Chapter 150: Night Emperor Toad Poison

Yin Shisan had a slight smile on his face, but his eyes were extremely serious. "Brother, I have to nag a bit. The most important aspect of the Hidden Gate is the word 'hidden'. Even if you become a Divine Hidden person in the future, you must try your best to conceal this identity, even from those you trust most. Don't mention her being Cang Li's sister; even Cang Li himself cannot know."

"I will report this matter truthfully to the Hidden Lord in the future, so please don't blame me, junior brother."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Thirteen! I will restrain her, and our identities will not be leaked by her." Li Weiyi understood Yin Shisan's concerns, but he had already speculated about the Hidden Lord's identity, so he didn't think this matter would lead to significant consequences.

If one officially becomes a Divine Hidden person, these things are actually not a big deal.

Divine Hidden people are responsible for their own actions, and no one has the right to criticize or interfere.

Li Weiyi asked, "How did you leave Yao Pass? Are Yao Yin and the others safe?"

Yin Shisan conveyed via spiritual energy transmission: "We took the underground Blood River. Half a month ago, the Hidden Ones began to evacuate Lizhou in batches, each heading to different destinations. Yao Yin, Yin Ershisi, and the others likely went with Yin Jiu to Qizhou's provincial capital to join the excitement of the Latent Dragon Lantern Festival!"

"With Yin Jiu's cultivation and talent, he is fully qualified to contend for the treasures offered by the Transcendence Temple. Not to mention the Elixir of Immortality, just the Dragon Seed itself holds a fatal attraction for top young prodigies about to enter the Dao Seed Realm."

"What is a Dragon Seed?" Li Weiyi asked curiously.

"All I know is that it's an extremely valuable Dao Seed."

Yin Shisan glanced at Li Ling, who was completely shrouded in a black robe, and then said meaningfully, "Weiyi, that girl Yao Yin is very concerned about your safety. She tried to go deep into the Mangshan Mountain Range multiple times to find you, but luckily everyone stopped her. In the end, Yin Ershisi forcibly took her away."

"I made everyone worry, but didn't I come out of the Netherworld of the Departed completely unharmed?"

Li Weiyi grew worried as he thought of Yao Yin's physical condition. Her Ice Soul Cold Qi could flare up at any moment, and no one knew if the next time would be fatal.

He had to find her as soon as possible.

What he promised, he must fulfill.

"Senior Brother Thirteen," Li Weiyi asked, "you mentioned earlier that your mission this time is to escort a group of important imperial members to Qizhou?"

"Currently, Qizhou is the most stable place in the entire Southern Territory, and everyone is fleeing there."

Yin Shisan asked, "Why don't you two come with us? Zhizhou is not a safe place. The Li Clan is powerful but has few rules and immense ambition. Not long ago, they sent troops into Lizhou to attack the Nine Li Tribe, no different from opportunistic bandits. Furthermore, cavalry from the Night City in the southern hills of Zhizhou frequently appear, plundering passing martial cultivators."

Li Weiyi was naturally delighted. He didn't want to sleep rough and be exhausted from travel every day with no time for cultivation. He asked, "Is it convenient?"

Yin Shisan laughed heartily, "If I, your senior brother, didn't even have this much capability, what right would I have to be in charge of the Hidden Gate's Five Seas Realm affairs?"

Steaming hot noodle soup was brought over.

After rapidly finishing a bowl and paying the bill, Yin Shisan led Li Weiyi, Li Ling, and over a dozen eunuchs who had been purchasing supplies, towards the dock.

As for the news of the collusion between the Three Chen Palaces, Night City, and Cinder Spirits, it had naturally already been spread in advance.

At the dock outside the town, apart from various fishing boats, there was only one large vessel suitable for long-distance travel.

It was a three-story ship, over seventy meters long, with a "Coffin Sea" flag at its bow. It was disguised as a merchant vessel of the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild; otherwise, it would be difficult to pass through this region controlled by the Li Clan.

The Coffin Sea Merchant Guild paid off officials along the route every quarter, sending out vast sums of money just to ensure the shipping lane remained unobstructed.

The turmoil in Lizhou had erupted over a month ago, and the truly important imperial members had already evacuated.

On this ship were almost exclusively the concubines, illegitimate sons, and daughters kept by imperial officials. They could not be seen publicly and could not travel with the legitimate family members of officials, so they had to be secretly transported and settled by people from the Attendant Hall.

Yin Shisan was the Chief Scribe of the First Office, one of the three offices of the Attendant Hall in Lizhou. His status on the ship was high; all trivial matters fell under his purview. He was the third-highest-ranking person, second only to "Lady Xue" and the Guard Commander "Wu Zhaonan."

According to Yin Shisan, not even he had seen Lady Xue's true form. He only knew she had a very significant background and held the highest status among all concubines, residing in the highest, third-floor cabin.

The entire third floor was off-limits to everyone except Lady Xue's personal guards, servants, and maids. Trespassers would be killed without mercy.

Wu Zhaonan wore armor made of magical artifacts. His physique was burly and tall, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, with a grizzled short beard on his chin. His true age, however, was already over seventy.

"Spies from the Attendant Hall?"

Wu Zhaonan's gaze was strange as he looked at Li Weiyi and Li Ling, who were following Yin Shisan.

He wasn't doubting the authenticity of Li Weiyi and Li Ling's spy identities; rather, their attire was simply too peculiar.

Li Ling, after all, possessed a rare Pure Immortal Body. To conceal this, she wore a grotesque mask and a wide, loose robe. Li Weiyi, to accompany her, naturally wore a similar outfit.

Yin Shisan chuckled, "We happened to meet them in Tianchi Town. They have a secret mission and also need to go to Qizhou."

Wu Zhaonan didn't question them further, clearly trusting Yin Shisan.

"This guard commander must be at the fourth stage of the Five Seas Realm, right?" Li Weiyi transmitted via spiritual energy as they walked along the deck corridor.

Yin Shisan was quite surprised. "Your eyesight is good; you can tell that?"

Li Weiyi had already fought against martial cultivators at the fourth stage of the Five Seas Realm, so he naturally had a general understanding of the spiritual aura of cultivators at this level.

Third-floor ship tower.

Zhuang Yue, dressed in a blue maid's uniform, quickly returned to the luxurious and spacious cabin.

Inside the room, a Hundred Inscription Array was set up. Some inscriptions floated in mid-air, while others adhered closely to the floor, walls, windows, and ceiling.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged at the center of the array, her upper body almost bare.

Her face was pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Pure and powerful spiritual energy circulated through her body as she closed her eyes, recuperating from her injuries.

Her snowy back, with skin like ice and jade, was originally flawless, a masterpiece of nature. However, it was marred by a deep, bone-visible claw mark from which black mist continuously emanated.

"Pfft!"

She spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing tired, weak eyes. She draped her outer garment back on and let out a soft sigh, "What potent Night Emperor Toad venom!"

"Still unable to completely refine and expel the toxins?" Zhuang Yue was very worried, having never seen her young mistress so gravely injured.

Jiang Ning shook her head. "Legend has it that the Night Emperor Toad was a venomous beast kept by the ancient Emperor, and its poison is no small matter. The poisonous claw artifact Yuwen Tuozhen used to ambush me was once soaked in this venom. Fortunately, tens of thousands of years have passed, and the true Night Emperor Toad venom has long become extinct, leaving behind only some poisonous artifacts that have lost much of their potency. What's the situation outside?"

Zhuang Yue reported, "We have already escaped Lizhou and entered Zhizhou territory. Miss, you are incredibly clever; with this trick to deceive heaven and cross the sea, Long Ting, Yuwen Tuozhen, Mie Di, and Dao Di must have lost their target. How could they possibly catch up to us?"

Over a month ago, in the Dragon Mountain Range, Jiang Ning pursued Long Ting into the Netherworld of the Departed but was ambushed by Night City's Young Lord Yuwen Tuozhen, along with Mie Di and Dao Di.

After being severely wounded, she was then surrounded and intercepted by these four masters, nearly dying in the Netherworld. She fought them with wit and bravery all the way, finally escaping back to Jiuli City by a circuitous route.

However, the imperial experts, led by Lizhou's provincial governor, had already evacuated Jiuli City. With no one left to assist her, Jiang Ning could only hide on this ship, vanishing from the sight of the four masters.

The real Lady Xue had long been controlled by her with talismans, becoming a puppet issuing commands.

Jiang Ning gently shook her head. "None of these four are ordinary individuals; their minds and martial arts are among the best of the younger generation. Although I set up a deceptive array in Jiuli City to create the illusion that I was still there, it's hard to say how long it will hinder them. Furthermore, this ship's defenses are weak, and whether it can withstand other dangers on the journey remains unknown."

Zhuang Yue said, "Oh, by the way, Miss, two spies from the Attendant Hall just boarded the ship. Should we contact them?"

The Attendant Hall was a subordinate force of the Luan Terrace.

"Don't create any extra complications. It's best if no one knows we're on board."

Jiang Ning continued to heal her injuries.

Li Weiyi and Li Ling were settled in two adjoining cabins at the stern of the first-floor deck.

Li Ling entered one of the cabins, glanced around, then walked out, saying, "One room is enough!"

Hearing this, not only was Yin Shisan stunned, but even Li Weiyi felt uncomfortable, thinking their relationship didn't need to progress so quickly.

Watching Li Ling enter Li Weiyi's cabin, Yin Shisan gave Li Weiyi a cautionary look and transmitted via spiritual energy: "Senior brother must remind you, Li Ling's identity is not simple; don't provoke her lightly, and certainly don't try to string two people along. You need to think carefully about what to do about Yao Yin when the time comes. Also, do not go to the third-floor cabin. If anything happens, find me anytime. My official name is Chen Chuan; you can call me Chief Scribe Chen or Steward Chen."

As Yin Shisan left, he heavily patted Li Weiyi's shoulder.

"Yao Yin?"

When Li Weiyi agreed to the Zen Sea Observation Mist trial, he hadn't considered this issue at all.

In his view, Yao Yin was merely a little sister whom he felt quite protective of.

Entering the cramped and narrow cabin, he looked at Li Ling, who was sitting by the bed.

Li Ling's voice was clear and soft: "I want to enter Shaoyang Star to continue absorbing its power to nourish my soul and strengthen my physical body."

"That's good; I was just thinking the same."

Li Weiyi breathed a sigh of relief. He planned to enter Shaoyang Star for isolated cultivation during the journey to Qizhou, aiming to break through and become a Grand Thought Master as quickly as possible, and to harvest the Xihe Flower.

He took out the Ghost Banner and Yin Streamer and set them up inside the cabin.

That afternoon.

The multi-story ship, pulled by three aquatic lion beasts, sailed against the current.

Inside the Blood Mud Space.

Li Weiyi took out his spatial bag, poured out nearly a hundred catties of Immortal Soil, and spread it onto a small, three-foot-square patch on the spiritual ground.

The Immortal Soil was four-colored, flowing with shimmering light, completely unlike the soil of this world. It exuded a sense of mystery and the aura of a treasure.

Like a local tycoon, he sat on the ground and counted his inventory.

He had a total of one hundred and fifty-four stalks of Dusk-Dyed Elixir, which he couldn't plant all at once. So, he only took out ten stalks of Dusk-Dyed Elixir that could help open up a Qi Sea and planted them in the Immortal Soil.

One tael of Immortal Soil was worth a million silver!

One hundred catties of Immortal Soil could already be considered priceless.