Chapter 47: Crossing the Boundary Means Death

Li Weiyi, using his vision and hearing that far surpassed those of martial artists at the same cultivation level, secretly observed the streets outside the residence. He indeed spotted several suspicious figures.

It was clear they were being watched.

"We haven't provoked anyone, and we've just moved in, yet we're already facing such big trouble. It seems Jiuli City isn't such a safe place to settle down after all. We just want to survive, to live a good life; why is it so difficult?" Qin Ke worried, unable to sit still.

She hadn't consumed the Golden Crow blood because most of the research team members who had consumed it, like Old Liu, had grown large bird heads. Dr. Cai and Gao Huan's transformation into pure immortal bodies was a rare occurrence.

She still cared deeply about her human appearance.

"Survival is the same everywhere; each place has its own difficulties."

Zhao Zhizhu explained to the newcomers, "Any gang that can establish itself in the suburbs of Jiuli City must have a Five Seas Realm expert. We can't afford to provoke them. It wasn't like this before; I don't know which power the Evergreen Gang is backed by, but their audacity is too great. How about we go into the city to hide for a night while it's still early? Or simply abandon this residence, since it's just rented anyway."

"But that's two thousand six hundred silver coins, a deposit plus one month's rent."

Li Weiyi, sitting on the steps under the eaves, added, "Besides, they're already watching us. How could they give us a chance to escape into the city? Fleeing now would only reveal our weakness, making them think we're easy targets, and they'd act even more recklessly."

Zhao Zhizhu thought of another plan: "I could pretend to buy supplies, but in reality, I'd go into the city to see the Young Clan Leader. If he steps in, the Evergreen Gang will surely back off."

"I'm just afraid the Evergreen Gang operates so meticulously they won't give us that chance."

For the safety of everyone in the residence, Li Weiyi had to compromise, even though he was reluctant to get entangled with the Cangli tribe. However, he was very worried that something might happen to Zhao Zhizhu once he left the residence.

Zhao Zhizhu smiled, "My life should have ended in Buried Immortal Town. It's thanks to Brother Li that I'm alive today. Now that everyone is in trouble, we must fight for a way out, and I naturally won't shy away. Besides, the Evergreen Gang might not be as careful as we think."

With lives at stake, Li Weiyi stopped being sentimental. As he saw Zhao Zhizhu off, he solemnly said, "If we get through this, there will be a substantial reward in the future."

"Master Jar, how exactly do I use this Spring-Breaking Needle?"

Li Weiyi didn't know when the Evergreen Gang would make their move or how strong their enemies were. But his reading of *Water Margin* taught him that surrender was useless; it would only lead to a worse fate.

Only by fighting!

Only by fighting could they carve out a foothold.

Only by fighting could they achieve peace.

He urgently needed greater power now. If he could break through and open the Fifth Spring, he would be able to control the Evil Camel Bell to some extent, giving him more confidence to face the potential storm tonight.

Inside the freshly cleaned room, Li Weiyi took off his upper garment, sat cross-legged, and opened the jade box containing the Spring-Breaking Needles.

The Spring-Breaking Needles were as thin as hair, yet transparent like ice crystals, emitting wisps of cold air, as if condensed from some kind of medicinal spring.

"First, adjust your state to its optimum. Once this Spring-Breaking Needle enters your core acupoint, it will quickly melt, and the embedded medicinal power will soften the barrier, making it easier for you to open the spring."

"The medicinal power of one Spring-Breaking Needle only lasts for half an hour... and it's only been a little over ten days since you opened your Fourth Spring. Breaking through to the Fifth Spring won't be easy, so you need to be mentally prepared."

"Whoosh!"

From the blue-and-white ash urn, a wisp of soul mist drifted out, coalescing into a semi-corporeal hand that picked up the Spring-Breaking Needle.

After performing the breathing technique, Li Weiyi clearly felt a difference from before. The natural laws between heaven and earth seemed exceptionally dense and active, and the spiritual power circulated slightly faster through the forty-eight trace meridians in his body.

This was the advantage of a large prefecture city; the cultivation environment was incomparable to other places.

Living here long-term would inevitably lead to faster breakthroughs.

He quickly entered a serene state of harmony with nature, directing all his conscious perception to the core acupoint in his back. He focused on feeling his own body, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, and the barrier in between.

"Hiss—"

The Spring-Breaking Needle flew out, accurately striking the core acupoint and sinking into the barrier.

A surge of cold energy instantly radiated from the core outwards throughout his body.

Li Weiyi's whole body trembled as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His limbs became numb, as if he had lost all sensation. Only within the forty-eight trace meridians did the spiritual power continue to flow uninterrupted.

No wonder Master Jar had said that opening the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Springs carried certain risks; it was indeed quite different from the first four.

Fortunately, Master Jar's technique was superb, and the Spring-Breaking Needle was used perfectly. If another martial artist were so eager for quick success, the risks would certainly not be small.

As time passed, under the combined erosion of the spiritual energy from heaven and earth mobilized by the breathing technique, his internal vital energy, spiritual power, and the Spring-Breaking Needle—four layers of power—the barrier clearly thinned significantly.

But even after the medicinal power of the Spring-Breaking Needle was exhausted, he still hadn't broken through.

"Use the second one," Li Weiyi said.

"Now? There's no precedent for using them consecutively." Master Jar worried his body wouldn't be able to handle it.

Li Weiyi said, "I don't feel any discomfort; it should be fine."

"That's truly strange! After using a Spring-Breaking Needle, the acupoint usually hurts for a long time, requiring several days to recover. Even pure immortal bodies aren't as resilient as yours."

Master Jar muttered this as he picked up and inserted the second Spring-Breaking Needle.

Half an hour later.

After the medicinal power of the second Spring-Breaking Needle was exhausted, Li Weiyi finally felt pain in his core acupoint, but a thin layer of the barrier still remained. With normal cultivation, he would naturally break through in just a few more days.

But Li Weiyi didn't know what tonight would bring, so he had to open the Fifth Spring. He said, "Use the third one; I can handle it."

"It's not a question of whether you can handle it..."

Master Jar hesitated; he had absolutely no confidence about using a third Spring-Breaking Needle.

"Don't worry, I don't like to gamble with my life. I'm not showing off; I genuinely feel the pain in my core acupoint is still within a tolerable range," Li Weiyi said.

In another room, Zhao Meng was also practicing the breathing technique. Perhaps it was due to the dense natural laws in Jiuli City, or the immense external pressure, or perhaps his accumulation was finally sufficient.

He actually broke through the spring in his sole and opened his First Spring in one go.

As spiritual power flowed through his trace meridians and throughout his body, his already slightly golden skin radiated a golden luster. His long, reddish-gold hair seemed to be on fire.

Such a physique, such a sight.

Cultivators unaware of his true strength would likely believe he possessed at least the combat power of a Five Seas Realm expert.

The sky gradually darkened, and Qin Ke finished preparing the meal.

However, Old Liu and Old Guan, waiting anxiously in the courtyard, had no appetite at all. Their eyes darted between the gate and the interior of the house.

So much time had passed, and Zhao Zhizhu still hadn't returned. It was highly likely something had happened to him.

The two who were cultivating also remained inside, their doors closed.

As the sunset completely faded behind the hazy Mang Mountain Range, the large residence was entirely engulfed by darkness. No one dared to light a lamp. The naturally timid Qin Ke huddled silently in a corner, as if any sound could make her tremble with fear.

"Creak!"

Zhao Meng climbed out from the main hall's three-story-high doorway. His body was no longer glowing, having returned to its natural state. He complained, "This door is too small. Once we earn some money, we absolutely must build a large house with an eight-meter-long bed. What are you all doing? Light the lamps, or others will think we're scared!"

At that moment, Li Weiyi also pushed open his door and stepped out: "Exactly! Even if we're going to die, we should die in a well-lit place. You all must be hungry. Sister Qin, please warm up the dishes. Uncle Liu, Uncle Guan, move the table under the poplar tree, and bring the lamp over. We'll eat in the courtyard."

Seeing Li Weiyi so calm and composed, Qin Ke and the others seemed to be infected by his daring spirit. Most of their fear dissipated, and they each got busy.

Zhao Meng sat under the tree like a giant Buddha: "Zhao Zhizhu must have met with misfortune. No one will come to save us tonight; we can only rely on ourselves."

The dishes on the table were steaming hot, and their aroma filled the air.

The four sat, each at one side of the table.

Li Weiyi had a good appetite. Enduring the severe pain in the core acupoint on his back, he held his bowl and steadily picked up food. Hearing Zhao Meng's words, he paused slightly: "Then may the Jade Emperor bless us, and may the Evergreen Gang absolutely not let me survive tonight. Otherwise, I will make them pay the most devastating price!"

"When they make their move, everyone hide inside. Senior Brother, you protect them!"

Night deepened.

The sounds of bustling activity outside faded, with only the large brothel a hundred paces diagonally across from the residence still emitting the sounds of stringed and wind instruments, carriage wheels and horse hooves, delicate laughter, and curses, all carried on the wind.

The layers of protective shimmering light rising from the moat and city walls were far more dazzling and bright than during the day.

Li Weiyi sat alone under the old poplar tree, a bone lamp hanging from a branch above his head. The Yellow Dragon Sword leaned against the tree.

On the third floor of the distant brothel, two middle-aged men stood by a window, gazing at the solitary lamp and figure in the dim residence.

One of them, a tall, thin middle-aged man with a black mole between his eyebrows, said, "To be so calm and collected, what courage. What's that on the table next to him... a memorial tablet?"

"Is that for us? How arrogant!"

The other middle-aged man, with a thick beard and streaks of white at his temples, said, "Let Master Qi make his move. Let's see what he's made of first."

Li Weiyi heard the commotion outside and stopped learning the Spirit God cultivation method from the senior memorial tablets. He looked towards the open gate several yards away: "I don't like to kill innocent people indiscriminately. Tonight, this threshold will be the boundary. Those who cross it will die."

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

His response came in the form of two arrows flying from the darkness.

There was almost no sound of wind breaking, and their speed was extremely fast. Clearly, these were no ordinary arrows. If he hadn't broken through to the Fifth Spring and greatly enhanced his perception, he might not have detected them in advance.

Li Weiyi rose from his seat. As he flickered, he reached out and caught the two incoming black arrows.

The arrows were a foot long and as thin as iron wire.

Yet they were extremely hard and strangely weighed over a pound each.

He had learned the Flying Needle technique. The two black arrows instantly left his hand and shot out, penetrating the half-foot-thick courtyard wall with two dull thuds. In the darkness outside, two low groans immediately sounded, followed by the thuds of bodies falling.

Suddenly, strange movements came from underground. The ground became uneven, and wisps of black smoke emerged from the soil.