Chapter 140: Infiltrating The Dragon Lantern Festival
On the Riverside Plain, the Yao Li Tribe Military Camp covered a hundred acres, shrouded in the “Heavenly Tree Light and Shadow” formed by the formation.
It was as if a true ancient Divine Wood had taken root at the center of the camp, its branches and leaves stretching out to cover several li of land around.
Around the perimeter of the camp, the Ground was lined with dense Formation Script stone tablets.
In the sky floated twelve Bright Lamps for lookout.
Inside the camp.
Li Weiyi saw Yao Yin and Yin Twenty-Five waiting here; both had Pure Immortal Bodies, one wore a Veil, the other a Mask. They had not followed the young Martial Cultivators who attended the Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice to the Jiu Li Divine Palace to avoid the Warfare.
After some pleasantries.
Li Weiyi’s gaze fell on Zhao Zhizhuo, who rushed out of the camp tent and walked toward them: “Old Zhao, how is your recovery?”
These days, Zhao Zhizhuo had stayed On the Ship, using the Blood Crystals Li Weiyi gave him to heal his Lung Leaves.
He seemed several years younger, his steps light and brisk. He cupped his hands in salute and transmitted with Magic Energy: “Reporting to Young Master, the five Lung Leaves are almost completely healed and can reopen the Sea of Qi at any time. However, the injured Tendons and Bones, and the depleted Flesh and Blood Vitality, will likely need years of nourishing with Magic Energy to recover to their former Peak.”
Fourteen years ago, Yao Qian not only shattered his Spring Eye and broke his Sea of Qi.
The Burial Snow Sword Qi entered his body, causing severe frostbite to his Tendons and Bones in a short time, even freezing his Blood.
Back then, Zhao Zhizhuo was treated promptly and saved his Life. But his Tendons and Bones became brittle like an aging man, his Vitality no longer as strong as a Five Seas Realm Martial Cultivator’s.
“Take it slow! Use more Blood Crystals to nourish yourself; if you need more, just tell me.”
This time, Li Weiyi had earned quite a few Blood Crystals, so his tone was naturally different from before, carrying the air of a nouveau riche with newfound wealth.
Zhao Zhizhuo had something to report but hesitated, then asked: “Young Master, what are your next plans? Are you still going into Zangxian Town?”
Li Weiyi felt a stir in his heart: “You want to enter the Immortal Realm Space to seek Opportunity too?”
If he could quickly help Zhao Zhizhuo restore his Cultivation to the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas Realm, the two of them going to Zangxian Town together might really earn another fortune.
Li Weiyi quickly dismissed the thought.
The Dyeing Cloud Exotic Medicine in Zangxian Town had almost been exhausted; only Thirty-three Mile Mountain had some left, but it was extremely dangerous inside, and Li Weiyi couldn’t guarantee that entering the mountain again would be as thrilling yet safe as the first time.
Moreover, to enter the mountain, they had to pass through the blockade of the top young generation Experts like Heartless Golden Ape, Yang Qingxi, Chen Wenwu… the risk was enormous.
Li Weiyi added: “War is about to break out; Yaoguan City and Zangxian Town will surely be one of the centers of the Warfare. With our Cultivation, it’s wisest to leave the area as soon as possible.”
Having witnessed the methods and presence of Hidden Lord and Great Lord, Li Weiyi deeply understood the terror of battles between Strong Practitioners. If young juniors like them were caught in the battlefield, a single aftershock could fell them dead on the spot.
“At that time, the entire Li Zhou will be ablaze with war; where do you plan to seek refuge?”
A deep and steady voice came from the direction of the camp tent, audible only to them.
Jiu Li Leader Yao Xingyue, clad in Magic Tool Armor, stood tall like a peak piercing the heavens. He approached with Yin Twenty-Four accompanying him.
Li Weiyi had already met this renowned Leader-level figure on the Medicine Character Banner flagship back then. Now stepping into the Five Seas Realm, under the other’s deliberately emanating aura, he still stood firm and gazed steadily into his eyes.
But after all, he was an elder; Li Weiyi was no arrogant upstart and cupped his hands in salute.
Yao Xingyue stopped a zhang away from him: “Now you know what level of perception a Leader-level figure can achieve by using Secret Methods deliberately, right?”
“Thanks to Leader’s guidance,” Li Weiyi said.
The conversation with Zhao Zhizhuo just now had used Magic Energy transmission, yet it was still overheard by Yao Xingyue from twenty zhang away.
The terror of such perception and the profundity of those methods were beyond what a Five Seas Realm Martial Cultivator could comprehend.
“Be more careful in the future! If you Quench your Magic Energy to Second-Tier Qi and condense it into tangible form, it won’t be so easy for me to eavesdrop!”
Yao Xingyue’s gaze fell on Yao Yin, and he sighed: “You lot, get out of Li Zhou quickly; don’t come back until the war situation is clear. This isn’t deserting; it’s like when wild fire spreads, burying the best Seeds in the Soil so that new buds will sprout from the ashes next spring.”
Yin Twenty-Four seemed born with a rebellious streak: “Warfare under Heaven, Slaughter everywhere, Fiend Demons rampant—leaving Li Zhou means finding peace? I think it’s even more dangerous.”
“Go to Qiu Prefecture.”
Yao Xingyue said: “Currently in the entire Southern Territory, Qiu Prefecture is the most stable, followed by Fu Zhou still under Imperial Court control. These two Prefectures belong to the Ten Prefectures of the Central Plains, far from Departed Spirit Fiend Demons, with flourishing civilization and over a hundred million people.”
“The latest News: next year’s Lantern Festival, Du’e Temple will hold the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival in Qiu Zhou Prefecture City, inviting young talents from all Twenty-Eight Prefectures of Lingxiao to celebrate together. They say they’ll offer several Longevity Pills, Dragon Seeds, Dragon Bones as gifts to Hidden Dragons.”
“With your Cultivation, naturally no need to hope for those Hidden Dragon treasures.”
“But since Du’e Temple and Zuo Qiu Gatehouse are holding such a grand event for publicity, safety is surely guaranteed. You can temporarily seek refuge there and broaden your Knowledge at the same time.”
“Ah Yin, on the way, go to Heroic Spirit Valley and pay respects at your Mother’s grave. Not being able to move her remains back to Ancestral Mountain has always been my heartache. Those stubborn old fools in the tribe keep blocking it; once they’re all dead, I’ll personally bring her home.”
Li Weiyi didn’t know what kind of existence Du’e Temple was, and mused: “Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival! That name… it’s completely disregarding Lingxiao Palace?”
Yao Xingyue evidently also felt the two words “Hidden Dragon” were taboo and might provoke fierce figures from Lingxiao Palace, saying: “Du’e Temple has its own confidence! Legend has it that back then Zen Sea Observing Mist could defeat Lei Xiao and establish Lingxiao with Du’e Temple’s support, or perhaps it was their Sect.”
“Du’e Temple’s attitude is precisely telling the world that Lingxiao Palace’s fate is exhausted; this time they’re backing Zuo Qiu Gatehouse.”
…
Yang Yun had been taken by the Jiu Li to exchange hostages with Sui Sect!
After handing Shang Zhi’s Corpse to Yao Xingyue for handling, they left the Yao Li Tribe Military Camp that very night. Yin Twenty-Four, Yin Twenty-Five, and Yao Yin went ahead to the Hidden Sect Stronghold Mountain Lord Taiqing Tomb to rendezvous with Yin Shisan and others.
“Pa!”
Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo spurred their horses toward Yaoguan City.
This was because Zhao Zhizhuo had informed him that Cang Li Leader Li Songlin had been gravely wounded by Yao Qian and was in critical condition.
“In the recent Leaders’ battle by the Sui River, Cang Li Leader fell in battle, several others gravely wounded; Yao Qian fought one against six and achieved such a complete victory. Some say he could take on nine and win, trampling all nine Leaders of the Jiu Li. Yao Qian’s Cultivation now is more than ten times stronger than fourteen years ago.” On horseback, Zhao Zhizhuo sighed thus.
Li Weiyi’s expression flickered uncertainly.
After coming to this World, Li Songlin was the most sincere elder toward him; perhaps partly due to misunderstanding his Relationship with Li Ling. But favors and grudges were favors and grudges.
If one couldn’t sort out Grudges and favors, one couldn’t stand straight in the world.
No wonder Hidden Lord was enraged and had to kill him.
The Cang Li Tribe army was the strongest of the Jiu Li.
Stationed outside Yaoguan City was the “Suspended Tower Army,” with strict discipline and grand Formation; the Formation light condensed into a hundred-zhang tall cyan giant tower the size of a Mountain Body, hovering in mid-air, intimidating all Martial Cultivators within a hundred li around.
After the Leaders’ battle, the entire Yaoguan City was on high alert, fully in wartime status. All important tribal figures had entered the Barracks.
After Zhao Zhizhuo presented the Token from Li Ling, a Seven Springs Soldier clad in Magic Tool Armor quickly entered the camp to report.
Li Ling was a Heavenly Fire Realm Great Mind Master and moreover the Nether Lantern Guide Envoy, naturally carrying such weight.
Soon after, she emerged briskly from the camp, dressed in red martial attire inside, Armor outside, hair tied in a ponytail, exuding heroic vigor; her gaze naturally fell on Li Weiyi, who had used the Disguise Art.
“I’m here to visit Fourth Uncle,” Li Weiyi said in his own voice.
“These two are fine; let them in,” she said.
After entering the Barracks Formation, Li Ling led the way ahead, bringing Li Weiyi to the ink-black camp tent where Li Songlin was Healing Injuries. She entered with him.
“Fourth Uncle!” Li Ling called.
Li Songlin’s condition was much better than Li Weiyi had imagined; he half-reclined on a Chair, hair disheveled, face only slightly sickly.
Li Weiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: “In the Yao Li Tribe Military Camp, hearing Zhao Zhizhuo say your old injury was extremely severe scared me badly; I immediately whipped the horse and rushed here. Entering the camp, seeing Li Ling’s serious face and silence, I still thought…”
“You thought I was about to die? Just lost one battle; not dead yet!”
Li Songlin continued: “I’ve always been this useless, but you’re different—you won a great victory in Zangxian Town. Hearing that News, half my injuries healed on the spot. Impressive! I think your future achievements will surpass Cang Li’s; Fourth Girl, you better hold on tight!”
Li Ling said coldly: “Don’t show off! If not for Father treating you promptly, Fourth Uncle, you’d have turned into an ice sculpture long ago—instead of just losing both Legs like now? This grudge against Yao Qian, we will avenge.”
Li Weiyi’s smile froze on his face; he quickly crouched down and reached toward Li Songlin’s Legs.
His arm passed through the wide, thick trouser robe.
“Hua da!”
Empty, nothing there.
Both Legs were amputated at the knees.
Li Weiyi’s heart plunged like a rollercoaster from earlier joy into the cold depths of an Abyss.
He grabbed Li Songlin’s arm to probe.
Like Zhao Zhizhuo, eroded by Burial Snow Sword Qi. Tendons and Bones frozen before, even after thawing, remained brittle, no longer possessing the toughness of a peak Martial Cultivator’s physique.
Fortunately, Spring Eye and Sea of Qi were intact; he could slowly Refine the Burial Snow Sword Qi and Nourish the Physical Body.
“What a Burial Snow Sword Qi!”
At this moment, Killing Intent thickened in Li Weiyi’s eyes, only hoping Hidden Lord would soon sever Yao Qian’s head.
He took out a large bottle of Golden Spring from his Boundary Bag and stuffed it into Li Songlin’s hand, crouching down with a gentle voice: “Fourth Uncle, this Golden Spring is a Bone Tempering treasure found in the Immortal Realm Space; it will surely nourish your damaged Tendons and Bones back, even better than before.”
“Why give such a treasure to a cripple like me? Use it yourself for Bone Tempering.”
Li Songlin knew how precious this Golden Spring from the Immortal Realm Space was. He picked up the Iron Bottle to return it to Li Weiyi, but saw it was full, eyes widening: “You boy found this much Golden Spring?”
