Chapter 32: Opening the Third Spring

After Zhao Zhizhu left, Li Weiyi sat alone under an ox-horn bone lamp, studying the Evil Camel Bell.

The bell was ancient and rustic, its corroded parts extremely rough, with faint traces of eroded scripture visible.

It was too sinister; it could affect one's mind, entice sin, and amplify evil thoughts.

It seemed... it could also collect evil thoughts.

At the time, Li Weiyi desperately wanted to throw it into the sea of blood to sink forever. He only kept it because it could store physical objects and contained an unfathomable space within.

Li Weiyi planned to buy a batch of food to take back when he returned to the bronze battleship. How much could just he and Gao Huan carry? If it truly was a treasure that could encompass heaven and earth, it would be much more convenient!

"It should also be a magic artifact," he thought. "According to Old Zhao, it can be activated with spiritual energy. The extent of activation depends on one's realm, as well as the strength and quantity of the spiritual energy."

Fearing an accident, Li Weiyi plugged his ears. He then slowly channeled the spiritual energy from the two spring-like apertures in the soles of his feet into the bell.

Before long, with a whoosh, the bell's surface shimmered, trembled slightly, and expanded several times in size.

Li Weiyi hesitated for a moment, then, after putting on silver-threaded gloves, reached into the bell's interior. His entire arm went in; it was vast inside, and he couldn't feel any walls or edges. Nor did he touch the semi-illusory, semi-real camels. He had no way of knowing what was truly inside, only finding a few jars of Golden Crow blood, which Yu Tuonan had clearly placed there on the bronze battleship.

When he activated it again with spiritual energy, the Evil Camel Bell didn't grow any larger. With his current cultivation, this was the maximum he could achieve. Besides, even if the bell became large enough, he wouldn't dare enter it carelessly.

As for "shaking the Evil Camel Bell," Li Weiyi wasn't brave enough to try it yet, fearing uncontrollable dangers.

"Old Zhao said that once four apertures are opened, spiritual energy can begin to overflow and be manipulated at will. If the spiritual energy is strong enough, one can even retrieve objects from a distance."

For Li Weiyi, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, such a realm was incredibly fascinating and deeply desired.

"Only by opening four apertures can one attain a certain status, becoming half a 'superior person.' To complete the other half, one must transcend beyond the Gushing Spring Realm." Zhao Zhizhu had uttered this sentiment at the time.

Putting the Evil Camel Bell away, Li Weiyi lay on the bed, hands clasped behind his head, unable to sleep.

At times, he thought of Cai Yutong, who had been taken by the Bone Demon. At other times, his thoughts drifted to his senior brother on the bronze battleship, and then to the bits and pieces of learning martial arts with his master on the mountain.

"Martial Way, Martial Way... only martial arts remain, no 'Way'." This was what his master had once said!

But now, a magnificent path of martial arts was unfolding before him. Whether it was the overflow of spiritual energy, retrieving objects from a distance, or techniques like Shi Jiuzhai's breathing out clouds and phasing through cliffs, it was all incredibly appealing.

The future path of martial arts was bound to be spectacular, with countless divine abilities awaiting his ascent and pursuit. As for becoming a "superior person"... who would willingly remain forever at the bottom, never seeing the light of day, always looking up to see only feet stepping on their head?

Li Weiyi got out of bed, grabbed a jar of Golden Crow blood, and took a large gulp. He then sat cross-legged on the floor, practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, and mobilized both cold and hot spiritual energies for refinement.

After a night of cultivation, the next morning, Li Weiyi, dressed in a dark blue cloth robe with beast patterns and a purple sash, sat by the railing on the second-floor platform of the Yaohua Courtyard. He watched the diverse crowds on the street and the various fierce beasts accompanying them.

Those with powerful cultivation walked atop giant pythons over ten meters long, causing everyone to fearfully step aside. Ordinary folk, dressed in rags and disheveled, pulled carts alongside wild boars weighing thousands of pounds. Law-martial cultivators from large families guided house-sized four-armed apes carrying some kind of ore; these creatures, though immensely strong, were enslaved.

Li Weiyi knew very well that he and Gao Huan were able to stay at Yaohua Courtyard, enjoy delicious food, and receive treatment befitting "superior people" only because they had greatly helped the Cangli tribe. They could be respected for a short time, and someone else paid for their enjoyments. But even the greatest favors eventually run their course. Possessing strength oneself was the key to truly being a "superior person," without having to worry about suddenly being expelled one morning, then having nowhere to go, becoming displaced like a street beggar.

Survival and establishing a foothold were the immediate priorities. As for living well and splendidly, that could only be achieved through martial cultivation.

Around him was the bustling prosperity, the constant flow of traffic, vendors shouting their wares, and the myriad aspects of human life. For a few moments, Li Weiyi felt as if everything that happened on the bronze battleship, and even his nineteen years of life on Earth, had been a dream. The world before him now seemed to be the only reality.

He opened his right palm, which felt scorching hot, as if a miniature volcano was erupting within it. Eleven silver vein lines, rooted in the spring-like aperture in his palm, extended into eleven new qi circulation routes. If he were to activate this palm aperture while performing a hand technique like "Heaven-Overturning Palm Print," its power would undoubtedly be far greater than before.

He had opened this third aperture just this morning. The total number of silver vein lines in his body had reached thirty-seven.

Li Weiyi was quite puzzled. Last night, Zhao Zhizhu had repeatedly claimed that opening apertures was incredibly difficult, requiring ten years of arduous cultivation even for those with superior talent to open the four apertures in their limbs. Beyond four apertures, it would be even harder. However, Li Weiyi felt that Zhao Zhizhu must have experienced too many setbacks and hardships in his life, which made him prone to exaggerating difficulties and losing confidence in facing life's challenges. He thought that when Zhao Zhizhu encountered a mutant who had opened just one aperture, he believed it was three, making him an insurmountable foe.

Opening an aperture certainly had its difficulties, but it was nowhere near the "heaven-ascending" challenge he described. Otherwise, how could he himself have opened one in just a few days?

For Zhao Zhizhu, it might indeed be harder than for Li Weiyi, as everyone's cultivation speed and talent differ, and one cannot judge others by oneself. But how vast could the difference between people be? Someone who gets into the Capital University doesn't have an extra head compared to someone who attends a vocational college.

Gao Huan came into Li Weiyi's room, leaned close, and said mysteriously, "Brother Li, do you think the Jiuli tribe in this world is the same as the Jiuli tribe from Earth's myths and legends?"

"How would I know?" Li Weiyi chuckled.

Gao Huan said, "I think it's highly possible! Legend has it that after the Battle of Zhuolu, the remaining Jiuli people fled into the North Sea and went to the underworld. Didn't we also start from the Arctic Ocean to get here? On the way, we even found the Red County Ancient Road stone pillar monument, which indicates that people from ancient Huaxia traveled this path."

"If we could get into the core upper echelons of the Jiuli tribe and carefully investigate their ancestral lineage, we might find the answer."

Knowing Gao Huan's usual eccentricities and associative thinking, Li Weiyi wasn't surprised. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Gao Huan said, "They are 'Li people,' and we are also 'Li people' (common folk), which means we very likely share a common ancestor. Although I don't know if we can return to Earth, I've found a strange sense of belonging and peace here. You wouldn't want to go back on the ship and continue that perilous and unknown drifting in the sea of blood, would you?"

"You want to stay?" Li Weiyi asked.

Gao Huan replied, "According to you, we are now indebted to the Cangli tribe. As long as we behave ourselves, staying within their tribe to survive shouldn't be difficult. The only thing we need to figure out is how to bring the first mate and the others over."

Li Weiyi was naturally considering this matter as well.

Zhao Zhizhu arrived again, driving a carriage, and stopped outside the main gate of Yaohua Courtyard.

After Li Weiyi and Gao Huan got into the carriage, he drove while saying, "The Young Chieftain understands the Young Benefactor's concerns, but such a great debt of gratitude must be acknowledged in person. Don't worry, not many people will know about this."

The Cangli tribe's attack was bound to cause a sensation. If everyone knew that two individuals had saved Zhao Zhizhu and brought him to Yao Pass City for help, leading to the enemy's failure, then the Direwolf King's Army and Shi Jiuzhai would certainly find out. As long as they investigated, they would undoubtedly uncover the two people who foiled their plans. Regardless of whether the situation developed in this direction, Li Weiyi had to consider it from this perspective first. That's why he refused to meet the Cangli tribe's Young Chieftain with Zhao Zhizhu last night, as too many eyes would be present.

His current strength was far from sufficient to openly make waves. In this brutal world where people could be killed at will, he needed to at least transcend beyond the Gushing Spring Realm to become a "superior person" and truly possess confidence and leverage.

"Old Zhao, please stop calling me 'Young Benefactor,'" Li Weiyi said. "If you don't mind, 'little brother' or 'Brother Xie' would be fine!"

"Alright," Zhao Zhizhu replied, naturally pleased to use a more familiar address.

Led by Zhao Zhizhu, Li Weiyi and Gao Huan met the Young Chieftain at the Jujube Plum Manor, where the Cangli tribesmen were temporarily staying.

"Young Chieftain, Miss Ling," Zhao Zhizhu began, "this is Brother Xie. Yesterday, he slew those two Foduzu mutant experts, saved me, and then brought me to Yao Pass City for help." Zhao Zhizhu added, "Brother Xie's name is Xie Jin! And this Brother Gao, Gao Huan, has a congenital speech impediment... he only knows his hometown dialect..."

Li Weiyi secretly observed Cang Li, his heart filled with emotion. This truly was a member of the world's elite; his clothing, accessories, and demeanor alone exuded an indescribable nobility. Any woman who saw him would likely fall for him at first sight.

He was roughly the same age as Li Weiyi, exceptionally handsome, and, like Gao Huan and Cai Yutong, seemed to have undergone a transformation, with his body and skin ethereal and flawless. Even more remarkable was the intangible aura emanating from him due to his incredibly high cultivation, instantly creating a fundamental gap between him and everyone else present.

Li Weiyi never felt inferior or underestimated himself, but everyone had an internal yardstick to measure both themselves and others.

Cang Li made an effort to appear approachable, expressing his gratitude to Li Weiyi and Gao Huan. He was gentle, polite, and friendly, yet maintained a clear distance. Standing at such a high position, achieving even this much was quite difficult.

He said, "Zhao Zhizhu has told me about your situation. The world has been in turmoil for ten years now, with malevolent spirits, fierce insects, and cursed monsters outside, and banditry and warfare within. The common people in every province find life harder each year. Now, it seems even Lizhou is about to fall into chaos!"

These words didn't sound like they were directed at Li Weiyi, but rather like Cang Li was speaking to himself in contemplation.

Cang Li was clearly uninterested in where Li Weiyi and Gao Huan came from, asking instead, "You're on the path of law-martial cultivation, aren't you? How many apertures have you opened?"

"Three," Li Weiyi replied.

"That's not bad," he said. Given Li Weiyi's age and only three opened apertures, in the mind of the supremely talented Cang Li, this was merely a "passable" achievement. However, the Old Chieftain had always reminded him that to be a chieftain, he must first control his tongue and not speak too bluntly. To treat the worthy with respect and recruit talent, one must speak kindly and avoid offending people with words.

Li Ling stood behind Cang Li, barefoot, appearing to be fifteen or sixteen years old. She wore nine silver bracelets on her arms, a multi-colored robe, and her long hair was braided into many thin pigtails. Blue, misty light traces permeated her body.

Gao Huan, standing beside Li Weiyi, couldn't take his eyes off Li Ling once he saw her. Although the transformed Cai Yutong was also beautiful like a celestial being, Gao Huan had always kept his distance from such aloof and temperamental female doctors. But this young girl before him was different; she was like an elf in the mist, with delicate, sweet, yet mysterious and serene features—every aspect appealed to him deeply. As for Liu Ying... he didn't dare to recall anything about her, always feeling she was a hurdle he could never overcome in his life.

Cang Li had noticed Gao Huan earlier and was far more interested in him than in Li Weiyi. This was a pure immortal physique!