Chapter 41: Four Springs

Li Weiyi sat cross-legged, forming the Zi-Wu Tai Chi Seal with his hands, and practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique.

The blue and white ash urn bounced around in front of him and said, "Dharma is the power of heaven and earth, present in every corner. A speck of dust, a wisp of air, a river, a mountain — it exists in both large and small places."

"However, the distribution of Dharma throughout heaven and earth is not uniform."

"In ordinary dirt, rocks, and dust, Dharma is sparse and barren. But in places where precious herbs grow, where Dharma cultivators gather, or where celestial Dharma springs exist... Dharma naturally thrives, making them more suitable for cultivation."

Zhao Meng, standing nearby, asked, "Places where Dharma cultivators gather are more suitable for cultivation?"

"Precisely!"

The blue and white ash urn said, "Dharma cultivation sanctuaries can be artificially created. Imagine a place where many cultivators practice, all having opened their spring orifices and performing breathing techniques. The Dharma in heaven and earth will naturally converge there, making the Dharma in that region incredibly dense."

"Sometimes, a top-tier Dharma cultivator, through their breathing technique or the surging of their Nine Springs, can draw Dharma from a thousand-mile radius to their location. Where they reside becomes a Dharma cultivation sanctuary."

"As the saying goes, 'When one attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.'"

"Of course, top-tier cultivators, large groups of Dharma practitioners, and celestial Dharma springs often appear together. Who wouldn't want to combine these powerful elements to create the ultimate cultivation ground?"

"That's why major prefecture cities are often the most suitable places for cultivation in a state. This is not only because Dharma cultivators gather there, but also because ancient people, when choosing sites to build cities, would certainly select locations with celestial Dharma springs."

"The Spring Surging Realm goes without saying; it's definitely easier to open spring orifices in a major prefecture city. By the time you reach the Five Seas Realm, the advantages will be even greater."

"Your greatest advantage, both of you, is the breathing technique you've practiced since childhood."

"With your breathing technique, at the same cultivation level, you draw far more and faster Dharma from heaven and earth than other cultivators, making it naturally easier to break through the spring orifices. Li Weiyi, do you feel a throbbing in your left palm?"

Li Weiyi shook his head.

Elder Urn said, "Today, I will teach you a powerful technique: Spring Convergence Wall Breaking."

"The Laogong acupoint in your left palm is the gate to the spring orifice. However, there's currently a barrier that must be shattered for you to open the spring orifice and obtain the Dharma power flowing in from heaven and earth."

"Originally, every cultivator had to slowly grind away at it, like water dripping through stone."

"But that's too slow."

"We have good conditions, with the Blood Qi from Golden Crow blood nourishing and strengthening the body, so we can be more aggressive. Hmm... it's just the palm, not the central point of the Fifth Spring in the back or the Sixth Spring in the Tan Zhong of the chest, so nothing will go wrong."

The more he spoke, the more nervous Li Weiyi became, feeling as if his hand might be crippled.

"Elder Urn, perhaps we should be a bit more cautious?" Zhao Meng asked, a little worried.

"It's very safe, trust me. This technique is a secret art of my sect; I wouldn't teach it to just anyone!"

Elder Urn was very confident and began to instruct: "First, drink a pot of Golden Crow blood to make your Blood Qi most vigorous. Then, mobilize all the Dharma power surging from the three springs you've already opened. At the moment of inhalation during the breathing technique, direct it towards your left arm... Yes, just towards your left arm, and the Dharma power will naturally rush to your palm..."

"Adjust your breathing, then try again."

"Inhale! Dharma power surges out!"

"Adjust your breathing, then try again."

"Boom!"

Li Weiyi impacted again and again. His entire left arm gradually became excruciatingly painful, unable to form the Zi-Wu Tai Chi Seal, and hung limply.

Zhao Meng noticed Li Weiyi's abnormal state, immediately rushed over, and angrily said, "Your secret art has no technical merit whatsoever! We revere and trust the master of the bronze warship, not you. If you harm my junior brother, I'll throw you into the sea of blood."

Elder Urn said, "It's just the Spring Surging Realm; how much technical merit could it possibly have?"

"Stop arguing, I think I feel a throbbing in my palm!"

After Li Weiyi's left arm recovered, he raised his palm.

"Whoosh!"

After the throbbing in his palm, a chilling, bone-piercing Dharma power surged out. Simultaneously, silvery vein-like traces extended from the spring orifice throughout his entire body.

Li Weiyi once again formed the Zi-Wu Tai Chi Seal and sat cross-legged.

More and more vein-like traces rooted in his left palm, eventually totaling eleven, the same number as in his right palm.

By then, the total number of vein-like traces throughout his body reached forty-eight.

The three remnant souls — the ash urn, the ancestral tablet, and the stone coffin — were all observing Li Weiyi's condition. Not long after, a faint layer of silvery Dharma aura appeared in Li Weiyi's palm, marking his initial achievement of Dharma power overflow.

Within the body, it is power; outside the body, it transforms into aura.

The three remnant souls, being well-versed and experienced, were naturally not particularly shocked or alarmed by this sight. However, they secretly gained some confidence, finally believing there was a slight possibility of completing the task assigned by the master of the bronze warship within ten years.

Ten years to forge immortality!

Before this, they had no confidence at all.

Elder Urn muttered to himself, "I originally thought it would take two or three days, and a dozen or so attempts, to succeed."

Li Weiyi stood up, his Blood Qi vigorous and his spirit so full that he seemed capable of going without sleep for days and nights. He solemnly looked at the blue and white ash urn, bowed deeply, and changed his address: "Thank you for your guidance, Master Urn!"

Li Weiyi naturally knew there had to be a reason why the three remnant souls were willing to be his guides. Perhaps it was the will of the bronze warship's master, or perhaps they had been promised some benefit.

Regardless, he had indeed learned something.

Spring Convergence Wall Breaking was not an incredibly profound technique, but without guidance, he would never have dared to attempt it himself. In the future, this move might still prove useful at critical moments.

The words of the remnant corpse in the stone coffin also provided Li Weiyi with insights and food for thought.

Zhao Meng said, "See? This is the character of our sect: absolute respect for teachers and reverence for the Dao. If anyone sincerely helps us even a little, we will repay them ten times over."

Elder Urn said, "This is just the beginning. I have so much more to teach throughout my life, and... I'll certainly impart everything I know. By the way, after we return to the Lingxiao Living Realm, we need to settle in a major prefecture city as soon as possible. Only large cities sell Spring-Breaking Needles, which will make cultivation faster. The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Springs will be much harder; try to break through them within half a year. Oh, and do you have any money from this world? Rent for residences in large cities isn't cheap."

Li Weiyi certainly had some money, obtained from searching corpses, but he didn't know how expensive "not cheap" truly was according to Master Urn.

He said, "I heard that Blood Sea Otherworldly Coffins are not cheap in this world. Why don't we salvage a few when we leave?"

The remnant corpse in the stone coffin said, "That's smuggling coffins. If the Jiuli enforcement patrol catches you, the consequences will be extremely severe."

Master Urn had previously revealed the identity of the remnant corpse in the stone coffin, implying that this entity likely had a deep connection with the Jiuli tribe.

Elder Ancestral Tablet said, "The Otherworldly Coffins are right in front of us, and we're short on money, so why not salvage them? Weiyi, you can hide the salvaged Otherworldly Coffins in the Evil Camel Bell and then discreetly sell them at the Netherworld's Departed Spirit Market."

The remnant corpse in the stone coffin, in front of his wife, chose to compromise: "You don't necessarily have to go to the Departed Spirit Market; every major prefecture city is sure to have underground trading venues."

"We'll discuss salvaging coffins when we leave tomorrow," Master Urn said, then asked, "Weiyi, besides the overflow of Dharma power, did you notice any other changes after breaking through the Fourth Spring?"

Li Weiyi's four springs surged simultaneously, Dharma power erupting from all his limbs at once. He then practiced the Twelve Loose Hand Forms of the Chan Sect on the floating coffin.

After completing one full set, he felt completely refreshed and invigorated.

He said, "It feels as if my entire body has been cleared by the forty-eight vein-like traces! Whether punching or moving, I feel I can unleash my full power at will. My combat strength has increased more than with any of the previous three springs."

Li Weiyi then mobilized his Dharma power, circulated it through the vein-like traces in his body, and directed it towards his eyes.

In the fog, the distance he could see clearly surprisingly doubled.

He then directed it to his ears, and his hearing rapidly expanded.

In the distance, he could hear the swaying of the floating coffin in the water, the sound of the wind, even the drifting of the fog, and... light, familiar footsteps...

Li Weiyi abruptly opened his eyes, and with a whoosh, leaped to the top of the six-meter-tall giant coffin behind him, looking in the direction of the footsteps.

Everyone below, including the three strange remnant souls, became tense.

Zhao Meng stood up, tiptoed, looked towards the distance behind the giant coffin, and quietly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Someone's coming!" Li Weiyi knew who it was.

Zhao Meng noticed the vigilance in Li Weiyi's eyes, realizing the newcomer might be hostile, and his muscles immediately tensed up.

Shortly after, a slender, graceful maiden, leaving faint blue mist trails with each step, appeared in Zhao Meng's sight. He was momentarily stunned; she didn't look like someone dangerous or evil, but rather delicate and frail, with a charming and refined appearance, like an elf under the night sky.

"Brother Jin, I finally found you! How could you leave me alone?"

Li Ling quickly stepped forward, her eyes filled with both resentment and a touch of grievance.

It took Li Weiyi a moment to realize that "Brother Jin" was referring to him.

"Thud!"

Jumping down from the giant coffin, Li Weiyi intercepted Li Ling, who was about to approach the research team members, concerned that she might have ill intentions.

Li Ling looked behind him and greeted them with joyful enthusiasm: "You must be Brother Jin's companions, right? Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you all."

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, her gaze was sincere, and her smile revealed pearly white teeth. Combined with her charming sixteen-year-old face, she appeared extremely innocent.

Zhao Meng strode over, appearing behind Li Weiyi, and chuckled, "You call him Brother Jin? Who is this girl?"

Li Ling pretended to be startled by his large physique, her face paling as she instinctively cowered towards Li Weiyi's chest, whispering, "Of course it's Brother Xie Jin. Doesn't he go by that name?"

Zhao Meng looked at Li Weiyi with a peculiar gaze.

Li Weiyi quickly moved away, not daring to let Li Ling get too close, and asked warily, "How did you find your way here?"

It was too strange; logically, given their vast distance, it should have been impossible for Li Ling to pinpoint his location.

His vigilance was sharp, and he was certain Li Ling hadn't been following him from the start.

She might have done something to him without his knowledge.

Seeing Li Weiyi's cold gaze, Li Ling froze, as if she couldn't believe it.

Gradually, tears welled up in her eyes, though she didn't cry. She looked at the ground, as if she had suffered a great grievance, and whispered, "I was the one who brought you out of the Departed Spirit Mist Domain, but you just abandoned me alone at the Coffin Dock Ferry. I thought you didn't want me anymore!"

Zhao Meng, very interested, asked, "Girl, don't be afraid. Don't mind my giant appearance; I'm your... Brother Jin's senior disciple, and I'm a very upright and kind person."

"Senior disciple, you're the senior disciple?"

Li Ling instantly lost her fear, walked past Li Weiyi, and exclaimed, "That's wonderful! You two brothers are finally reunited!"

Zhao Meng sensed a story between his junior brother and this girl, but it wasn't merely out of curiosity. Noticing some inconsistencies, he asked, "This place is so gloomy and dangerous. Aren't you afraid at your age? And how are you here alone?"

Li Ling glanced at Li Weiyi and whispered, "Brother Jin needed to come back to find you, and he had to pass through the Departed Spirit Mist Domain, but he couldn't do it himself. Only I could help him. But once we were out of the Mist Domain... he just abandoned me!"

Zhao Meng frowned deeply, shot a glance at Li Weiyi, and thought his junior brother was being somewhat unkind.

Still, there were more questions. He asked, "You two just met, didn't you? Why would you help him so much?"

Li Ling's face was alight with the blissful glow of a girl in love: "Even though we just met, we've already been through life and death together..."

"You'd better stop talking, and stop creating mischief," Li Weiyi interjected. "What exactly do you want?"

He felt Li Ling would concoct an outrageous story.

Li Ling immediately fell silent, large tears uncontrollably gushing out, splattering onto the ground.

Everyone present watched, feeling her distress and pity for her.

Ultimately, it was Zhao Meng who said, "Junior brother, this kind of matter isn't something a senior brother should interfere with, nor can he. But there's no harm in letting her finish her story!"

Li Ling immediately choked up, saying, "We encountered enemies in Immortal Burial Town and went through life and death together. He saved me, and I once said I would offer myself to him, and he also said he liked my cool and aloof demeanor."

"I took his hand proactively, and put my arms around his neck; he didn't refuse at the time. He also carried me on his back when I was severely injured, so gently."

"I promised to lead him out of the Departed Spirit Mist Domain to find his companions... asking for nothing in return. I even said I would arrange for him to marry a remarkably beautiful wife; I have a cousin who will turn sixteen in eight days – eight days, actually, my birthday is in eight days. But after we left the Departed Spirit Mist Domain... he... *sob, sob*..."

"I swear by the God of Jiuli: if I have spoken a single lie, may I die a terrible death, my guts torn apart, with no chance of survival. Senior brother, I know you only trust your junior brother, but I truly haven't said a single false word!"

Zhao Meng was utterly at a loss!

From behind, the remnant corpse in the stone coffin couldn't help but speak, its voice somewhat cold: "Child, never swear casually in the name of the God of Jiuli. This is no laughing matter; such oaths are always fulfilled."

"I know, of course I know," Li Ling said, nodding vigorously through her tears.

"His name isn't Xie Jin, it's Li Weiyi." Elder Ancestral Tablet was clearly somewhat angry, feeling there was an issue with Li Weiyi's character, that he had deceived a teenage Jiuli girl, used her, and then discarded her.

And he had deceived her emotions.

No wonder he told them to take a detour.

Li Ling looked at Li Weiyi, and with a questioning yet mournful gaze, slowly uttered, "Li... Wei... Yi... Is that your real name? Why... why did you lie to me?"

Zhao Meng felt an unbearable tightness in his chest and continuously took deep breaths.

Li Weiyi said, "Senior brother, do you believe me, or her?"

"I know you best, so of course I believe your character is absolutely fine," Zhao Meng replied, then added, "But the name Xie Jin doesn't sound like something she just made up. Did you say those things, or do those things? Lying about a name is actually a small matter."

Li Weiyi truly felt that Li Ling was an incredible actress. If her acting had been even slightly worse, or if she hadn't been so young, she absolutely couldn't have fooled these seasoned veterans who had seen countless people. Even he himself was starting to feel like a scoundrel.

Seeing Li Weiyi's hesitation, failing to immediately deny or refute, Zhao Meng let out a long sigh and walked off to the side by himself.