Chapter 53: Inheritor and the Hidden People

"You might not know this, but the city is divided into urban zones and spiritual zones. The spiritual zones are located within the Heavenly Law Earth Spring, where the energy of the heavenly and earthly laws is many times denser than it is here. Not only is there the Nine Li Daoist Academy, but also the Sui Sect, the Tianyi Gate, the Coffin Sea Pavilion, and the Three Chen Palaces, which are the Chen family's ancestral school."

"As for me, Gao Huan, with my pure immortal physique, I've only been cultivating for a little over ten days, right? And I've already opened my first Spring."

Gao Huan spoke at length with Old Liu, Old Guan, and Qin Ke, his spirits high. He then lowered his voice and said, "I'm not afraid to tell you, those Five Seas realm seniors at the Nine Li Daoist Academy are all scrambling to take me as a disciple. And one after another, they introduce their most beautiful granddaughters or nieces, wanting to form a marriage alliance with me. They even say I can marry multiple women, as they don't practice monogamy here. Don't you think that's annoying?"

"Very, very annoying."

Everyone said in unison.

After lunch, Li Ling and Gao Huan departed.

Before leaving, Li Ling activated the verbal wisdom of Qin Ke and the other two, stating that she would be cultivating in the Nine Li Daoist Academy for a period. She told Li Weiyi to find her there if he needed anything.

Cai Yutong stayed behind.

She seemed to have no interest in people, but her interest was piqued when she discovered the room full of Ao Spiders.

Inside the dim room.

Li Weiyi recounted Li Songlin's words in their entirety to Senior Coffin and Senior Spirit Tablet, wanting to hear their opinions. After all, their understanding of cultivation and the Nine Li tribe was far beyond Li Weiyi's.

The remnants of the stone coffin pondered for a moment, then said, "If it were in the past, entering the Nine Li Daoist Academy would naturally be an excellent path. But your companion mentioned that there are now so many sect forces within the spiritual zone, which indicates that the Nine Li tribe has declined significantly."

"You must understand that the spiritual zone of Nine Li City is the core of the Nine Li tribe's core interests. Previously, only the Nine Li Daoist Academy was located there. Yet, large portions of these core interests have been carved away."

Li Weiyi sensed loss and indignation from Senior Coffin.

"The tribal chiefs of the Nine Li tribe for the past few generations have been utterly disgraceful," Senior Spirit Tablet said angrily.

Senior Coffin said, "Weiyi, your physique and cultivation speed are extraordinary, and you carry too many secrets. If you enter the Nine Li Daoist Academy without strong enough backing, your brilliance will be too prominent, and you will undoubtedly invite great trouble."

"Such strong backing must be based on blood ties. Just like Cang Li, his support likely comes not just from the Cang Li tribe, but from the entire Nine Li."

"He is clearly being groomed as the primary successor of the Nine Li Daoist Academy's new generation, someone who can represent the Nine Li tribe throughout the world and bear the weighty responsibility of revitalizing them."

"Anyone who dares to touch such a unique individual like him must carefully consider the consequences. The price for killing him would be to face the wrath of the entire Nine Li tribe."

"Do you think that if someone killed you, the Nine Li tribe would unite against the enemy and avenge you? Even if it were just the Cang Li tribe, how far would they go for you? Would they risk their entire tribe to support you?"

"Not to mention, if people knew you opened five Springs in just one month, it would be enough to provoke a Five Seas realm expert to kill you!"

Li Weiyi's emotions were complex, and he said, "It seems entering the Nine Li Daoist Academy would indeed bring more disadvantages than advantages."

"I have a path for you," Senior Coffin continued, "though the risks are greater, it might be a better choice for you."

Senior Coffin continued, "In the Lingxiao Living Realm, the most powerful forces cultivate successors for each generation, possibly one person or several. Without exception, these successors possess pure immortal physiques, have opened all nine Springs, and boast unparalleled talent and appearance."

"They travel the world, observing the myriad aspects of mortal life and the dangers of various trades. While gaining experience, they also serve as living advertisements for their sects and factions, attracting countless talents to follow and join. The sects and factions naturally grow and prosper as a result."

"Therefore, these successors typically become the masters of their sects and factions in the future."

Li Weiyi chuckled, "The charisma of an idol can indeed inspire fanaticism in many people."

Senior Coffin said, "However, if a super force wishes to endure for thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, relying solely on overt power will be easily seen through. Therefore, in addition to cultivating a public face, they must also cultivate a hidden core."

"The successors are the public face, while the hidden core is known as the 'Divine Recluse'."

"Divine Recluses receive even better resources than the successors, but the competition for this position is far more brutal."

"You can probably guess that I had ties with the Nine Li tribe in my lifetime. I admit, there's a certain selfishness in guiding you towards this path."

"However, the path of a Divine Recluse allows you to acquire the Nine Li tribe's cultivation resources while also gaining their protection, with minimal restrictions on you. I think you should seriously consider it."

Li Weiyi asked, "What exactly do you mean by 'brutal,' Senior?"

"The competition is extremely brutal."

Senior Coffin said, "Each year, the nine major tribes select one or several youths and send them to the Nine Li Hidden Gate. Only one person survives each year. Whether this sole survivor can become a Divine Recluse is still unknown; they might only become a hidden servant to a Divine Recluse."

"A Divine Recluse is chosen only once every few decades."

Li Weiyi laughed, "Senior... aren't you setting me up for failure?"

Senior Coffin said, "Hear me out. Since I've prepared this path for you, I naturally have a complete strategy. Before going to the Nine Li Hidden Gate, you must first break through to the Ninth Spring. With your combat power at the Ninth Spring, you won't need to compete at all. You can simply conquer those at the Nine Li Hidden Gate... how should I put it? Let's just call them 'people' for now! At that time, taking the Hidden Gate's Five Seas Pill will allow you to directly enter the Five Seas realm."

"Besides breaking through to the Ninth Spring, there's a second method to compete for the Divine Recluse position, but it carries some risk: you'd have to visit the Cang King's Tomb. Currently, we have ample time, and your cultivation speed is fast enough, so you don't need to take that risk."

At this point, Senior Spirit Tablet spoke, "The current situation is more complex than we imagined. Both the external and internal affairs of the Nine Li tribe seem to be in trouble. I think he should go to the Hidden Gate as soon as possible. The cultivation environment there is even better than in the spiritual zone, which will allow you to progress faster. How can one cultivate without taking risks?"

Li Weiyi said, "Seniors, wait a moment... To become a Divine Recluse of the Nine Li tribe, I'm afraid it requires not only strength but also their absolute trust, doesn't it?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Since Senior Coffin dared to arrange this path for you, he can naturally resolve that point," Senior Spirit Tablet said.

"Exactly. You just focus on your cultivation for now. As for which of the two methods to choose, Senior Spirit Tablet and I will discuss it further."

Senior Coffin thought of something and then said, "All of us here are too weak right now. We need to cultivate a guardian strong enough. What do you think of Zhao Zhizhuo?"

Li Weiyi chuckled, "We're on the same page! However, I can't currently bear the consequences of exposing top-tier artifacts."

"Aren't you being overly cautious, young man? Even if Zhao Zhizhuo's cultivation recovers, no one would ever suspect someone at the Spring Surge realm like you."

Senior Coffin said, "How about this: hand him over to me. I'll help him recover his cultivation, and at the same time, I can pretend to be a powerful expert to slightly deter him. Of course, it also depends on whether you're willing to spend the money..."

The money would certainly not be little!

Li Weiyi winced in pain, his face falling. "I've only just managed to come into two windfalls. How much will this cost?"

Besides the hundred thousand silver coins from the Changlin Gang, Li Ling also brought the money for buying a house from the Cang Li tribe today.

"Imagine how much those sects spend to cultivate a Five Seas realm expert; that might make you feel a little better," Senior Coffin said with a rare laugh.

Li Weiyi walked out of the room, looking at the large group of people before him. Feeling a severe lack of security, he decided to prioritize Zhao Zhizhuo's cultivation recovery plan. Only with a true Five Seas realm expert guarding them would he feel more at ease, whether going to the Cang King's Tomb or entering secluded cultivation to break through to the Sixth Spring.

The next day.

Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo drove a newly purchased carriage towards the city gate.

Zhao Zhizhuo still had many scars on his body, but he was otherwise fine and could move freely.

After entering the city, magnificent and imposing buildings came into view. Luxurious carriages drove everywhere, and awe-inspiring exotic beasts, along with sect disciples in uniform attire, could be seen at any time.

"To the West Market," Li Weiyi said.

Zhao Zhizhuo drove skillfully, pulling the reins, cracking the whip to urge the horse, and turning west.

Li Weiyi said, "I heard that to break through a Spring and reshape it, one needs to buy Spring Liquid. This stuff must be very expensive, right?"

Zhao Zhizhuo knew Spring Liquid very well. He said, "Spring Liquid is the essence condensed from the Spring Eyes of powerful Dao Cultivation realm experts. They would never sell it unless they were so poor they couldn't even make a meal. On the market, a single drop of Spring Liquid is worth a thousand silver coins."

Li Weiyi touched his chest and asked again, "How many drops are needed to reshape one Spring?"

"I used three drops to reshape my first Spring, and five drops for my second," Zhao Zhizhuo replied.

Li Weiyi asked, "Old Zhao, how many Springs did you open back then?"

"Eight Springs."

Zhao Zhizhuo recalled his past, a proud look on his face. He added, "You should know that a martial cultivator who breaks through to Eight Springs is called a 'human prodigy,' and it's even harder than reaching the Five Seas realm. Let me put it this way: out of twenty Seven Springs martial cultivators, perhaps only one can break through to Eight Springs. But out of ten Seven Springs martial cultivators, one can enter the Five Seas realm. Of course, these numbers aren't precise; I'm just giving an example."

"Old Zhao, do you trust me?" Li Weiyi asked.

Zhao Zhizhuo was no fool; he instantly became nervous. "Brother Li, are you planning to buy Spring Liquid for me? There's no need to waste that money. I don't know how much I wasted back then; it was completely useless. I tried every method, and after years of effort, I only managed to reshape two Springs. My heart has long since found peace."

"Have you resigned yourself to fate? Are you content with that? I heard that you once opened all five Qi Seas of the Five Seas realm, and your cultivation was very high."

Li Weiyi said, "If you trust me, don't ask any questions. Once we buy the Spring Liquid, I'll take you to meet a senior who can help you."

Knowing Li Weiyi's character and that he would never speak idly, Zhao Zhizhuo's emotions ignited. A storm raged within him as he stared intently at Li Weiyi, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

"Drive, drive, watch the road... sit back... Can't you be a little more composed?" Li Weiyi said.

How could Zhao Zhizhuo remain composed? He was nearly in tears, eagerly asking, "Who exactly is this senior? There are fewer than ten artifacts in the entire Lingxiao Living Realm that can help reshape Spring Eyes... and I don't think there are any in Lizhou..."

"I told you, don't ask. If you ask again, we'll go back now. That senior hates talkative people the most," Li Weiyi said.

"I won't ask, I won't ask... I won't ask anymore."

After saying this, Zhao Zhizhuo then added, "That senior is really in Nine Li City... Okay, okay, I won't ask anymore... I'll drive, I'll drive properly..."