Chapter 178: If You Don’t Become A Godly Hidden Person, Who Will?
Yao Yin was merely Spring Gushing Realm cultivation, with thin magic energy. After absorbing the Jiu Li God’s battle intent, she was unable to make it materialize and appear.
The aura enveloping her entire body was too strong, beyond her cultivation’s control ability. After all, martial cultivators could only cultivate battle intent after reaching Five Seas Realm.
With every step she took, an invisible but truly existing power aura accompanied her, with strong pressure; a light wave of her sleeve could stir up a gale. How unlike a Spring Gushing Realm martial cultivator—she was utterly a top Five Seas Realm expert.
Li Weiyi acted as if he couldn’t see the enthusiastic and excited gazes of the three hidden persons, and instructed: “Your cultivation is too low, and you haven’t contacted battle intent yet, so you can’t control it freely. Go into closed-door cultivation for a while, and once you break through to Five Seas, you can naturally gradually take control.”
Yao Yin nodded lightly.
“How could it possibly be the Jiu Li God’s battle intent?” Yin Twenty-Three muttered to themself in shock.
If it wasn’t the Jiu Li God, there was no way to explain Yao Yin’s current pressure and power fluctuations, which far exceeded those of their several Five Seas Realm martial cultivators.
Yin Twenty-Five held their breath, lips trembling slightly: “Hidden Person… it really is the Jiu Li God’s battle intent… how did you obtain it?”
Li Weiyi recalled the encounter at Thirty-three Mile Mountain.
Although the Jiu Li God had passed away, his cultivation in life must have been extremely powerful. For a few immortal strands of battle intent to be left behind at the place where his corpse was buried, that wasn’t anything strange.
Li Weiyi was just about to speak.
Yao Yin spoke first: “The Jiu Li God’s battle intent was brought back by the Hidden Person at the risk of his life—are you questioning that? Hidden Person, since they don’t believe it, I think there’s no need to give them this opportunity!”
“There’s still an opportunity? Hasn’t it already been taken by you?”
Yin Twenty-Five’s eyes widened, their gaze filled with both longing and anxiety.
Yin Twenty-Three said: “We absolutely dare not question the Hidden Person, we’re just curious, merely curious—we won’t ask… won’t ask anymore…”
Yin Twenty-Four couldn’t stay composed either; the icy beauty state could no longer be maintained, appearing very urgent: “The Jiu Li God’s battle intent—exactly how many strands are there? Could everyone obtain one?”
The more urgent they became, the less hurried Li Weiyi was: “Didn’t you just say I was being mysterious? And with such disdain—I thought you didn’t care!”
Yin Twenty-Four bit her shell teeth tightly, her ten fingers clenched into fists within her sleeves; clearly furious to death, yet she didn’t dare erupt, feeling a sense of powerlessness as if her vital point was grasped, and the humiliation of being unwilling yet forced to compromise.
She looked toward Yao Yin and asked: “How much silver coin did he ask you for? I’ll give it!”
Yao Yin smiled bitterly: “This is the Jiu Li God’s battle intent—how could it be measured by silver coin? If he really charged money, who among us could afford it?”
Yin Twenty-Four was stunned.
Yin Twenty-Three and Yin Twenty-Five’s expressions turned solemn; when they looked at Li Weiyi again, it was already filled with respect and admiration.
An opportunity brought back at the risk of his life, yet given to them for free to try obtaining—this was what kind of breadth of mind and character?
For such a Hidden Person, who wouldn’t pledge their life to serve?
Li Weiyi said: “The Jiu Li God’s battle intent can only be forcibly comprehended in Jiu Li Insect Valley, vague and illusory. Here with me, although it can be directly inherited and absorbed, it’s absolutely not easy—it has extremely high requirements for your talent and temperament; you must be psychologically prepared.”
How could the three not understand this reasoning?
“For a mediocre person to inherit the Jiu Li God’s battle intent would be to tarnish the ancestor’s brilliance.” Yin Twenty-Three said.
All three were very confident.
After all, they were all Nine Springs Supreme Persons, one in ten thousand.
Li Weiyi said: “Today’s matter must be kept confidential for now; it cannot be leaked outside.”
“That’s the most basic! Whoever leaks it will definitely be killed—we understand the rules.” Yin Twenty-Five said.
“As for how many strands of the Jiu Li God’s battle intent there are, I’m not clear either. I can only say two… those are confirmed.”
In the Blood Mud Space, two strands of the Jiu Li God’s battle intent burst out in succession, then the coffin lid was closed, so Li Weiyi truly didn’t know how many strands of intent were attached to that Silver Skeleton Heavenly Clan bone.
At these words, the three hidden persons were on the verge of swords drawn, nearly coming to blows.
If there were only two strands, and Yao Yin had already taken one, wouldn’t only one remain?
Whoever went in first would undoubtedly have more chance to obtain it.
Li Weiyi looked at the three arguing back and forth: “Who goes in first isn’t up to you—it’s up to me. Yin Twenty-Five, you go first—one hour; if you don’t get the Jiu Li God’s approval, come out yourself.”
“Thank you, Hidden Person.”
Yin Twenty-Five tried to adjust their excited emotions and walked into the courtyard, stepping into the light gauze of the green banner.
Li Weiyi closed his eyes and continued absorbing the vitality from the blood crystal.
Yin Twenty-Four and Yin Twenty-Three waiting outside felt every day like a year, pacing back and forth, occasionally peeking toward the courtyard gate.
One hour later, Yin Twenty-Five walked out of the courtyard dejectedly.
Seeing his expression, the two were both overjoyed.
Yin Twenty-Five said bitterly: “I could sense the existence of the Jiu Li God’s battle intent. I displayed all the martial arts I’m proud of… but… that old person clearly didn’t take a liking to me…”
Li Weiyi’s gaze swept toward Yin Twenty-Three and Yin Twenty-Four, pointing at the former: “You go in!”
“Thank you, Hidden Person.”
Yin Twenty-Three hurriedly bowed in salute and quickly walked into the courtyard.
“Why?”
Yin Twenty-Four felt targeted; her almond eyes widened, chest heaving, barely suppressing her emotions.
Li Weiyi said: “Just because of your attitude—do I need to say more? As the leader of hidden persons, the Hidden Person doesn’t get respect and absolute obedience from hidden persons—can’t he give a little knock? Do you dare be so presumptuous in front of the Hidden Lord?”
“But you’re not the Hidden Person yet.” Yin Twenty-Four said.
Li Weiyi said: “Since I’m not the Hidden Person, there’s no need to nurture you. As for this opportunity to strive for… I think…”
“I pay respects to the Hidden Person!”
Yin Twenty-Four hurriedly cupped her hands in salute, but her tone was quite perfunctory.
In her view, her relationship with this guy was the deepest; no preferential treatment was one thing, but to be targeted like this—it was infuriating.
One hour later.
Yin Twenty-Three, just like the previous Yin Twenty-Five, walked out with a dejected face and shook his head toward everyone.
Yin Twenty-Four secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly entered the courtyard.
Li Weiyi glanced at her retreating figure and shook his head lightly.
Yao Yin asked softly: “Why target her? You know her personality—she had no intention of deliberately opposing you.”
“I just want to temper her personality. As a hidden person, if they can’t even hide their personality, it’s too dangerous! Everyone has weaknesses in personality, but they must try to compensate for them, rather than letting such personality grow unchecked.”
In Li Weiyi’s mind, he thought of Zuo Qiu Bai Ming—clearly top in intelligence and talent, yet because his personality was too arrogant, he nearly got everyone killed.
One hour later, Yin Twenty-Four walked out slowly in a dazed state, having suffered a heavy blow and fallen into self-doubt.
As expected, the same result as Yin Twenty-Three and Yin Twenty-Five.
Li Weiyi said: “See, what’s the difference between going in early or late? Alright, that’s it for today. If there are other opportunities later, I’ll find you.”
In the afternoon, Yin Shisan returned to Qin Garden carrying Qi Increasing Pills and, upon learning the news of the Jiu Li God’s battle intent, naturally tried as well, ending in failure.
He quickly adjusted his emotions, recovering from the disappointment, and smiled bitterly: “Among the hidden persons, my cultivation talent is already at the bottom. To reach Dao Seed Realm in this life is enough for satisfaction. Yin Nine and Yin Ten have very high talent—perhaps they have a chance. Should we notify them?”
Li Weiyi said: “All hidden persons can try. If their strength increases, we’ll be safer when encountering danger.”
Yin Nine and Yin Ten, though extremely proud, also bore the responsibility of hidden person experts; every time danger arose, they were the first to step up. In Qiu Prefecture City, they also had the young hidden persons go into closed-door cultivation, without needing to participate in dangerous missions.
“The Hidden Person’s vision is indeed different.”
Yin Shisan thought for a moment, then said: “Actually, this can be used as an opportunity to subdue them. Having rolled around in the Imperial Court for years, I’ve come to understand one principle: in a system, the people below must obey the leader’s will and orders. If there are several voices, in major decisions, which one should we hidden persons listen to?”
“You’re thinking far ahead!”
Don’t think Li Weiyi was pointing out the world in front of young hidden persons like a leader—in truth, he was very self-aware and laughed: “Family matters are clear to the family. With my current cultivation and experience, I’m indeed still far from Hidden Person—why force others? Why force myself? When cultivation is strong enough, everything will fall into place naturally.”
“You still need to show your attitude in advance. Although my cultivation now is not as good as yours, I have more qualification than you. That way, even if they don’t submit to your cultivation, they’ll submit to your character. Without means, one can’t be a leader!”
Yin Shisan said again: “This matter is major; I think it’s necessary to inform above. The Hidden Lord may have come to Qiu Prefecture as well.”
Li Weiyi said: “The young generation’s elites are all gathered here; the Jiu Li clan will surely have tycoon figures coming. Many matters can only be finalized by their higher-ups. As for reporting up, wait a bit longer first—let all the hidden persons of our Jia Zi generation try, so it doesn’t benefit outsiders.”
Yin Shisan laughed: “With those words alone, who but you to be Hidden Person?”
Nightfall.
Yin Twenty-Four came alone to the courtyard outside the small dwelling where Li Weiyi lived, standing tall and straight at the gate, not forcing entry into the formation, still as an orchid.
Li Weiyi had been refining immortal soil, nourishing lung leaves, until late at night when he sensed her outside the formation; surprised in his heart, he pushed open the door and went out.
Outside the door, in the silent night, snowflakes drifted down soundlessly.
Without lights, the ground was white and illuminating.
A layer of snow had accumulated on her head and shoulders, with crystalline snowflakes on her eyelashes and cheeks; her feet too had long been swallowed.
Li Weiyi draped on a thick outer garment, opened the formation and courtyard gate, and sized her up: “Are you mute? Don’t you know to call out? Dressed so thinly… high martial way cultivation means you don’t fear cold at all? Willful!”
“I’m not willful!”
Yin Twenty-Four tried to keep her words emotionless; that clear and plain pretty face calm, and said again: “I came to tell you that I can control my emotions and personality—I’m a very calm person. The reason you always manage to anger me is because you’re deliberately angering me. Do you dare say you haven’t deliberately targeted me?”
Li Weiyi laughed: “Late at night, not sleeping, not cultivating, all pondering this?”
Yin Twenty-Four’s gaze was straight, firm yet soft: “I don’t treat you with the same respect as the Hidden Person because I feel that before you become the Hidden Person, we can still be friends for a while, or senior sister and junior brother. In the future, perhaps as you said, we can only be leader and hidden servant, unable to cross that line.”
Li Weiyi put away his smile, thought seriously for a moment, and waved his hand: “Come in! Since you’ve said that much, how can I not give you a little preferential treatment? Cold or not?”
“Not cold.” Yin Twenty-Four followed inside.
Li Weiyi said: “Yin Shisan will report this matter up in a few days. Believe it won’t be long before Hidden Sect higher-ups come—perhaps they’ll take the Silver Coffin directly. Before that, stay here with me and contemplate that Silver Skeleton Heavenly Clan bone—it’ll definitely be more useful than contemplating the four words Jiu Li Insect Valley.”
Yin Twenty-Four’s two gemstone-like rosy lips curved into a moving smile, filled with triumphant youthful energy.
Li Weiyi didn’t turn back: “You’re playing the emotional card—don’t think I don’t know, but who calls me a sucker for it? The other two don’t have your kind of spirituality, otherwise I’d definitely let them contemplate together.”
