Chapter 192: Unmatched in the Same Realm

The light, like a bright umbrella, dispelled the darkness and illuminated the space.

Yin Shi paused silently outside the door. Seeing the warm, yellow light come on inside, she knew Li Weiyi was aware of her presence. With a creak, she pushed the door open and stepped in. She glanced around the brightly lit room, her eyes finally settling on the bed directly in front of her. White bed curtains concealed everything beyond them. Yin Shi had no intention of peering behind the bed curtains; tonight, she was simply there to fulfill her promise and perform a dance for him.

Once she accepted the fact that Li Weiyi was destined to become a Divine Hidden, everything felt straightforward. A person like him, who could reach such heights in just a few months, would likely be competing for the top spot among the younger generation, alongside figures like Ge Xiantong and Young Venerable, within a year or two!

Her voice was incredibly melodious as she announced, "I'm here!"

"I see you!" Zuoqiu Ting replied, mimicking Li Weiyi's voice. Skilled in the art of disguise, he naturally excelled at voice imitation.

Yin Shi said nothing further. Her five slender, porcelain-white fingers of her right hand formed a delicate seal, like an orchid. A spiritual glow emanated from her brow, and countless specks of light flew out, forming a protective array that enveloped the entire room, isolating it from the outside world.

*Whoosh!* A dreamlike rain of light shimmered throughout the room, continuously vanishing and reappearing.

*Swish!* She shed her voluminous black outer robe, revealing an ethereal, flowing silk gown beneath. Its cloud patterns folded and merged with the light as she moved, creating a dazzling spectacle. A delicate belt adorned her slender waist, decorated with jade pendants that chimed softly with her movements. Her figure was exceptionally graceful and slender, a rarity among women. A white plain gauze stole was draped elegantly around her slender, alabaster-like forearms, dressing her tastefully yet perfectly accentuating her exquisite figure.

A dance performed without song often feels dull. However, the moment Yin Shi began to dance, she exuded an unparalleled beauty that captivated everyone. No one could tear their gaze away; it was as if the entire room's furnishings had vanished.

Silently, "Yang Qingxi" turned Li Weiyi's head, which had been lying flat, to face forward, allowing him to witness the graceful dance. Afterward, she rested her chin in her hand, lost in appreciative admiration. Li Weiyi had to admit that Yin Shi truly deserved the title "Master of Both Dance and Sword." While her beauty alone might not rival that of the fabled Jiang Ning, once she began to dance, everyone would concede that her charisma in that moment was utterly unparalleled. Even Li Weiyi himself, in that moment, temporarily forgot she was Yin Shi, seeing her only as Qin Li.

When the dance concluded, Yin Shi floated away, leaving only a lingering fragrance in the room. She left without a word, like a celestial maiden who had briefly entered a dream, vanishing with the wind as the dream ended.

After a moment, Zuoqiu Ting came to his senses and sighed, "This isn't the first time I've seen Immortal Official Qin Li's dance, but seeing it performed specifically for the two of us, at this time and in this place, offers a completely different experience. Tonight is truly unforgettable!"

Li Weiyi couldn't speak, or he would undoubtedly ruin the mood by saying something Zuoqiu Ting wouldn't want to hear. As "Yang Qingxi" removed the immobilization talisman from Li Weiyi's chest, he chuckled, "Your Nine Li Hidden Gate really knows how to have fun! A Divine Hidden traveling specifically to a Hidden's room in the dead of night to perform a dance—it's absolutely unheard of, a marvel for the ages! How do you train them? Care to impart some wisdom?"

Li Weiyi remained still, knowing he could no longer conceal the truth. He sighed, "You might have enjoyed the beauty, but I was anything but happy. Lying in bed with a burly man, who then transformed into the likeness of my enemy—do you know how agonizing that was?"

Zuoqiu Ting looked at himself, still squatting on the inner side of the bed, then at Li Weiyi, who appeared utterly dejected. Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, he quickly stepped out from behind the bed curtains, pushed open both windows, and settled by the window to listen to the falling snow and sip tea.

"Are you still going to deny being a Divine Hidden of the Nine Li Hidden Gate now?"

Li Weiyi sat up and calmly replied, "I finally got some sleep, only to wake up to the sky falling!" He didn't deny it. As his interactions with Zuoqiu Ting deepened and their exchange of interests became more significant, the identity of "Divine Hidden" had, ironically, become a form of protection. Only with sufficient standing could one undertake matters of significant importance. Only a Divine Hidden of the Nine Li Hidden Gate and the first successor of the Zuoqiu Clan could form an alliance based on mutual respect.

"Haha! Don't be mad. If you feel you got the raw end of the deal, or that I was unfair, I'll tell you a secret. Actually, this generation's Divine Hidden from the Zuoqiu Clan is also still in the Five Seas Realm," Zuoqiu Ting revealed. While all numerous sects have Hidden Gates, the Divine Hidden chosen each sixty-year cycle from different sects would obviously not be selected at the same time, meaning their cultivation realms would inevitably vary.

Li Weiyi's interest piqued. "You actually know about the Divine Hidden of the Zuoqiu Hidden Gate?"

"Because she's my full biological sister."

Zuoqiu Ting sighed, "Are we even now?"

Li Weiyi got off the bed and began dressing himself. "How are we even? You still got to watch an extra dance!"

Zuoqiu Ting turned to look out the window. "Have you forgotten who saved you from Yang Qingxi?"

"It was your fault to begin with!" Li Weiyi retorted. "If you hadn't taken me to the Bright Moon Seven Stars Pavilion, would any of this have happened? A thousand-year essence herb! You might as well just steal it!"

Zuoqiu Ting suggested, "Sell me ten jin of Immortal Soil—a million silver per tael. Then, I'll throw in a thousand-year essence herb for you as a bonus."

Li Weiyi knew Zuoqiu Ting desperately needed the Immortal Soil to refine his body and further boost his combat power. He didn't immediately refuse, instead opting to help him while also starting to bargain. "Immortal Soil is priceless and rarely available... how about exchanging all of it for thousand-year essence herbs? And I'll take the bonus one too."

Zuoqiu Ting was stunned. "One jin of Immortal Soil can buy almost one thousand-year essence herb. Ten jin would be ten herbs! What do you need so many essence herbs for?"

The thousand-year essence herbs, of course, were for feeding his Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors. As their cultivation levels increased, the quality and quantity of medicinal ingredients required for breakthroughs also rapidly escalated. If Li Weiyi hadn't fed them without regard for cost, how could they have grown so quickly? Li Weiyi planned to have his seven little companions break through at least one more realm during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. Breaking through two realms, of course, would be even better. If he obtained all the thousand-year essence herbs from the Nine Li Hidden Gate, it would certainly raise suspicion. There would be a significant risk of revealing the true cultivation level of his seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors.

Li Weiyi, undeterred by potentially damaging his own reputation, stated, "Of course, thousand-year essence herbs are incredibly useful. Do you think merely being a Divine Hidden is enough to make a powerful figure like Qin Li perform a dance for me? You wanted to know the truth—well, this is it!"

Zuoqiu Ting, regardless of the veracity of Li Weiyi's words, genuinely needed the Immortal Soil. He stopped bargaining and said, "Regarding the thousand-year essence herbs, I'll need to return to Peach and Plum Mountain to discuss it with the family head before I can give you an answer."

"This matter must remain confidential," Li Weiyi stated.

"Of course!"

Zuoqiu Ting was about to depart. Li Weiyi called out to him, "Could you do me another small favor? Could you write something for me? I hear that as the first successor of the Zuoqiu Clan, your Confucian scholarship is extraordinary and your calligraphy is remarkably beautiful." He took out two pre-prepared cloth banners, along with a brush, ink, and inkstone, and placed them on the table in front of Zuoqiu Ting.

Zuoqiu Ting, looking perplexed, took the green jade brush handle that Li Weiyi placed in his hand. "What's the meaning of this?" He didn't believe Li Weiyi was simply asking for calligraphy.

As Li Weiyi ground the ink, he said, "Didn't you mention there's less than half a month until the New Year, and invitations are becoming scarce? Of course, I need to get moving!"

Zuoqiu Ting, failing to grasp his intent, asked, "What should I write?"

"'The Peerless Number One in the Same Realm, Defeating All Foes in Ten Moves,'" Li Weiyi instructed.

Zuoqiu Ting, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately understood Li Weiyi's true intention. He chuckled, "You're not planning to set up a challenge stage on the street, are you? And use my identity and reputation to certify your cultivation realm?"

"Why not?" Li Weiyi replied.

"Of course you can," Zuoqiu Ting said, "but for you, ten moves is far too many. Who in the same realm could possibly withstand ten of your moves? Five moves should be sufficient..." As he wrote, he added, "But I must temper your expectations. With your current cultivation, even if you are invincible within five moves against opponents of the same realm, you still probably won't get an invitation."

"Would I waste my time if I wasn't absolutely confident?" Li Weiyi challenged.

"What exactly is your cultivation realm?" Zuoqiu Ting asked. "Perhaps I should first probe it a bit to confirm."

"If you don't even have that much trust, what kind of friends are we?" Li Weiyi scoffed. "Just write 'Five Seas Realm, Fourth Stage'!" Li Weiyi believed he possessed the ability to be invincible against opponents a full realm above him. Setting up a challenge stage against opponents of the exact same realm would be meaningless and wouldn't serve his purpose of practicing combat techniques and intent.

"'The Peerless Number One in the Same Realm, Defeating All Foes in Five Moves. Five Seas Realm, Fourth Stage, Li Weiyi of Lizhou, Southern Territory.'"

After finishing, Zuoqiu Ting admired his calligraphy, clearly pleased with his work. "Aren't you being too arrogant?" he asked. "You might provoke lethal consequences!"

Li Weiyi placed another new cloth banner on the table and chuckled, "Everyone's attention is on prominent figures like you, the inheritors. By doing this, I'm actually going to the most low-key place, protecting myself in a better way. Even if someone does notice me, my cultivation at the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm will be enough for them to simply dismiss it with a laugh."

"On this one, still write: 'Defeating All Foes in Ten Moves!'"

"Why are you so fixated on ten moves?" Zuoqiu Ting asked.

"You come from one of the great sects; you haven't personally earned money, so I understand. Just write it. When I make a fortune, try not to be jealous," Li Weiyi said, looking entirely confident.

Once Zuoqiu Ting had finished writing, Li Weiyi then produced another cloth banner. "'Defeating All Foes in One Move!'"

Zuoqiu Ting's hand, holding the brush, froze. After a moment of careful thought, he understood Li Weiyi's intention. "Don't play too big," he warned, "you'll easily incite public outrage."

"I'll also freely teach you the Heavenly Eye," Li Weiyi offered.

The following afternoon, in South City, at an open intersection just a street away from the Immortal Grove, a challenge stage was erected in half a day, thanks to the help of Zuoqiu Baiyuan and Qi Wangshu, who rallied their friends. Zuoqiu Baiyuan invited an elderly Spirit Master from his clan to set up a defensive array around the stage. Recently, the challenge stages in all the major martial arts arenas across Qiuzhou Prefecture City had been constantly occupied, with countless challenges and duels taking place. However, setting up such a bustling and conspicuous challenge stage directly on the street, especially so close to the Immortal Grove, made it clear to any discerning observer that someone was about to stir up trouble.

Sure enough, once two cloth banners were hoisted high on flagpoles on either side of the stage, the audacious declaration, "The Peerless Number One in the Same Realm, Defeating All Foes in Ten Moves," instantly spread to the Immortal Grove and then rapidly throughout the entire city.