Chapter 84: Defeated Yinjiu, Confronting Yang Shenjing

"What about the others? What is the meaning of their existence? To keep fighting with their lives for a spot they are destined not to get?" Li Weiyi asked.

"Entering the Hidden Gate is like entering hell. Without that mental preparation, they are not qualified to be here."

A thought suddenly surfaced in Hidden Twenty-Four's mind, and she smiled, "If you are so compassionate, then go comprehend the combat philosophy of the God of Nine Li and defeat the three figures on the psionic mural. If you directly become a Divine Hidden Person, the spot for Hidden Twenty-Six will naturally become vacant."

Becoming a Divine Hidden Person directly is easier said than done.

The Nine Li Hidden Gate hasn't produced such a figure for over a dozen cycles of sixty years.

She felt that Li Weiyi said what he did because of Yao Yin. Not killing her in the spider cave and then intervening to save Li Qing clearly revealed his intentions.

It's not strange for a Pure Immortal Physique to possess such charm.

What hero doesn't love a beauty?

"Alright, then I'll give it a try."

Li Weiyi strode towards the psionic stone wall, having long wanted to spar with those three figures.

Hidden Twenty-Four quickly followed, curious about who was stronger: this unfathomable eccentric or Hidden Nine.

Li Weiyi always possessed an indomitable spirit, full of fighting intent when facing any challenge.

Arriving at the psionic stone wall, he slowly pressed his palm against it.

"Whoosh!"

The stone wall vibrated slightly, and internal spiritual light, magical energy, and scriptures quickly converged, solidifying into a human-shaped mural.

Thirteen-year-old Hidden Nine emerged from the mural, holding a giant axe, and asked, "Are you ready?"

Li Weiyi felt an aura from him far stronger than Li Qing's, similar to facing the Four-Winged Spider King: "I'll go first!"

"Boom!"

He stomped his foot on the ground, and magical energy surged out from beneath him.

Li Weiyi soared several zhang high, stepping on air. His first sword strike was with all his might, unleashing the Heaven's Dao Harmonization-level Qiankun Ruyi Sword, intending to test Hidden Nine's strength.

Hidden Nine slightly raised his head, and hundreds of sword shadows appeared in his semi-transparent, semi-solid pupils.

"Opening Heaven and Earth!"

The first axe strike of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes.

"Clang, clang."

Sword and axe clashed, like metal and stone violently striking each other repeatedly, sending sparks flying.

Intense gusts of energy erupted within a dozen zhang around them.

Hidden Nine was forced to take a step back before he could neutralize Li Weiyi's aggressive sword momentum.

The next moment, the two abruptly clashed again.

"Hidden Nine actually retreated!" Hidden Twenty-Four exclaimed in disbelief.

Among their generation of Hidden People, no one had ever managed to make Hidden Nine retreat even half a step in the Nine Springs Ancestral Field realm.

Inside the medicinal cuisine kitchen, two old men who had been preparing to play chess temporarily stopped, both looking towards the two fiercely clashing figures on the distant plaza.

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder said, "Could another mortal peak have emerged?"

"Hard to say, hard to say... At least in terms of physical strength, he is not weaker than Hidden Nine," the Gatekeeper Elder replied.

Among perfected beings who have opened the Nine Springs, some have only over eighty trace meridians, while others can reach over ninety.

There isn't much difference in the number of trace meridians between mortals and anomalous human species, both falling within the range of eighty-one to ninety-nine. One hundred trace meridians is almost the recorded limit.

However, Pure Immortal Physiques have a significant advantage over mortals and anomalous human species; after opening the Nine Springs, they can almost all reach over ninety trace meridians. Some particularly remarkable ones can exceed one hundred.

Each additional one grants an extra advantage.

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder said, "It seems to be an even match. It looks like it will depend on who has cultivated more Heaven's Dao Harmonization techniques, whose breathing technique is stronger, and who can use magical energy more skillfully... Hidden Nine's situation seems a bit grim..."

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

Li Weiyi loved to strike quickly after gaining the upper hand, continuously extending his advantage, and finally crushing his opponent with overwhelming force.

After Hidden Nine took that one step back, he never advanced again.

Suddenly!

Hidden Nine's body shone brightly, becoming much more substantial, and he swung an axe imbued with dense magical energy.

Clearly, the psionic stone wall was simulating Hidden Nine's combat power level when he activated a massive amount of magical energy from his Ancestral Field.

Li Weiyi had opened his Wind Abode, but the Wind Abode was only a small Qi Sea, capable of unleashing only one ultimate strike. This strike, naturally, could not be used lightly and had to be reserved for the most crucial moment.

"Let's see how strong your combat power can be when you activate your Ancestral Field."

Li Weiyi grew more and more excited as he fought, immediately filled with boundless heroic spirit. He neither dodged nor avoided, choosing to meet Hidden Nine's cleaving battle axe head-on.

"Rumble!"

Sword and axe clashed.

The stone slabs beneath their feet shattered completely, and a ripple of magical energy abruptly spread outwards.

The leaves of the purple tree forest in the distance rustled.

Li Weiyi finally couldn't bear it and was sent flying backward two zhang. As soon as his toes touched the ground, he immediately shot forward again, swinging his sword to "open the sea," clashing head-on with Hidden Nine's Ancestral Field magical power. His sharp gaze conveyed an invincible spirit of "I am the strongest in the world."

Hidden Twenty-Four had long since held her breath involuntarily: "He... he doesn't seem to be activating Ancestral Field magical energy to boost his combat power, yet he can still clash head-on with Hidden Nine like this? He's too disrespectful to Hidden Nine!"

If it were a real duel, this would be outright contempt.

She couldn't even imagine that Li Weiyi, in reality, currently only had an Eight Springs cultivation level and absolutely no Ancestral Field magical energy to activate.

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder nervously asked, "How many rounds have they fought?"

The Gatekeeper Elder hadn't counted, and said, "Hidden Nine's Ancestral Field magical energy is almost depleted. He will be defeated within five moves."

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder's mouth felt dry. "This young man hasn't even used Ancestral Field magical energy yet. Could he really be the first person in over a dozen cycles of sixty years to become a Divine Hidden Person through special qualification?"

"Cleave!"

"Cleave again!"

"Third Cleave!"

Li Weiyi successively unleashed three Heaven's Dao Harmonization-level Grand Unity Sea-Splitting swords. Each sword strike was stronger than the last. With the third strike, he actually managed to boost the power of his sword technique by ten to twenty percent purely through his momentum and fighting spirit.

"Bang!"

Hidden Nine's light projection shattered, turning into countless specks of light that flew back into the psionic stone wall.

Hidden Twenty-Four, who had almost suffocated, finally took a long, deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Hidden Twenty-Three and Hidden Twenty-Five, startled by the massive commotion, rushed over, their eyes wide as they gazed at the figure on the plaza.

"What did we miss?" Hidden Twenty-Three asked.

After a long silence, Hidden Twenty-Four said, "You missed the slaying of a god."

In the eyes of these Hidden People, Hidden Nine, in the Nine Springs realm, was truly like a god, instilling in them a sense of despair that they could never overcome.

Hidden Twenty-Five said, "Hidden Nine, in the Gushing Spring realm, possessed the ultimate mortal physique. To defeat him with a mortal body is indeed equivalent to slaying a god. If he becomes Hidden Twenty-Six, he will certainly be a strong contender for a Divine Hidden Person."

Hidden Twenty-Four smiled, "Haven't you realized? He's not fighting for Hidden Twenty-Six; he's aiming to become a Divine Hidden Person directly, to become our leader."

Hidden Twenty-Three and Hidden Twenty-Five were both startled.

"No, he has no chance," Hidden Twenty-Three analyzed. "Hidden Nine represents the mortal limit, the 'Hundred Meridians of Pure Silver'. In terms of physique alone, he could challenge a Pure Immortal Physique with a Hundred Meridians of Pure Silver. But at that time, he was only thirteen years old, his body hadn't fully developed, and his combat techniques and the number of Heaven's Dao Harmonization moves he cultivated were limited. His combat power had a clear gap compared to a Pure Immortal Physique with a Hundred Meridians of Pure Silver."

Li Weiyi's arms were aching as if they would split, and his qi and blood surged within him. He quickly sat down cross-legged and performed a breathing technique to recover.

He still wanted to fight again!

"Although I haven't cultivated an Ancestral Field and cannot borrow large amounts of magical energy to enhance my combat power, my Jade Void Breathing Technique can mobilize magical power more quickly and continuously, which can, to some extent, make up for some of the difference."

Half an hour later.

Li Weiyi's condition returned to its peak, and he once again pressed his palm against the psionic stone wall.

"Whoosh!"

Inside the stone wall, brighter spiritual light, magical energy, and scriptures converged like countless threads.

A brand new mural appeared: a majestic figure, much taller than the thirteen-year-old Hidden Nine, holding a ten-foot long spear, stepping out from the stone wall.

He shook the long spear in his hand, and ripples of magical energy erupted from its tip.

From the distant medicinal cuisine kitchen, the Medicinal Cuisine Elder reminded, "It's the Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique, Yang Shenjing."

Li Weiyi was surprised: "The strongest person in Lizhou, Yang Shenjing, the Sect Master of Suizong?"

"It's him. This psionic mural was bought many years ago. Yang Shenjing happened to have cultivated one hundred trace meridians, which, in the Gushing Spring realm, is considered the threshold for a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique. Defeat him, and you pass the second test," the Medicinal Cuisine Elder said.

The Gatekeeper Elder said, "Don't mislead that young man! The number of trace meridians does affect a martial cultivator's combat power, but a few more or a few less will absolutely not be the decisive factor in victory or defeat. When Yang Shenjing was young, he swept across the entire southern region without a single opponent; his combat techniques were already very seasoned even in the Gushing Spring realm."

Yang Shenjing had consecutively defeated six clan leaders of the Nine Li tribe, boasting a brilliant record. How could Li Weiyi dare to underestimate him?

His sword struck first!

Yang Shenjing stood as steady as a divine mountain, shaking the long spear in his hand.

The spear tip, aimed precisely, blocked all of Li Weiyi's attack angles, maximizing the advantage of a long weapon being superior to a short one.

The next moment, the long spear swung out like an iron staff, and a sky full of staff shadows enveloped Li Weiyi.

"Boom!"

Li Weiyi met the strike head-on to test his opponent's strength.

As his sword edge touched the staff shadows, Li Weiyi immediately felt the essential difference between a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique and a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver mortal. Yang Shenjing's strength was too great, surpassing Hidden Nine by a significant margin.

In the Gushing Spring realm, he could definitely lift the Five Seas Pillars.

"I can't meet him head-on."

Li Weiyi's arm ached and felt numb. He quickly employed movement techniques to retreat and create distance.

However, with the distance created, it only became more advantageous for the long spear's offensive. Yang Shenjing seized the opportunity to pursue, his ten-foot-long weapon twisting like a living, swimming dragon, stirring up a vortex of magical energy that completely enveloped Li Weiyi in front of him.

Knowing he couldn't escape, Li Weiyi immediately activated the magical energy in his Wind Abode, turned, and thrust out his sword.

At the same time, he performed the Clear Void Cicada Chasing Steps with his feet.

"Whiz! Whiz!"

After breaking through the magical energy vortex, his sword edge grazed the spear shaft, sending sparks of spiritual light flying.

Li Weiyi's sword strike had a very clear objective: to pierce directly through Yang Shenjing's glabella.

But all his calculations seemed to have been seen through by his opponent. Yang Shenjing's body suddenly became incredibly bright. He activated his Ancestral Field magical energy and unleashed a massive magical energy palm print, its power vast as if the heavens and earth were pressing down.

"Thud!"

The Yellow Dragon Sword was struck off course, almost flying out of his hand.

Li Weiyi gritted his teeth, activating the magical energy in his trace meridians, and hastily formed a palm print to clash head-on with Yang Shenjing's palm.

His body slid back five zhang. His entire arm lost all sensation, and a trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth. As the long spear thrust forward again, he had no choice but to shout, "I surrender."

Yang Shenjing turned and walked back into the psionic stone wall.

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder was more agitated than anyone else, slamming his hand heavily on the railing. "Oh, why didn't he use Ancestral Field magical energy to counter the enemy? Yang Shenjing is strong, but not unconquerable. Even Hidden Nine could exchange blows with him before his Ancestral Field magical energy ran out."

The Gatekeeper Elder quietly said, "Perhaps he hasn't cultivated an Ancestral Field yet."

The Medicinal Cuisine Elder turned and stared at him, then jumped out of the medicinal cuisine kitchen. After a few leaps, he appeared beside Li Weiyi and pointed a finger at the location of his Ancestral Field.

He stumbled back three steps, looking at Li Weiyi as if he had seen a ghost.

"Little Twenty-Four, protect him during the trial."

Leaving these words behind, the Medicinal Cuisine Elder and the Gatekeeper Elder walked towards the mountain gate, no longer having any thoughts of playing chess.

The three Hidden People were all processing their shock. Could he really only have an Eight Springs cultivation?

On the other side, Li Weiyi walked away dispirited, his mood extremely suppressed, feeling as if a mountain was weighing on his chest.

Yao Yin, waiting by the edge of the Bloodwood Forest, finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him return safely. She stepped forward and asked, "How did it go?"

"I lost... a complete defeat, absolutely no chance of winning. The opponent seemed to have no weaknesses or flaws..."

Li Weiyi muttered to himself like this, as if completely oblivious to Yao Yin. He walked past her, heading alone towards his cave dwelling.

Yao Yin had never seen him in such distress, and felt a pang of discomfort. Seeing Hidden Twenty-Four follow him into the Bloodwood Forest, she asked, "What's wrong with him? He seems to have suffered a severe blow."

"He suffered a blow?"

Hidden Twenty-Four gritted her teeth in annoyance. "Who suffered a blow?" she retorted. "You didn't see how he previously displayed divine might and defeated Hidden Nine."

Yao Yin's crescent-moon-like beautiful eyes were filled with astonished light. One must know that ordinary perfected beings in the Nine Springs realm couldn't last even a single move against Hidden Nine.

"Then he still said he lost?" Yao Yin found it hard to understand.

Hidden Twenty-Four replied, "He lost to the Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique, Yang Shenjing."

Yao Yin found it even harder to comprehend. "For a mortal to lose to a Pure Immortal Physique in the same realm is perfectly normal," she said. "Moreover, that was a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique, a top-tier Pure Immortal Physique, Lizhou's foremost expert, Yang Shenjing. What is there to be upset about?"

Hidden Twenty-Four gazed deeply at Yao Yin. Pure Immortal Physiques were indeed all proud, but... this time, her understanding was too shallow!

Too lazy to explain further, Hidden Twenty-Four went to Li Weiyi's cave dwelling and knocked on the stone door: "May I come in?"

The door was open.

Hidden Twenty-Four had just stepped inside.

Li Weiyi rushed out from inside, appearing before her, his eyes already filled with renewed fighting spirit: "I just broke through, and I can cultivate more Heaven's Dao Harmonization techniques, and consume *roucongrong* and medicinal cuisine to temper my body. I think, if you give me a month, I can definitely defeat him. Oh, and I can also temper golden trace meridians!"

"You can also break through to the Ninth Spring!" Hidden Twenty-Four said with a dark expression.

Li Weiyi said, "And the legendary Tenth Spring."

Getting carried away, Hidden Twenty-Four said, "I'm here under orders to teach you the Face-Changing Art! Once you enter the Hidden Gate, you can no longer easily show your former face and identity to others. You will no longer be your former self, nor possess your former name."

Li Weiyi asked, "Not even a Divine Hidden Person?"

"Divine Hidden Persons naturally have a higher degree of freedom," Hidden Twenty-Four replied.

Li Weiyi said, "Then why are you telling me all this?"

If Hidden Twenty-Four hadn't known that he might actually be able to become a Divine Hidden Person through special qualification, she would have retorted immediately. But now, she could only hold back again and again, gritting her teeth as she said in a calm tone, "You're not... you're not a Divine Hidden Person yet, so we have to follow the rules."

Li Weiyi asked, "Is there a time limit for the trial?"

"Just complete it within a month," Hidden Twenty-Four replied.

"I'm not yet an opponent for a Nine Springs Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Pure Immortal Physique, and the Evergreen Gang has two Five Seas Realm experts and a large number of Seven Springs masters. This will be a tough fight," Li Weiyi said.

Hidden Twenty-Four said, "I will go with you to Nine Li City. They're just two Seven Springs Five Seas Realm cultivators."

"What I mean is, I need to go into seclusion and cultivate for a while first. At the very least, I need to be able to lift the Five Seas Pillars, cultivate a few more Heaven's Dao Harmonization techniques, and also work on my psionic cultivation..." Li Weiyi was deeply engrossed in planning and contemplation, focusing intently on maximizing his strength.

Nine Li City was fraught with danger, and the Evergreen Gang was backed by the Yang Clan and Suizong.

Hidden Twenty-Four floated away, closing the stone door behind her. "I'll come back tomorrow to teach you the Face-Changing Art!"