Chapter 96: Spider Cave Mutation

Yin Shisan said, "In recent months, quite a few exotic medicines imbued with immortal aura have appeared near Buried Immortal Town. Some can help open up the Fengfu, Zutian, and even Qihai acupoints, while others can help pure immortal bodies undergo transformation. Elder, this is an immense opportunity!"

"It is precisely because of this opportunity that the Jiuli Tribe, Suizong Sect, San Chen Palace, Tianyi Gate, and Guanhaige Pavilion have recently seen the emergence of several Nine Springs Grandmasters. Some mortals and mutated individuals who have broken through the Nine Springs and Five Seas have seized this chance to transform into pure immortal bodies, becoming leading figures among the younger generation."

"Suizong Sect and San Chen Palace are ambitious. They have even used the immortal-aura-imbued exotic medicines to cultivate successor seeds, each aspiring to become a sect with millions of disciples."

The gatekeeper elder had long known about the immortal-aura-imbued exotic medicines. Just like Xue Zheng, who used the exotic medicine to transform into a pure immortal body. If he had then broken through the Nine Springs Ancestral Field, wouldn't he have become a successor seed? Unfortunately, he was killed by Li Weiyi, which angered the Xue clan.

The elder who prepares meals said, "Those are just false seeds! A true successor seed must have over a hundred meridian traces. This can't be achieved by simply relying on exotic medicines."

"However, transforming into a pure immortal body leads to a fundamental improvement in combat power within the same realm and future potential." The gatekeeper elder's expression was solemn as he seriously considered the matter.

Yin Shisan said, "After the immortal aura space inside Buried Immortal Town expanded, it is said that immortal-aura-imbued exotic medicines have appeared frequently. This is why I felt I had to return to meet the Hidden Lord. Personally, all Hidden individuals of the Hidden Sect are Nine Springs Grandmasters. If we gather these exotic medicines and transform a few into pure immortal bodies, there will absolutely be a hundred benefits and no harm."

"Publicly, Buried Immortal Town is located in Lizhou. Shouldn't the Jiuli Tribe have the final say over the resources within it?"

"These resources are by no means optional; they concern the rise and fall of our tribe and will profoundly affect the pattern of Lizhou for the next hundred years."

"I heard that in some areas of the immortal aura space, only martial cultivators below the Dao Seed realm can enter. In others, only those in the Surging Spring realm can enter. And there are some places only pure immortal bodies can access."

"For the Mangshan Grand Sacrifice nine days from now, the Divine Hall and the Daoist Academy have unanimously decided to change the previous competition method. Instead, competitors will enter the immortal aura space in Buried Immortal Town to seek opportunities, using this to determine their prowess and ranking."

The gatekeeper elder saw Yin Shisan's extreme impatience, but remained calm: "The higher one's cultivation, the harder it is to transform into a pure immortal body. A martial cultivator in the Surging Spring realm might transform after taking just one exotic medicine. But for the first realm of the Five Seas, perhaps three or four will be needed. The second realm of the Five Seas will be even more difficult... Shortcuts are not that easy to take."

Yin Shisan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So, the Hidden Sect had been paying attention to the situation in Buried Immortal Town all along; it was good that they hadn't underestimated or overlooked it.

In the square, Li Weiyi had meditated and recovered to his peak state. He stood up.

He pressed his palm against the psionic stone wall, challenging the third person — Lingxiao's First Commander.

"Whoosh!"

The spiritual light, magical energy, and scriptures flowing within the psionic stone wall were significantly brighter than the previous two times.

The mural image of Zuo Qiuling, Lingxiao's First Commander, was powerfully built and tall. Clad in tiger-beast armor, he stood approximately two meters tall, but exuded no sense of savagery; rather, he projected a sharp dominance and aloof pride.

The weapon in his hand was the Nine Nether Bludgeon, famous throughout the Southern Territory. Shaped like a rake, it had nine prongs, and its handle was almost as long as his body.

It is said that the Nine Nether Bludgeon was forged from a special immortal material, capable of continuously increasing its power and grade.

Zuo Qiuling in the psionic mural, though seemingly possessing an astonishing physique, was actually only thirteen years old, far from reaching his current peak state of "eight-foot muscular body, sitting like a divine peak, lying like a nether dragon, and moving to catch up with the sun and moon."

Even someone as strong as Yao Qian could only be called Lizhou's First Commander in the Southern Territory, precisely because there was such an insurmountable mountain above him.

The number one person in the 'Jiazi Register', Nine Nether Bludgeon, Zuo Qiuling.

Everyone present held their breath at Zuo Qiuling's appearance. Of course, part of the reason was their awe of his undefeated reputation in a hundred battles.

"Let's begin!"

Li Weiyi could feel that Zuo Qiuling was significantly stronger than Yang Shenjing. He merely stood there nonchalantly, yet no weakness could be found on him. Like a divine mountain, he could only be moved by absolute combat power; there was no way to gain an advantage through cunning or surprise.

Therefore, he held nothing back, directly mobilizing all the magical energy within his Fengfu acupoint.

"Whoosh!"

A single sword strike opened the sea, trailing a yellow sword energy glow over ten feet long.

Faced with Li Weiyi's full-force sword strike, even Zuo Qiuling, powerful as he was, dared not meet it with his normal combat power. He immediately activated his Zutian magical energy to respond.

He swung his bludgeon, its nine prongs carving nine bright streaks of light in the air.

"Boom!"

With a single clash, both retreated simultaneously.

Just as everyone was concentrating with anticipation, believing the two would engage in a fierce battle, Li Weiyi conceded directly.

"As expected of Lingxiao's First Commander, my full-force strike could only contend with you equally. This sword strike can't harm you, so there's no need to deliver the next one!"

"There are always greater mountains beyond mountains, and greater people beyond people. In the end, I underestimated the heroes of the world!" Li Weiyi sighed this, then turned and walked away.

He decided to break through to the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field as quickly as possible.

To defeat the world's number one across realms was simply a pipe dream.

Yin Shisan's eyebrows furrowed like two upright blades, saying in confusion: "After a single clash, they seemed evenly matched, so why did he concede immediately? If he defeated Zuo Qiuling, he would become a Divine Hidden One! Does he not want to be a Divine Hidden One?"

The gatekeeper elder tried to process the shock in his heart, too lazy to explain to Yin Shisan. He said: "Let's go, come with me to see the Hidden Lord. Since Buried Immortal Town has undergone another major change, and even the Mangshan Grand Sacrifice is being held there, it seems the Hidden Sect must take action."

Yin Shisan was overjoyed and followed, saying: "Why don't we let that kid go? He's in the Surging Spring realm; I think he could take on a group by himself."

"What do you mean 'that kid'? Haven't you realized he's destined to be a Divine Hidden One? You watch your words, kid," the gatekeeper elder said.

Yao Yin quickly caught up with Li Weiyi, who was about to return to his cave dwelling to cultivate. A fragrant breeze wafted from her, and she softly said: "For the past two months, I've come to your cave dwelling many times to find you, but you've been in secluded cultivation. I have a lot I want to tell you."

Li Weiyi said, "Tell me now; I'm short on time."

Yao Yin could sense Li Weiyi's indifferent attitude. Though she felt a little hurt, she could also understand; after all, it had been her unrequited wish from the beginning.

She spoke the words she had organized countless times: "First, I want to apologize to you. It was truly a misunderstanding before! Yin Twenty-Four has clarified everything to me, and I'm very grateful. I know I owe you a great favor."

Li Weiyi's mind was constantly on breaking through to the Ninth Spring. He didn't really listen much, only responding with: "It's nothing!"

Yao Yin had to jog to keep up with his pace: "There's a second point. I... I actually wanted to ask, why were you holding onto my leg on the boat coming to the Hidden Sect? And why did you save me in the Flying Winged White Spider Cave?"

"Huh?"

Li Weiyi's attention finally fell on her. He gave an awkward laugh and said: "The first time on the boat was an accident. The second time, just take it as an apology for that accident!"

"Then your stopping Li Qing from killing me, that wasn't... not an accident, right?" Yao Yin asked timidly, yet stared directly at him.

Li Weiyi looked at her and stared for a long time, until Yao Yin began to feel flustered. Only then did he suddenly blurt out: "A baseball bat, do you know what that is?"

Yao Yin had no idea what he was talking about.

Li Weiyi said, "It's like a sword in the hand of a sword cultivator. Once used, there's always a certain amount of sentiment attached to it."

"Sentiment?"

Yao Yin's eyes darted around, then grew increasingly bright. But in an instant, her pale cheeks flushed hot and red.

"Never mind, I can't explain it clearly to you right now. Just pretend I didn't say anything just now; my mind isn't here at the moment."

Li Weiyi entered the cave dwelling, closed the stone door, and activated the formation.

Yin Twenty-Four had followed behind the two and arrived outside the cave dwelling. Seeing Yao Yin left outside, an inexplicable anger surged in her heart: "Has he gone mad from cultivation?"

"Seems like it, a little."

Yao Yin smiled: "But in this state, he seems to inadvertently speak some truths."

As Li Weiyi entered the cave dwelling, seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns immediately rushed towards him.

For some time recently, Li Weiyi had only focused on secluded cultivation, neglecting them. The seven of them were howling with hunger, unable to get enough to eat from medicinal meals, and their bodies seemed to be having problems.

Li Weiyi caught the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns one by one, and measured their body lengths.

They were still just shy of two inches long.

Their bodies weren't growing anymore!

Entering the Blood Mud Space, Li Weiyi consulted his spirit tablet master.

"The seven of them are on the verge of a breakthrough," "They will need a significant medicinal draught to transform to a level comparable to a Five Seas realm martial cultivator," said the voice from the spirit tablet.

Yao Yin and Yin Twenty-Four had just left, walking only a dozen steps, when the stone door behind them suddenly opened.

Li Weiyi emerged from inside, and seeing the two women turn around, he said mysteriously: "It's urgent; we must act immediately."

Yin Twenty-Four instantly understood what he meant. She nodded slightly: "I'll arrange a boat. We'll depart from Silver Beach River Valley; it's less likely to be noticed from there."

"Where are you two going?"

Yao Yin's face was full of curiosity, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation: "Can you take me with you?"

"No, this trip is dangerous." Yin Twenty-Four flatly refused.

"She's right."

Li Weiyi returned to his cave dwelling, strapped on his insect tube, and took his Yellow Dragon Sword.

Yao Yin entered Li Weiyi's cave dwelling for the first time. Her eyes gleamed with shrewd intelligence as she tentatively asked: "Are you going to the underground river cave where the Flying Winged White Spiders gather?"

"How did you guess that?" Li Weiyi asked.

She said: "You've only participated in that one trial since coming to the Hidden Sect. Where else would you go besides there? There isn't more precious medicine there, is there?"

Li Weiyi fell silent for a moment.

Yao Yin said: "Please take me with you. I can help out a little. I don't need any precious medicine; I'll just treat it as an experience to gain more practical experience in facing danger."

Li Weiyi genuinely couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Yin Twenty-Four sat on a flat-bottomed boat by the Silver Beach River Valley. Watching the man and woman approaching in the distance, her expression turned grim.

"She'll only contribute effort; she doesn't want any precious medicine. We've already agreed on that," Li Weiyi stated. He then leaped lightly onto the boat.

Seeing Yao Yin board right after, Yin Twenty-Four knew that saying anything more now would be useless. She murmured something inaudible, then released her magical energy, propelling the flat-bottomed boat towards the spider cave.

To return quickly and avoid detection by the Hidden Sect, the three directly charged into the spider cave.

Yin Twenty-Four and Li Weiyi led the way at the bow of the boat.

Each swing of the Yellow Dragon Sword was devastating, severing large quantities of spiderwebs. Yin Twenty-Four, on the other hand, continuously unleashed palm strikes, sending out hurricane-like magical energy that swept away Flying Winged White Spiders in waves.

Yao Yin stood in the middle of the boat, clearing any spiders that slipped through.

The seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns guarded the stern of the boat, fighting off the pursuing spider hordes from behind. They clearly understood the purpose of this trip and worked exceptionally hard, their insect eyes gleaming with excitement.

In just over an hour, Li Weiyi once again saw the purple glow emanating from deep within the cave on the right side of the Blood River passage, and smelled a rich medicinal fragrance.

The purple Cistanche was about fifty to sixty zhang from the river. In the small central area, the medicinal energy was so dense it had transformed into a hazy purple mist.

The seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns, smelling the medicinal fragrance, became incredibly joyous, eagerly flapping their wings and flying towards it.

But the strange scene that followed chilled the three on the boat to the bone.

They watched as, after the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns flew into the purple mist area, they did not land on the Cistanche but vanished into thin air. From deep within the cave, a strange rustling sound immediately emanated, and the purple mist area expanded several times over.

Li Weiyi's expression changed abruptly. Ignoring Yao Yin's attempts to stop him, he immediately disembarked.

"Yao Yin, stay and watch the boat!"

"Yin Twenty-Four, follow behind me, keeping a distance of ten zhang. Be careful of the spider king with four blood-red wings."

Li Weiyi tied a rope made of spider silk around himself, and handed the other end to Yin Twenty-Four: "If anything unexpected happens, pull me back immediately."