Chapter 321: The Li-surnamed One
The swamp shrouded in pervasive dampness, eternally dim, gave a sensation of desolate and oppressive dullness.
They continuously delved deeper.
The rotten mud and water plants gradually disappeared, turning into a turbid marshland.
The Governor’s Jade Boat traveled over water only three feet deep.
Li Weiyi sat at the bow of the boat, the wound on his palm already completely healed, and the severely depleted Magic Energy in his body had also recovered. After all, he was merely Dao Seed Realm First Heaven; continuously unleashing Great Technique Level attacks had caused enormous Magic Energy Consumption, making prolonged battle impossible unless he used Liquid Magic Power.
Not cultivating Dragon Seed Dao Cultivation, Martial Cultivators at First Heaven often needed years of Hard Cultivation to accumulate, comprehend, and experience it.
From his Boundary Bag, he took out that pitch-black Thousand Year Elixir.
According to Tuo Ba Bu Tuo, it grew Deep Underground, moved at extreme speed, and they had nearly failed to catch it.
“It should be a Thousand-Year Earth Spirit Cub.”
Li Weiyi already had quite detailed knowledge of various Treasures and Medicinal Herbs in the world.
Walking the path of Mind Master required encyclopedic memory.
Earth Spirit Cub grows Underground, absorbing Yin Energy to live. After a thousand years, it takes humanoid form and gains spiritual intelligence.
Heaven Spirit Cub grows in the clouds, absorbing Yang Energy to live.
Additionally, there were Water Spirit Cub, Fire Spirit Seed, Wind Spirit Cub…
If it could grow for ten thousand years, turning into Emperor Medicine, it could shed its plant body, nurture Flesh and Blood, and though its Combat Power couldn’t match Martial Dao Son of Heaven, it would still be enough to vie with the Transcendent, possessing the power of self-preservation.
Er Feng came close, creeping stealthily along Li Weiyi’s arm toward the Earth Spirit Cub.
“You want to eat it alone?” Li Weiyi said.
Er Feng nodded vigorously.
Li Weiyi said: “Great Phoenix already harbors disloyalty; you should encourage it. Take it, grow quickly to Third Realm of Dao Seed Realm, shoulder the heavy burden, and take on great responsibility.”
Ever since following Tang Wanzhou, Great Phoenix had frequently mentioned her in front of Li Weiyi, urging him not to fear danger, to use the teleportation Formation to find her, or to teleport it alone.
Its body was still with Li Weiyi, but clearly, its heart had already strayed.
Er Feng showed a loyal gaze of “rest assured, with me here,” then bit the Thousand-Year Earth Spirit Cub and ate it alone.
Qi Xiao sat at the Stern, studying Sikong Ce’s Circular Shield.
This shield was an extraordinary Treasure; the Departed Spirit Battle Soul of the Scaled Lion Giant Beast sealed inside had Combat Power comparable to a Dao Seed Realm Fourth Heaven Master, of immense Value.
But it was only Dao Seed Realm Fourth Heaven, far less precious than the Ghost Flag.
In this regard, Magic Tools had a clear disadvantage compared to Daoist Arts.
As Martial Cultivators’ Cultivation Realm rose, they had to switch to higher-grade Magic Tools and then adapt to them. Like Sikong Qin, Sikong Ce, and Sikong Jingyuan losing their Magic Tools—it was a devastating Loss, with Combat Power dropping sharply.
From Zu Tian, Li Weiyi summoned the Golden Ancient Mirror, studied it briefly, handed it to Tuo Ba Bu Tuo, and instructed: “At the Headquarters, never use this artifact, or you’ll court death.”
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo took it without pretense: “I understand; it’s connected to that Hall Master of Ku Rong Hall after all. Brother Weiyi, across this Nether Flower Black Swamp is the entrance to the Underground Immortal Mansion we entered from. Under Heaven, who knows how many Masters are exploring and searching there. It’s been nearly a year—do you think anyone will barge into the Underground Immortal Mansion because of us, to find our bones?”
Missing for a year, cut off from outside contact—anyone would think them as good as dead.
Li Weiyi could sense Tuo Ba Bu Tuo’s sadness and longing; Qi Xiao at the Stern also appeared pensive.
The first image in Li Weiyi’s mind was unexpectedly the captivating figure of Jiang Ning. But soon, a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. Never mind their brief encounter; just the marriage alliance with Zuo Qiu Hong Ting was enough to dissipate any faint fondness.
Later, the crippling of Zu Tian, suicidal despondency, and such theatrics were enough to make any woman despise and disappoint in him.
Not to mention a Noblewoman from such a great clan.
Their group of ten had gone to Du’e Temple nearly two years ago; they might have returned by now.
Compared to Jiang Ning, Li Weiyi thought Zuo Qiu Hong Ting and Yao Yin had a higher Possibility of coming to the Underground Immortal Mansion to find him—the former had a nominal engagement and brotherly bonds, while the latter was even more emotional.
Putting aside the various Distracting Thoughts in his mind, Li Weiyi said: “From the moment we joined Twin Rice Cult, our fate took another path. Breaking free from these shackles to return to the past is no easy feat. With our current Cultivation, all we can do is hold to our original hearts, take it one step at a time. Survive first, then we might break free.”
Qi Xiao nodded deeply in agreement: “Twin Rice Cult has at least three Transcendent, two Rice Ancestors, and that reincarnated Living Being from Coffin Mountain. The Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters of the four halls, the five Venerables, the Leader of God Slayer Servant… all Longevity Realm Giants, Strength surpassing even Ten Million Gateways. If we betray them, death is certain, and we might even implicate family and Friends.”
“That’s just the tip of what we know.” Li Weiyi said.
Of the seven layers of the Headquarters, they had only seen two.
In the distance, the sound of rushing water grew clearer.
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo stood up and looked: “We’re here!”
Li Weiyi and Qi Xiao were shocked speechless by the sight before them.
Above Nether Flower Black Swamp, thousands of meters high, shrouded in miasma and black Qi, forming a false sky.
Here, the sky had a terrifying giant hole, as if punched through in ancient times, dozens of miles in diameter. What lay above, who knew?
A blood waterfall poured down from the thousands-of-meters-high “sky.”
The blood waterfall was voluminous, roaring loudly, but hanging at the edge of the giant hole, from afar it looked like a thin blood line.
Here, the Swamp turned into Blood Red Ocean, boundless.
Qi Xiao said: “No wonder they say after three hundred li deep, you can’t go further. Here, I feel uneasy, as if entering hell, mood inexplicably irritable.”
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo said: “Not hell, but close! A world-shaking battle once erupted here; beneath the blood marsh mud are countless Bones, like a sea of corpses. The Thousand Year Elixir and Spear were fished from below that corpse sea. How about it, brothers? Dare to dive with me for another search?”
Li Weiyi said: “Other places have been scoured by Rice Cult disciples for years; Possibility of finding good stuff is slim. This place, on the contrary, is a treasure trove.”
“Exactly! Some corpses below still have Armor and War Weapons not fully decayed, can sell for a hefty Price. With money, who fears lacking Cultivation Resources?” Tuo Ba Bu Tuo said.
“Sikong Jingyuan could arrive anytime; someone must stay above, or we risk ambush. I’ll stay!”
Li Weiyi released the five Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors besides Great Phoenix, having them join the Underwater Exploration for Thousand Year Elixirs.
These five actually summoned swarms of Fierce Insects as soldiers, not only seeking Thousand Year Elixirs but also helping Tuo Ba Bu Tuo and Qi Xiao salvage armored corpses and decayed War Weapons, working furiously.
After tens of thousands of years, most former Magic Tools had rusted into scrap metal.
“This Armor is decent, forged from Dense Metal, can be remelted, worth thousands of Spring Coins.”
“Pity this pill furnace; it was probably a Thousand Character Artifact back then, could Alchemy or serve as Warring Apparatus. The internal Scriptures have dissipated, and it’s punctured. Some materials remain unruined, worth tens of thousands of Spring Coins.”
Li Weiyi sat On the Ship, identifying them one by one, storing those with remaining Value into his Boundary Bag.
He instructed the six little ones to seek items similar in material to the Spear, and Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone.
So many Ancient Bhakara Sect Masters had died here; how could they not carry Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone? There would surely be gains.
“Hoo!”
A Yin Wind blew over, chillingly cold.
Li Weiyi quickly looked up at the vast scarlet marsh sea, then behind, slightly tense, worrying the commotion might attract something terrifying.
This place was no benevolent land.
…
Yang Qingxi stood in a cave mansion like a massive cavern, extremely vast inside, dozens of meters high, with Bronze Beams, steps, Stone Pillars, stone beasts… some naturally formed, some artificially carved.
This was the treasury discovered by Wang Shu.
The treasury had outer and inner layers.
Climbing the steps on the distant Cliff Face led to the inner layer.
But the steps held a Formation left from Ancient Bhakara Sect era; only at each month’s end did the Formation’s Power weaken.
Yang Qingxi believed this was some great figure’s Cave Mansion of Ancient Bhakara Sect; the inner layer surely held supreme Treasures, but many attempts had failed to pass the stone steps.
Behind her, a fragrant breeze came.
Yang Qingchan in a green robe alighted on a Stone Pillar dozens of feet away.
The Departed Spirit within her was extremely vain; as her Physical Body strengthened and Strength rose, she paid attention to appearance, painting brows and lips, powdering cheeks, more gorgeous and refined than the makeup-free Yang Qingxi, her whole body emanating an unusual luster.
Yang Qingchan said: “Sikong Yanlun has retreated!”
“Oh, he’s not one to give up easily.” Yang Qingxi was somewhat surprised.
Fearing exposure of the treasury, Yang Qingxi had hidden inside these days, while Sikong Yanlun roamed the nearby area searching.
Yang Qingchan said: “Sikong Jingyuan summoned him away.”
“Has Sikong Jingyuan found that Li fellow?” Yang Qingxi’s heart stirred.
Previously, Yang Qingxi had clashed once with Sikong Yanlun and Sikong Jingyuan, ending in crushing defeat. Fortunately, Yang Qingchan’s Physical Body was strong enough to erupt powerful Combat Power, allowing their escape back to the treasury.
But that exposed the treasury’s secret in the nearby area.
Yang Qingxi knew Li Weiyi had come to the South Side precisely because Sikong Yanlun had boasted of “slaying Li Weiyi before her, making her Submit willingly beneath him.” As if her refusal to yield her body was due to some man—it truly infuriated Yang Qingxi.
Just wait until breakthrough to Fourth Heaven; first smash that foul mouth, then shatter his corpse into myriad pieces to avenge the recent blockades.
Yang Qingchan said: “You might not believe it. Sikong Jingyuan was actually defeated by that Li fellow you mentioned, so he came to find Sikong Yanlun to go back and kill him again.”
A strange light appeared in Yang Qingxi’s eyes: “Impossible! Li Weiyi’s Martial Way has reached its end. Mind Power Cultivation is a slow process; where’d he get so many Star Day Pills?”
Li Weiyi possessing Star Day Pills was no secret.
Yang Qingchan said: “Sikong Jingyuan sent Sikong Qin back to Ku Rong Hall to fetch Great True Disciple Chang Yuyan, but I intercepted midway and forced out much intel. That Li fellow’s Mind Power may have reached Four-star Spirit Mind Master level, and Feng Fu Sowing Dao succeeded.”
“Where is he?” Yang Qingxi asked.
Yang Qingchan dumped Sikong Qin from her Boundary Bag: “He was gravely wounded in battle by Yin Ghost Commander; what he said should be true. That Ghost Flag is an extraordinary Treasure; you should find a way to seize it, even sacrificing some beauty is worthwhile.”
“Beauty? What kind of person do you think Li Weiyi is? Don’t act on your own there; beware of Backfire.” Yang Qingxi looked at the Old Man on the ground.
Sikong Qin’s limbs were all broken, extremely wretched, seven orifices bleeding, face purple-black.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“I used some Secret Technique on him! Getting intel isn’t easy.”
Yang Qingxi asked: “Does he know where Li Weiyi is now?”
“Seems he hasn’t left Nether Flower Black Swamp; instead went deeper into the Swamp—quite the guts.” Yang Qingchan said.
“Flower of Meditation and Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone are treasures for Mind Master Cultivation; he’s probably after those.”
An idea sparked in Yang Qingxi’s mind, her eyes lighting up: “Shall we go join the fun?”
“The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” Yang Qingchan laughed like tinkling silver bells, red lips glistening.
Yang Qingxi said: “Whether we play oriole or not, aside. If that Li fellow loses to those two brothers, letting them get Ghost Flag, demon armor, Seven Strange Insects—what chance do we have left? Submit to them? Even Yao Qian is beneath me, let alone them?”
