Chapter 174: This Is Not a Grand Event

Yin Shi asked, "What, you want to participate?"

Yin Shi-yi replied, "With my cultivation, I can't compete for the Immortality Pill, but competing for a Dragon Seed shouldn't be a problem, right? Even if I can't get a Dragon Seed, obtaining a Dragon Bone might still allow me to transform into a dragon or a flood dragon someday."

Yin Shi, who was apparently in Xianlin, had learned some inside information. "The arena competition only selects martial artists with higher current combat power. It has nothing to do with the term 'Hidden Dragon.' Being the strongest among the young generation at this stage doesn't mean you'll still be the strongest of your generation a century from now, or even still alive. Therefore, a true 'Hidden Dragon' needs not only martial arts cultivation and combat prowess to lead their generation but also the aid of wisdom and character. Wisdom and character give them a greater chance to always stay ahead of their peers. There's also a higher probability they'll survive to the very end, becoming a millennia-old transcendent figure on this land, or even the Son of Heaven. In short, talent, wisdom, and martial arts are all indispensable."

Yin Shi-yi asked, "How do they define wisdom and character? It's not like they're going to make us martial artists guess riddles, are they?"

Li Weiyi chuckled inwardly, but his heart was equally curious.

Yin Shi said, "From what I've learned, to participate in this Hidden Dragon competition, you first need to obtain an invitation from the immortal masters of Du'e Temple before Lunar New Year's Eve. There are a total of two hundred invitations, with fifty allocated to martial artists from each of the East, South, West, and North Regions. Martial artists from the four regions and twenty-eight prefectures have already been divided among the four cities: South, East, North, and West."

Li Weiyi suddenly understood. No wonder he was told upon entering the city that martial artists from the seven southern prefectures could only reside in the southern city. "I get it now! Young martial artists who came from the seven southern prefectures to the prefectural city are grouped into a competitive unit, collectively vying for fifty invitation slots. If one doesn't get an invitation before Lunar New Year's Eve, they'll likely just be able to watch the lantern festival in the city, without even the qualification to enter the competition."

Li Weiyi's mood immediately grew heavy. Thousands of young martial artists from the seven southern prefectures had converged on Qiu Prefecture City, all competing for just fifty slots.

"That's too cruel!"

Yin Shi-yi asked, "So, if your strength ranks within the top ten in a single prefecture, you'll generally receive an invitation?"

"Probably top five to be relatively safe," Li Weiyi said. "For example, in the Southern Region, the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiuli Tribe alone will take up many slots. And the prodigies secretly groomed by various powerful clans and sects will also likely participate in this Hidden Dragon competition due to the generous rewards."

Yin Shi said, "Not 'likely,' but 'certainly.' The significance of one Immortality Pill is enough to drive any force mad. A Dragon Seed signifies the strongest Dao Seed, meaning one will advance incredibly fast in the Dao Seed Realm. Which Five Seas Realm martial artist wouldn't want to compete for it? They'd stake their lives to win it. If one could win both a Dragon Seed and an Immortality Pill... Hmph, then today you might still be qualified to compete with me, and we could call each other brothers and friends. But perhaps in just five or ten years, when you see me again, you'll have to kneel and kowtow, calling me an immortal giant, watching me live for centuries like a deity. Meanwhile, you'll still be struggling under the shackles of a hundred-year lifespan, and I could crush you with a single finger. Achieving immortality within sixty years is already astonishing. But a peerless prodigy blessed with both a Dragon Seed and an Immortality Pill could truly achieve immortality within ten years."

Not only was Yin Shi-yi incredibly excited, but even Yin Shi-wu and Yin Shi-liu outside the house took deep breaths, gazed at the sky, and fell into the illusory dream of achieving immortality in ten years as described by Yin Shi.

Only Yin Shi-san and Li Weiyi grew increasingly uncomfortable the more they listened. Time was too short; only a little over twenty days remained until Lunar New Year's Eve. Improving their cultivation enough to rank among the top fifty in the Southern Region was simply a pipe dream.

Yin Shi-yi asked, "So, how exactly do the immortal masters of Du'e Temple distribute invitations? People from our Hidden Sect, who aren't well-known, wouldn't they just be ignored?"

Yin Shi said, "The inheritors of the major clans and sects with millions of disciples certainly won't have trouble getting invitations. I've heard martial artists in Xianlin discussing how, moving forward, those martial artists with strength but insufficient renown will frequently challenge powerful figures to boost their achievements and reputation. People can't directly approach the immortal masters, but the masters are definitely in the city. This is the only way to get one's name and achievements heard by them."

Yin Jiu, who had been silent all along, said, "The higher-ups mean that only Yin Shi and I are allowed to compete in this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. The rest of you are not to participate."

"Boom!"

Yin Shi-yi dropped from the beam, agitated. "What does that mean? After all that talk, you're telling us only you two are allowed to compete for Du'e Temple's generous rewards, and we just watch? Who are you looking down on? Even if I can't beat you, does that mean I can't get into the top fifty in the Southern Region?"

"That indeed seems unfair! Our chances might be slim, but they're not entirely hopeless," Yin Shi-wu's voice came from the courtyard.

Yin Shi-liu asked, "Is that truly the higher-ups' decision, or is it just what you and Yin Shi want?"

Each of these Hidden figures was a ruthless survivor from their respective groups. Although Yin Jiu was strong, he wasn't a Divine Hidden Master, so he couldn't command their absolute obedience.

Yin Jiu stood up, walked outside, and his imposing figure stood proudly under the bone lantern. "I knew you wouldn't be content. So, let's fight. Whoever defeats me can participate. I won't use my battle-axe."

Immediately, three powerful martial intents surged in the courtyard.

The three men stepped forward.

"I'll go first!"

Yin Shi-yi was very strong, a mutated human of the Seventh Sea of the Five Seas Realm. He practiced fundamental martial arts, had consumed the Hidden Sect's treasured Flood Dragon blood, and forged a powerful physique.

"Enough!"

Yin Shi let out a sharp cry. "The higher-ups don't want you to participate because they don't want you to die. This isn't a grand event, this is a slaughter feast! Didn't you say Du'e Temple should set up an arena for everyone to fight? They have. The entire Qiu Prefecture City *is* an arena! Beneath this Bagua-shaped city, formation patterns are densely arrayed. As early as three months ago, the Zuoqiu Clan and Du'e Temple added new defensive formations to every street and every building.

"On Lunar New Year's Eve, the Zuoqiu Clan will issue two decrees. The first decree allows martial artists below the Dao Seed Realm to engage in combat within the city before the Lantern Festival, but they must compensate for all damages and provide relief for accidental injuries. It also restricts killing; wanton slaughter of innocents is forbidden, or the perpetrator will be killed on the spot. The Zuoqiu Clan calls this the 'Limited Killing Order,' but those who understand know that it's actually an 'Open Killing Order.' The second decree, called the 'Martial Ban Order,' prohibits martial artists at or above the Dao Seed Realm from engaging in combat within the city before the Lantern Festival. Once the Martial Ban Order is issued, even veteran powerhouses will be stripped of their right to intervene and help.

"Now, the entire Qiu Prefecture City has become a chessboard reflecting the world's situation. Du'e Temple wants to observe the struggles of various factions and the most realistic battlefield slaughter. The veteran powerhouses can only be spectators outside the board. Originally, even if young martial artists from major forces fought, it wouldn't be with the intent to kill, because 'killing a thousand enemies costs eight hundred of your own.' Everyone was aiming for the generous rewards and for Du'e Temple's support for their own righteous armies. But disruptors have appeared! The Far Western Ashlands have arrived, the Four Great Demon Kings are also entering the fray, and the imperial court intends to stir up a bloodbath."

Yin Shi-yi, Yin Shi-wu, and Yin Shi-liu all calmed down, their expressions grave. Once the Limited Killing Order and Martial Ban Order are issued, Qiu Prefecture City will undoubtedly become a paradise for top Five Seas Realm experts, who will wield the power of life and death and even be able to set their own rules.

"That's too dangerous!"

Li Weiyi asked, "People from the Far Western Ashlands should be counted in the Western Region, right? They can't possibly be put here in our southern city."

Yin Shi gently shook her head. "I don't know about that! The group led by Young Venerable is extremely terrifying. Some of them find pleasure in eating the flesh and blood of pure immortal bodies, others enjoy collecting beautiful human skins. Of course, they'll also want to seize the Dragon Bones, Dragon Seeds, and Immortality Pills, but they... act without any discernible pattern, making them the biggest unpredictable factor. The major forces in the Lingxiao Living Realm might attack each other due to past grievances, like our Jiuli Tribe and the Three Great Sects. But would we, for no reason, attack other forces and create enemies for ourselves? But Young Venerable and his group might. The high-ranking members of the Zuoqiu Clan must be very concerned, which is why they're preparing to eliminate potential threats as much as possible before the New Year."

Yin Shi-wu asked, "So, the higher-ups mean for us to fully assist the two of you in getting results at the Lantern Festival?"

"It's too early to talk about that now. We haven't even received the invitations yet, and we don't know what the situation will be like then."

Yin Jiu said, "First, complete the mission to track down the Ash Spirits. But if you encounter Young Venerable and his four top masters—Hua, Qi, Ming, and Zang—do not act rashly."

The list of suspicious martial artists was distributed by Yin Shi-san. Li Weiyi was naturally excluded; Yin Jiu told him to just stay and cultivate diligently in Qinyuan.

A fragrant breeze wafted over, and Yin Shi's eyes were stern as she warned, "You appear to be the most obedient, but in reality, you're the most disobedient. Although the Limited Killing Order won't be issued until Lunar New Year's Eve, Qiu Prefecture City is already very unsafe, with conflicts, killings, and deaths happening every day."

Li Weiyi chuckled, "I value my life greatly!"

Yin Shi asked, "Did you use a disguise technique to transform into Huo Qiankun?"

Li Weiyi didn't hide it from her, expressing surprise. "How did you know?"

"Huo Qiankun and Yuwen Chao haven't reappeared since they went after you. Twenty days have passed, and you've shown up, so naturally, they must be dead! That's one reason." Yin Shi added, "I heard martial artists in Xianlin chatting about an interesting rumor: Qi Jin, one of Young Venerable's subordinates, has killed more than a dozen people named Huo Qiankun in Qiu Prefecture City, and everyone's guessing why. I figure it must be related to you."

Li Weiyi was both speechless and confused. "That shouldn't be right. As Huo Qiankun, I chatted with her quite well and praised her beauty multiple times. Could it be..." Li Weiyi suspected that when he transformed into Cang Li and lent the Ghost Banner to Jiang Ning, he inadvertently left some traces that allowed her to discern the truth. Could it have been that silver spear?

"Ah, it's my fault! I only killed one Huo Qiankun, but I caused the deaths of a dozen others," Li Weiyi sighed.

Yin Shi snorted. "Good that you know. Don't show yourself so easily again. Stay hidden in Qinyuan. If Qi Jin finds you, neither Yin Jiu nor I might be able to save you."

From beginning to end, Yin Shi never asked Li Weiyi who killed Huo Qiankun and Yuwen Chao. This was because Yin Jiu seemed to know some inside information; when the two of them discussed it, Yin Jiu had once muttered meaningfully to himself, "If Li Ling was traveling with him, everything makes sense!"

Yin Shi said, "Oh, and one more thing! Zuoqiu Ting has come to Xianlin looking for me twice, asking about you. Should I tell him you're in the prefectural city?"