Chapter 391: Lunar December 31st

“Young Lord, this is no laughing matter! A slight mishap could cost you your life in Firmament City.”

Li Weiyi’s expression was serious. He added, “There must be a major figure from the Demon Nation here! That’s why even the Third Palace Lord, who has been renowned for thousands of years, is so wary.”

Tang Wanzhou sat in meditation on the jade boat, occupying the former bow position of the Zen Sea Fog-Watching vessel, over ten feet off the ground. “Since you know the danger, why did you still make this choice?”

Li Weiyi didn't know how to answer. After a long silence, he finally said, “One cannot always make the right choices. Sometimes, one must also make choices they like. Otherwise, people will gradually grow to resent life, missing out on countless joys and the inherent wonder of existence itself.”

Tang Wanzhou glanced at him.

Reflection on the meaning of life, much like cultivation for enlightenment, accompanies a martial practitioner throughout their life, forming the essence of their spirit and their path forward.

She said, “Your analysis is correct. A formidable figure from the Demon Nation must have arrived, and they might even be at the Six Thoughts Zen Monastery.”

“These foreign powerhouses cannot occupy the Firmament Sanctuary. Their armies cannot cross the Netherworld of the Departed. Even if they wanted to occupy it, they would only support local forces as puppets to do so.”

“They are more like plunderers, coveting nothing more than three things.”

“First, the inheritances of the Firmament Palace and the major Million-Household Sects: their Taoist arts, true scriptures, alchemy formulas, formation diagrams, and so on.”

“You should know that a thousand years ago, when the Firmament Sanctuary spanned three hundred states, most of the current Million-Household level forces were considered Billion-Household level at that time. Their ancestors produced Martial Emperors, and their power was far greater than it is now, not much inferior to the Divine Dark Families.”

“Their inheritances hold great allure for any force.”

“Second, naturally, are the resource treasuries of the various Million-Household Sects: all kinds of artifacts, pills, millennium elixirs, blood crystals, immortal soil, spirit earth, and so on. This also includes valuable living beings such as powerful enslaved individuals imbued with Death Spirit Flames, young geniuses, beauties with pure immortal physiques, exotic insects, and strange beasts.”

“Third, supreme artifacts.”

“The power unleashed by supreme artifacts in certain situations can even contend with a Martial Emperor; each one is priceless. Outside, only Billion-Household clans possess such forbidden artifacts.”

“If Jade Child wields a supreme artifact, utilizing the formation of the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plains and her own immense cultivation, what kind of combat power could she unleash?”

“These few supreme artifacts in the Firmament Sanctuary are definitely being targeted by some foreign powerhouses!”

A strong sense of helplessness arose in Li Weiyi’s heart: “If the human race in the Firmament Sanctuary could unite, merely with the supreme artifacts, they would be enough to make those with ill intentions fearful and dare not act rashly.”

Tang Wanzhou said, “This was precisely the situation in the Firmament Sanctuary for the past thousand years. Everyone united, striving for strength, solely to reclaim the two hundred and seventy-two states. At that time, who would dare to be presumptuous? But all of this has been shattered!”

Li Weiyi consumed a Star Day Pill, silently refining it. Then he squatted down, looking at the corpse from which four-colored immortal radiance emanated.

This powerful departed spirit was one he had taken into his Blood Mire Space.

It had already been killed by Tang Wanzhou with a single palm strike, its soul scattered.

The artifact robe it wore was of high grade and tough material, but unfortunately, it was severely damaged, with many parts decayed. Through its rotting body, golden bones could be seen, their texture and color like gold.

Tang Wanzhou said, “It came from a Bone Mansion in the southern Netherworld. It was likely a Longevity Realm grandmaster from one of the two hundred and seventy-two states a thousand years ago, whose body was invaded by the strange forces of the Netherworld after death, transforming it into a Corpse Departed Spirit.”

“Its past consciousness has already been annihilated.”

“Within the husk, a new consciousness was born, cultivating to the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm.”

Li Weiyi reached out to examine its ancestral field, finding that it had long since withered, and its inner world had collapsed.

Tang Wanzhou asked, “What are you looking for? A Dao Fruit, or a Longevity Golden Core?”

“Since it was a Longevity Realm grandmaster in life, it should have a Golden Core inside. Even without a Golden Core, a Departed Spirit commander at the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm should have a Dao Fruit, right?” Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Wanzhou said, “These Departed Spirits cultivate in strange and varied ways; they might not even cultivate ancestral fields. Even if they cultivated a Longevity Golden Core in life, it would have been dug out or absorbed by the new consciousness long ago.”

Li Weiyi stared at the corpse on the ground, pondering secretly.

The Zen Sea Fog-Watcher once said that when his vitality was strong enough and he started soul cultivation, he would be able to master the secret art of "Blood-Awakening Corpses," which could temporarily awaken a corpse to fight for him. However, it wouldn't last long.

Having reached the Dao Seed Realm, he had already begun soul cultivation.

Li Weiyi cut his finger, channeled his mental energy and a wisp of soul force into his blood, then dripped the blood onto the corpse's forehead. He then channeled his mental energy to make the blood permeate the corpse's body.

He attempted to control the corpse.

The corpse slowly sat up.

It wasn't truly awake; it was merely controlled by his mental energy and a wisp of soul power, like a puppet on strings. At best, its body was a bit sturdier, but it wasn't very useful.

Clearly, this was not "awakening the corpse."

"Awakening the corpse" should, at the very least, involve some of the corpse's consciousness from before death.

“Could it be that my vitality isn’t strong enough?”

Li Weiyi thought for a moment, using his finger as a brush and his blood and spiritual light as ink, he wrote the character "Lin" from the Six Jia Secret Incantations on the corpse's forehead.

This secret script was similar to puppetry.

It could turn scattered beans into soldiers.

“Whoosh!”

The corpse abruptly stood up, a flicker of light in its eyes, and four-colored radiance erupted from its body. Wisps of cadaveric aura surged from the seven orifices of its skull, and a powerful aura burst forth from its form.

It possessed the formidable presence of a Dao Seed Realm expert.

Tang Wanzhou said, "Quite interesting. You've mastered quite a few strange techniques. The Jiuli Tribe is indeed mysterious."

Li Weiyi shook his head. This was not the "awakened corpse" he wanted; it was merely a more powerful puppet, incapable of becoming his trump card against Xie Chucai. At best, it had some use.

He put it into his spatial pouch, to be used when needed.

Li Weiyi asked, “Young Lord, your cultivation speed is astonishing. Do you know of any methods to aid in enlightenment?”

“There are not many shortcuts in martial cultivation; enlightenment is fundamental. The path forward is arduous, and bitter cultivation knows no end. There are indeed some rare treasures that can aid enlightenment, such as the pine nuts of the Earth Demon Pine or the spirit peaches produced by the Immortal Peach Tree. All are extremely rare and difficult to obtain.”

“Dao Lotus Pills and Dao Fruit Pills can also be taken. However, Dragon Seed Dao cultivation is already the fastest method. Taking more Dao Lotus Pills and Dao Fruit Pills would inevitably damage your foundation, resulting in more harm than good.”

Li Weiyi said, “What if one isn’t afraid of damaging their foundation?”

“Trying to hasten growth in the short term will cause future trouble; it won’t take long to discover the drawbacks…”

Tang Wanzhou knew many of Li Weiyi’s secrets. An unusual glint flashed in her eyes: “If you merely want to quickly advance your Wind Palace Dragon Seed to the next realm, you could try it. After all, it doesn’t represent your foundation; it’s merely a means to mislead others.”

Li Weiyi smiled, “That’s exactly what I meant.”

The twelve-character Dao Seed of the Divine Palace can be solidified step by step, allowing for immense time in the future to comprehend, study true scriptures, and walk one’s true martial path, understanding and refining it.

However, the Wind Palace Dragon Seed can be pushed more aggressively, rapidly enhancing one’s strength to protect and escort the Divine Palace Dao Seed.

Tang Wanzhou said, “If it’s just to cope with this battle, breaking through to the Fourth Realm wouldn’t have much impact. But there’s not enough time; it would take at least one or two months.”

“What if I have this treasure?”

Li Weiyi took out an iron box and opened it.

Inside, golden light radiated, revealing a peanut-sized Longevity Golden Core. It glowed faintly, exuding boundless mystique, with countless profound scriptures floating upon its surface.

This was the treasure the Dao Rice Sect was preparing to bribe Zhou Bida with!

“For a battle of life and death, it’s good to make extra preparations. This Longevity Golden Core has already been refined and can be swallowed directly. I’ll help you check if there are any hidden dangers. Even with its assistance, it’s still hard to say whether you can break through to the Fourth Heaven.” Tang Wanzhou said.

Li Weiyi handed the Longevity Golden Core to Tang Wanzhou for examination. After feeding the seven little ones millennium elixirs and Xihe Flowers, he activated the Time Cocoon, entered it, and focused entirely on cultivating his mental energy.

The time left for him, at most, was only three days.

Even with the Time Cocoon, it would only be half a month.

Breaking through to Six-Star Spiritual Mentalist was the true capital for a direct confrontation with Xie Chucai. As for martial arts, even reaching the Fourth Heaven would only be the icing on the cake, merely increasing his chances of victory.

On the last day of the old year, the weather was fair and beautiful, and all households celebrated.

Early in the morning, martial practitioners from various city districts and major forces began to arrive from all directions, taking up advantageous positions to watch the battle.

For the past three days, people had continuously been building momentum for this battle, calling it the “Battle for the Honor of Firmament Sanctuary,” “The Pinnacle Duel between Mentalists and Martial Practitioners,” “The Clash between Firmament Sanctuary’s Foremost Talent and the First Genius of the Deliverance Temple”…

Fairy Yu’s delivery of the challenge letter on behalf of Li Weiyi became a popular topic of discussion among countless people; even the Young Emperor of the Zuoqiu Clan became part of the conversation.

The Demon Child’s previous denigration of mentalists, calling them servants raised by martial practitioners and similar remarks, had spread, provoking widespread anger among mentalists.

Xie Chucai’s humiliating assertion that “the Demon Child has already subdued all experts under sixty in the Firmament Sanctuary, and he himself intends to cross realms to fight all Seventh-Realm martial practitioners of the Firmament Sanctuary” continued to escalate, igniting immense fury among the city’s martial practitioners.

In short, this battle was a hot topic, elevated to an entirely new level.

It was no longer just a personal life-and-death struggle.

At noon.

The ten-thousand-meter-tall Earth Demon Pine, with its incredibly lush silver branches and leaves, blocked the sunlight, enveloping the entire Six Thoughts Zen Monastery and the six majestic demonic mountains below. It resembled a primeval divine tree, capable of supporting a whole world on its own.

The Six Thoughts Zen Monastery, sacred and myriad-faceted, was shrouded in a silver rain of light, and the clouds flowing along the mountains were all scriptures.

How could this be demonic mountains and a demonic realm?

It was practically sacred ground.

Three days prior, the armies of the Phoenix Terrace and the City Defense Camp had already encamped before the monastery gate, surrounding the area.

They publicly claimed they were there to maintain order.

The monastery gate, usually open for free entry, was now tightly shut, refusing pilgrims. Even the defensive formation had been activated, showing no intention of opening on New Year’s Eve.

By afternoon, the area outside the Six Thoughts Zen Monastery was packed with people.

No one knew who it was, but someone first shouted, “Open the gates quickly!” This was followed by a roar like a mountain and a sea, with shouts echoing everywhere.

Jiang Ning sat in meditation on the back of a winged flame beast, having guarded the monastery gate for three days already. High-ranking officials like the Phoenix Terrace Deputy Minister and Minister Zheng had repeatedly ordered her to lead her troops away, but she ignored them.

The head of the Attendant Hall stood by her side, helping her withstand the pressure.

Two factions within the court were secretly competing.

Zhuang Yue arrived beneath the beast and transmitted a message to Jiang Ning with a cold tone using her spiritual energy: “What exactly are you trying to do? Why must you push him into the limelight? In these three days, Xie Chucai has already defeated ten Seventh-Heaven Dao Seed Realm martial practitioners in Firmament City. He hasn’t been affected by anger; instead, he’s transformed it into momentum, and his fighting spirit is growing stronger.”

It was Zuoqiu Hongting’s voice.

Jiang Ning looked down at “Zhuang Yue” standing on the ground, meeting her gaze without the slightest fear of her Young Emperor’s might: “I knew you would come!”