Chapter 346: Dao Heart Outside Appearance Dali

"Order from the Divine Hermits: All hermits above the Dao Seed realm, lay down everything you are doing and gather in Skyreach City before the first day of the twelfth lunar month."

Li Weiyi wrote the second letter, pressed the seal of the Divine Hermits' order onto it, and had Old Zhou deliver it along with the first.

He had no intention of leaving, even if the city gates were to open later.

For his personal vendetta, since he had chosen to start this fight with the Sui Sect, he would see it through to the end. New grudges and old scores would be settled together.

Two blood letters alone were still not enough.

From the perspective of a living person, he couldn't just stand by and watch the Demon Race, the Nether Realm of the Deceased, and the Twin Rice Sect break through Skyreach City and then sweep across the land. That wouldn't just be about slaughter and war; it would be the extermination of one race by another.

If the skin is gone, where will the fur attach?

Even with limited cultivation, he could still do what was within his power. Even if he couldn't change the final outcome, at least his conscience would be clear.

Late at night, Old Zhou returned to the coffin shop, bringing back Tuoba Butuo's reply.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, the Divine Son. As long as Tuoba draws breath, he will bring the blood letters back to the main altar and will not delay this important matter. Additionally, during the significant events in the city this morning, Qi Xiao headed south, and it's already too late to pursue him."

Li Weiyi threw the reply into the brazier in front of him.

A vigorous flame immediately burst forth in the brazier.

In the firelight, Li Weiyi's face flickered between light and shadow.

With Qi Xiao's return to the Zuoqiu Gatehouse, many things would change as a result.

But as long as the higher-ups of the Rice Sect believed that the secret plan to attack Skyreach City had been leaked to the imperial court by the Sui Sect, then it would be normal and reasonable for the Zuoqiu Gatehouse to have obtained the information.

However, in that case, the Rice Sect would likely not delay their attack on Skyreach City; instead, they would want to act as quickly as possible.

Li Weiyi asked, "Old Zhou, have you managed to find out the result of the Immortal Realm battle outside the city this morning?"

Old Zhou shook his head. "When it involves Immortal Realm magnates, the secrets are not something ordinary soldiers can know. When I returned, I invited a few old comrades for a drink, and from them, I heard something important."

"It seems something major has happened at the Attendants' Hall; it's been surrounded. Deputy General Qiu, Tai Shizhang, and an important figure from the Jiang family entered before dark and haven't come out yet."

"Some speculate that the General's Mansion is seeking revenge. If they can indeed uncover something from the Attendants' Hall, it would be immensely satisfying."

Li Weiyi nodded slightly.

With all forces investigating together, Yao Qian must be under immense pressure right now.

Jiang Xin couldn't possibly be clean. Once his identity as the "Prefecture Elder" of the evil cult was confirmed, Yao Qian's only recourse would be to silence him preemptively.

Yao Qian killed the Prefecture Elder.

However, before his death, the Prefecture Elder had secretly written a blood letter and sent it out beforehand.

The significance of this blood letter would increase severalfold.

This was precisely what Li Weiyi intended to bring about.

Li Weiyi said, "Next, I'll have to trouble you again, Old Zhou, to keep an eye on the developments at the Attendants' Hall. But whatever you do, don't inquire yourself!"

"Rest assured, Divine Hermit, I have comrades who are with Deputy General Qiu at the Attendants' Hall tonight, working on the case. They'll be able to get the most accurate information. I don't need to specifically inquire; we've been comrades for decades, and they'll talk about it themselves over drinks," Old Zhou said.

Li Weiyi said, "For the next few days, I'm afraid I'll have to stay here with you."

Old Zhou looked embarrassed. "I've always lived alone, and my house is a mess. Plus, there are dead bodies stored all over the courtyard. I'm just worried the Divine Hermit won't be used to it."

"I'm not that particular! There's a cellar in the backyard; I can hide there."

Entering the cellar, Li Weiyi used a coffin to set up a bed. Then, he took out formation flags and arranged a formation.

Only then did he sit cross-legged, activate the Buddha's sarira, and enter the Blood Mud Space.

"Tang Wanzhou, Tang Wanzhou..."

Li Weiyi crouched in front of Tang Wanzhou, trying hard to wake her. If he had the help of this Young Lord of the Northern Territory, he would be much more at ease when facing the enraged Yao Qian.

She remained motionless.

Li Weiyi wanted to act, but ultimately held back, fearing another counterattack.

"It's better to rely on oneself than on others."

Li Weiyi took out two thousand-year-old spirit herbs from Immortal Xu's spatial bag and fed them to the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors.

They were all now at the third heaven of the Dao Seed realm, and the combat power of each was comparable to a strong cultivator at the fourth heaven. Cultivators at the fourth heaven had condensed their Dao Lotus, making it impossible for ordinary inheritors to defeat them.

The cultivation barrier of the fourth heaven was also very difficult for the seven small ones.

But once they crossed it, their realm and combat power would dramatically increase, allowing them to contend with a Sixth Heaven Dao Seed realm cultivator of inferior roots.

If the seven collaborated, even an inheritor at the Sixth Heaven of the Dao Seed realm would likely have to retreat.

As the seven small ones frantically devoured the two thousand-year-old spirit herbs, Li Weiyi took out a small piece of four-colored immortal moss and put it into his mouth. Immediately, a faint four-colored glow appeared all over his body, emitting a fragrant aroma.

Before reaching the Dao Seed realm, he had already refined two catties of immortal soil.

Consuming the four-colored immortal moss was much easier than directly refining immortal soil. Now, Li Weiyi had effectively refined the equivalent of four catties of immortal soil.

The strength of his internal organs and muscles was enough to allow him to engage in close-quarters combat with higher-realm cultivators.

This was one of the reasons he dared to wield a spear and fight the Silver-Winged Great Sage of the Fifth Heaven Dao Seed realm with his Second Heaven Dao Seed realm cultivation.

However, physical cultivation also involved vital essence, bones, and skin/tendons, and Li Weiyi still had a significant gap in these three aspects.

Cultivating vital essence relied on the vital essence and blood crystals from the Shaoyang Star.

The cultivation of the Great Accomplishment Golden Bones relied on the Golden Spring he obtained in Buried Immortal Town.

Refining tendons and shaping skin relied on Divine Hearthwood.

Resources were not currently lacking, but without the rarity of four-colored immortal moss, the speed of body refining would naturally be much slower.

"Other cultivators focus mainly on realm cultivation, with breaking through to the Immortal realm as their primary goal. Therefore, their realm often progresses faster than their physical body. Especially among these young prodigies who cultivate the Dragon Seed Dao, their realm advancement is too fast, and their physical body always remains their weakness."

"For me, my physical strength has always been ahead of my realm, and my cultivation realm has become my weakness instead. Next, I must prioritize Dao comprehension."

"The Cocoon of Time has given me five times the cultivation speed. I only need to regularly consume the four-colored immortal moss and Golden Spring, and my physical body will rapidly improve."

"First, I'll use the four-colored immortal moss to shape my internal organs and muscles until they reach a level comparable to refining ten catties of immortal soil. There will surely be a huge transformation."

Li Weiyi exited the Blood Mud Space and, simultaneously activating two fish eyes, entered the scripture ocean of the Dao Ancestor's Taiji Fish to continue cultivating his Divine Abode Dao Seed.

Seventy scriptures were already inscribed on his Divine Abode Dao Seed.

He spent three days comprehending another scripture, bringing the total to seventy-one.

As the seventy-first scripture was imprinted on the Dao Seed, the spiritual energy around the Dao Seed subtly surged. Even the liquid spiritual power below it rippled.

This was a sign of impending palpitation!

Li Weiyi was delighted and redoubled his efforts.

Sometimes, he contemplated.

Other times, he practiced the Twelve Dispersed Strikes of the Chan Sect, causing twelve divine projections of battle intent to appear at the edge of the scripture ocean. He sparred with them, gaining insights through combat.

Another two days passed.

"Whoosh!"

The seventy-second scripture appeared on the Divine Abode Dao Seed.

As it rotated, the Taiji pattern and the swastika light-shadow appeared. Spiritual energy vibrated, and the ripples expanded.

The palpitation truly began.

Li Weiyi immediately left the scripture ocean and sailed to Tanggu Sea.

The palpitation of the Divine Abode Dao Seed was more intense than that of the Wind Mansion Dragon Seed. With each tremor, the spiritual energy throughout his body was refined.

His mark veins, string veins, and physical body all felt pain with the Dao Seed's palpitation, undergoing further strengthening.

With each realm advancement in the Dao Seed realm, the physical body would strengthen somewhat.

This critical time for physical cultivation must not be missed. Li Weiyi immediately took out all his Golden Spring, four-colored immortal moss, high-grade blood crystals, and Divine Hearthwood, consuming what needed to be consumed and refining what needed to be refined.

Within his Divine Abode, the seventy-two scriptures on the Dao Seed flickered and undulated, and immortal mist flowed. Twelve divine projections appeared, like divine mountains towering in twelve directions.

"Rumble!"

On the Tanggu Sea, the outer manifestation of Dao Heart erupted from Li Weiyi's body.

The immortal mist cleansing his Divine Abode transformed into a sky full of clear radiance, spreading across the sea surface and enveloping an area of one li.

At the Second Heaven of the Dao Seed realm, his outer manifestation reached one li.

Inheritors needed to reach the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed realm to achieve this.

Normal cultivators needed the Fifth Heaven of the Dao Seed realm.

The twelve divine projections, each dozens of meters tall, stood proudly in the twelve directions around the jade boat.

Divine light blazed on their bodies, their forms were solidified, and their hair gleamed. With a thought from Li Weiyi, the Twelve Dispersed Strikes of the Chan Sect were simultaneously unleashed by them.

Some divine projections wielded swords, some soared and roamed, some unleashed palm strikes...

All twelve moves appeared at once; even a movement technique like the Pure Void Cicada Chase Step possessed destructive power when unleashed.

"If I use this move, wouldn't it be like twelve of me attacking simultaneously?"

Li Weiyi's heart surged. He was pondering what level of enemy this move could severely wound when, suddenly, a wave of weakness washed over him due to the severe depletion of spiritual energy. His vision blurred, and he nearly fell backward.

"Battling with the outer manifestation of Dao Heart is already quite taxing on spiritual energy."

"And controlling twelve divine projections to attack simultaneously, while their combat power is astounding, is a drain that my current cultivation simply cannot bear."

"My Divine Abode Dao Seed needs to be concealed, and naturally, my outer manifestation of Dao Heart must also be hidden. I'm only at the Second Heaven of the Dao Seed realm, yet my outer manifestation already reaches one li. If others knew this, would I have to go through the 'being crippled' act again? Who would still believe it?"

Li Weiyi quickly retracted the outer manifestation of Dao Heart, and all the clear radiance dissipated.

He sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, breathing in and out to recover the severely depleted spiritual energy within his body.

He observed his Divine Abode internally.

"Twelve characters for Dao seeding, seventy-two characters for palpitation."

"To reach the Third Heaven of the Dao Seed realm, 'Dao Birth,' how many more scriptures do I need to comprehend?"

Li Weiyi calculated silently.

As his understanding of Daoist texts and Buddhist scriptures deepened, his comprehension speed had become much faster than before. He could now comprehend one of his own scriptures in just two or three days.

He continued to struggle forward, step by step, on the path of the Dao.

It was still too slow. Even if he spent a year, he could only comprehend a little over a hundred scriptures, which might not be enough to achieve "Dao Birth."

He needed to find a way to acquire true scriptures from the Daoist and Buddhist schools.

Taking advantage of this realm breakthrough, his physical body improved significantly. The four-colored immortal moss, in particular, was absorbed extremely quickly, comparable to refining half a catty of immortal soil.

Li Weiyi could see immortal mist swirling within his internal organs, and his muscle strength had greatly increased.

"In each realm, I can essentially break through twice, which greatly benefits my physical body's improvement. I will definitely be able to cultivate an Immortal Body in the Dao Seed realm; it just depends on which level I achieve it."

"Gurgle!"

"Gurgle gurgle!"

Bubbles and white mist rose from the sea surface.

A streak of crimson-gold light appeared at the bottom of the sea; the Golden Crow was about to soar out of the ocean.

Li Weiyi had no intention of sailing away. He stood up and gazed at the Fusang Divine Tree at the edge of the sea, his mind peaceful.

This time, he was prepared to directly withstand the Golden Crow's radiance.

He relaxed completely and closed his eyes in meditation.

"Whoosh!"

The light-shadow of the Fusang Divine Tree appeared, enveloping his body. Instantly, his skin glowed as if he possessed a pure immortal body, radiating sacred splendor, like an immortal traversing the sea on a boat.

"Splash!"

Thousands of miles away, the Golden Crow spread its wings and emerged from the sea, its twin wings like two golden clouds, stirring up monstrous waves that reached the sky.

Not only did the sea surface boil, but the air also simmered.

The first wave of light and heat rapidly crashed against the light-shadow of the Fusang Divine Tree. The light-shadow swayed unsteadily, becoming indistinct.

The jade boat beneath was pushed away by the impact.