Chapter 309: Anxianjing Is Back

She continued, “Even if we take a step back and assume they are still in the Sacred Heart Layer, why did they allow me to infiltrate the main altar? Are they truly unafraid of the route to the main altar being exposed? Could it be that they are preoccupied with something more important in the Sacred Heart Layer?”

Li Weiyi knew very well that Tang Wanzhou wanted to go to the Sacred Heart Layer, first, to find the answer to “Corpse Cultivation,” which was a noble cause for the benefit of all.

Second, it was undoubtedly for the “Book of Bright Stars” mentioned in the mural, to dispel the Nether Realm and expand the territory for the Lingxiao Life Realm.

Li Weiyi admired her courage and daring, but as a mere Five Seas Realm cultivator, he couldn't join her in such madness.

“I’m not asking you to come with me on the adventure; just teleport me there,” Tang Wanzhou said.

Li Weiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, showing a look that said, “That’s more like it.” High cultivation levels truly made a difference; they were uninhibited and dared to venture into any place.

“But we need to wait a bit longer, until I recover from my injuries.”

Tang Wanzhou continued, “Do you see those grooves in the array? They are for placing high-grade Blood Crystals, which provide energy for the array. I only have three; please buy five more for me.”

Blood Crystals are one of the most important minerals in the cultivation world. They contain dense blood essence and have a wide range of uses: healing, body cultivation, alchemy, insect breeding, array formation, talisman crafting, and more.

Low-grade Blood Crystals typically cost one thousand Spring Coins each.

Mid-grade Blood Crystals cost ten thousand Spring Coins each and already possess the ability to store spiritual energy. When placed in the Heavenly Law Earth Spring, they can automatically absorb spiritual energy.

High-grade Blood Crystals cost one hundred thousand Spring Coins each and are treasures for Dao Seed Realm cultivators to cultivate their bodies. They inherently contain pure spiritual energy. When nurtured in the Heavenly Law Earth Spring, they replenish their energy faster and store more spiritual energy than mid-grade Blood Crystals.

Using high-grade Blood Crystals to activate an array is the most stable method.

As for top-grade Blood Crystals, they are even rarer, sought after even by Longevity Realm magnates. Not only can they be used for body tempering, but legend has it, they contain vast life essence and can extend one's lifespan.

Li Weiyi held out a hand, asking, “Five high-grade Blood Crystals are worth five hundred thousand Spring Coins.”

“Who carries so many Spring Coins around for no reason? You, a dignified Divine Hidden One of the Nine Li Hidden Gate, don’t even have five hundred thousand Spring Coins? Lend them to me for now; I’ll pay you back when we get out,” Tang Wanzhou said.

Li Weiyi replied, “You must at least have Dao Lotuses or Dao Fruits, right?”

“No! I left them on the surface before coming in,” Tang Wanzhou said.

Li Weiyi’s heart stirred, and he suddenly thought of something, asking, “How many drops of Spring Liquid can a Longevity Realm magnate condense in a day?”

Tang Wanzhou’s almond eyes widened in exasperation, then she burst out laughing. She was the Young Lord of the Northern Realm, renowned throughout the world, surpassing her peers. Had she really fallen to the point of condensing Spring Liquid for money?

If word got out, wouldn't her prestige be ruined?

Li Weiyi hastily explained, “Young Lord, you’ve always been generous, spending lavishly. I shouldn’t haggle with you over five hundred thousand Spring Coins. However, raising those seven strange insects is incredibly expensive, and spiritual cultivation is also an immeasurable cost…”

Tang Wanzhou gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly realized, “You’re afraid to buy large quantities of Spring Liquid from the Twin-Rice Sect, aren’t you?”

Li Weiyi quickly denied, “No, not at all.”

Tang Wanzhou didn’t want to waste more words with Li Weiyi. She felt that although dealing with him meant losing money, it had at least averted disaster. She asked, “How much Spring Liquid do you need?”

“Five hundred thousand Spring Coins would require selling fifty thousand drops of Spring Liquid,” Li Weiyi said.

Tang Wanzhou’s slender brows furrowed slightly; she was speechless. “I’ll give you ten thousand drops every month.”

“Longevity Realm magnates are truly different; much faster than Dao Seed Realm cultivators. They don’t even need to take risks; just by selling Spring Liquid, they can earn over a million Spring Coins a year,” Li Weiyi marveled.

With his current Qi refinement speed, aided by the Fusang Divine Tree and the Cocoon of Time, he could refine ten thousand units of spiritual energy in a month.

Moreover, the thirty thousand units of spiritual energy newly added to his Seventh Sea would naturally require three months to refine. Tang Wanzhou’s supply would perfectly supplement this, without delaying his cultivation.

“Young Lord, you must not leave this place again,” Li Weiyi cautioned as he departed.

With such a major incident occurring at the main altar, he didn't know when An Xianjing and Yao Qingxuan would return.

If the three female Longevity Realm cultivators were to meet, let alone Li Weiyi's current cultivation level, even if he reached the Longevity Realm, he would certainly be unable to handle it.

Li Weiyi released Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo from the insect pouch and carefully carried them onto the bed, one by one.

Insect pouches could indeed hold people, but they also posed significant risks. If the pouch shattered during a fight, anyone inside, no matter how high their cultivation, could die from the spatial forces.

Unless absolutely necessary, they were generally not used to carry living people.

Li Weiyi had the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish and the Evil Camel Bell on him; if he encountered real danger, he could use them to store the seven little ones.

“Bang! Bang!”

Li Weiyi held a Blood Crystal in each hand, placed them above Qi Xiao’s and Tuoba Butuo’s heads, and crushed them. Immediately, a large amount of blood essence diffused out, and guided by his spiritual power, flowed into their shriveled bodies.

As the wisps of blood essence poured in, their emaciated bodies slowly inflated like balloons.

Half an hour later, the blood essence from both Blood Crystals had fully entered them.

Their condition looked slightly better, but they were still far from full recovery.

Li Weiyi dared not inject any more blood essence; he had to proceed gradually.

Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo fell into a deep sleep. For some time, both had suffered severe physical and mental trauma, and only now could they finally rest peacefully.

Li Weiyi could no longer hold on. He leaned against the door frame and slowly sat down outside the door, circulating his spiritual energy to heal his injuries.

Five days passed.

Aside from meditating to heal himself, Li Weiyi used two Blood Crystals daily to help Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo restore their blood essence.

Gradually, outwardly, apart from each having lost an arm, the two had fully recovered.

However, the blood lost by Dao Seed Realm cultivators was far beyond what the blood essence contained in mid-grade Blood Crystals could replenish.

They would require long-term recuperation to truly recover.

Upon waking, the two immediately got out of bed and knelt to kowtow to Li Weiyi, but he quickly helped them up.

“Please don’t! Old Qi, I feel truly guilty!” Li Weiyi said.

Qi Xiao waved his single arm and smiled bitterly, “It’s my own fault for being too overconfident and reckless. My heart became too inflated after breaking through to the Dao Seed Realm, and this tribulation was inevitable.”

“Wang Shu is dead, so your revenge has been taken,” Li Weiyi said.

Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo were deeply moved, their gratitude indescribable.

They knew that Wang Shu was the Fourth Divine Son of the Twin-Rice Sect. To kill a Divine Son in the sect’s own main altar and still be alive and well... They didn't know how Li Weiyi had done it, but they admired him immensely.

He could even thrive in an evil cult.

Disregarding Li Weiyi's attempts to stop them, the two bowed again, saying, “Brother Weiyi, from now on, if you have any commands, we will not hesitate to face a myriad of deaths.”

It took considerable effort to persuade them to rise.

Li Weiyi took out the cold jade casket containing the two arms from his spatial bag, saying, “The vitality, trace meridians, and spring eyes of both arms are still intact; they should be able to be reattached.”

Li Songlin’s and Yin Jiu’s situations were entirely different; their severed limbs had been damaged in combat.

“Brother Weiyi, you are too kind!”

Tuoba Butuo gently shook his head, saying, “But to reattach severed limbs, one would at least need a Grand Longevity Realm expert to intervene. Figures of that level have already broken through multiple Longevity Locks, can see all the minute patterns within the human body with a single glance, possess unique insights into life, and can employ extraordinary techniques to reconnect trace meridians and energy channels.”

Qi Xiao said, “If we were outside, there would be some hope. But in the main altar… our current safety is also precarious, isn’t it?”

Tuoba Butuo pondered for a moment, “Brother Weiyi, we will remember your kindness for the rest of our lives. But if it’s truly impossible, just hand us over.”

“Amitābha!”

A clear, serene Buddhist chant resounded from below the pavilion.

Li Weiyi’s expression changed slightly, and he instructed, “You two focus on healing for now; I’ll be right back.”

He quickly descended the stairs, and by the bamboo grove outside the pavilion, Li Weiyi saw An Xianjing, dressed in white.

Her appearance had changed greatly, but her elegant and serene demeanor was still easily recognizable.

An Xianjing glanced at him. “I’ve seen the Golden Rice; its growth is excellent, and you deserve much credit. However, for at least eight or nine days, you haven't illuminated or tended to it, and the blood essence in the field has become very thin. Why?”

Li Weiyi took out a green jade array talisman and handed it over with both hands. “Please find someone more capable, Hall Master; I can no longer cultivate this Golden Rice!”

An Xianjing twirled her prayer beads, her gaze gradually sharpening. “What? Are you threatening me? Do you think that because I cultivate Buddhism, my heart is only filled with compassion and I’m easy to manipulate?”

“How would a junior dare? I am simply too gravely injured and need time to recuperate,” Li Weiyi said.

An Xianjing said, “Are you complaining now? You are utterly lawless. Do you know what a grave sin it is to kill a Divine Son in the main altar?”

Li Weiyi replied, “Wang Shu mercilessly killed several fellow disciples…”

“You don't need to repeat yourself! Your master has already compiled all of Wang Shu's crimes and submitted them to the Hall of Withering and Prosperity, taking responsibility for you. She claimed she ordered you to eliminate internal threats, that you were carrying out a mission. After all, Wang Shu was considered a Southern Realm cultivator and belonged under her.”

An Xianjing snorted softly, “Now that the mission is complete, you can even go to the Spirit Valley Hall to collect four hundred thousand merit points.”

“Ah?”

Li Weiyi felt that Yao Qingxuan’s actions were truly too brilliant to describe with words.

“What do you mean, ‘Ah’? Your master is under immense pressure; the situation in the Southern Realm is quite perilous and complex. And yet she still takes time to help you. Remember this favor yourself!” An Xianjing said.

Li Weiyi quickly suppressed the corners of his mouth, saying worriedly, “My master's kindness, of course, must be repaid. However, the Deputy Hall Master of the Heavenly Principles Hall will certainly not let this go. My master’s actions are tantamount to offending him to the extreme. Hall Master, that day I was forced to reveal your name, but it was completely useless; the patrol guards of the Heavenly Principles Hall didn't give it any credence.”

A cold glint flashed in An Xianjing’s eyes. “I’ve already made a trip to the Heavenly Principles Hall and the Hall of Withering and Prosperity. Those who needed to be disciplined have been disciplined. In the main altar, figures of the Great True Disciple level will no longer target you. But you must understand that in the cultivation world, one must always rely on their own hard strength. Otherwise, in the dark corners, there will be many overt and covert attacks, impossible to guard against.

“This is true not just for you, but for everyone, including your master and me.”

Li Weiyi said, “I will heed your Hall Master’s teachings… Has the Hall Master returned to the Spirit Valley Hall?”

An Xianjing thought of her second disciple and couldn’t help but sigh. “I’ve sent him out of the main altar for training. His talent is extremely high, but his character is lacking; he needs more tempering.”

Li Weiyi sighed.

“Do you think I’m protecting him?” An Xianjing saw through Li Weiyi’s thoughts.

Li Weiyi said, “After all, he’s your own disciple; he’s truly like the flesh in your palm.”

An Xianjing said, “For him, being expelled from the main altar is a tremendous loss of face, more painful than any other punishment. And what about you? Have you been punished? Are you truly blameless? As for the two upstairs, do you want me to re-imprison them in the Divine Prison?”

Li Weiyi quickly smiled, “Hall Master, for you to say that clearly means you intend to forgive them both. That’s wonderful; Hall Master truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva.”

Regardless of An Xianjing’s true thoughts, it was best to flatter her first.

An Xianjing said, “Tuoba Butuo and Qi Xiao both have dragon seed dao and are talents who can grow into first-rate experts within a few years. Among them, Tuoba Butuo is even a successor, with talent comparable to that of Divine Sons and Divine Daughters.”

“Our Divine Sect has always been lenient towards usable talents.”

“Li Weiyi, if you can subdue them and bring them under your command, and guarantee their loyalty, why would this Hall Master abandon two such favored talents?”

Li Weiyi knew that An Xianjing also valued the Qi family behind Qi Xiao and the Tuoba clan behind Tuoba Butuo. However, he couldn’t afford to be picky now; he had to agree.

He said, “Since the Hall Master thinks so highly of them, why not help with a small favor first?”

“No rush! I heard you’ve cultivated the first layer of the Six Incineration Karma Art to Great Accomplishment. Show me; let me see it first.” An Xianjing was most curious about this, as she knew Li Weiyi had only begun practicing martial arts two years ago.

It takes ten years to cultivate the first layer of the Six Incineration Karma Art, doesn’t it?