Chapter 178: One Hundred Seventy-Eight Top Scorers Announced, Ten from the Southern Region

The next morning.

A piece of news quickly spread, igniting the emotions of young martial cultivators throughout Qiuzhou City. Subsequently, they flocked like a tide towards Taoli Mountain in the city center.

Yin Thirteen strode swiftly through Qin Garden, arriving at the small building where Li Weiyi resided. Seeing Yin Twenty-Four contemplating in the courtyard, he was slightly surprised but then understood.

“What’s wrong?” Li Weiyi asked.

Yin Thirteen replied, “The A-list has been announced!”

“What does that mean?”

Yin Thirteen explained, “The Du’e Monastery has posted the names of the first group of martial cultivators who received invitations on the stone wall at the base of Taoli Mountain. There are ten people from each of the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north. Now, martial cultivators across the city are intensely discussing it, and everyone is calling these forty individuals the ‘A-list Sequence’ of martial cultivators in the world.”

Li Weiyi pondered for a moment: “The Du’e Monastery is doing this deliberately. By releasing the lists of invitees in batches, they are stirring up everyone’s emotions and provoking those who haven’t yet received an invitation.”

Yin Thirteen laughed heartily, “You guessed it again! I went to check at the base of Taoli Mountain, and indeed, the martial cultivators who didn’t receive invitations all seemed provoked. Some even went directly to challenge those who did receive an invitation!”

“This isn’t just about an invitation; it’s about face. Who wouldn’t want to be on the A-list? There are bound to be many who are unconvinced,” Li Weiyi said.

Yin Thirteen added, “What’s more interesting is that some of the martial cultivators who made it onto the A-list announced on the spot that they would be hosting a celebratory banquet tonight at Sky Pavilion.”

“The purpose of the banquet is probably not just to celebrate, but to prepare for alliances, to gather as many allies as possible in preparation for the intense competition after the New Year. It’s also to build influence and momentum for themselves, to gather more martial cultivators under their banner, and to collect more power,” Li Weiyi said.

Yin Thirteen nodded, his face full of worry. “The South City area is now being called a ‘hellscape,’ where the competition is the most intense among the four city sectors.”

“Oh?”

Li Weiyi, intending to participate in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, was naturally curious and asked, “Who are the A-listers from South City?”

Yin Thirteen replied, “The head of South City’s A-list is Cang Li, which didn’t come as a surprise to many.”

“Following him are Hua Yuzi, Zuoqiu Ting, Jiang Ning, Qi Jin, Wuxin Golden Ape, Zuoqiu Lancheng, Kudi, Zuoqiu Qingyin, and Li Shentong.”

“Although there are ten people on the A-list and no official ranking, everyone can tell that the Du’e Monastery posted the names in order of strength.”

Li Weiyi frowned slightly: “Hua Yuzi and Qi Jin, under the command of the Young Exalted, were surprisingly assigned to South City. Why was Jiang Ning also assigned to South City?”

Yin Thirteen smiled, “The Jiang family is located in Fuzhou, which is originally one of the seven states of the Southern Region. However, because Fuzhou is the core provincial capital of the imperial court, it’s easily overlooked.”

Li Weiyi said, “Three individuals from the Zuoqiu Household are on the A-list; their strength is truly formidable. No wonder Zuoqiu Ting dared to challenge the Young Exalted to a fight.”

“Zuoqiu Lancheng and Zuoqiu Qingyin are the second and third inheritors. All three inheritors possess the 'Hundred-Vessel Pure Silver Body,' which is the foundation of the Zuoqiu Household’s confidence.”

Yin Thirteen continued, “Although Cang Li and Hua Yuzi are ranked ahead of Zuoqiu Ting, the three of them have never fought to a decisive outcome, so it’s hard to say who is truly stronger.”

“If not for the appearance of the Young Exalted and his group, the Zuoqiu Household would certainly be capable of controlling the situation and showcasing their profound heritage and strength.”

Li Weiyi asked, “Which sector was Luan Sheng Lin You assigned to?”

Yin Thirteen shook his head. “His name is not among the forty A-listers.”

“Could it be that his cultivation has already reached the Dao Seed stage, and he was therefore excluded?” Li Weiyi asked.

Yin Thirteen replied, “That’s probably the outcome every young martial cultivator hopes for, but I doubt it’s that simple.”

Li Weiyi gave a wry smile. “You’re right, South City really is a hellscape. Only one of the Four Truths of Coffin Mountain made the list. Tianya Ridge, with its countless demon experts, also only had one—Wuxin Golden Ape—make the list. Yang Qingxi and Chen Wenwu, despite their great reputations in Lizhou, were temporarily left off. Who is Li Shentong?”

“That’s a question, I imagine, every young martial cultivator in the Southern Region’s seven states is asking right now.”

Yin Thirteen said, “This Li Shentong seems to have appeared out of nowhere; I’d never heard his name before. Based on his surname, he’s likely from Lincheng in Zhizhou. He’s probably a hidden master cultivated in secret, as Lincheng produced an extraordinary figure who is now extremely ambitious, to the point where the Zuoqiu Household is struggling to keep them in check.”

Li Weiyi said, “Being left off the A-list, these prodigies of the Southern Region should be able to accept it, considering almost everyone on it possesses the 'Hundred-Vessel Pure Silver Pure Immortal Body.' But if their names aren’t even on the B-list, that would truly be embarrassing.”

Heroes and beauties, a vibrant array.

The 'Hundred-Vessel Pure Silver Bodies' lead the way.

Li Weiyi was somewhat interested in the lively commotion outside but had no immediate intention of leaving Qin Garden. Qiuzhou City currently teemed with young masters, like carp crossing a river; going out would only invite setbacks.

For the next two days, he remained in seclusion in the small building, nourishing his lungs.

Late on the third night, after completing the nourishment of his lungs, he consumed two pieces of 'Dyed-Mist Exotic Medicine' and successfully breached his third Qi Sea.

By the morning of the fourth day, his Qi Sea had fully expanded, and all his Meridian Strings were established.

“My third Qi Sea is around three hundred eighty cubic units, still incomparable to others’ main Qi Seas.”

“My Dharma Qi’s grade has increased, but there’s still a gap before it reaches Grade Four Qi. I need to continue refining my Qi.”

Li Weiyi took out two elixir bottles.

One was a Qi-Ascending Elixir refined by Chan Hai Guan Wu, numbering several hundred. It would certainly be enough for accumulating Qi in the third stage of the Five Seas Realm.

The other was a Qi-Enhancing Elixir brought back by Yin Thirteen, also numbering over a hundred.

He took out a Qi-Ascending Elixir and swallowed it.

The elixir, upon entering his abdomen, burst open like a cloud mass, enveloping his entire body in a mist of Dharma Qi.

An hour later, it was fully absorbed.

“Reaching the third stage of the Five Seas Realm, the absorption speed has indeed increased. It only takes an hour to refine one elixir.”

“There are only twenty days left until New Year’s Eve. Even if I tirelessly refine elixirs twenty-four hours a day, I won’t be able to fully cultivate the third sea.”

Li Weiyi no longer worried about the strength of his lungs. With the nourishment from the Immortal Soil, as soon as his Qi Sea cultivation was complete, he could directly attempt to breach the fourth sea.

Once he opened up his main Qi Sea, everything would be entirely different.

According to common understanding, a martial cultivator’s fourth Qi Sea is ten times larger than the first three combined, amounting to several thousand cubic units!

“Yin Thirteen mentioned that there’s also a shortcut to reaching the fourth sea. My current third sea should be comparable to the main Qi Seas of those Seven-Spring martial cultivators. What exactly is this shortcut?”

Li Weiyi pushed the door open, took a breath of the cold outdoor air, and glanced at “Snow Maiden”, who was meditating atop a coffin lid. He sighed inwardly, thinking how desperately everyone strove for cultivation, making effort seem truly negligible.

Yin Thirteen had already left, returning to the imperial court’s faction. Now, Qin Garden was under his command.

The management of daily necessities was entrusted to Yin Twenty-Five.

Yin Twenty-Five, dressed in a black, close-fitting suit, approached through the wind and snow. He stood outside the courtyard gate and reported, “Divine Hermit, Yin Ten has sent someone to request an audience with you. They have something to tell you privately.”

Li Weiyi, who had been contemplating how to contact higher-ups to find a shortcut, was delighted. He quickly descended the stairs, stepped out of the courtyard, and asked, “Where is the person?”

“The back gate.”

Yin Twenty-Five followed closely behind Li Weiyi, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered his courage to ask, “Divine Hermit, what price did Yin Twenty-Four pay to gain the qualification to contemplate that silver giant’s corpse? What she can offer, I might not be able to, but pure immortal-body women… I can certainly find them…”

Li Weiyi interrupted him. “Don’t just guess wildly, alright? What kind of person do you take me for? If she hears that, she’ll beat you to death. If you want to contemplate, go yourself; I’m not stopping you.”

Yin Twenty-Five froze, then quickly knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully, “Thank you, Divine Hermit.”

The back gate of Qin Garden was located in a deep, three-meter-wide alley.

A very simple and unassuming carriage was parked on the snow.

Yin Ten’s maid leaned against the carriage. Hearing movement from behind the gate, she immediately stood up and stepped forward to greet him, bowing. “Young Master Chi,” she said, “my master says there’s an esteemed guest waiting for you at Sky Pavilion.”

Li Weiyi had seen this maid in Juze City before; she was likely Yin Ten’s confidante.

“An esteemed guest… when?”

Li Weiyi immediately thought of Zuoqiu Ting.

If it were someone from the Hidden Gate, they could just meet directly in Qin Garden. Why go to Sky Pavilion?

“That esteemed guest is very pressed for time. We should depart now. I’ll drive you there!”

The maid, with her slender, delicate hands and faint, elegant fragrance, pulled open the carriage door for him.

Inside the carriage, there was a long, rectangular wooden box adorned with runes. He had no idea what it contained.

After Li Weiyi sat down, she cracked the whip and drove the carriage out of the alley.

“What’s in this box?” Li Weiyi asked curiously.

The maid replied, “Some magic artifacts and clothes that can conceal one’s identity.”

Li Weiyi said, “I’d like to meet your master. There’s a very important matter I need to discuss.”

“What is it? You can tell me directly, and I’ll relay it for you. I am my master’s most trusted person,” the maid said.

Li Weiyi said, “Please ask for me: what is the shortcut for martial cultivators in the fourth stage of the Five Seas Realm to cultivate their main Qi Sea?”

A hint of disappointment flashed in the maid’s eyes, and she smiled. “I can answer that question for you. Accumulating Qi is an extremely time-consuming process, and cultivating the main Qi Sea even more so. Even with the aid of Dao domains and elixirs, it often takes several years, even more than ten years, of effort.”

“Therefore, any major power with a genius showing potential to reach the Longevity Realm will spare no effort to cultivate them, helping them shorten the cultivation time in the Five Seas Realm so they can strive for the Dao Seed Realm with a younger body. For example, by bestowing Dao Lotuses or Dao Fruits.”

“One Dao Lotus can increase Qi by ten thousand cubic units.”

“One Dao Fruit can increase Qi by tens of thousands of cubic units.”

Li Weiyi quickly asked, “What are Dao Lotuses and Dao Fruits?”

“They are the foundation for martial cultivators in the Dao Seed Realm!”

The maid smiled. “Now do you understand the value of this shortcut? They can only be obtained when an elder of the Dao Seed Realm in one’s clan passes away, or by slaying a powerful enemy of the Dao Seed Realm. Only the most exceptionally talented individual in a clan is qualified to use them.”

“Thump!”

Inside the carriage, the sound of runes shattering and the wooden box being opened could be heard.

A flicker of panic crossed the maid’s eyes, but then she regained her composure, smiling faintly to herself. “Exposed so quickly? I suppose I still need to learn the 'Bone-Changing Divine Transformation'?”

Li Weiyi stroked his chin and looked down at the unconscious maid curled up in the box, who looked exactly like the woman outside. “You’ve disguised yourself very well, much better than when you transformed into Longting. That feminine charm… it gives me chills just thinking about it. Can you stop disguising yourself as a woman? Do you have any idea how devastating that is? As the dignified first inheritor of the Zuoqiu Household, aren’t you worried about it affecting your reputation if this gets out?”

The maid driving the carriage laughed, her voice like a silver bell. “Don’t sound so disgusted. If I had learned the ‘Bone-Changing Divine Transformation Scroll,’ I guarantee I could have deceived everyone today and extracted even more useful information.”

“No, no, please change your voice first!”

Li Weiyi frowned deeply, rubbed his temples, and stepped out of the carriage. He snatched the whip from the maid’s hand and nudged her with his arm. “Get back in there and change back, I’ll drive. Your current appearance… heavens, I really can’t wrap my head around it, it’s giving me a headache. I’ve put a set of my clothes inside, quickly go in and change.”

Zuoqiu Ting, still in the guise of a maid, looked astonished, thinking Li Weiyi was joking.

Li Weiyi said, “The curtains are drawn; no one will see you.”

Zuoqiu Ting shook his head. “No! Just bear with it yourself; opportunities to see me transform into a woman are rare.”

Li Weiyi had no choice. Given the other’s cultivation and status, even if he couldn’t stand him, he could only endure the feeling of nausea for now.

As he breathed, he inadvertently caught the faint fragrance emanating from her, and ultimately, he still found it hard to accept. “Why don’t we go back to Qin Garden? Since you’ve found me anyway, cultivating there would be quieter, and you wouldn’t have to worry about being disturbed.”

Li Weiyi naturally didn’t believe that Zuoqiu Ting’s true form was female. After all, he was a renowned master known throughout the land; everyone knew he was a man, just as no one would mistake Cang Li for a woman.

“I learn quickly, no need to rush. Today, I’m taking you to Sky Pavilion for a free banquet; there’ll be a good show to watch,” Zuoqiu Ting said, sitting beside him, leaning against the carriage door with arms crossed. His legs and the hem of his skirt dangled together beneath the carriage.