Chapter 53: Inheritor And Hidden God
“You all don’t know, the city is also divided into city area and Dao Domain. The Dao Domain is located within the Heaven Earth Spring, and the energy of the Heaven and Earth Law there is countless times thicker than here. Not only is there the Jiu Li Dao Academy, but also the Sui Sect, Tian Yi Sect, Coffin Sea Pavilion, and the Chen tribe’s tribal school San Chen Palace.”
“I, Gao Huan, with the Pure Immortal Body, have only been cultivating for a dozen days, right? I’ve already opened the First Spring.”
Gao Huan chatted animatedly with Old Liu, Old Guan, and Qin Ke, full of enthusiasm, then lowered his voice: “I’m not afraid to tell you, those Five Seas Realm seniors at the Jiu Li Dao Academy are all vying to take me as a disciple. And one after another, they introduce the most beautiful granddaughters or nieces from their tribes, wanting to form a marriage alliance with me, even saying I can marry multiple. They don’t follow the one husband one wife system here. Don’t you think it’s annoying?”
“Very, very ordinary.”
Everyone said in unison.
……
After lunch, Li Ling and Gao Huan left.
Before leaving, Li Ling pointed at the wisdom of Qin Ke and the other two, saying she would enter the Jiu Li Dao Academy to cultivate for a period of time. If Li Weiyi had any matters, he should go there to find her.
Cai Yutong stayed behind.
She seemed to have no interest in people, but after discovering the Ao Spiders all over the room, her interest was extremely strong.
In the dim room.
Li Weiyi relayed Li Songlin’s words exactly to Coffin Senior and Spirit Tablet Senior, wanting to hear their opinions. After all, their understanding of cultivation and the Jiu Li tribe was not something Li Weiyi could compare to.
The stone coffin remnant pondered for a moment and said: “If it were before, entering the Jiu Li Dao Academy would naturally be a very good path. But from what your companion said, there are now so many sect forces in the Dao Domain, which shows that the Jiu Li tribe has declined severely.”
“You must know, the Dao Domain of Jiu Li City is the core of the Jiu Li tribe’s core interests. Previously, there was only the Jiu Li Dao Academy inside. Yet the core interests have been divided up into several large pieces.”
Li Weiyi sensed loss and anger from Coffin Senior.
“The tribe leaders of the Jiu Li tribe in recent generations are simply bastards.” Spirit Tablet Senior said angrily.
Coffin Senior said: “Weiyi, your physique and cultivation speed are unusual, and you have too many secrets on you. If you enter the Jiu Li Dao Academy without a sufficiently strong force backing you, being too conspicuous will surely bring great disaster.”
“Such backing must be based on blood ties. Just like that Cang Li, behind him is probably not just the Cang Li Tribe, but the entire Jiu Li.”
“He is clearly being cultivated as the new generation’s First Successor of the Jiu Li Dao Academy, able to represent the Jiu Li tribe and travel under heaven, shouldering the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Jiu Li tribe.”
“For such a special existence, anyone who moves against him must weigh it carefully. The price of killing him would be facing the wrath of the entire Jiu Li tribe.”
“Do you think, if someone killed you, would the Jiu Li tribe unite in common hatred to avenge you? Even if just the Cang Li Tribe, how far could they go for you? Would they risk the entire tribe to back you?”
“Not to mention, if people knew that you opened Five Springs in just one month, that alone would be enough to draw Five Seas Realm experts to kill you!”
Li Weiyi felt complex emotions and said: “Entering the Jiu Li Dao Academy does seem to have more drawbacks than benefits.”
“I have a path here, the risk is a bit greater, but for you, it might be a better choice.”
Coffin Senior continued: “In the Lingxiao Life Realm, the top-tier forces all cultivate each generation’s successors, possibly one person or several. Without exception, these successors are all Pure Immortal Bodies who open Nine Springs, possessing unparalleled talent and appearance.”
“They travel under heaven, seeing the hundred states of the red dust, observing the dangers of various trades, tempering themselves while also serving as living signboards for sects and gateways, able to attract countless talents to follow and join. The sects and gateways naturally develop and grow as a result.”
“So these successors generally become sect masters or gateway masters in the future.”
Li Weiyi smiled: “The charm of idols can indeed make many people fanatic.”
Coffin Senior said: “But for a super force to endure for a thousand years, even ten thousand, relying only on visible strength can be seen through at a glance. Therefore, besides cultivating the face, they must also cultivate the inside.”
“The successors are the face, while the inside is called the Hidden Person.”
“The resources obtained by Hidden Persons are even better than those of successors, but competing for this position is even more brutal.”
“You should be able to guess that I had ties with the Jiu Li tribe in my lifetime. I admit, having you take this path has some selfish motives on my part.”
“But this Hidden Person path allows you to obtain the Jiu Li tribe’s cultivation resources while also getting their protection, with minimal constraints on you. I think you can seriously consider it.”
Li Weiyi asked: “What does Senior mean by brutal?”
“The competition is extremely brutal.”
Coffin Senior said: “Every year, the Nine Great Tribes select one or several young men and send them to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, but every year only one can survive. Whether that one can become a Hidden Person is still unknown; they might only become a Hidden Person’s hidden servant.”
“A Hidden Person is selected only every few decades.”
Li Weiyi smiled: “Senior… aren’t you pitting me?”
Coffin Senior said: “Hear me out. Since I’ve prepared this path for you, I naturally have a foolproof plan. Before going to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, you must first break through to the Ninth Spring. With your combat power at the Ninth Spring, you won’t need to compete at all; you can conquer those… how to put it, tentatively call them people at the Jiu Li Hidden Sect! Then, take the hidden sect’s Five Seas Pill, and you can directly enter the Five Seas Realm.”
“Besides breaking Nine Springs to compete for Hidden Person, there’s a second method, but it has some danger and requires a trip to the Cang Wang Tomb. For now, our time is still sufficient, and your cultivation speed is fast enough, so there’s no need to take that risk.”
At this moment, Spirit Tablet Senior spoke: “The current situation is more complicated than we imagined. Both the external and internal aspects of the Jiu Li tribe seem to have problems. I think he should go to the hidden sect as soon as possible. The cultivation environment of the hidden sect is even better than the Dao Domain, allowing you to progress faster. On the path of cultivation, who doesn’t take risks?”
Li Weiyi said: “You two wait a moment… To become the Jiu Li tribe’s Hidden Person, it probably requires not only strength, but also their absolute trust, right?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Since your Coffin Senior dares to arrange this path for you, he can naturally handle that point.” Spirit Tablet Senior said.
“Exactly, you focus on cultivating first. We’ll discuss between your Spirit Tablet Senior and me how to choose between the two methods.”
Coffin Senior thought of something and added: “Our group now is all too weak; we need to cultivate a sufficiently strong guardian. What do you think of Zhao Zhizhuo?”
Li Weiyi smiled: “We’re thinking the same! But the consequences of exposing a top-tier magic tool, I can’t bear right now.”
“Are you being overly cautious? Even if Zhao Zhizhuo’s cultivation recovers, no one would suspect a Spring Gushing Realm like you.”
Coffin Senior said: “Here’s the deal: hand him over to me. I’ll help him recover his cultivation, and he can also disguise as a strong practitioner to deter a bit. Of course, it depends on whether you’re willing to spend the money…”
This money definitely won’t be little!
Li Weiyi felt a pang of pain and said with a mournful face: “I finally made two windfalls, how much will this cost?”
Besides the 100,000 silver coins from the Chang Lin Gang, today Li Ling also brought the money for buying the house from the Cang Li Tribe.
“Imagine how much those sects spend to cultivate a Five Seas Realm; that might make you feel better.” Coffin Senior rarely chuckled.
Li Weiyi walked out of the room, looking at the large family in front of him, feeling a serious lack of security, and decided to put Zhao Zhizhuo’s cultivation recovery plan on the agenda. Only with a true Five Seas Realm expert stationed could he feel more at ease, whether heading to the Cang Wang Tomb or secluding for the Sixth Spring breakthrough.
……
The next day.
Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo drove a newly purchased carriage toward the city gate.
Zhao Zhizhuo still had many wounds on his body, but they were no longer serious; he could move freely.
After entering the city, grand and imposing buildings came into view one after another, luxurious carriages traveling everywhere, intimidating exotic beasts visible at any time, and sect disciples in uniform attire.
“Go to the West Market.” Li Weiyi said.
Zhao Zhizhuo drove skillfully, pulling the reins, whipping the horse, and turning west.
Li Weiyi said: “I heard that for spring rebuilding, you need to purchase spring fluid. This thing’s price should be very expensive, right?”
Zhao Zhizhuo was very familiar with spring fluid and said: “Spring fluid is the essence condensed from the spring eye of Dao Seed Realm strong practitioners. Unless they’re poor enough to uncover the pot, they absolutely wouldn’t sell it. On the market, one drop of spring fluid is worth a thousand silver.”
Li Weiyi patted his chest and asked again: “How many drops to rebuild One Spring?”
“I used three drops to rebuild the First Spring. Five drops for the Second Spring.” Zhao Zhizhuo said.
Li Weiyi said: “Old Zhao, how many springs did you open back then?”
“Eight Springs.”
Zhao Zhizhuo thought of the past, his face showing quite some pride, and added: “You must know, a martial cultivator breaking Eight Springs is called an outstanding person, even harder than breaking into the Five Seas Realm. Let me put it this way: out of twenty Seven Springs martial cultivators, maybe one can break Eight Springs. But out of ten Seven Springs martial cultivators, one can enter the Five Seas Realm. Of course, this data isn’t precise, just an example.”
“Old Zhao, do you trust me?” Li Weiyi said.
Zhao Zhizhuo wasn’t a fool and instantly grew tense: “Brother Li, are you thinking of buying spring fluid for me? No need to waste that money. Back then, I didn’t know how much I wasted, to no avail. I tried every method, and after years of effort, only rebuilt two springs. My heart has long since calmed.”
“Resigned to fate? Content with it? I heard you once fully opened the five seas of qi in the Five Seas Realm, with very high cultivation.”
Li Weiyi said: “If you trust me, don’t ask anything. We’ll buy the spring fluid, and I’ll take you to see a senior who can help you.”
Zhao Zhizhuo knew Li Weiyi’s character and wouldn’t say it without basis. His emotions ignited all at once, his heart surging with massive waves, staring dead at Li Weiyi, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
“Drive the carriage, drive the carriage, watch the road… sit back… can’t you keep your mind steady?” Li Weiyi said.
How could Zhao Zhizhuo stay steady? He was nearly in tears, urgently asking: “Exactly which senior? A magic tool that can help rebuild spring eyes—there are fewer than ten in the entire Lingxiao Life Realm… Li Zhou doesn’t seem to have any…”
“I already said, don’t ask. If you ask again, we’ll turn back now. That senior hates talkative people the most.” Li Weiyi said.
“I won’t ask, I won’t ask… I won’t ask.”
After saying that, Zhao Zhizhuo added: “That senior is really in Jiu Li City… okay, okay, I won’t ask… I’ll drive, I’ll drive properly…”
