Chapter 95: Two Months Later

Summer had passed, autumn had arrived, and two months had gone by.

Yin Shisan sat poised on a four-meter-long jade boat artifact, his body steady and unaffected by the swift currents. He navigated the intricate underground Blood River, entering the vast river valley where the Jiuli Worm Valley was located.

He was about twenty years old. His face was round and soft, his skin fair, and he sported a small tuft of beard on his chin.

Reaching the foot of a towering cliff carved with the words “Jiuli Worm Valley,” the jade boat docked on the right bank of the Blood River.

As a master of the Five Seas Realm and one of the Jiuli Hidden Sect's "wind reporters" who gathered intelligence from outside, Yin Shisan was among the few "Hidden Ones" who knew the route to the Jiuli Worm Valley via the underground river.

As for Yin Ersan, Yin Ersi, and Yin Erwu, these youngsters had not yet even qualified to formally graduate as disciples and still needed to cultivate and grow within the Hidden Sect.

After landing, Yin Shisan extended his hand into the air.

“Whoosh!”

The four-meter-long jade boat artifact flew up, transforming into a delicate four-inch-long miniature boat that settled into his palm.

A knowing smile spread across his face. This mid-grade artifact was truly convenient. In water, it could travel 1,800 li a day, making it impossible for ordinary fierce insects to catch up. From then on, the underground river—this special, universally feared transportation network—would be his domain.

“The imperial court really does have a lot of good things; no wonder everyone wants to rule the world.”

Tucking the jade boat artifact into his robes, Yin Shisan heard the sounds of combat clashing in the distance.

It was coming from the direction of the Mind Power Stone Wall.

Was someone challenging the three individuals on the Mind Power Stone Wall?

Surprised, Yin Shisan quickly passed through the purple tree jungle and reached the edge of the plaza beneath the Mind Power Stone Wall.

“Senior Brother Shisan!”

“Greetings, Senior Brother Shisan!”

Yin Ersan, Yin Ersi, and Yin Erwu were already there, watching the battle, and they all bowed to Yin Shisan.

Such formalities were not observed between the three of them, as their strength difference wasn't significant, and it was uncertain who might become stronger in the future. However, Yin Shisan had joined the Hidden Sect over ten years before them, and his cultivation was vastly superior.

“Erwu, why are you still so skinny? I thought you were challenging the Mind Power Stone Wall. So, have you achieved 'Full Silver' yet?” Yin Shisan playfully poked Yin Erwu’s chest as he asked with a smile, then his gaze shifted to the figure battling in the center of the plaza, his eyes immediately fixed.

Yin Erwu winced from the poke but endured it, replying, “Almost! But even if I reach 'Full Silver Veins,' I couldn't hope to last twenty moves against Yin Jiu’s axe… The difference between ninety-one veins and one hundred veins is immense.”

“Has Yin Jiu already been defeated? Who is this young man, challenging the Hundred-Vein Full Silver Yang God Realm?”

The more Yin Shisan watched, the more astonished he became; his eyes nearly popped out of his head. After all, to be able to trade blows with a Hundred-Vein Full Silver Pure Immortal Body meant this person was definitely a contender for a 'Successor Seed' title.

Yin Erwu sighed with emotion, “This year’s newcomer has only been in the Hidden Sect for four months, yet his combat strength is growing rapidly every month, seemingly without any bottlenecks.”

Besides the four Hidden Ones, Yao Yin, clad in a cloud-patterned white gown, stood at the edge of the plaza like an immortal painting, silently observing the battlefield, her pretty face showing more seriousness than anyone else.

Several elder Hidden Ones also appeared, watching from a distance inside the Medicinal Cuisine Hall.

Yin Shisan stared at Li Weiyi for a while, then, as if something clicked, he exclaimed, “So it’s him! He actually joined the Hidden Sect. Interesting, very interesting!”

“Senior Brother Shisan, you know him?” Yin Ersi asked.

“He’s gained quite a reputation in Lizhou over the past few months. Especially two months ago, after he destroyed the Changlin Gang, it was like he poked a hole in the sky. The Yang Clan’s bounty on him has been multiplied over and over again. An elder from the Xue Clan even declared they would personally act to kill him, demanding his life for Xue Zheng’s. It’s fortunate he’s hidden in the Hidden Sect; otherwise, even the Cangli Tribe might not be able to protect him.”

Yin Shisan continued, recounting details as if they were precious family heirlooms, “Some say he is a Nine Springs Paragon.”

“Others say his combat strength rivals a Hundred-Vein Full Silver Pure Immortal Body, and that he is a 'Successor Seed' of the Jiuli Clan, whom they wish to cultivate into the second successor after Cangli. Initially, I thought the rumors were exaggerated… Tsk tsk…”

“Oh, and there’s also talk that he and the Fourth Miss of the Cangli Tribe are romantically involved, but Yang Yun interfered, which is why he became enemies with the Yang Clan. The story of the poor boy and the rich girl always has its share of hardships, and the rivals keep getting stronger.”

Hearing this, Yao Yin couldn't help but glance at Yin Shisan.

Yin Ersi frowned, “What kind of baseless rumors are these? I know Li Ling; neither she nor Li Weiyi seems like the type to fall in love easily.”

“I am a wind reporter for the Hidden Sect; my information is never unfounded. The Prefectural Governor’s Mansion specifically investigated him. He had already met the Li family’s patriarch and matriarch in Yaoguan and was highly regarded by Cangli, the clan's leader. Cangli even made a public announcement to all young martial cultivators on behalf of this ‘brother-in-law,’ causing quite a stir,” Yin Shisan chuckled.

Yin Ersi fell silent, lost in thought.

In the Jiuli Clan, “Li” is the most prominent surname.

However, only the direct main lineage of the Cangli Tribe can be called the “Li family,” as they are descendants of King Cang. King Cang, the eldest son of the Jiuli God, is nominally the foremost direct lineage among the Jiuli God’s descendants.

“He’s truly strong, almost on par with the Yang God Realm. No wonder the Cangli Tribe values him so highly and wants to recruit him as a son-in-law,” Yin Shisan said.

Yin Ersi scoffed, “How could someone of such exceptional talent become a son-in-law? The Cangli Tribe is too conceited. Li Ling is merely a Half-Immortal Body; what makes her so worthy?”

“Bang! Bang…”

Li Weiyi’s spiritual energy overflowed from his body, enveloping him like mist, as he continuously swung his Yellow Dragon Sword, forcefully countering the long spear wielded by the Yang God Realm opponent.

Over the past two months, he had forged fifty-five golden veins, and his physical strength had significantly increased.

However, forging the golden veins had consumed a considerable amount of time, preventing him from breaking through to the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field.

The biggest disadvantage of not breaking through to the Ancestral Field was that only his Wind Palace stored the spiritual energy necessary to unleash a single martial arts ultimate technique. Yet, Nine Springs Paragons who had opened their Ancestral Fields could mobilize spiritual energy to unleash more than a dozen, even dozens, of moves that surpassed their own cultivation level.

Just like Yin Jiu, when he mobilized his Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy, his combat strength surged, allowing him to trade blows with a Yang God Realm opponent. Only when his Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy was depleted would he be instantly defeated.

With the blessing of the golden veins, spiritual power flowed faster and smoother within Li Weiyi’s body, combined with his increased physical strength, he could finally withstand the attacks of the Yang God Realm opponent when they unleashed their Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy. Before, even one move was difficult to block.

“What a formidable Yang God Realm! It’s already been twenty-seven moves. Is his Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy truly so abundant?”

Li Weiyi endured until the thirty-first move, finally sensing that the Yang God Realm opponent’s Ancestral Field spiritual energy was depleted, and their combat strength rapidly declined to its normal state. With a decisive counterattack, he unleashed a barrage of Heaven Dao fusion techniques.

Seven moves later.

“Boom!”

Li Weiyi’s sword strike split the Yang God Realm opponent in two, who transformed into two clusters of spiritual light and energy that flew into the Mind Power Stone Wall.

Li Weiyi stood tall in the plaza, letting out a long breath. He looked at the bloodstains on the web of his hand and thought to himself, “With cultivation at the Eight Springs, it’s still too difficult to forcefully withstand a Hundred-Vein Full Silver Pure Immortal Body’s combat burst state when they mobilize their Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy! I must break through to the Nine Springs; only then should I be able to defeat them in one or two moves.”

“A difference of one realm is a world of difference.”

Yin Shisan stared at Li Weiyi, who was sitting in meditation, gradually processing his shock, which then turned into much confusion. “If I wasn’t mistaken… he didn’t mobilize his Ancestral Field’s spiritual energy at all? He defeated a Hundred-Vein Full Silver Pure Immortal Body with his normal combat strength?”

The other three Hidden Ones all had strange expressions. They knew some inside information and seriously suspected that Li Weiyi had simply not yet broken through to the Ninth Spring.

But how could that be possible?

There was no such record in history either!

The Hidden One elders who had been watching the battle all relaxed, smiling with expressions of immense satisfaction.

Yin Shisan went to pay his respects.

“Little Shisan, you’ve rushed back from the underground river; is there something important?” the elder gatekeeper asked.

Yin Shisan replied, “Many major events have occurred in recent months, especially the drastic changes in Buried Immortal Town, which have attracted the attention of cultivators across the world. I entered the underground river from that area and specifically rushed back to meet the Hidden Lord.”

The elder gatekeeper was responsible for compiling external information and delivering important news to the Hidden Lord. He asked, “Are there new developments in Buried Immortal Town?”

Yin Shisan nodded, “The Immortal Aura Space within Buried Immortal Town underwent a dramatic expansion a few days ago, and special treasures are continuously emerging. Even the Four Extremities Ape King appeared six days ago; the entire sky was covered by demonic energy, a dark expanse stretching for hundreds of li.”

All the Hidden One elders present were moved.

The Four Extremities Ape King resided in Tianya Ridge, the most terrifying fiend demon in the Southern Realm. Every time it celebrated a grand birthday, forces from all seven states of the Southern Realm had to send congratulatory gifts; otherwise, it would be considered disrespectful and invite immense disaster. Even the three most feared barbarian bandits—Xu Fodu of Coffin Mountain, Shinar of the Earth Wolf Royal Army, and Yuwen Yan of Night City—had to pay their respects.

For such an entity to come to Lizhou, all the major powers in Lizhou must surely tremble.

The elder gatekeeper asked, “Has the Zuoqiu Clan had any movements?”

In the Southern Realm, the Zuoqiu Clan held the most authority. Their prestige was immense, and even demon kings would yield to them. If the Jiuli Clan had not declined, they would naturally possess such strength as well.

Yin Shisan said, “The Successor of the Zuoqiu Clan has indeed arrived at Buried Immortal Town, and has already exchanged blows with the Successors of Cangli and Dragon Gate, though the outcome is unknown.”

“Furthermore, the Luantai Emissary secretly arrived in Lizhou half a month ago, and has successively visited the chieftains of the Nine Great Tribes, carrying a decree from a certain Palace Lord of Lingxiao Palace. Clearly, they are here to urge the Jiuli Clan to dispatch troops to suppress barbarians, and also to raise resources and provisions for the imperial army.”

The elder gatekeeper snorted coldly, “Everyone is treating the Jiuli Clan as a granary and treasury, wanting to take a bite.”

“The Luantai Emissary, after all, represents the imperial court. Lingxiao Palace has not yet fallen, and Yu Yaozi is still the world’s top master, whom no one can afford to offend.”

Yin Shisan added, “This Luantai Emissary is reportedly extremely young, and has already challenged the Dragon Gate Successor, vowing to slay him in Lizhou.”

The elder gatekeeper sighed deeply.

The Jiuli Clan currently could not afford to offend either Lingxiao Palace or Dragon Gate. Anyone dying in Lizhou would be a calamity.