Chapter 104: Dharma Path Fire Ape
The “Xihe Flower” growing in Tanggu Sea constantly absorbs the brilliance of the Fusang Divine Tree and Golden Crow, eternally blooming. If it doesn’t count as a flower of utmost yang, Li Weiyi truly doesn’t know what other treasure in heaven and earth would qualify.
For this reason, he once asked the knowledgeable Jar Master.
The Jar Master saw records about the Xihe Flower in ancient books of the Jiu Li tribe. It is described as a rare ancient exotic medicine, but it contains terrifying fire toxin that can incinerate a martial cultivator’s physical body. Only some top alchemists, using ancient secret pill formulas, can neutralize the fire toxin of the Xihe Flower and refine it into supreme great pills.
But this process is extremely intricate; ordinary alchemists dare not attempt it.
This is for humans!
For the demon race, the Xihe Flower is a legendary metamorphosis divine medicine; they do not fear the fire toxin within it, and it is something one can only encounter by chance, not seek.
Li Weiyi only conceived the idea of helping her pick the Xihe Flower after learning that Yao Yin possessed demon bloodline.
But with his current “Square Inch Bright Fire” mind power cultivation, he cannot pass through the space barrier between Shaoyang Star and Tanggu Sea. He must break through to the Great Mind Master realm to have a chance.
From the mind master’s third realm “Square Inch Bright Fire” to the Great Mind Master’s first realm “Square Foot Earth Fire,” it is only one realm apart, but this is a great realm that requires an extremely long time to absorb light and nourish fire.
Normal cultivation might take one or two years, or perhaps three to five years.
Yao Yin’s Ice Soul Cold Qi could erupt at any time; it might not wait until then.
To rapidly elevate the mind power realm, he could only purchase Radiant Flame Pills.
One Radiant Flame Pill is worth one hundred thousand silver coins. How many would be needed to break through the great realm?
Yao Yin said, “No matter how much money is needed, I can transfer all the industry left to me by my mother; quite a bit can be raised.”
Li Weiyi dodged Yao Yin’s pair of clear, moving blue eyes filled with infinite longing for the future, feeling regret in his heart. He thought he had been impulsive last night and shouldn’t have given her hope without certainty.
Because without hope, she could calmly face any known bleak outcome. But with hope, if that hope shatters, it is truly fatal.
“It’s just a slight lead for now; let’s not talk about this yet. Yin Twenty-Five is back!” Li Weiyi said.
The light in Yao Yin’s eyes dimmed, but her five fingers in her sleeve clenched tightly; she had already made some resolve.
Yin Twenty-Five held a standard Zhanmadao Saber identical to Li Weiyi’s, exuding a chill from his body. He stepped before the two and said in a low voice, “I’ve inquired clearly. This demon monkey comes from Tian Ya Ridge and is called Dao Fire Ape.”
“In these two days, the Jiu Li tribe has successively sent four Nine Springs Supreme Persons to challenge it. Three were seriously injured, one had his head exploded. Not only was the loss heavy, but their face was completely lost, mocked by martial cultivators under heaven. Yet they can’t regain their standing, because in these past few months, the Jiu Li tribe has only nurtured four Nine Springs Supreme Persons.”
Li Weiyi said, “To deal with a fiend demon, can’t Five Seas Realm martial cultivators act?”
Yin Twenty-Five said, “First, this demon monkey is not a fiend demon but a proper demonic creature cultivating the Human Cultivation Codex. Second, it comes from Tian Ya Ridge with a background so vast it’s terrifying. If high-realm human race martial cultivators dare to act against it, they will surely invite deadly disaster.”
“There’s also talk of proper demons?” Li Weiyi was surprised.
Yin Twenty-Five said, “A thousand years ago in the Lingxiao Life Realm, humans were solely dominant, suppressing all sides in the four territories and aweing the Nether Realm. Among demonic creatures, many studied human cultivation codices, awakening intelligence and wisdom, walking the path of spring eye, sea of qi, and dao seed birth. After achieving longevity, they could even transform into human form.”
“They studied humans’ astronomy, geography, military, economy, artifact refining, talisman drawing, customs, arts… and so on. Though they learned a mishmash, they consider themselves the orthodox demon race, symbols of civilization, distinct from fiend demons still eating raw meat and drinking blood.”
“Tian Ya Ridge is the number one demon domain in the Southern Territory, teeming with demon soldiers and demon generals, countless spirits and ghosts, with overwhelming power. The Four Extremes Ape King is one of the four great demon kings in the Lingxiao Life Realm, having lived sixteen hundred years. A breath from it can form a thousand li of clouds and mists; a wave of its hand brings mountain collapse and ground crack.”
“You say, with such a supreme existence that can nearly change heaven and earth behind it, would the Jiu Li tribe’s Five Seas Realm dare act against the Dao Fire Ape? If the Dao Fire Ape met any mishap in Li Zhou, the Jiu Li tribe’s various tribe leaders would fear sleeping uneasily.”
Li Weiyi secretly clicked his tongue. Living sixteen hundred years—isn’t that like living from the Wei Jin Northern and Southern Dynasties to the 21st century?
What difference does this have from the gods and demons in mythological legends?
He said, “Since the Four Extremes Ape King and Tian Ya Ridge are so powerful, couldn’t they directly crush the Jiu Li tribe?”
At least the Jiu Li tribe on the surface appears too weak before the hordes of Tian Ya Ridge.
Yin Twenty-Five said, “Not to that extent! As long as Yu Yaozi hasn’t died, the four great demon kings wouldn’t dare personally step in. Moreover, with Zuo Qiu Gatehouse in the Southern Territory, the Four Extremes Ape King can’t cover the sky with one hand.”
Yao Yin harbored strong hostility toward the demon race. Her gaze looked toward the arena direction, eager to try as she said, “This Dao Fire Ape seems to be a Lapis Lazuli Pure Immortal Body. Who knows how many dao veins it has cultivated in its body?”
Yin Twenty-Five said, “It’s said that among the four Nine Springs Supreme Persons the Jiu Li tribe sent to challenge it, one had metamorphosed into a Pure Immortal Body using exotic medicine, yet within a hundred moves, it broke both his legs.”
Yao Yin said, “If I step into Nine Springs, I will surely make it know there is heaven beyond heaven, person beyond person.”
“Let’s go; there’s no benefit here, so we shouldn’t get involved!” Li Weiyi urged.
The cold air in Yao Yin’s eyes dispersed, her face returning to elegant calm. She led the two attendants behind her, who had used Disguise Art, toward Yaoguan City.
It was Li Weiyi who wanted to enter the city to purchase Broken Spring Needles.
Yin Twenty-Five walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Li Weiyi and said in a low voice, “It’s not without benefits either. That Dao Fire Ape has hung up a Dyeing Cloud Exotic Medicine; beat it, and you get it. But likewise, to challenge it, you must prepare an otherworld coffin as stake.”
Li Weiyi laughed, “Everyone knows otherworld coffins are invaluable; it’s no surprise what treasure it offers. And the Jiu Li tribe lacks nothing but otherworld coffins. They can take benefits from the Sui Sect side and win more themselves… this is actually a pretty good way to make money.”
Yin Twenty-Five took the Jiu Li tribe’s honor and disgrace very seriously and suggested, “Why don’t you also set up a big flag, writing that all Sui Sect Spring Gushing Realm martial cultivators are mere chickens and dogs. Charge high fees per challenge; there’d absolutely be big profits.”
“Forget it. Tomorrow is the Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice; proper business comes first. Entering Zangxian Town to pick exotic medicines isn’t more profitable?”
Right now, Li Weiyi’s mind was full of the Tenth Spring Divine Gate and Great Mind Master matters. He didn’t want to push himself to the forefront, where it was both dangerous and delayed proper business.
Due to the gathering of martial cultivators, large amounts of cultivation resources were transported to Yaoguan City.
The Coffin Sea Merchant Association’s branch in Yaoguan had fully seventeen Broken Spring Needles. But the price was much higher than in Jiu Li City the past few months; each required two thousand silver coins.
“Black shop, absolutely a black shop.”
Li Weiyi turned and left without a hint of hesitation.
In Jiu Li City, one Broken Spring Needle only cost one thousand silver coins.
Li Weiyi looked at Yin Twenty-Five, inquiring with his eyes if the Hidden Sect had special channels to get cheap goods from the Coffin Sea Merchant Association.
Yin Twenty-Five said, “I’m just a new hidden person, entering the Hidden Sect only a year ahead of you. In principle, the Coffin Sea Merchant Association surely has hidden persons in high positions. If you become a divine hidden person, you can naturally get the list of all hidden persons.”
Li Weiyi looked at Yao Yin.
She said, “With the Medicine Li Tribe’s waist token, there is some discount, but not by much.”
“Buy, buy, buy them all!”
Li Weiyi chose compromise, taking out a bag of Spring Coins and handing it to Yao Yin.
No matter what, impacting the Tenth Spring was more important than anything at this stage.
Yao Yin was surprised and puzzled, “Buy all seventeen?”
“It might not even be enough!”
Li Weiyi clasped his hands behind his back, face full of bitterness, walking toward the Tianyi Merchant Guild. He suddenly stopped and said, “Ask them how many Radiant Flame Pills they have; I’ll take them all too.”
After some bargaining, Yao Yin spent thirty thousand silver coins to buy all seventeen Broken Spring Needles.
She and Yin Twenty-Five arrived at the Tianyi Merchant Guild, just in time to see Li Weiyi with an ashen face walking out.
Yao Yin said, “The Coffin Sea Merchant Association has three Radiant Flame Pills now, each can be given at the low price of one hundred thirty thousand silver coins. It’s probably because those gathering in Zangxian Town are almost all martial cultivators; mind master pills are hard to sell.”
“Such a big merchant association, and only three Radiant Flame Pills—what use is that? And one hundred thirty thousand silver coins is still a low price? That’s way more expensive than from Yin Twenty-Four!”
Li Weiyi thought of the price he just asked at the Tianyi Merchant Guild: one Radiant Flame Pill for one hundred forty thousand silver coins, even more ripping off than the Coffin Sea Merchant Association. Thinking now, Yin Twenty-Four was quite reliable, charging only one hundred thousand silver coins per Radiant Flame Pill.
He had misunderstood her before!
Li Weiyi took the long-coveted Broken Spring Needles from Yao Yin’s hands; the stifling frustration in his chest dissipated quite a bit.
Yao Yin said, “She’s different; she must have gotten the Radiant Flame Pills from the Jiu Li Divine Palace.”
Li Weiyi’s heart stirred, hopefully asking, “Can you get Radiant Flame Pills at low price from the Jiu Li Divine Palace?”
“Hard to say. After all, that one in the Jiu Li Divine Palace is her maternal grandmother. Though I also call her grandmother, there’s still a layer of blood relation separating us.” Yao Yin had lived in Yin Twenty-Four’s home since childhood, calling Yin Twenty-Four’s mother “mother” too, but that wasn’t her real mother after all.
Li Weiyi had looted a huge sum at the Chang Lin Gang and wasn’t short on money, but if all used to buy Radiant Flame Pills, he still couldn’t buy many. The matter of impacting Great Mind Master could only be planned long-term.
After instructing Yao Yin to sweep up all the Broken Spring Needles at the Tianyi Merchant Guild, the three left the city.
“Selling paintings, selling paintings, the finest《 Thousand Li Sui River Map》, absolutely worth more than its value.”
“Little brother, see how this calligraphy of mine is written—absolutely rigorous structure, exquisite layout, profound artistic conception.”
…
An old man dressed as a Confucian scholar was selling calligraphy and paintings on the street, with the best few pieces hung high up, clearly very pleased with himself.
On this street crammed with martial cultivators and vicious beasts, this scene was extremely out of place. He had sold for half a day without selling a single piece.
Li Weiyi was astonished in his heart. After coming to this martial, bizarre world, this was the first time he had seen such an old man devoted to calligraphy and painting skills; he seemed to have some air of a Confucian disciple.
Driven by curiosity, he walked over and kindly reminded, “Senior, you’ve come to the wrong place. Selling calligraphy and paintings here is no different from selling fans in winter or coats in summer.”
