Chapter 188: 勤园隐君

Shi Shishi rushed over, skidding to a halt in the alley. He was shocked to see Li Weiyi alive and well. "Brother Weiyi," he exclaimed, "I heard Yang Yue say that Yang Qingxi would personally try to kill you. How are you still alive? Did you use a honey trap?"

Yang Yue is the second most powerful among the younger generation of the Shui Sect, with strength on par with Yang Zhiyong. He was the one Shi Shishi had just encountered.

"Yes, a honey trap was used," Li Weiyi replied, "but not by me—it was Zuoqiu Ting. Yang Qingxi admitted she couldn't resist him, so she fled!"

Shi Shishi suddenly understood. "No wonder Yang Yue suddenly ran off mid-fight," he mused. "So the handsome Zuoqiu arrived, forcing him to quit early."

Li Weiyi smiled bitterly and shook his head. At the moment, he had no energy left to do anything but make jokes, certainly not to pursue them and pay her back.

Not wanting to create further complications, the three quickly returned to the South City.

As for Yang Qingxi and the Dong Sect, Li Weiyi, on the contrary, didn't want Zuoqiu Ting to deal with them so easily. He certainly wanted to settle this grudge himself.

Shi Shishi claimed he was too severely injured and wanted to return to his den to sleep. Li Weiyi naturally remembered this favor and decided to reward him handsomely. After agreeing on an ambitious plan to capture Yang Qingxi before the year's end, the three finally parted ways.

It was already late at night when Li Weiyi and Yin Eleven returned to Qin Garden.

There, by the lake, stood a formidable and imposing figure with hands clasped behind his back, exuding a majestic aura as grand and towering as a mountain.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Lord Yin."

Lord Yin, wearing a metal mask, remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I regret letting you come to Qiuzhou Prefecture City! This city has now become a dangerous place. Even we old ones don't know what will happen next, and we can't even intervene. Who did you encounter?"

"The Shui Sect," Li Weiyi replied.

"Yang Qingxi," added Yin Eleven.

A cold glint flashed in Lord Yin's eyes. "Cang Li has truly disappointed me. Yang Qingxi and Yan should fear him like a tiger, yet now they are so arrogant."

"It's rumored among the Jiuli martial cultivators that he is in seclusion, accumulating energy," Yin Eleven explained. "He intends to reach the perfect Seven Seas state by New Year's Eve to challenge the Young Venerable."

Among all the top inheritors, Cang Li is the youngest, lacking several years of accumulated experience.

Before the anomaly in Burial Immortal Town, in a battle outside Jiuli City, he could only contend with the Dragon Court as an equal. A few months later, he could already defeat them.

Now that several more months have passed, no one knows how much his combat power has increased with the aid of the Dyed Cloud Elixir. As for Dao Lotuses and Dao Fruits, someone of his status would certainly not lack them.

Lord Yin was extremely displeased with Cang Li. "His seclusion is known, his strength is known, his purpose is known," he stated. "A true powerful individual shouldn't be in such a state. There's no need for him to even challenge anyone; he has already utterly lost."

"Weiyi, where did you obtain the War Intent of the God of Jiuli?"

Yin Eleven's eyes widened instantly, thinking he had misheard or was hallucinating.

"Thirty-Three Li Mountain!" Li Weiyi replied.

Immediately, following his pre-prepared explanation, he recounted the matter of the silver coffin and the suspected burial site of the God of Jiuli.

"Yingzhou meets Xuanyuan, buried beside Blood Moon Spring."

Lord Yin recited this line, becoming quite agitated, and then sighed deeply. "Weiyi, you shouldn't have kept this from me about that immortal realm space in Burial Immortal Town. If you had told me earlier, even if it meant risking my life, I would have certainly ventured into Thirty-Three Li Mountain. Now, entering Burial Immortal Town is as hard as reaching the heavens!"

"It wasn't intentional concealment," Li Weiyi explained. "The truth is, at the time, I didn't know the War Intent of the God of Jiuli was attached to the Silver Skeleton Celestial Clan remains. Even this inscription, I only dared to confirm it was the God of Jiuli's handwriting much later."

Lord Yin, however, didn't doubt him.

After all, Li Weiyi was willing to reveal the silver coffin and the War Intent of the God of Jiuli for all members of the Hidden Sect to comprehend. This alone was something few of the Jiuli clan's own members could achieve.

Yin Eleven finally interjected, asking weakly, "Has the War Intent of the God of Jiuli truly appeared?"

"Yes, Yao Yin has already acquired one," Li Weiyi said casually. "Any Hidden Sect member who respects me as a Divine Hidden member can go and try. Whether they can seize the opportunity depends entirely on their own abilities."

"You've always been the only Divine Hidden member in my heart; I'm completely convinced of that," Yin Eleven declared. "For such an important matter, shouldn't you have informed me? I am absolutely loyal to the Hidden Sect and the Divine Hidden members."

"That's why I told you first!" Li Weiyi replied.

"What?" Yin Eleven blurted out.

"Have you forgotten?" Li Weiyi said. "That day, at the Hidden Sect gathering, when we left, I told you I had an important matter to discuss with you? You said you'd wait for my message."

"Was it this matter?"

"Of course! With so many people there, how could I say it explicitly? I truly wanted you to be the first to try."

"I could kick myself!" Yin Eleven exclaimed, clenching his fist and half-raising it. He then looked over eagerly, "Is there still a chance?"

Li Weiyi pointed him in a direction.

"My good brother, Divine Hidden member, leave the matter of capturing Yang Qingxi to me," Yin Eleven declared. "Next time there's an important matter to discuss, even if it means crossing a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I'll definitely be the first one there!" With that, Yin Eleven flew away, as if afraid that if he delayed even a second, the War Intent of the God of Jiuli would vanish.

By the lakeside, it was so quiet one could hear the snow fall.

Lord Yin finally turned around, all sharpness gone from his demeanor, and said gently, "Yin Thirteen said you want to apply for a thousand-year spirit herb? And it has to be ice-attributed?"

"I can exchange it for artifacts..." Li Weiyi began.

"Shut up," Lord Yin interrupted. "Just the War Intent of the God of Jiuli alone could be exchanged for countless thousand-year spirit herbs. Weiyi, the Chief did not choose the wrong person. Among the current younger generation of Lingxiao, in terms of talent and character, I have yet to find anyone comparable to you."

Lord Yin took a foot-long ice jade medicine box from his dimension bag and handed it over.

Li Weiyi quickly accepted it, as if he had found a priceless treasure.

With this thousand-year spirit herb and the Xihe Flower, the Phoenix-winged Moth Emperor would soon grow to five, or even six inches. At that time...

"About the Dao Lotus... has Yin Ten told you, Lord Yin?" Li Weiyi asked, ready to seize the opportunity to maximize his gains, for even good character had its price.

"It hasn't been reported to my level yet!" Lord Yin replied. "What stage are you at right now? How could you even use a Dao Lotus?"

Then, Lord Yin advised, "Having powerful treasures on you is not necessarily a good thing. They must match your cultivation level; otherwise, they will bring disaster."

"Third Realm," Li Weiyi stated.

"Exactly," Lord Yin said. "At the Third Realm, you can still use Qi-boosting Pills while accumulating and tempering your Qi, and refining your War Intent and martial arts techniques. That's the steady approach; you shouldn't rush for success... Wait, what realm did you just say? Third Realm?"

The last "Third Realm" made Lord Yin's voice much sharper and higher, betraying his usual composure.

Li Weiyi nodded, sighing with worry. "There's no other way. My third Qi Sea is over three hundred cubic units. Relying on Qi-boosting Pills, when will I ever fully cultivate it?"

Lord Yin thought he was joking. He pointed a finger at Li Weiyi's chest, and his arcane energy surged in to probe.

After a while, Lord Yin withdrew his finger. He paced back and forth on the snow, deep in thought. After stopping, he said, "Wait a few days for me. I'll take care of all the matters in Qiuzhou Prefecture City, then you'll leave with me."

"Once the Shui Sect pledges allegiance to the imperial court, they will certainly withdraw quickly," Lord Yin continued. "It will be incredibly difficult for other forces to accomplish anything. Compared to the current Qiuzhou Prefecture City, Lizhou is actually safer."

Li Weiyi shook his head. "I'm not leaving!"

Lord Yin stated the consequences. "If you die in Qiuzhou Prefecture City, how will I explain it to the Chief?" he pressed. "What is a mere Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival? You are a true dragon, the future Martial Emperor!"

"Since ancient times, Martial Emperors have always emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood," Li Weiyi countered. "They grew up amidst struggles between people. Without undergoing trials, tempering their character, and constantly correcting themselves, how can one become an Emperor? Otherwise, in the end, they might just become ordinary!"

"An Emperor is not cultivated only in the Springing Fountain Realm and Five Seas Realm," he continued. "They strive in every realm, striving to be the strongest. Otherwise, no matter how good their foundation is now, they will be surpassed in the future."

Lord Yin never imagined that he would one day be lectured by a young fellow, yet find it hard to refute.

"If you're not leaving, then I'm not leaving either!" Lord Yin declared.

Li Weiyi was surprised into silence.

"Since you are pursuing faster Qi accumulation," Lord Yin said, "using a Dao Fruit is quicker than a Dao Lotus. I will arrange this; it will be delivered to you tomorrow."

A Dao Lotus increases Qi by ten thousand cubic units.

A Dao Fruit increases Qi by tens of thousands of cubic units.

During his recent probe, Lord Yin discovered that Li Weiyi was using immortal soil to shape his lung lobes, knowing that once his Qi accumulation was complete, he would have the conditions to break through to the next realm.

"One more Dao Lotus, please!" Li Weiyi said.

Lord Yin frowned. "What do you need another Dao Lotus for?"

"I owe Shi Shishi a favor; it's for him," Li Weiyi said frankly, not bothering to make up a lie.

Lord Yin was utterly speechless. "Do you think Dao Lotuses are cabbages?" he exclaimed. "Their preciousness far exceeds your imagination; they are truly foundational artifacts for a clan."

"Without him today, I might not have come back!"

Of course, there was an element of exaggeration in Li Weiyi's words; his protector wife wouldn't truly fail to protect him. But when Shi Shishi acted, he hadn't considered Li Weiyi having a protector wife.

Lord Yin knew Li Weiyi was trying to extort him, using the Hidden Sect's resources to repay his own favor.

"Alright, since you've asked, I cannot refuse you," Lord Yin conceded. "I will send someone to deliver the Dao Lotus to the wolf's den in your name. But you must agree to one condition!"

"You're not going to make me leave Qiuzhou Prefecture City with you again, are you?" Li Weiyi asked.

"If you don't want to leave, how can I dampen your fighting spirit?" Lord Yin replied. "However, if you don't get an invitation, you are not allowed to participate in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. Can you agree to this?"

Even without an invitation, he could still assist martial cultivators who had obtained one.

Once he participated, it would mean that slaughter would befall him.

Li Weiyi relaxed and agreed with a smile, "If I can't get an invitation, what's the point of participating?"

Lord Yin nodded in satisfaction, laughing inwardly. Even if Li Weiyi's cultivation speed was fast, breaking through one more realm before the year's end would be his absolute limit. The Fourth Realm of the Five Seas was still quite a distance from being able to obtain an invitation.

"Where is Li Ling?" he finally asked, voicing the question he most wanted to ask, yet had dared not.

He worried that Li Ling might have met with misfortune.

Li Weiyi knew this matter had surely been reported, so he had already prepared his response. "Lord Yin, you're asking about the departed spirit residing in her body, which is suspected to be from the Zen Sea of Mist, right?"