Chapter 81: Ten Springs Legend

After his mana left his body and transformed into mana energy, the sword's yellow glow instantly surged.

The Four-Winged Spider King, already possessing a degree of intelligence, showed human-like surprise in its eyes. Its abdomen then glowed red, as if burning with fire, and it spat out a beam of bloody light.

"Bang!"

The powerful and heavy sword shattered the beam of bloody light.

As the sword tip descended, the Four-Winged Spider King raised a silver-white spider leg, like a metal spear, to block.

The spider leg was severed.

The Four-Winged Spider King was sent tumbling backward, letting out a "cooing" shriek, then flapped its wings and retreated into the spider swarm.

Li Weiyi attempted to give chase, but upon regaining his composure, he was hit by full-body pain. The Six Desires Talisman on his chest began to flicker again, and his consciousness grew hazy. Remembering Shi Liuyu, who had been confined in the wolf den for two months, he shuddered and quickly rummaged for the pills he carried.

He took one out and promptly swallowed it.

Glancing ahead again, he saw only a dense mass of winged white spiders. The Four-Winged Spider King was nowhere in sight.

The purple Cistanche, eight or nine hundred years old, was several miles behind him. Fighting his way through the spider horde to harvest it was entirely unrealistic in his current condition.

"Never mind, I'll return another day. Let's go!"

Li Weiyi waved his hand and, riding his semi-illusory, semi-real giant camel, pursued the flat boat that had drifted about a mile away.

The seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors fought as they retreated, constantly repelling the pursuing swarm of winged white spiders and leaving countless spider corpses in the underground river.

Back on the flat boat, Li Weiyi recalled the giant camel into the Evil Camel Bell. Finally, unable to stand, his legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed onto the boat. Only then did he notice a finger-length wound torn into his thigh by the Four-Winged Spider King.

Fortunately, the soft corpse armor he wore on his upper body protected his vital areas.

"That Four-Winged Spider King's combat prowess was definitely comparable to a Five-Sea Realm martial cultivator. Surviving such a fierce battle was pure luck. It's truly as difficult as ascending to the heavens for a Spring Realm cultivator to defeat an opponent from a much higher realm."

Li Weiyi propped himself up to sit, quickly circulating the mana energy within his body along his silver meridians to heal his wounds.

The seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors fought with the ferocity of seven phoenixes. While he healed, they continually guarded his rear, ultimately slaying so many spiders that the horde no longer dared to pursue.

Upon their return, they were remarkably bold. They pushed aside the Ghost Flag that enveloped Yao Yin and collectively pounced to devour the Cistanche that glowed crimson.

Their entire being exuded an attitude of "If I don't eat this, who is worthy?"

A day later.

Yin Twenty-Four sat cross-legged on a stone platform by the spider cave's exit, practicing breathing cultivation. Beside her, a blood-red gem glowed like a spiritual lamp, illuminating the stone walls surrounding the blood river.

The flat boat was moored to a stalagmite pillar below.

Hearing an unusual sound in the water, she abruptly opened her eyes: "How could they be so fast?"

Yin Twenty-Four, not having experienced the Seven Springs Trial herself, was unfamiliar with the specifics inside the spider cave. However, she knew that anyone who successfully completed the trial would take at least three days.

"Splash!"

A flat boat, six or seven meters long, slowly emerged with the current.

Li Weiyi sat alone at the bow, back straight, eyes closed, healing his injuries. The silver meridians in his Fengfu and Yongquan acupoints had gradually manifested, stabilizing his cultivation realm.

The number of meridians in his body had increased to ninety-six.

Although still not matching the ideal of a hundred fully silver meridians, the gap was at least steadily closing.

"Thump!"

The two flat boats collided, shaking their hulls.

Li Weiyi exhaled a long breath and looked at the slender, tall figure standing on the stone platform by the shore. "Three days went by so quickly; I thought only two had passed."

"It hasn't even been two days yet. How did you manage it?"

Yin Twenty-Four floated down to the boat. Upon seeing the chaotic state of Li Weiyi and Yao Yin's flat boat, she was slightly surprised. "You were attacked by the spider horde?"

She knew the Seven Springs Trial tested one's psychological resilience and ability to withstand pressure; staying alive meant not disturbing the spider horde for three days. Once disturbed, everyone inside would perish.

The flat boat was piled high with winged white spider carcasses and vast amounts of spider silk.

Of course, the Ghost Flag, Evil Camel Bell, Cistanche, and Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors had all been stored away by him earlier.

"It was indeed a fierce and extremely perilous battle," Li Weiyi said with lingering trepidation.

Yin Twenty-Four reassessed Li Weiyi. No wonder Yin Five had specifically mentioned him; this person was clearly extraordinary and must harbor a significant secret.

Tying the two flat boats together, they began their return journey.

Li Weiyi asked, "These spider corpses and silk, they should be exchangeable for precious herbs, correct?"

"They can."

Standing at the stern, Yin Twenty-Four looked at Yao Yin, who remained frozen like a block of ice, and asked curiously, "You didn't seize this opportunity to eliminate your biggest competitor? Those who are soft-hearted or swayed by beauty won't survive till the end."

Li Weiyi no longer considered anyone in this group as a rival, and disdained to answer the question. Instead, he lowered his voice and said, "Care to make a deal?"

Yin Twenty-Four paused, taken aback.

He continued, "Inside the spider cave, there's a precious herb nearly a thousand years old. If we cooperate, we can definitely harvest it."

The sheer number of winged white spiders was immense, and Li Weiyi knew he'd struggle to handle them alone.

Furthermore, he wasn't sure if there was only one Spider King inside. What if other dangers lurked, or even other Spider Kings?

Bringing in a Five-Sea Realm cultivator as an ally was a surefire plan.

Yin Twenty-Four was momentarily tempted, but her expression quickly hardened. "The precious herbs in the trial grounds are rewards for the trial takers; Hidden Ones are forbidden from harvesting them. Furthermore, what right does a mere Seven-Spring Realm martial cultivator like you have to cooperate with a Five-Sea Realm cultivator?"

"I am an insect master. Otherwise, how do you think I fought my way out of that spider horde?"

Li Weiyi, eager to persuade Yin Twenty-Four, added, "Hidden Ones can't harvest the precious herbs in the trial grounds, but there's no rule against Hidden Ones entering the trial grounds, is there? You just need to provide the strength; I'll do the harvesting!"

She didn't know how this person had survived the spider horde's encirclement, but she did know that the winged white spiders were incredibly numerous. If she were truly trapped inside the spider cave, even with her cultivation, she would most likely perish.

Furthermore, for her, a dignified Hidden One of the Five-Sea Realm, to cooperate with a Seven-Spring Realm martial cultivator?

It was simply preposterous.

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Seeing her unwavering, Li Weiyi had no choice but to abandon his persuasion, deciding to harvest the herb only when his cultivation reached the Nine Springs or Five-Sea Realm.

The flat boat returned to the river valley at the entrance of the Nine Li Insect Valley.

After disembarking, Li Weiyi took the spider corpses and silk to the Nine Li Hidden Sect's mountain gate to exchange them for precious herbs, leaving Yao Yin with Yin Twenty-Four.

As he was about to leave, still feeling a trace of reluctance, Li Weiyi once again tried to persuade Yin Twenty-Four: "That Cistanche weighs at least a hundred catties. It's a large quantity, easy to divide, and worth at least ten other precious herbs of the same age. It can replenish Yang and blood. You only broke through to the Five-Sea Realm a little over a month ago; it would perfectly help you restore your vitality and temper your physical body."

"And of course, whatever you do, don't try to harvest it yourself; it's extremely dangerous. There's a Four-Winged Spider King inside."

Li Weiyi noticed Yin Twenty-Four was truly tempted and immediately worried about being cut out. So he added, "I'll definitely go back for it. If that Cistanche is gone, I'll know it was you. I'll report you to the Hidden Lord... Just think about it..."

Yin Twenty-Four stared at Li Weiyi's retreating back as he carried the boat, a vein throbbing on her forehead.

Unbelievable, simply unbelievable! A trial taker, who might not even survive the next month, dared to threaten a Hidden One.

The Hidden Sect's mountain gate was located deeper in the direction of the Mind Power Stone Wall and the Medicinal Meal Room, guarded by an old man in black. Like the Medicinal Meal Elder, he was a Hidden One from the previous cycle.

Upon seeing him, Li Weiyi naturally addressed him respectfully as "Elder."

"Thump!"

He set down the boat he had been carrying on his shoulder.

The gate-keeping elder's eyes flashed with surprise at the boat full of spider corpses and silk, but he ultimately said nothing, exchanging three precious herbs for them.

They were three two-hundred-year-old Forsythia plants, capable of aiding in the refinement of silver meridians.

Li Weiyi frowned slightly and asked, "Are there any precious herbs that help refine golden meridians?"

The gate-keeping elder, whose composure was far superior to that of a young girl like Yin Twenty-Four, smiled. "Your ambition is truly immense. These golden meridians are known as the dragon veins within a martial cultivator's body. Even refining just one provides enormous benefits for future cultivation in the Five-Sea and Dao Seed realms."

"The Hidden Sect does possess a golden meridian refining method, but it demands exceptionally high physical strength, making it challenging for Spring Realm martial cultivators to achieve."

Li Weiyi asked, "What level of physical strength is required?"

The gate-keeping elder pointed to an iron pillar standing not far outside the mountain gate. "That is the Five-Sea Pillar of Extreme Density and Weight, weighing five thousand five hundred catties. Only Five-Sea Realm martial cultivators can lift it with pure physical strength. If you can lift it in the Spring Realm, you'll be qualified to refine golden meridians."

A naturally gifted strongman like Yao Zhengsheng could use a thousand-cattie iron staff as a weapon, but only with the aid of mana. Relying solely on physical strength, carrying such a heavy staff was no easy feat for him.

This represented the pinnacle of physical strength for a Spring Realm cultivator!

Li Weiyi approached the black Five-Sea Pillar.

It was about the thickness of a forearm, with approximately seven feet exposed above ground.

"In all these years, only Yin Nine, in the Nine Springs Realm, could even budge it. Even naturally strong, bulky individuals like Yin Twenty-Three fell short. Look, it's almost rusted... Did you just... did you move it?"

The gate-keeping elder was mid-sentence when his voice suddenly rose, for he clearly saw the Five-Sea Pillar move slightly.

He quickly stepped forward. "You didn't use mana, did you?"

Li Weiyi shook his head, looking at the rust on his palm. "With my current physical strength, I can't lift it. I'll need to consume more medicinal meals and train for another month or two."

He left feeling somewhat disappointed.

The gate-keeping elder stood momentarily dazed, then reached out, gripped the Five-Sea Pillar, and lifted it to test its weight.

It was indeed five thousand five hundred catties; there was nothing wrong with its weight.

"Wait, no..."

The gate-keeping elder stared at Li Weiyi's retreating back, his forehead furrowed with wrinkles, muttering, "Didn't he move it? Why is he disappointed?"

Back in his Bloodwood Cliff Cave Residence, Li Weiyi took out the crimson Cistanche, ate half a catty, and his disappointment quickly vanished, replaced by renewed fighting spirit.

"My advantage is shrinking! Yin Nine could budge the Five-Sea Pillar in the Nine Springs Realm, yet I'll need to open my Eighth Spring to do the same."

"Thankfully, Cistanche can enhance blood qi and temper the body. But will a five-hundred-year-old one be potent enough?"

After a moment of contemplation, he entered the Buddha Relic and consulted Master Can about refining golden meridians.

"You wish to attempt the Tenth Spring, Shenque?" Master Can suddenly asked.

Li Weiyi froze. "There's a Tenth Spring?"

Master Can replied, "The Tenth Spring is legendary; I've never heard of anyone actually breaking through it. However, many prodigies who attempt to refine golden meridians harbor this fantasy. The usual outcome is a great waste of time, missing the optimal age for opening the seas, and ultimately gaining nothing."

Master Can then explained in detail to Li Weiyi: "The younger you are, the easier it is to open the Five Seas. After a person passes thirty, their physical condition generally begins to decline. Only upon reaching the Dao Seed Realm can this decline be stabilized, and only by cultivating to the Longevity Realm can one reverse their life state."

"In other words, martial cultivators with the most exceptional talent—those at the Inheritor level—must open their Five Seas and push for the Dao Seed before they turn thirty to ensure continued rapid progress and pursue greater, more distant goals."

"Weiyi, although you started later than everyone else, your progress is remarkably fast. You may certainly attempt it, but be careful not to develop an obsession that traps you."

Li Weiyi understood Master Can's concern and smiled. "Since the Tenth Spring is so elusive, I won't consider it for now. However, I've heard that golden meridians are known as a martial cultivator's dragon veins, and their refinement brings enormous benefits."

Master Can chuckled, "Of course! A part of the reason your Master Can became one of the top ten Dharma-Martial powerhouses in the Lingxiao Living Realm back in my day was that I had refined eighteen golden meridians within my body, establishing eighteen indestructible foundations that allowed me to endure several perilous trials of severed meridians."

In the era of the three masters, the Lingxiao Living Realm comprised three hundred states, making it infinitely more prosperous and powerful than it is today.

To have ranked among the top ten Dharma-Martial practitioners at that time meant their true worth was far greater than even the strongest cultivators of the current myriad sects.

"If you wish to refine golden meridians, I can impart to you the refining method of the ancient immortal beast Bi Fang; it is a unique skill of my clan," Master Can stated.

Master Guan's voice chimed in, "The Bi Fang refining method requires a large amount of ancient immortal beast blood. I suggest practicing the Cang King refining method of the Nine Li Tribe, which utilizes the natural light of heaven and earth to refine meridians. Conveniently, Li Weiyi can use the Buddha Relic to absorb a vast amount of natural light, which would significantly accelerate the refinement of golden meridians."

"That... sounds quite good, and it won't cost much."

Li Weiyi agreed with Master Guan's method, but promptly added, "However, the light underground is very dim; the glow from those luminous plants might not be enough. It seems I must become a Divine Hidden One as soon as possible, return to the surface, and find an uninhabited place with ample light to cultivate in seclusion."

Master Lingwei said, "Li Weiyi, if you can quickly cultivate the Inch Firework in your Glabella Spirit Realm into an Inch Bright Fire, then perhaps Shaoyang Star might be the optimal place for you to cultivate in seclusion and refine golden meridians."

Inch Bright Fire is the third realm for mind masters; Li Ling, in the past, was at this very realm, possessing combat strength comparable to a Seven-Spring Realm martial cultivator.

Li Weiyi quickly asked, "Master Lingwei, what do you mean?"

"I can't say for certain; I'm not sure. But since your mind power cultivation advanced from Inch Spark to the current Inch Firework, the blood mud space has doubled in size. If you achieve another breakthrough, there will undoubtedly be further changes here," Master Lingwei explained.

Master Guan said, "No rush; just pursue both paths simultaneously. For now, focus on healing your injuries."

Many people want to see a definitive strike, or Yao Yin's voice echo through the rafters... Are you out of your minds?