Chapter 323: Master Guan

Li Wei and the five Phoenix-winged Moth Kings broke through Sikong Yanlun's ghost-fire palm print. Seeing Yang Qingxi still standing by, it seemed she genuinely intended to join forces with them.

So, Li Wei put the five small creatures and the Earth Spirit into his insect pouch. He prepared to escape by burrowing into the swamp's depths, using the spatial power of the Prefect's official robe.

"Li, this time's help is worth five million Yongquan coins. Don't ask me for money again in the future."

Yang Qingxi stepped onto a long river of spiritual energy, flying up from the water. Holding twin swords, she headed directly for the Jade Boat. She realized that the Jade Boat was the true treasure for escape, but unfortunately, it was firmly restrained by Sikong Jingyuan.

Yang Qingchan, controlling six Bodhi seeds and over eight hundred scriptures, moved towards the battlefield where Li Wei, Sikong Yanlun, and Yi Zhouxue were fighting. She tore open a gap in the external manifestations of the Dao hearts of the two powerful experts.

Li Wei couldn't fathom the true intentions of the two Yangs. Afraid to let Yang Qingchan get close, he decisively submerged himself. As for the two people and two phoenixes on the Jade Boat, he could no longer attend to them. He could only hope that Qi Xiao would act decisively and activate the Jade Boat's flight power to escape.

Yi Zhouxue and Sikong Yanlun plunged into the water, chasing Li Wei's aura, which they sensed through the external manifestations of the Dao heart. Their spiritual energy entangled him. Even if he could use water evasion or earth evasion, they intended to drag him back.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three figures simultaneously burst out of the water, their faces filled with terror, fleeing at top speed.

"Boss, run now! The things below... they've all come alive!" Sikong Yanlun roared in horror, warning Sikong Jingyuan.

Li Wei was also terrified by the situation below and fled back to the surface. Without even having time to retrieve his Prefect's official robe, he shouted to Qi Xiao, "Control the Jade Boat, escape immediately!" It was too terrifying, as if a realm of ghosts had descended.

On the Jade Boat, Yang Qingxi had just gotten her hands on the Ghost Flag and turned to look back. She saw that behind Yi Zhouxue, Sikong Yanlun, Li Wei, and Yang Qingchan, the water's surface was ablaze with ghost fire. Phantoms of various Buddhas appeared within the ghost fire. Some held prayer beads, others wooden fish, some Zen staffs... all were chanting scriptures, their serene voices resonating endlessly. The skeletons at the bottom of the water began to rise, one after another, lifted to the surface by the ghost fire. They were so decayed that only bones remained, with only a few still wearing tattered armor or monastic robes. On the water's surface, more and more ancient departed spirits appeared.

"Whoosh!"

The Jade Boat sped over, picked up Li Wei and Yang Qingchan, then flew into the air, unleashing unparalleled speed as it headed directly towards the massive hole several thousand meters above.

"Miss Yang, where are you taking us?" Qi Xiao asked.

Yang Qingxi stood at the bow, continuously releasing spiritual energy into the Jade Boat. "In this situation, going up is the safest option," she said.

"Based on the direction, above the Dark Nether Lotus Marsh is the Zen Forest of Truth," Li Wei said, as he meditated to heal his injuries. He then released the five Phoenix-winged Moth Kings from his insect pouch and secretly transmitted a warning to them, to beware of Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan. There was no other choice. Even if Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan had genuinely intended to help earlier, both he and Tuoba Butuo were now severely injured. Without the ability to defend themselves, he couldn't guarantee they wouldn't turn on them and strike a fatal blow.

Yang Qingxi raised her head, looking at the huge hole above, which resembled a "collapsed sky." She murmured to herself, "The layer above is indeed the Zen Forest of Truth. But this giant hole seems to lead even higher. Could it be connected to the Sacred Heart Layer?"

Soon, the Jade Boat disappeared into the dark hole.

Below, in the marsh, a blood-mud figure, riding in a coffin, floated out from behind countless departed spirits. It gazed at the disappearing jade light at the massive hole and muttered to itself, "Good fellow, I haven't seen you in over a year, and your combat strength has actually reached such a level."

The blood-mud figure was none other than Master Guan. Zen Sea Guanying, Master Coffin, and Master Spirit Tablet had all gone to the Sacred Heart Layer via the giant hole. Master Guan had stayed behind to receive them. When Li Wei first arrived here, Master Guan had already noticed him but dared not easily make contact. Firstly, Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo were present. Secondly, he was unsure if any Longevity Realm grandmasters from the Dao Sect were lurking in the shadows.

"Disperse, all of you. Don't make too much of a commotion. If we attract Longevity Realm grandmasters, I, in my current state, won't be able to handle it."

Master Guan waved his hand lightly. Immediately, the departed spirits sank back into the water, no longer pursuing Yi Zhouxue and the other two.

Inside the cave-like secret treasury.

Li Wei spent three hours bringing his injuries under control. He then stood up and observed the cave: Qi Xiao, Tuoba Butuo, and Yang Qingchan were all there, but Yang Qingxi was nowhere to be seen.

The cave dwelling was large, and footsteps echoed. Li Wei walked several hundred meters before he saw Yang Qingxi, who was studying the Ghost Flag near the stone gate and the entrance formation. He walked over, his tone gentle, "Have you figured it out?"

Yang Qingxi looked up and glanced at him. "Don't think I want to claim it for myself! This place isn't safe. Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun could find us at any time. I need to master stronger power to deal with them."

Li Wei stared into her eyes. "Earlier, Miss Yang, were you genuinely trying to help, or did you have ulterior motives?"

"You doubt me? If I had ulterior motives, do you think I would have given you a chance to heal?" Yang Qingxi said.

Li Wei nodded. "That makes sense! But there's one thing that doesn't make sense: earlier in the Dark Nether Lotus Marsh, I was clearly at an absolute disadvantage. Even if we had joined forces, victory would have been difficult. Yet, Miss Yang chose to help me instead of killing me. That doesn't make sense at all."

Yang Qingxi didn't answer immediately. After a moment of thought, she said, "Your potential is far superior to theirs, making you a better partner for cooperation. The combat strength you demonstrated earlier has earned my recognition."

Li Wei walked to within a foot of her and shook his head. "That's too far-fetched! Killing me would have yielded far greater benefits than cooperating with me."

Yang Qingxi felt Li Wei's aggressive stance; her heart involuntarily quickened. Avoiding his gaze, she turned slightly and said, "I don't believe those three would have shared any spoils with me after you were killed."

Li Wei found her reaction amusing and took another half-step closer. "But I heard that Sikong Yanlun is deeply devoted to you; there's no way he would go against you."

"Him? He's just driven by possessiveness! Can you not stand so close? Why do I feel like you're trying to take advantage and attack me?" Yang Qingxi retreated two steps as if to escape.

Li Wei had never imagined that a strong woman like Yang Qingxi could be so timid.

"Li, let me tell you, she might be developing feelings for you! When a woman falls in love but refuses to admit it, many things become unexplainable."

Yang Qingchan's figure leaned against the stone wall, a smile on her face.

Yang Qingxi's eyes turned cold as she looked at her. "If I were truly someone who would lose my rationality due to emotion, I would have acted long ago, not waited until he was in the most dangerous moment to intervene."

"Acting at the most dangerous moment is precisely how you make him remember it more deeply and feel grateful towards you," Yang Qingchan said, revealing her pearly white teeth, her red lips vibrant and moist.

Li Wei said, "I actually find Miss Yang Er's explanation quite reasonable. It seems from now on, I can't call you Qingxi anymore; it's too intimate. You might start taking it seriously if I keep calling you that! You're far too easily swayed!"

Li Wei laughed heartily, shifting from his earlier aggressive demeanor to a more carefree one, and walked further into the cave. Regardless, this time, Li Wei's perception of Yang Qingxi completely changed. He could see that she genuinely wanted to help him escape. It was already quite remarkable that she could stand by his side during the most perilous moment. As for what she truly thought—whether it was calculation, foresight, intention, or even a hint of genuine emotion—it didn't really matter. After all, they were all clear-headed and rational people, not to be swayed by such emotions.

Li Wei's words made Yang Qingxi's mood fluctuate wildly, and her ears felt hot. She had never experienced such strong emotional shifts before. She said coldly, "Five million Yongquan coins, and we're even."

"What kind of dream are you having? You didn't really help much earlier; you didn't act promptly, and you still expect to clear the debt?"

Li Wei disappeared into the depths of the cave dwelling. Although she looked angry, ripples spread across Yang Qingxi's heart. This sense of connection made her feel that there was always a bond between them. She made up her mind: she would absolutely not pay him back that money.

His internal injuries were too severe; it took Li Wei a full four days for his wounds to completely heal. He dared not easily leave the secret treasury because Sikong Jingyuan, Sikong Yanlun, and Yi Zhouxue had appeared in the vicinity. Moreover, there were also many patrol guards.

"They must have returned to the main altar and learned we didn't go back, so they suspect we're hiding here," Yang Qingxi said, her eyes grave. She regretted not having escaped back to the main altar immediately.

Li Wei added, "They might even have invited some other masters over."

Qi Xiao said, "Those three are truly terrifyingly strong; even so many departed spirits couldn't hold them back."

Everyone nodded, realizing that the sudden appearance of a large number of departed spirits in the marsh was quite strange.

"They shouldn't be able to find the treasury's entrance for a while. Besides, the entrance is narrow and easy to defend, making it a good hiding spot. Next, we'll take turns guarding," Tuoba Butuo said.

Li Wei nodded. "If we can truly hide for ten days to half a month, they might retreat, thinking we followed that massive, tens-of-miles-wide hole to a higher region."

"If we hide for that long without returning to the main altar, it would alarm the powerful figures behind the two of us!" Yang Qingxi said.

Over the next half-month, everyone immersed themselves in cultivation and self-improvement. Under crisis and pressure, a martial practitioner's potential would be stimulated, continuously developing and enhancing their talent.

"Whoosh!"

Inside the cave dwelling, a powerful spiritual light erupted, spreading across the stone walls, illuminating the entire space with a dazzling heat. With sufficient Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stones, two attempts to break through failed. On the third attempt, Li Wei finally condensed his fourth Psychic Star.

Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo were startled. They stopped cultivating and looked over, filled with envy. Whether in martial arts or psychic cultivation, the fourth realm was an extremely difficult threshold to cross. Yet, Li Wei had managed to cross it ahead of them.

At the center of the cave dwelling, Li Wei sat cross-legged, meditating. Behind him was the rapidly growing phantom of the Fusang Divine Tree. The divine tree phantom resembled two large umbrellas. From its branches and leaves, a rain of Golden Crow fire cascaded, enveloping his body, while psychic nerves interwove like a spiderweb throughout the entire space.