Chapter 179: First-class Results Announced, Ten From The Southern Frontier
The next morning.
A piece of news quickly spread, igniting the emotions of the young martial cultivators throughout Qiu Zhou Prefecture City, and then, like a tide, surged toward Taoli Mountain in the center of the city.
Yin Shisan hurried through Qin Garden and arrived at the small dwelling where Li Weiyi lived. Seeing Yin Twenty-Four contemplating in the courtyard, he was slightly surprised at first, then understood.
“What’s wrong?” Li Weiyi asked.
Yin Shisan said, “The First Rank list has been released!”
“What does that mean?”
Yin Shisan said, “Du’e Temple hung the list of the first batch of martial cultivators who received invitations on the stone wall below Taoli Mountain, ten from each of the southeast, northwest, and four territories. Now, martial cultivators throughout the city are intensely discussing it, calling these forty people the First Rank sequence of martial cultivators under heaven.”
Li Weiyi pondered for a moment: “Du’e Temple did this on purpose, releasing the lists of those who received invitations in batches to stir everyone’s emotions and stimulate those who haven’t received invitations yet.”
Yin Shisan laughed heartily: “You guessed it right again! I went to check below Taoli Mountain. The martial cultivators who didn’t receive invitations were indeed all stimulated like crazy. Some even directly went to challenge those who did receive invitations!”
“This is not just about invitations; it’s also about face. Who wouldn’t want to be on the First Rank? There must be plenty of dissatisfied people.” Li Weiyi said.
Yin Shisan said, “Even more interesting is that some martial cultivators on the First Rank publicly announced on the spot that Heaven Pavilion will hold a banquet tonight to celebrate.”
“The purpose of the banquet is probably not just celebration, but to form alliances and horizontal connections, pulling in as many allies as possible to prepare for the dragon and tiger struggle after the New Year. At the same time, it’s to create influence and build momentum for themselves, gathering more martial cultivators under their banner and collecting more power.” Li Weiyi said.
Yin Shisan nodded, his face full of worry: “The southern city side is now called the hell field, with the most exaggerated competition among the four cities.”
“Oh?”
Li Weiyi intended to participate in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival and was naturally curious, asking: “Who are the First Rank people in the southern city?”
Yin Shisan said, “The head of the southern city’s First Rank is Cang Li, which wasn’t too unexpected.”
“Following are: Hua Yuzi, Zuo Qiu Ting, Jiang Ning, Qi Jin, Heartless Golden Ape, Zuo Qiu Lan Cheng, Ku Di, Zuo Qiu Qing Yin, Li Shentong.”
“Although there are ten people on the First Rank without deliberate ranking, everyone can see that Du’e Temple hung the signs in order of strength.”
Li Weiyi frowned slightly: “Hua Yuzi and Qi Jin under the Young Esteemed One were actually assigned to the southern city. Why was Jiang Ning also assigned to the southern city?”
Yin Shisan smiled: “The Jiang Family is located in Fu Zhou, which is one of the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory. However, Fu Zhou is the core prefectural city of the Imperial Court, so it’s easy to overlook.”
Li Weiyi said, “Three people from Zuo Qiu Gatehouse are on the First Rank. Their strength is indeed strong enough; no wonder Zuo Qiu Ting dares to go to war with the Young Esteemed One.”
“Zuo Qiu Lan Cheng and Zuo Qiu Qing Yin are the Second Successor and Third Successor. The three major successors all have Hundred Meridians All Silver; that’s the foundation of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse.”
Yin Shisan continued: “Although Cang Li and Hua Yuzi rank ahead of Zuo Qiu Ting, the three of them have never divided victory or defeat, so their relative strengths are hard to say.”
“If it weren’t for the Young Esteemed One’s group appearing, Zuo Qiu Gatehouse would absolutely have the ability to control the situation and showcase their foundation and strength.”
Li Weiyi asked: “Which side were Luan Sheng Lin You assigned to?”
Yin Shisan shook his head: “Among the forty on the First Rank, there’s no name of his.”
“Could his cultivation have already reached the Dao Seed Realm and been excluded?” Li Weiyi said.
Yin Shisan said, “This is probably the result all young martial cultivators most want to see, but it’s likely not that simple.”
Li Weiyi smiled bitterly: “You’re right; the southern city really is a hell field. Only one of the Coffin Mountain Four Truths made the list. Tian Ya Ridge has countless demon race masters, yet only one Heartless Golden Ape made it. Yang Qingxi and Chen Wenwu have great reputations in Li Zhou, but they also temporarily failed to make the list. Who is Li Shentong?”
“This question is probably what the young martial cultivators of the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory are all asking now.”
Yin Shisan said, “This Li Shentong seemed to appear out of thin air. Before this, I hadn’t even heard his name. Judging by the surname, he should be from Li City in Zhizhou, likely a foundation master secretly cultivated. After all, Li City produced a remarkable big shot who is now full of ambition; even Zuo Qiu Gatehouse can’t fully suppress them.”
Li Weiyi said, “Failing the First Rank, these heaven’s chosen of the Southern Territory should be able to accept it, since almost all above are Hundred Meridians All Silver Pure Immortal Body. But if they don’t have a name on the Second Rank either, that would really be embarrassing.”
Heroes and beauties, surrounded by flowers.
Hundred Meridians All Silver, leading the trend.
Li Weiyi was somewhat interested in the lively clamor outside, but he had no intention of leaving Qin Garden for now. In the current Qiu Zhou Prefecture City, young masters were as numerous as carp crossing the river; going out would only invite blows.
Over the next two days, he secluded cultivation in the small dwelling, nourishing lung leaves.
On the third night, after finishing nourishing lung leaves, he swallowed two stalks of Dyeing Cloud Exotic Medicine and successfully impacted the third sea of qi.
By the morning of the fourth day, the sea of qi had fully expanded, and all string pulses were completely constructed.
“The third sea of qi is around three hundred and eighty cubes, still not comparable to others’ main sea.”
“The grade of magic energy has increased somewhat, but there’s still a gap to fourth-tier qi; I need to continue quenching qi.”
Li Weiyi took out two pill bottles.
One was the Qi Ascending Pills refined by Zen Sea Observing Mist, with hundreds of them, definitely enough for accumulating qi in the Third Realm of the Five Seas Realm.
The other was the Qi Increasing Pills brought back by Yin Shisan, also over a hundred.
He took out one Qi Ascending Pill and swallowed it.
The pill entered his abdomen and exploded like a cloud mass, enveloping his entire body in magic energy clouds.
An hour later, fully absorbed.
“Reaching the Third Realm of the Five Seas Realm, the absorption speed is indeed a bit faster; it only takes one hour to refine one pill.”
“With only twenty days left until New Year’s Eve, even refining pills for twelve hours a day without sleep, there’s no way to fully cultivate the third sea.”
Li Weiyi was no longer worried about the strength of his lung leaves. With the nourishment of immortal soil, as long as the sea of qi was fully cultivated, he could directly impact the fourth sea.
Once the main sea was opened, it would be completely different.
According to the pattern, a martial cultivator’s fourth sea was ten times larger than the first three combined—that would be several thousand cubes!
“Yin Shisan did say there’s a shortcut even for the fourth sea. My current third sea should be comparable to those Seven Springs martial cultivators’ main sea. What exactly is this shortcut?”
Li Weiyi pushed open the door, breathed in the cold air outside, and glanced at the “snow woman” sitting on the coffin lid contemplating. He sighed inwardly: everyone was desperate for cultivation; effort really was nothing to mention.
Yin Shisan had already left and returned to the Imperial Court camp; now Qin Garden was under his command.
Daily chores were handed to Yin Twenty-Five.
Yin Twenty-Five, dressed in black tight clothes, came through the wind and snow and stood outside the courtyard gate to report: “Hidden Person, Yin Ten sent someone to request a meeting; they have words to speak to you alone.”
Li Weiyi, who was just thinking about how to contact the higher-ups to find the shortcut, was delighted and hurried downstairs out of the courtyard, asking: “Where is the person?”
“Back gate.”
Yin Twenty-Five followed closely behind Li Weiyi, hesitated for a moment, then mustered courage: “May I ask, Hidden Person, what price did Yin Twenty-Four pay to gain the qualification to contemplate that silver giant corpse? Whatever she can give, I might not be able to, but a Pure Immortal Body woman… I can go search for one…”
Li Weiyi interrupted him: “Don’t guess wildly, okay? What do you take me for? If your words reach her ears, she could beat you to death. If you want to contemplate, go yourself; I didn’t stop you.”
Yin Twenty-Five was stunned, then immediately knelt on one knee and solemnly saluted: “Thank you, Hidden Person.”
The back gate of Qin Garden was located in a deep alley about three meters wide.
A very simple and low-key carriage was parked on the snowy ground.
Yin Ten’s maid leaned against the carriage. Hearing movement from behind the gate, she immediately stood up to greet, saluting: “Young Master Chi, my master said a noble guest is waiting for you at Heaven Pavilion.”
Li Weiyi had seen this maid in Juze City; she should be Yin Ten’s confidante.
“Noble guest… what time?”
Li Weiyi immediately thought of Zuo Qiu Ting.
If it were someone from the Hidden Sect, they could meet directly in Qin Garden; why go to Heaven Pavilion?
“That noble guest has very tight timing; we should set off now. I’ll drive and take you there!”
The maid’s slender hands were delicate, her body carrying a faint elegant fragrance as she opened the carriage door for him.
Inside the carriage was placed a long rectangular wooden box, painted with runes, unknown what it contained.
Li Weiyi sat down.
She cracked the whip and drove toward the alley exit.
“What’s in this box?” Li Weiyi asked curiously.
The maid said, “Some magic tools and clothing that can conceal identity.”
Li Weiyi said, “I want to see your master; there’s an important matter to discuss.”
“What matter? Tell me directly, and I’ll convey it for you; I am the person my master trusts most.” The maid said.
Li Weiyi said, “Help me ask what the shortcut is for Five Seas Realm Fourth Realm martial cultivators to cultivate the main sea?”
A trace of disappointment flashed in the maid’s eyes, and she smiled: “I can answer this question. Accumulating qi is extremely time-consuming, and cultivating the main sea even more so. Even with the aid of dao domain and pills, it often takes years or even decades.”
“Therefore, major powers spare no cost to cultivate any genius with hope of impacting the Longevity Realm, helping them shorten the cultivation time of the Five Seas Realm to contend for passage in the Dao Seed Realm with a younger body. For example, granting a Dao Lotus or Dao Fruit.”
“One Dao Lotus increases qi by ten thousand cubes.”
“One Dao Fruit increases qi by tens of thousands of cubes.”
Li Weiyi hurriedly asked: “What are Dao Lotus and Dao Fruit?”
“They are the foundation of Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators!”
The maid smiled: “Now, do you understand the value of this shortcut? They can only be obtained when a clan elder in the Dao Seed Realm passes away or by slaying a Dao Seed Realm strong enemy. Only the most heaven-defying genius in a clan has the qualification to use them.”
“Bang!”
A sound of runes shattering came from inside the carriage, and the wooden box was opened.
Panic flashed in the maid’s eyes, then she recovered naturally and smiled faintly, muttering to herself: “Broken so quickly; it really still needs《Bone Changing Spirit Shifting Chapter》, huh?”
Li Weiyi stroked his chin, looking down at the maid who was curled up in the box, fainted, and identical to the woman outside: “You’ve disguised very well, much more like than when you changed into Long Ting; that yin-soft vibe… I shudder just thinking about it. Can’t you stop disguising as a woman? You have no idea what kind of lethal power this has. As the First Successor of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, aren’t you afraid it will affect your reputation if word gets out?”
The driving maid laughed like silver bells: “Don’t use that disgusted tone. If I learned《Bone Changing Spirit Shifting Chapter》, I guarantee I could fool everyone today and trick out more useful information.”
“No, no, change your voice back first!”
Li Weiyi frowned tightly, rubbed his temples, got out of the carriage, snatched the whip from the maid, and bumped her arm with his: “Hurry inside and change back; I’ll drive. This appearance of yours… heavens, I really can’t imagine it; headache. I left a set of my clothes inside; go in and change quickly.”
“Change on this main street?”
The maid-like Zuo Qiu Ting was stunned, thinking Li Weiyi was joking.
Li Weiyi said, “The curtain is covering; who can see you.”
Zuo Qiu Ting shook their head: “No way! Endure it yourself; opportunities to see me as a woman are rare.”
Li Weiyi had no choice; who could ignore the other’s cultivation and status? Even if he couldn’t stand it, he could only endure the disgust in his heart for now.
When he breathed, he accidentally caught the fragrance emanating from their body, still hard to accept: “How about going back to Qin Garden? You’ve already found me anyway; practicing techniques there is quieter, no fear of disturbance.”
Li Weiyi naturally couldn’t believe Zuo Qiu Ting’s true body was a woman. After all, they were a world-renowned master; everyone knew they were a man, just like no one would think Cang Li was a woman.
“I learn quickly; no rush. Today, going to Heaven Pavilion for a free banquet, there’s excitement to watch.” Zuo Qiu Ting sat beside him, back against the carriage door, arms hugging chest, legs and skirt hem dangling together below the carriage.
…
Today seven thousand words, finally caught up!
