Chapter 199: 慈航

The two were only six or seven zhang apart, each standing upright on a piece of driftwood that bobbed with the waves.

For someone of an Inheritor's cultivation level, they could reach the other in an instant. Even striking with a sword from six or seven zhang away to directly kill an opponent was effortless.

Zhu Yuzhao chose to stop at this distance, clearly confident he could kill Li Weiyi with a single move, and that Li Weiyi would be unable to evade or escape. It was precisely because everything was under his control that he had the leisure to exchange a few words.

Li Weiyi felt the opponent's battle intent wrap around him like chains. It felt as if no matter which direction he tried to flee, he would be instantly pulled back.

The young martial cultivators on the shore did not notice anything amiss. Instead, they eagerly awaited Li Weiyi to share some martial arts secrets.

Li Weiyi knew his predicament well. The moment he tried to activate the spiritual energy within him, Zhu Yuzhao's jade sword across from him slightly unsheathed, clearly displaying a threat.

"It's good to stall for time; perhaps I can find a better opportunity to escape."

Thinking of this, Li Weiyi tried to remain calm and composed, recalling what Master Guan had once said to him to answer his doubts: "The power of martial arts moves depends on two parts: 'Qi' and 'Dao'."

"'Dao' refers to the harmony with the Heavenly Dao, or the battle intent—it's the degree of compatibility between a move and the profound, mysterious laws of heaven and earth."

"With our cultivation at the Five Seas realm, we can only glimpse the surface. I truly have no face to show off in front of others and make a fool of myself."

"As for 'Qi,' it naturally refers to spiritual energy and physical strength. The stronger the Qi, the greater the power of the move, to the extent that it doesn't even require harmony with the Heavenly Dao; a casual wave can shatter mountains and astound the world."

Zhu Yuzhao appeared very curious, his expression serious. "This is precisely what I'm curious about! You only possess third-tier Qi, yet among the challengers, at least ten have cultivated fourth-tier Qi. Your single move, the Guanyin Empowerment Finger, without even releasing battle intent, managed to defeat them all. Could it be that this move has reached an extremely profound level in terms of 'Dao'?"

With his humble and studious demeanor, who would have thought that Li Weiyi's life was currently in his hands?

The cultivators on the shore, including top figures like Zuoqiu Lancheng and Qi Xiao, all leaned in to listen.

Even they believed their martial arts prowess was inferior to Li Weiyi's, their cultivation merely being ahead.

Li Weiyi smiled. "Actually, it's quite simple. Various martial arts texts should all mention this, but everyone tends to place more importance on cultivation realms and spiritual energy strength, neglecting these details."

"It's common knowledge that the trajectories of the trace veins born within each martial cultivator's body are different. Just like human palm lines, you'll never find two people with identical trace vein trajectories."

"Furthermore, depending on the environment and mood of the martial cultivator, the trajectories of the trace veins within their body will also undergo subtle changes."

"When choosing which martial art to cultivate, the first thing to consider is the compatibility between that martial art and the trajectory of your trace veins. Secondly, when executing moves, you must consider how to circulate spiritual energy and how to alter the trace vein trajectory to enhance the move's power..."

The shore was already abuzz with excitement.

"Is this truly common knowledge? Why does our Lu Family not have any texts discussing this kind of martial arts knowledge?"

"Your Lu Family is just a million-strong clan; how can it compare to ten-million-strong sects? Young Master Li is the son-in-law of the Zuoqiu Sect, so he can surely access the most profound private texts of the sect."

"Listen carefully. It's rare for someone to so candidly share martial arts experiences that we normally wouldn't encounter. Anyway, my trip to Qiuzhou this time has been incredibly fruitful; I'll enter secluded cultivation as soon as I return."

"I used to be too impetuous, only pursuing Qi cultivation and realm advancement. Now I realize how much I've been lacking."

Qi Xiao's expression was solemn as he reflected inwardly. No wonder his Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body couldn't enter the second rank; it turned out there was so much to learn about trace veins, a detail he had never noticed before.

Perhaps the formidable combat power of the Inheritors was closely related to these subtle mysteries.

As for Zuoqiu Lancheng, who was also an Inheritor, he was utterly bewildered at this moment, as this was the first time he had ever encountered what Li Weiyi was explaining. He secretly mused that perhaps the First Inheritor, Ge Xiantong, and others all possessed such martial arts knowledge. He truly was inferior, and today was a real eye-opener!

After the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, he would definitely need to seclude himself in the library for a period to make up for his deficiencies.

He continued to listen and learn.

A figure dressed as a man walked through the crowd of cultivators, along the white stone sea embankment. She was exceptionally tall, wore a bamboo hat and veil, carried a long sword, and walked quickly with her head down, listening intently.

What Li Weiyi was explaining came from Master Guan, a transcendent figure from the past. He genuinely believed these things were common knowledge.

But he didn't know that knowing was one thing, and cultivating and putting it into practice was another.

What Master Guan taught was simply not available in ordinary sects and clans. Ten-million-strong sects possessed it, but the detailed cultivation methods were all sealed away, not to be exposed to young cultivators until their cultivation reached a certain level.

Because it had been proven that young cultivators, upon encountering these extremely subtle martial arts, easily went astray, failing to master them and wasting cultivation time in the process.

Just as Li Weiyi explained, when executing martial arts moves, using special circulation methods and altering trace vein trajectories, if one were to ponder so much during actual combat, they would often lose their life.

Exceptional martial arts prodigies were naturally an exception.

Master Guan explained things in such profound and subtle detail because Li Weiyi had pressed him. Otherwise, Li Weiyi would constantly ask him about trivial things like the number of trace veins he had back then or the size of his Qi sea, enough to drive him to death with frustration.

Master Guan simply wanted to see how capable he truly was.

Just as everyone was waiting for Li Weiyi to continue and Zhu Yuzhao also appeared to be in deep thought, Li Weiyi seized this rare opportunity and abruptly stopped speaking.

"Boom!"

The spiritual energy within him erupted, shattering the opponent's battle intent wrapped around him, and he unleashed the Clear Void Cicada Chasing Steps.

"He's a Cinder Spirit!"

With the fewest words possible, he informed Zuoqiu Lancheng of the danger he faced. At such a life-and-death moment, how could he still conceal his abilities?

Li Weiyi pushed his movement technique to its limit, his feet treading on misty green smoke. He moved as swiftly as chasing wind and catching the moon, fleeing rightward across the sea surface.

Even though he had done everything possible to gain an advantage, after just one breath, the sound of rushing wind was already whistling in his ears from behind.

Too fast!

"Where is your sword? I came for it."

Zhu Yuzhao formed a claw with his five fingers in the air, and instantly, a several-zhang-long flaming claw print materialized on the sea surface. Its five fingers were like pillars of fire, and its palm like a fiery cloud, engulfing Li Weiyi.

"It's indeed Hidden Cinder... Excellent!"

Li Weiyi knew that Hidden Cinder would absolutely not kill him before obtaining the Yellow Dragon Sword, a fundamental difference from that crazy woman Qi Cinder.

As long as the opponent intended to capture him alive, he had a chance to survive today.

He sharply turned around, and spiritual energy surged wildly into his right arm. His five fingers formed a finger sword.

His two fingers shone with unprecedented brilliance, like a star blooming on the sea.

"Whoosh!"

Li Weiyi's fifth battle intent materialized, vastly different from the previous four; it wasn't like an old immortal from myths and legends. Instead, it was a young woman radiating immortal glow all over, a red dot on her brow like the morning sun, her long hair like a celestial river, and her eyes serene and eternal.

Like his previous four moves, it aligned with a certain law between heaven and earth, drawing forth a Dao image that transformed into his battle intent.

Just like the battle intent of the God of Jiuli and the Thunder God, it represented "Divine Intent."

"Guanyin Empowerment!"

As he pointed a finger, the goddess spirit battle intent behind him also pointed a finger. The light beam collided with the flaming claw print, creating violent energy ripples.

"Boom!"

The sea surface exploded, and Li Weiyi was sent flying nearly ten zhang backward, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Although injured, he successfully escaped Zhu Yuzhao's grasp.

"Divine Intent, what excellent finger technique!"

Zhu Yuzhao maintained his polite and peaceful demeanor, his figure seeming to teleport. He rushed out of the chaotic spiritual energy zone and instantly appeared above Li Weiyi's head, swinging his three-chi jade sword, scabbard and all, down at him.

"Roar! Roar..."

Long roars erupted one after another from beneath the water where Li Weiyi stood.

The water surface churned violently.

The five-zhang-long Nine-Headed Demonic Flood Dragon battle intent burst out of the water with a rumble. Its nine massive, ferocious heads and eighteen eyes radiated light.

Yin Shi-yi stood atop the central flood dragon head, his hands wearing fiery scaled dragon claw gloves. He slammed a claw towards the sky, with momentum like a rainbow, unleashing a flaming claw print as formidable as Zhu Yuzhao's earlier one.

"Bang!"

Two forces, one from above and one from below, clashed.

Zhu Yuzhao soared skyward, then descended backward, quickly steadying himself.

Yin Shi-yi landed back on the water surface, creating splashes, and retreated backward.

"You arrived just in time," Li Weiyi praised, the lingering fear in his heart not yet subsided.

Yin Shi-yi was not humble in the slightest. "How clever am I! The moment you emphasized that he traveled a long way from the Western Region and then spoke of so much martial arts knowledge that shouldn't be revealed, I sensed something was amiss!"

Since Li Weiyi knew he might be targeted by Hidden Cinder, he naturally prepared thoroughly. Thus, Yin Shi-yi had been hiding at the bottom of the sea near the arena.

Coincidentally, he had just integrated the Nine-Headed Demonic Flood Dragon battle intent of the God of Jiuli, and the seabed provided a better environment for contemplation and refinement.

In other words, as long as he could withstand one or two of Hidden Cinder's moves, Yin Shi-yi would be able to arrive in time.

Fierce and thunderous sounds of battle erupted from the shore.

Just as Li Weiyi revealed Zhu Yuzhao's true identity, Zuoqiu Lancheng had just left his seat, and then snowflakes shaped like paper money fluttered down from the sky.

"Zuoqiu Lancheng, where are you going?"

Ming Niansheng let out a burst of laughter and, like a cannonball, shot out from the ghostly paper money snow, hurtling himself directly towards Zuoqiu Lancheng.

"Boom!"

The two Inheritor-level masters instantly engaged in battle, their figures sometimes shooting into the sky, sometimes plunging into the sea.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Another four figures with formidable auras rushed out of the crowd and leaped over the sea embankment. Their target was surprisingly the five iron chests containing the Spring Coins.

All four were dressed in monk robes, three men and one woman, and each was a top-tier expert of the Five Seas Realm. One of them was even among the top ranks in the Southern Region.

"The Four Noble Truths of Coffin Mountain."

Qi Xiao stood on one of the iron chests, his gaze sharp, knowing he could not possibly fight four opponents to the death. Thus, he immediately released spiritual energy to activate the defensive formation.

Mie Di laughed wildly. "You've earned too much ill-gotten wealth; Heaven is wroth, and people are resentful. This humble monk has specifically come to punish evil and promote good."

Dao Di, who was left with only one arm after being struck by Jiang Ning, formed a hand seal with his left hand and said calmly, "Today, we seek wealth, not lives. We are only here to..."

"Alms!"

Ji Di roared in an extremely high-pitched voice.

Mie Di said coldly, "Qi Xiao, if you know what's good for you, open the formation yourself. Today, we'll spare your life."

"Have compassion," Ji Di added.

Qi Xiao was not a three-year-old child; he would never believe that Buddhist thieves would be merciful. He snorted coldly, "Your Coffin Mountain is in league with the Far Western Cinder Region, destined not to be tolerated by the Southern Region. Just wait and see who dies first. You want to snatch money? Do you really think we came unprepared? If you're capable, try to break this formation."

Qi Xiao naturally had confidence because the formation protecting the Spring Coins beneath his feet was set up by a Spirit Master. Seeing a master appear on the sea to save Li Weiyi, he was completely relieved and had time to stall them.

"This formation is your confidence?"

Mie Di chuckled, then took out a jade box from his spatial pouch and unsealed the runes on its surface.

Upon opening it, purple light emanated from the box, with strands of lightning flashing out.

"Thunder Law Profound Ice."

Qi Wangshu and Zuoqiu Baiyuan, standing within the defensive formation, had their expressions drastically change. Both felt a great disaster was imminent.