Chapter 209: Bloodstained Long River

Almost the moment Li Weiyi was struck by the sword energy, Yang Zhiyong attacked. His halberd spun like a windmill, aiming to finish him off while he was vulnerable. Any thought of capturing him alive had long been thrown to the wind.

This young man was too terrifying; his cultivation speed was unbelievably fast.

Who could guarantee he wouldn't break through another realm before the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival ended?

If he broke through another realm, who in the II Sect could stop him?

"I told you already, your halberd is too long and not suitable for use in confined spaces. Why didn't you listen?"

After a few exchanges, Li Weiyi pressed a palm against Yang Zhiyong's chest.

His palm, like a five-fingered iron mountain, shattered Yang Zhiyong's ribs, sent him spitting blood, and flung him backward.

Although the sword energy from the Grand Xuan Needle had struck him, most of it was blocked and absorbed by his night-traveling attire and the Corpse Robe soft armor, preventing serious injury.

Water flowed gently.

The stream of intention spread forth again.

"Yang Qingxi, do you really think I'm afraid of you? You have helpers, and so do I."

Li Weiyi released five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns from his insect pouch, then divided his forces into six paths, meeting Yang Qingxi's incoming attack.

As soon as they clashed, Yang Qingxi sensed trouble.

It was bad enough that Li Weiyi cultivated quickly, but the insects he raised also grew at an astonishing rate. In terms of speed alone, the five wondrous insects were already her match.

Yang Qingxi had initially been on the offensive.

But under the siege of one person and five insects, she immediately switched to defense, protecting herself with spiritual energy and combat intention to avoid being approached by the wondrous insects.

The five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns were naturally no match for Yang Qingxi; the gap in their cultivation levels was still significant, and they were constantly being struck away by the stream of intention. However, their bodies were like gold and iron; they simply shook themselves and immediately flew back up.

"Grand Xuan Supreme Art, Silk Rain Flying Sword Technique."

A piercing sword hum echoed.

The three-foot-long Grand Xuan Needle in Yang Qingxi's hand transformed into a flying sword, darting through the hall like a bright thread.

Its speed was such that it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Li Weiyi's heart pounded; he managed to intercept it and strike it away with his sword three times in a row. But the fourth time, he couldn't block it; the sword struck his shoulder like a heavy hammer, and his left arm went numb.

The Corpse Robe soft armor, which he wore as his innermost layer, was activated, releasing blood-red energy and scriptures that filled the entire hall.

"She actually has such a trump card. What kind of technique is this?"

Li Weiyi dared not remain still as before. He immediately executed the Pure Void Cicada-Chasing Step, his form blurring like smoke, constantly shifting and moving. He figured that no matter how fast that needle-sword was, it had to be controlled by Yang Qingxi's intention.

As long as Yang Qingxi couldn't lock onto him with her intention, the threat of the needle-sword would be greatly reduced.

With a rumble, the brothel's main entrance was crashed open by a war chariot.

A huge hole was torn in the wall, and even the formation was ripped apart.

That war chariot was a Hundred-Character Scripture artifact, a formidable formation-breaking weapon of the Earth Wolf Royal Army.

Shi Shishi stood on the war chariot and shouted, "Brother Weiyi, are you dead yet?"

"If you had been a moment later, you'd only be collecting my corpse!" Li Weiyi, who was fleeing, leaped onto the war chariot.

A Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereign stood on Shi Shishi's head, looking at Li Weiyi as if seeking praise, letting out strange "howl howl" wolf-like cries.

It was too small to have ever truly howled like a wolf, so its cries were strangely delicate.

Before entering the brothel, Li Weiyi had instructed it to use a wolf howl as a signal to find Shi Shishi.

Shi Shishi looked at the dilapidated brothel hall before him, then at the severely injured Yang Zhiyong lying on the ground, and at Yang Qingxi, whose long hair was disheveled around her face, looking quite battered.

He felt like he had arrived unnecessarily, and his heart was filled with an incomparable shock: "Did you say that wrong? I think if I had been a moment later, I'd be calling Miss Yang my sister-in-law! How did you suddenly become so strong?"

A sharp ringing sounded as the Grand Xuan Needle flew towards them.

Spiritual energy surged from Shi Shishi's feet into the war chariot, and instantly, countless wolf shadows appeared before the vehicle. One hundred twenty-eight bright scriptures flew out from the chariot, blocking the Grand Xuan Needle and forming ripples of light.

Li Weiyi gazed at the trembling Grand Xuan Needle, contemplating a way to break Yang Qingxi's move.

It was truly terrifying; even those of the Inheritor level would likely find it incredibly troublesome to deal with.

Cultivating combat intention through the "Spirit Treasure Seizure" technique might allow one to snatch it. Alternatively, one could directly attack her true body, but this would require extremely precise speed and timing.

Li Weiyi darted forward, just about to employ the Spirit Treasure Seizure.

Yang Qingxi retracted the Grand Xuan Needle. A wave of spiritual energy surged from her body, sending all the Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns flying. Then, her body a blur, she landed on the ground, scooped up the heavily injured Yang Zhiyong with one arm, crashed through a wooden wall, and rushed towards the street outside.

Given that the Earth Wolf Royal Army had arrived, it was clear that today's battle was a complete defeat for Yang Qingxi.

Outside, Tao Yanyan's fierce shout rang out: "Where do you think you're going?"

With a boom, the basin-sized Gourd War Hammer swung out, striking Yang Qingxi and sending her crashing back to the ground.

Li Weiyi and Shi Shishi dashed out of the brothel like lightning. One held a sword, the other formed a claw, their combat intentions following them like shadows.

The four masters engaged in a chaotic battle.

After more than ten exchanges, Yang Qingxi let out a low, miserable cry, and she and Yang Zhiyong were sent flying, rolling to the left and right on the wide, long street.

Yang Qingxi had been struck on the back by Tao Yanyan's Gourd War Hammer. Even with her defensive battle armor, blood still flowed from her mouth and nose; she was severely wounded and struggled with great difficulty to get back on her feet.

She was not Yin Jiu, who had obtained the combat intention of the God of Nine Li, nor Jiang Ning, who had fully cultivated all one hundred meridians; she could not manage to fight three opponents alone.

The cultivators from the Cave Sect on Changning Street were rushing over but were blocked by the Earth Wolf Royal Army.

Yang Yun couldn't escape; the wing of a Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereign severed his Achilles tendon, and he collapsed by the roadside.

A voice from within the building called out: "Tao Yanyan, Shi Shishi, let her go. I, Yao Qian, owe each of you a favor."

Hearing Yao Qian's voice, both Tao Yanyan and Shi Shishi were greatly startled but quickly composed themselves.

This was because on a lower courtyard wall to the right of the brothel stood a young woman in a Taoist robe, holding a brush in one hand and a scroll in the other, rapidly writing: "Li Weiyi of Lizhou, Fifth Realm of the Five Seas, fought Yang Qingxi to a draw with his insects."

Tao Yanyan's and Shi Shishi's names and achievements were not recorded, clearly indicating that their contributions in this battle were not remarkable.

Li Weiyi was not afraid of Yao Qian's intervention at all. He quickly approached Yang Qingxi, placed the Yellow Dragon Sword at her neck, and demanded, "Where are my things?"

"What?"

Yang Qingxi was severely injured, her face as pale as paper, her eyes bewildered.

Li Weiyi didn't want too many people to know that the Spring Coins were in Yang Qingxi's possession, so he transmitted his voice with spiritual energy: "Stop pretending. Where are the Spring Coins?"

Yang Qingxi was even more bewildered, having no idea what Li Weiyi meant. Was he risking his life tonight just to snatch the Spring Coins from her?

With cold eyes and clenched silver teeth, she took off her money pouch and handed it over.

Li Weiyi took the money pouch and opened it.

Inside were only a few dozen Spring Coins and some silver money.

Li Weiyi's fingers trembled slightly; he almost couldn't control his speechless frustration. Facing death, and she still wanted to tease him?

"Is this what I want? Hand it over yourself, don't force me to search you and make things ugly for everyone." Li Weiyi said in a low voice, then chose to compromise: "As long as you return my money... I might spare your life tonight."

Sparing her tonight didn't mean sparing her tomorrow.

Li Weiyi was confident that any enemy defeated by him would never be able to catch up; the gap would only widen.

At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else; he just wanted his money back.

Yang Qingxi realized that something she didn't know about had truly happened: "You can be more direct."

Li Weiyi took a deep breath and said, word by word: "Those... five... boxes... of... Spring... Coins..."

"The five boxes of Spring Coins stolen from the Ancestral Soldier's Lake Arena?" Yang Qingxi suddenly understood, realizing it instantly.

Li Weiyi said, "Bring them out, and I'll trade them for your life."

After a brief moment of thought, Yang Qingxi replied, "What makes you think they're with me?"

Li Weiyi lost patience for further conversation with her: "Search her. Search her entire body."

"Alright, I'll do it."

Shi Shishi volunteered.

Li Weiyi shot him a sideways glance, then looked at Bai Shu: "You do it."

Bai Shu meticulously searched Yang Qingxi and found a spatial pouch.

After examining the spatial pouch, Li Weiyi shook his head: "Keep searching!"

After searching everywhere, they naturally found nothing. Bai Shu's finger traced her chin: "Cultivators of the Seventh Sea can store some extremely important items in their ancestral fields. What you're looking for might be in her ancestral field."

Li Weiyi didn't believe Yang Qingxi would hide five boxes of Spring Coins in her ancestral field. He used his mental power to summon "Er Feng," preparing to have it identify spiritual energy.

Suddenly, spatial fluctuations appeared in Yang Qingxi's ancestral field below her navel, and countless needle-like projectiles flew out from within.

"Watch out!"

Li Weiyi pushed Bai Shu aside and lunged towards Yang Qingxi.

Dressed in his night-traveling attire and Corpse Robe soft armor, his upper body was immune to the spiritual energy needles.

Seizing this opportunity, Yang Qingxi ignored the Yellow Dragon Sword at her neck and forcefully broke free, a hideous sword wound appearing on her pale neck.

The two exchanged several forceful blows, both retreating sharply and separating. Yang Qingxi then made her escape.

Bai Shu waved her arm, and a streak of talisman light struck Yang Qingxi's back.

Behind the Immortal Music Pavilion was a wide river. By the time Li Weiyi pursued her, Yang Qingxi had vanished without a trace.

Yang Qingxi's ability to escape from Zuoqiu Ting meant her speed and concealment methods were naturally extraordinary.

Shi Shishi came to Li Weiyi's side, examined the area, and said, "It should be Water Escape, one of the Five Elements Escape Arts. It's similar to the Earth Escape that our Earth Wolf Royal Army cultivators practice, but more refined."

Li Weiyi said, "It's certainly no coincidence that Yang Qingxi chose this location as her hiding place. Miss Bai Shu, that was a tracking talisman you just struck her with, right?"

Bai Shu shook her head: "A Six Desires Talisman!"

Li Weiyi and Shi Shishi both stared at her in astonishment.

"Don't joke around! This woman definitely took Brother Weiyi's important treasure. We must catch her!" Shi Shishi said.

Bai Shu said, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Li Weiyi noticed something, squatted down, and looked at the river surface.

He saw the river water turning increasingly red.

His gaze drifted upstream, and his expression instantly froze.

This river, flowing down from Peach-Plum Mountain, through the city, and emptying into Ancestral Soldier's Lake, had actually turned into a river of blood.

Some fragmented corpses floated on the river's surface.

"What kind of fierce battle happened upstream? The river water is completely dyed red."

Seeing this sight, Shi Shishi and Bai Shu's faces became solemn and pale.

More and more bodies flowed downstream; some wore official robes, some were demon cultivators, and others were cultivators from the Nine Li Tribe and the Zuoqiu Clan.

Li Weiyi's expression suddenly changed. A rope of spiritual energy mist shot from his fingertip, retrieving a corpse in brocade robes and placing it on the bank.

To be precise, it was half a corpse.

Qi Wangshu had been cut in half at the waist, with only his upper body remaining.

Shi Shishi knew that Qi Wangshu was Li Weiyi's friend and comforted him: "Brother Weiyi, this is war, and tonight is a battle for life and death. The imperial court must win, and the Zuoqiu Clan and Nine Li Tribe must also win. This means rivers of blood are inevitable. And from the looks of it, the Far West Ash Territory has also gotten involved."

Li Weiyi's heart was heavy. He placed Qi Wangshu's half-corpse into a bag, then took Yang Zhiyong and Yang Yun, and rushed back to Qinyuan.

Even in the most dangerous situations earlier, Yang Qingxi had taken Yang Zhiyong with her when she fled. This demonstrated their importance to her, and also revealed a weakness in Yang Qingxi's character.

Bai Shu accompanied Li Weiyi.

"Once Yang Qingxi discovers she's been struck by the Six Desires Talisman, she'll definitely come looking for you. This is the best way to control her!"

With three trump cards in hand, Li Weiyi didn't believe he couldn't get back the five boxes of Spring Coins.

He decided to return to Qinyuan and hide for a while, using the Dao Fruit to fully cultivate his fourth Qi Sea.

Tonight's battle was destined to be brutal.

No one knew what the situation in Qiuzhou City would be like tomorrow.

Only with sufficiently powerful cultivation could one protect oneself and then make progress.

Upon returning to Qinyuan, Li Weiyi and Bai Shu immediately used their mental power to set up more formations and defensive measures.

The sounds of battle in the city echoed throughout the entire night.

The next day, dawn had just barely broken.

Yin Jiu and Cang Li fled to Qinyuan, covered in blood.

Li Weiyi immediately opened the formation, let them in, and instructed Bai Shu to clean up the bloodstains on the path.

Yin Jiu had lost an arm, his night-traveling attire was shredded, and his exposed upper body was like mangled flesh, covered in bloody wounds, with countless broken bones. The war axe in his hand was full of chips, like scrap metal.

Cang Li's armor was tattered, his back was caved in from a claw strike, and his skull was severely deformed.

He gently placed Yin Shi, whom he had been holding, on the ground.

Yin Shi's body had been pierced by a claw, leaving a bowl-sized bloody hole. Her internal organs were completely shattered; only Cang Li's continuous infusion of spiritual energy was keeping her alive.

Blood continuously welled from her mouth: "Bro...ther... Bro...ther..."

Yin Jiu quickly bent down, grasping her cold small hand with his single arm, hot tears streaming from his eyes: "Ah Li... Ah Li... I'm here... We escaped from the hands of Phoenix-Born Kylin-Young... It was all thanks to you, all thanks to you..."

In the end, Yin Shi couldn't say anything more. Her hand went limp, and her eyes remained open, but their pupils had lost their luster.

Even with Yin Jiu, Cang Li, and Li Weiyi all trying to infuse her with spiritual energy, it was no use.

Yin Jiu, despite his usually tough and resilient nature, was now weeping uncontrollably, unable to speak.

Cang Li stood silently by, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

Li Weiyi found it difficult to accept this fact. His eyes, blank and empty, gazed towards the small lakeside pavilion in the distance.

In his mind, he recalled Yin Shi's exquisite dance in his room that night: her flowing smoke-gauze immortal dress, the tinkling of her jade pendants, her plain gauze scarf, and the decorative belt at her waist. After the dance, the beauty was gone, leaving only the scent of flowers filling the room.