Chapter 161: Yin Nine, Yin Ten, Yin Eleven
Li Weiyi cleared out all auras and traces, putting the Ghost Flag and night-walking clothes into the Boundary Bag, vowing not to use them lightly in the near future.
The situation at Jing Yue Zhai was no small matter; even any two attendants could casually berate and scold the top masters of Li Zhou’s younger generation. The Young Esteemed One they mentioned must be extremely terrifying.
Provoking such a force, such a strong practitioner, would make anyone tremble with fear, like having thorns at their back.
Li Weiyi had to be cautious; he had used the Disguise Art at the time and altered his voice, so there should be no slip-ups.
“A moment of concealment is a moment gained! As long as you give me time, be it Right Attendant or Young Esteemed One, all of them will be forced to reveal their true forms.”
Zuo Qiu Ting must have seen through him.
But using the Green Yin Banner in Heaven Pavilion was something Li Weiyi had intended to draw out people from the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse.
According to Hidden Lord’s statement, the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse was something he had negotiated; the two sides were now in an ally relationship. The Jiu Li Hidden Sect was practically semi-transparent to the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse side, and it was possible to contact them with the identity of a Hidden Person from the Hidden Sect.
At Thirty-three Mile Mountain, Li Weiyi had not wronged the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse in the slightest; on the contrary, he had saved Zuo Qiu Bai Ming and Zuo Qiu Lanlan.
It was already late at night.
Though Heaven Pavilion was still brightly lit, it was no longer as lively as before, with voices gradually fading.
Li Weiyi adjusted his aura, put on his brocade robe again, and headed straight for Cloud Palace.
“Chi Xiong is back!”
The crowd of young talents from Zhizhou hurriedly came forward to greet him.
Qi Wangshu said, “That Chen Lian has a really tough mouth; we used all eighteen kinds of methods, but couldn’t get a single word out of him. Miss Ling’er used Mind Power to try to forcibly seize his Soul Thought, but met fierce resistance from his Battle Intent. In the end, Death Spiritual Fire erupted from his body, burning him into this state!”
In the room deployed with a Formation.
On the ground, Chen Lian’s head had turned into a charred skull-like shape, and even his neck and chest were pitch black.
Everyone had varied expressions, some worried, some silent.
After all, this was a young Heavenly Prodigy at the Fourth Stage of Five Seas Realm; to a sect or gate, he was precious wealth, very likely to grow into a Dao Seed Realm master in the future.
Li Weiyi looked solemn: “Everyone should see that tonight’s events are not as simple as they seem on the surface. So, please help conceal the fact that I left Heaven Pavilion earlier; to the outside, just say I was previously injured by Chen Wenwu’s Sword Qi and spent two hours healing.”
Li Weiyi believed that people from Jing Yue Zhai would have doubts, but they probably wouldn’t investigate him and Li Ling deeply, after all, the two of them were indeed too young, and their cultivation wasn’t strong enough.
Even if they did investigate deeply, it would be the lines of Yin Nine and Zuo Qiu Ting.
Li Weiyi continued, “Chen Lian’s death will be taken on by me and Ling’er; it has nothing to do with any of you. If San Chen Palace seeks revenge on you, Chi will absolutely not stand by and watch; the entire Jiu Li will take it on.”
Qi Wangshu laughed, “Is San Chen Palace that arrogant? We make friends, and have to fear being implicated or retaliated against by them? In the Southern Territory, San Chen Palace wants to cover the sky with one hand and pressure us; their strength is probably not enough. No matter how strong Chen Wenwu is, my brother can match him; don’t underestimate us, Chi Xiong!”
Only trials and tribulations can foster true friendship; Qi Wangshu felt Li Weiyi was no simple man and could appropriately show goodwill.
One young talent from Zhizhou said, “Among the major powers of the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory, ranked Number One is the Southern Territory’s decision-maker, Zuo Qiu Gatehouse. Ranked Number Two is Tian Ya Ridge of the Myriad Demon Lair. Ranked Number Three is Coffin Mountain, the head of the Three Great Barbarian Thieves. Sui Sect can’t enter the top five, and San Chen Palace can only vie for the top ten; far from covering the sky with one hand.”
Someone held an opposing view: “Coffin Mountain’s Foundation is far inferior to Jiu Li; it only has two Longevity Realm Giants, Xu Fudu and An Xianjing. I think Jiu Li is the third largest power in the Southern Territory!”
That young talent from Zhizhou smiled bitterly: “In terms of overall strength, the Nine Jiu Li Tribes are definitely top three. But who told Coffin Mountain to have that Taboo, an existence beyond the Longevity Realm? One person alone can elevate Coffin Mountain into the top echelon of powers like Ling Xiao. What’s more, Xu Fudu has lived four hundred years, and An Xianjing three hundred sixty years; how could they be ordinary Longevity Realm Giants?”
The group of young talents from Zhizhou then began arguing over the strength rankings of the major powers in the Southern Territory.
Li Weiyi put Chen Lian’s corpse on the ground into the Boundary Bag, pondering how to send away the people in the room, then study that black metal iron box.
A young female attendant from Heaven Pavilion came to the door, holding a white jade tray, and said clearly, “May I ask which one is Young Master Chi?”
Li Weiyi pushed the door out and asked, “What Young Master Chi?”
“My master is Miss Li, the Immortal Official from Immortal Forest, and she wishes to invite Young Master Chi from Cloud Palace for a chat.” The female attendant said.
Li Weiyi showed a puzzled look: “I don’t know your Miss Li; could you have the wrong person? Think carefully; maybe the Miss Li is looking for Young Master Qi or Young Master Liu?”
The female attendant was quite clever and smiled, “No mistake; my master is looking for Young Master Chi of Jiu Li. She said she has long heard of Young Master Chi’s reputation and has long wished to make friends; meeting in Juze City today is a heaven-sent opportunity.”
The young talents from Zhizhou were all envious and began to jeer.
“Good heavens, this is strength; who says mortals’ charm can’t match Pure Immortal Body? From now on, I’m the first to refuse to accept that.”
“Qin Li, the young lady from Immortal Forest, is known as Dual Sword Dance, with extremely high Martial Way Cultivation, not of the Mortal World. Among all Immortal Officials in Immortal Forest, her talent and beauty rank in the top five; to invite her to perform a dance, you’d need to offer a price of a million silver coins to have a chance.”
“Chi Xiong, such a romantic affair with flowers and moon, Old Qi dreams of it but can’t have it. What are you hesitating for?”
Li Weiyi was naturally alert.
This Qin Li had no prior connection whatsoever. Why invite now, right after he returned to Heaven Pavilion?
What did that mean?
Very likely, Li Weiyi’s invisibility departure from Heaven Pavilion and return had always been under her surveillance.
Most importantly, the name Chi Yongsheng was completely fake.
The female attendant said, “My master has prepared a paper note; she said Young Master Chi would naturally grace us with his presence after reading it.”
“Oh! Then I must see whether this paper note contains moving love poems or heart-confusing aphrodisiacs.”
Li Weiyi smiled, picked up the paper from the white jade tray.
He opened it, immediately closed it.
Tucked it into his bosom.
His tense facial muscles relaxed, and he laughed, “What a Dual Sword Dance; now I’m a bit eager! Fine weather, beautiful scenery, romance; looks like tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.”
Li Ling, standing nearby, frowned tightly and sent a cold voice transmission: “Have you really been drugged? Why would someone fancy you? Be careful of the beauty trap.”
“Who would refuse a beauty trap? Stay in Cloud Palace, don’t wander off.”
Li Weiyi followed the female attendant for a few steps, then suddenly stopped and said seriously to Li Ling, “Find a way to contact your brother, best if he comes to Juze City.”
Qin Li resided in Immortal Palace among the twenty-eight palaces of Heaven Pavilion.
Li Weiyi entered her room; the female attendant stayed outside.
Silk canopy candlelight, murals on the walls.
The first thing he saw was Yin Nine, already waiting inside, sitting by the window. A door-sized Battle Axe casually placed against the wall.
Finally, for the first time, he seriously sized up this Hidden Person, hailed as the most supremely talented of this Jia Zi, at Mortal Extreme, Hundred Veins All Silver.
His face was rugged, nose bridge high, his whole person having a sculpted, robust and three-dimensional form. Sitting there, he formed his own aura field, as if everything around changed because of him.
Li Weiyi was not affected by his aura field, not the least bit awkward, his State of Mind calm, naturally and boldly closing the door.
“Swish—”
A Hundred Pattern Formation rose from the ground, enveloping the entire room.
Beaded curtain clinking, crisp sounds.
Qin Li gracefully stepped out, worthy of Dual Sword Dance: long legs, slender arms, soft figure, flawless skin white as jade wax. She wore a veil, holding a four-foot Starlight Sword, wiping it with immaculate white silk cloth.
Earlier, the one who performed on the jade platform in the lake center was her.
But now, she was in a completely different state from when dancing gracefully; her eyes were as sharp as the sword in her hand.
“He’s Yin Nine! Who are you?”
Li Weiyi took out the paper note from his bosom, still faintly fragrant; on it was a special pattern mark of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect.
Qin Li’s phoenix eyes smoky, her plain gauze like mist, lips slightly parting, in a heavenly voice: “Yin Ten!”
“Hidden Person, Li Weiyi.”
Li Weiyi stated his identity, then sat opposite Yin Nine, with the confidence and aura of a Hidden Person.
Qin Li frowned, looking at Yin Nine: “Already conferred a Hidden Person?”
Li Weiyi said, “It’s only a matter of time; if I’m not a Hidden Person, am I Yin Twenty-Six? What about Yao Yin? Yao Yin’s talent is so high, soon Hundred Veins All Silver; I can’t kill her just for the position of Yin Twenty-Six, can I? Yao Yin came to Qiu Prefecture with you; where is she now?”
The last sentence was directed at Yin Nine.
“Yin Fifteen and Yin Sixteen escorted her and Yin Twenty-Four to Heroic Spirit Valley to pay respects to her mother!”
Yin Nine’s tone was calm, then added: “You at least need to cultivate to the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas Realm to formally become a Hidden Person. Wanting to be our leader at this stage… confidence and Qi Soul are enough, but strength isn’t. I’m not convinced!”
“I’m not convinced either! For a Hidden Person to win over the crowd, either wisdom and methods are outstanding, or strength is enough to beat everyone into submission.”
Radiance burst from Qin Li’s eyes, Starlight Sword raised overhead.
No swing visible, but a Sword Formation built of Sword Qi automatically wove out in the room like a spider web.
Li Weiyi released Magic Energy, sensing the positions of the Sword Qi, finding his body unable to move.
Because even twitching a finger would touch the Sword Formation.
Completely locked in the Sword Qi net prison.
“I’m half convinced!”
A third voice sounded in the room.
Li Weiyi was surprised; there was actually someone else?
When entering this room, he had carefully sensed, yet failed to detect.
This person’s concealment ability was simply heaven-defying.
Following the sound, Li Weiyi saw the third person. That person was coiled on the beam, upper body humanoid, lower body a green Snake Tail, pointed ears, spitting snake tongue.
Li Weiyi said, “How should Half-Convinced Brother be addressed?”
“Yin Eleven.”
He continued, “Yao Yin’s talent is already exaggerated enough, but Hidden Lord said Li Weiyi surpasses her, with the strength to easily defeat three Mind Power Murals. Moreover, his cultivation speed is frighteningly fast; it won’t be long before he catches up to us. Not convinced now, convinced later—wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”
Li Weiyi said, “No matter! I understand if you aren’t convinced; anyone with some ability, who would willingly obey orders from a junior whose strength is far inferior?”
“You saying that makes you much more pleasing to the eye!”
Qin Li withdrew the Sword Formation; with a graceful arm wave, she tossed the Starlight Sword, which instantly returned to the sword scabbard on the desk behind the curtain.
“But those not convinced get no benefits!”
Li Weiyi took out a Dyeing Cloud Exotic Medicine that could help open the Sea of Qi and tossed it toward the beam.
Yin Eleven hurriedly reached to catch it, then excitedly said, “I’m fully convinced now; is it still in time?”
“Conviction comes from the heart, not from coercion or inducements.”
Li Weiyi truly understood Yin Nine and Yin Ten; at their cultivation level, how could they easily obey a junior far below them in strength, especially with no prior familiarity between them.
If Li Weiyi were in their position, he absolutely couldn’t do it either.
Yin Nine asked, “Any results from the tracking?”
Li Weiyi became completely serious, detailing the tracking process.
“Young Esteemed One!”
Yin Nine, Yin Ten, and Yin Eleven were all stunned by this mysterious existence mentioned by Li Weiyi; they had never heard of it before.
