot of the mountain, it's not entirely safe. Several strange homicides have already occurred, suspected to be the work of restless spirits. Be sure not to leave the area enveloped by the azure light of the spirit banner."

Li Weiyi was not in the mood to rest. "I want to go find the golden springs first," he said.

Zuoqiu Ting said, "You can, but don't go too far. At the foot of Mount Thirty-Three Li, Five Seas Realm experts from various factions have already gathered. Don't get targeted by enemies!"

Li Weiyi and Li Ling left the camp, following the river course along the mountain side, searching for golden springs among the cliffs and rock walls. Li Weiyi prepared to resolve the doubts in his mind, and tentatively asked, "Li Ling, how did you know there was a chance to find golden springs at the foot of the mountain? Have you been here before?"

"I heard it from other Five Seas Realm cultivators," Li Ling said, continuing her search.

Li Weiyi then asked, "How long did it take you to complete your Pure Immortal Body transformation?"

"It was the Golden Crow blood given by my senior brother..."

Li Ling glanced sideways and said, "What exactly do you want to ask?"

Li Weiyi no longer beat around the bush and said, "How is it that you can accurately find me every single time? Even when I wear high-grade magical night-traveling attire, it can't hide me from your perception. Are the abilities of a Nether Lantern Guide truly that mysterious?"

Li Ling already had a counter-strategy. "I know what you're suspecting—that I've tampered with you. Have you heard of Perceptive Insight?"

Li Weiyi said, "A Nether Lantern Guide who has awakened Perceptive Insight can be called a Priest Inheritor, possessing the ability to predict fortune and misfortune."

"There's also another ability..." Li Ling said.

Before she could finish, Li Weiyi spoke first: "When a Priest or Priest Inheritor truly falls in love with a man, they can find him through their perception, no matter if they are thousands of miles apart."

"Since you already knew, why did you still ask?"

Li Ling stamped her foot and shyly turned her head away, her pale cheeks flushed with a rosy blush like rouge.

Li Weiyi didn't believe this was the true answer. Li Ling was a master of pretense, but proving her false was a headache.

"I shouldn't be the villain who interrupts your romantic talk, but you're walking further and further away, and I'm quite worried. So, have you found the golden springs yet?"

Zuoqiu Ting, fanning himself with a folding fan, walked over the water, as handsome as an exiled immortal.

"It's hard to find."

Li Weiyi shook his head and asked, "Young Master Zuoqiu's disguise technique is truly exquisite, but why did you choose to disguise yourself as a Dragon Gate inheritor? Is there a reason for that?"

Zuoqiu Ting stepped ashore and came closer to them: "No particular reason, purely because the Dragon Court's appearance is too handsome, making people envious and jealous. To be honest, although I possess a Pure Immortal Body, only my skin is flawless as white jade; my actual appearance is far from presentable. I have large ears, a flattened nose, protruding teeth, and a crooked mouth, and among men, my figure is short and thin, often mocked. So, you see, despite being born into a prominent family and enjoying all the worldly riches since childhood, it's still hard to be truly perfect."

"Moreover, the disguise technique is actually a very remarkable skill. If one can cultivate it to the point of completely transforming into another person... Brother Sima, can you imagine what that would mean?"

After careful thought, Li Weiyi's eyes grew increasingly fervent.