Chapter 90: Law King, Don't Forget the Reward You Promised

"Whoosh!" A three-headed serpent blood spirit shot out from the bracelet, propelled by a blood sacrifice and the spiritual energy of a Five Seas Realm martial artist.

When Director Yang had performed the blood sacrifice, the emerging three-headed serpent blood spirit had been a mere wisp, only about the width of a bowl and six or seven meters long, appearing quite translucent.

However, under Yin Ershisi's command, the blood spirit that burst forth from the bracelet was over ten meters long and as thick as a bucket. Its body was incredibly solid, with scales that seemed cast from metal.

The entire courtyard was permeated with a bloody aura.

The three-headed blood spirit engaged the ghost general, who wielded a Phoenix-Beak Saber, and in a matter of moments, swallowed it whole.

"Boom!" The three-headed serpent blood spirit suddenly lunged forward. The Thirty-Three Characters Vanishing Spirit Battle Array opposite it instantly shattered, sending all thirty-three green-robed eunuchs flying. Most of them died on the spot.

Yin Ershisi channeled even more powerful spiritual energy into the three-headed serpent bracelet. Instantly, the blood within the corpses on the ground transformed into streams of vital energy, flowing continuously into the bracelet on her wrist.

The blood-jade bracelet deepened in color, becoming even more vibrant red.

Li Weiyi’s eyes were wide with astonishment.

After Yin Ershisi retrieved the three-headed serpent blood spirit into the bracelet, she noticed Li Weiyi’s scrutinizing gaze.

She quickly explained, "It’s indeed just a blood spirit comparable to the third stage of the Five Seas Realm, but it’s more than sufficient to handle a Thirty-Three Characters Vanishing Spirit Battle Array formed by a group of Spring Realm cultivators."

The more she explained, the less convinced Li Weiyi became. "Perhaps you should just return the bracelet to me?" he suggested.

"This blood sacrifice... it truly depletes vital energy and is incredibly harmful to the body. I don’t know how long it will take to recover..." Yin Ershisi feigned weakness, her face instantly turning pale.

"I'm not entirely ignorant about blood-sacrificing artifacts, you know," Li Weiyi countered. "The stronger the enemy and the longer the battle, the greater the vital energy consumed. You merely had one brief engagement to break that formation. Could it really have depleted you to this extent?"

Exposed, Yin Ershisi's small face broke into an awkward smile as she tucked the bracelet deeper into her sleeve. "Don't worry, just give me the Glowflame Pills, and I promise to gather the money. Your seven insects are quite extraordinary; five of them together can overwhelm even a Five Seas Realm cultivator, leaving them no chance to retaliate."

She was utterly astonished!

She had seen the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors several times, as they frequently pilfered medicinal ingredients from the Pharmacy Kitchen.

Before this, Yin Ershisi could never have imagined that Li Weiyi, despite his weak spiritual power, possessed seven fierce insects with such astonishing combat capabilities.

When Shi Chuan Yu saw both Li Weiyi and Yin Ershisi looking at him, he instantly despaired.

"Bang!" Yin Ershisi swiftly moved like the wind, striking him squarely in the chest with her palm.

Shi Chuan Yu's body was sent flying, crashing through a pavilion and disappearing into the rubble.

"Pfft!" Li Weiyi descended from above, piercing his heart with a single sword thrust, pinning him to the ground.

"You... you have no idea what kind of storm you... you've stumbled into... you won't end well..." Shi Chuan Yu gushed blood from his mouth, a smirk playing on his lips, as if he could already envision the fate of Li Weiyi and Yin Ershisi.

Li Weiyi’s expression turned grim.

He immediately began searching the bodies.

The Everwood Gang was incredibly wealthy, capable of producing one hundred thousand silver coins with ease, far surpassing any other gang.

After searching the three gang leaders, Li Weiyi then seized a Seven Springs Realm martial artist and hurried to the back courtyard to locate the gang's treasury.

He knew time was of the essence and he couldn't linger, so he only conducted a quick search, not delving too deeply.

Upon reaching the backyard dungeon, Li Weiyi indeed found a large number of young girls and children imprisoned there, all in shackles. His anger flared, and he swiftly cut down the Seven Springs martial artist who had guided him.

Gazing at the dozens of pitiful eyes in the dungeon, Li Weiyi was momentarily at a loss. Even if he opened the cells and released them, they wouldn't be able to survive independently, ultimately either starving to death or falling into the hands of villains.

Human suffering, he realized, could not be alleviated by one person alone.

He returned to the ground level and hurried to the front courtyard.

The seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors had already eliminated all remaining living individuals, ensuring no secrets would be exposed.

Meanwhile, Yin Ershisi had opened all thirty-two giant boxes on the eight carriages. Purple electrical arcs escaped from within, causing dense, worm-like electrical patterns to appear on the ground.

As Li Weiyi drew closer, electrical patterns surged towards him.

A tingling numbness spread across his skin.

He quickly retreated a couple of steps, increasing the distance.

Inside the boxes were chunks of what looked like purple ice crystals, radiating brilliant light from within, where countless dazzling bolts of lightning intertwined.

Li Weiyi distinctly felt the terrifying destructive energy contained within these objects.

Yin Ershisi had retreated even further than Li Weiyi. "Mystic Thunder Ice," she murmured. "Why is it *this*? What is the Sui Sect planning?"

"This feels extremely dangerous. What is it used for?" Li Weiyi, having been in this world for only a few months, still faced many unknowns.

Yin Ershisi explained, "They’re used for breaking formations and besieging cities. Mystic Thunder Ice is collected from the Eight Hundred Li Thunder Sea and is truly a bane to array formations. Even a single piece in these boxes, once it releases energy, could destroy every building in this hundred-acre estate. Don't go near them; I've broken the sealing runes on the boxes, making them extremely unstable. Even a slight jolt could activate them."

Li Weiyi quickly retreated several more steps. "Have those green-robed eunuchs been interrogated?" he asked.

"There's no need to interrogate them; they must be from Dragon Gate."

Yin Ershisi continued, "Mystic Thunder Ice is a supreme treasure of the Thunder Firmament Sect. It seems the top powers in the Eastern Territory believe the Southern Territory isn't chaotic enough and want to add fuel to the fire, hoping we'll engage in internal strife and deplete our own strength. The ambitious Sui Sect perfectly aligns with this."

Dragon Gate is a myriad-family clan of the Eastern Territory, while the Thunder Firmament Sect is a myriad-member sect of the Eastern Territory.

Li Weiyi finally began to understand Shi Chuan Yu's dying words. Becoming embroiled in the machinations of such powerful factions was indeed exceedingly perilous.

"Release all those girls and children," Yin Ershisi instructed, "then activate the Mystic Thunder Ice to erase all traces of our presence."

Li Weiyi gazed three *li* away, towards a multi-story enemy observation tower belonging to the city defense corps. He distinctly saw a gaunt, monkey-like figure ascend directly from the ground to its summit, moving with ghostly speed.

The gaunt, monkey-like figure stood at the tower's peak, scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.

As his features became clear, Li Weiyi's expression abruptly shifted.

Simultaneously, the Six Desires Talisman on his chest began to glow, radiating intense heat.

"We need to leave, fast!" Li Weiyi urged.

Yin Ershisi followed his gaze and saw a skeletal figure descending from the top of the enemy observation tower, heading straight towards them.

"It's Shi Liuyu! It must be the Six Desires Talisman; he can sense my approximate location through our connection, and he'll be here soon."

Li Weiyi's face darkened considerably. He quickly devised a plan, then pushed Yin Ershisi. "You need to go now. Leave this to me."

Yin Ershisi, of course, knew exactly who Shi Liuyu was.

He was a notorious pervert infamous throughout the Southern Territory, yet his cultivation was terrifyingly high, serving as the Armored Commander of the Earth Wolf Royal Army.

"If we leave, we leave together."

She pulled Li Weiyi by the arm.

"Don't be foolish," Li Weiyi insisted. "I can't escape anyway. Besides, if we flee back to Coffin Sea Pavilion now, far too much will be exposed! I'll stall him; you go get reinforcements. Don't just stand there; once he arrives, you'll be my weakness."

Li Weiyi pushed her forward, urging her towards the gate.

"All right, I'll return."

Yin Ershisi no longer hesitated. She broke through the formation and rushed out the gate.

Only then did the eight mutated martial artists guarding the gate realize what had happened inside the estate. Li Weiyi advanced, sword in hand, and after several swift movements, cut them all down.

He sheathed his sword.

He pushed the two copper doors wide open.

Li Weiyi stored all his artifacts, including the Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors and the bodies of the three Five Seas Realm martial artists, into his blood-mud space. Then, unhurriedly, he walked to the backyard dungeon, severed the iron locks on the cell doors, and released the hundreds of young girls and children held within.

Dressed in a loose grey cloth robe, appearing like a monkey in human clothing, Shi Liuyu arrived at the mansion's main gate. Seeing the eight corpses sprawled on the stone steps, he knew he had finally come to the right place.

He did possess a connection to the Six Desires Talisman, but this sensation was extremely subtle, only allowing him to determine a general direction.

If the distance was too great or the obstruction too significant, the connection would fade.

Even before stepping through the gate, he saw ragged girls and children streaming out of the compound.

Shi Liuyu's eyes gleamed. He seized a rather buxom young girl, roughly fondled her twice, eliciting screams and cries, and only then, satisfied, released her.

He entered the courtyard and found Li Weiyi sitting under the eaves, long sword in hand, systematically cutting the shackles off a group of girls and children.

Each time a shackle was severed, another person swiftly fled the estate.

"As a Dharma King, one of the most supreme experts of this cycle, why bother tormenting these unfortunate souls?" Li Weiyi asked, not even looking up at him.

Shi Liuyu was in no hurry to strike. Stepping into the muddy pool of blood, he surveyed the corpses strewn across the courtyard. "You're quite the killer, aren't you, lad?" he remarked. "Not a single living soul left in the entire gang."

"Killing dozens to save over a hundred," Li Weiyi replied, "I'd say that's a net gain!"

Shi Liuyu waited until Li Weiyi had severed all the shackles and released everyone before approaching. "You've played the hero," he said. "Now it's time for you to play the villain! Tell me, where are the people from the Nine Li Hidden Gate?"

"I don't know," Li Weiyi replied.

"You're far too green to try tricks on this Dharma King."

Shi Liuyu's eyes instantly turned frigid. A chilling aura erupted from his body, forming a layer of frost on Li Weiyi.

Li Weiyi found himself unable to move, his skin numb as if he were freezing to death. He quickly stammered, "I truly don't know. If the Nine Li Hidden Gate were so easily exposed, would the Sui Sect have failed to find any trace of them for a thousand years? Would figures at the tribal chief level of the Nine Li tribe not know their true situation?"

Shi Liuyu's eyes narrowed suspiciously. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Where exactly is the Nine Li Hidden Gate? What is their strength like? And how did you end up here?"

Once his body regained freedom, Li Weiyi immediately channeled his spiritual energy to melt the frost on his skin. With calm composure, he explained, "The Nine Li Hidden Gate investigated me and were aware of the long-standing feud between me and the Everwood Gang, so they arranged this trial. Fortunately, I have a good relationship with the Azure Li tribe, so they didn't suspect my identity."

Shi Liuyu had been closely observing Li Weiyi's eyes and expressions, finding the young man's courage and composure truly extraordinary.

Any other martial artist, even many in the Five Seas Realm, let alone the Spring Realm, would immediately cower and struggle to speak clearly under his gaze.

Shi Liuyu was unaware of the feud between Li Weiyi and the Everwood Gang; such a minor faction was beneath his notice.

"What do you mean by 'trial'?" he asked.

"This year, the Nine Li Nine Tribes selected a total of twenty-six gifted youths to send to the Nine Li Hidden Gate," Li Weiyi explained. "Only five are qualified to survive and become disciples of the Hidden Gate. The trial is merely the screening and elimination process."

"That's remarkably cruel."

Shi Liuyu secretly noted this information, thinking he might be able to infer the Hidden Gate's true strength from it.

Li Weiyi coughed several times, blood welling up in his mouth. "Of course it's cruel; I nearly died during this trial. The Everwood Gang had countless experts, and then there was that group of eunuchs... Dharma King, what are those things? They seem quite dangerous..."

He gestured towards the eight carriages.

Shi Liuyu had already inspected them. "Did you destroy the runes on these boxes?" he demanded angrily.

"Is something amiss?"

Li Weiyi feigned bewilderment.

Shi Liuyu gritted his teeth. "Never mind that! Stop prying about these things and continue answering my questions."

Shi Liuyu had long heard that the Thunder Firmament Sect would supply several batches of Mystic Thunder Ice to the Sui Sect, aiding them in breaching the formations of the Nine Li Daoist Temple, the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, and the various clan estates.

However, he never imagined the Sui Sect would be so unreliable, allowing a mere Spring Realm cultivator to nearly destroy the Mystic Thunder Ice.

Didn't they even send Five Seas Realm cultivators to guard it?

"When I went to the Nine Li Hidden Gate, I had a black cloth bag over my head, sealing my five senses," Li Weiyi explained. "It was the same when I left; by the time I took off the bag, I was already outside the Everwood Gang's main headquarters."

"That's what I anticipated!"

Shi Liuyu nodded. "From the Nine Li Hidden Gate to this location, how long did it take approximately?" he asked.

"Hmm, it's hard to say," Li Weiyi replied. "Perception can be distorted when you're in a black bag. I'd estimate it was between five and seven days... perhaps, roughly."

Shi Liuyu didn't fully trust Li Weiyi. While collecting information, he was also evaluating its truthfulness. "Where exactly is the Nine Li Hidden Gate?" he pressed.

"I don't know."

Seeing Shi Liuyu's eyes turn severe and his brow glow, Li Weiyi quickly interjected, "A Death Spirit Flame has been planted inside my skull. You absolutely must not use your mental power. Otherwise, I'll die here on the spot, and you'll get no information whatsoever. It's a lose-lose situation!"

"Haha, don't be scared, I was just teasing you."

Shi Liuyu flashed a set of pearly white teeth, then immediately sneered, "Don't you dare lie to me! If what you say differs by even half a word from what Li Qing says, I'll throw you into a wolf pit, where you'll beg for death but never find it."

Li Weiyi feigned being startled, then, concentrating hard, suddenly recalled something. "The Nine Li Hidden Gate might be in the Realm of the Departed," he ventured, "on the other side of the Mangshan Mountain Range. That area is perpetually shrouded in darkness, with extremely dense Yin energy, and vanishing spirits frequently appear."

Shi Liuyu pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly brightened. "A thousand years ago," he mused, "the Nine Li tribe occupied the land of Kyushu, and eight of those states were engulfed by the Realm of the Departed. If the Nine Li Hidden Gate truly exists and can evade the Sui Sect's notice, it really might be located in one of those eight states... Haha, so that's it, so that's it... What other information do you have? Tell me quickly."

Abruptly.

"Swish!" An incredibly swift afterimage burst in from outside, coming to a halt in the center of the courtyard.

Once it stabilized, the figure gradually became clear.

It was a Pure Immortal Body martial artist in his twenties, clad in the martial robes of a Sui Sect true disciple. His spiritual energy was bright and robust, clearly marking him as a Five Seas Realm master.

Wang Daozhen, one of the top three young masters of the Sui Sect's Wang family, surveyed the corpses on the ground, then sharply glanced at Shi Liuyu and Li Weiyi. "Junior Sister," he said coldly, "something has happened!"

Li Weiyi had already heard the sounds of carriages, the thud of exotic beast hooves, and numerous footsteps outside the gate, realizing that Yang Qingxi had returned. He leaned in and whispered to Shi Liuyu, "Dharma King, it's been less than two months. Don't forget the reward you promised."

"Swish! Swish..."

One after another, afterimages burst forth with incredible speed, entering the estate as if teleporting.

Among them were renowned young prodigies and venerable elders, all exuding formidable auras and wielding artifacts, as they encircled the two men.

"Rumble!" An exotic silver-horned deer beast, as massive as an elephant, pulling a magnificent, house-sized carriage, drove directly through the mansion's main gate.