Chapter 54: Top 100 Warriors
The West Market of Jiu Li City was extremely prosperous, with not only the major powers of Li Zhou opening their main branch stores here, but also frequently seeing the names of some million-strong clans and sects from the other six prefectures of the Southern Territory on the signs lining both sides of the street.
Like the Cang Li Tribe, which was at the level of a million-strong clan.
The number of people a power could directly influence could reach a million. Of course, the Nine Jiu Li Tribes were not all able to claim the title of million-strong clan.
The Nine Jiu Li Tribes had actually long declined, but due to rarely participating in under heaven affairs in the past century, no one knew their real or not, so they could barely maintain the dignity of being the only ten-million-year ancient clan in Lingxiao Life Realm. They could be revered by cultivators under heaven just like Zuo Qiu and Dragon Gate, those ten million gateways.
Southern Territory’s Li Zhou bordered Blood Sea and faced Nether Realm, always carrying a mysterious air.
Fourteen years ago, when turmoil under heaven first showed signs, external powers from various prefectures successively flooded into Li Zhou to avoid disaster, and many martial way conflicts erupted as a result.
In that half-year of fierce conflict, not a single one of the Jiu Li younger generation could fight, all the leaders of the Nine Jiu Li Tribes were defeated, and even the tribe leaders of the Jiu Li tribes were consecutively defeated six by Yang Shenjing, the first expert of Sui Sect, in the appointed battle in Mang Mountain Range. The other three were defeated by the three grand elders of the million-strong clan Chen Clan.
The old, middle, and young three generations, each worse than the last, losing face was secondary.
More importantly, the Mang Mountain battle thoroughly exposed the weak essence of Jiu Li, and the ten-million-year ancient clan title fought for by ancestors collapsed with a crash. Jiu Li’s core benefit “Jiu Li City Dao Domain” was carved away in several pieces, establishing Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, Tian Yi Sect, Coffin Sea Pavilion.
Among them, the strongest Sui Sect was merely a little follower helping Jiu Li transport otherworld coffins a thousand years ago.
Zhao Zhizhuo’s spring eye and Five Seas were crippled by Yao Qian, the current leader of Sui Sect, in the fierce martial way conflict fourteen years ago.
On the carriage, Zhao Zhizhuo recounted the events of that year to Li Weiyi, sighing long and short, his heart like pressed by a giant mountain, saying: “Actually, if the Jiu Li tribes could be united enough, their overall strength would absolutely be above Sui Sect, and outsiders wouldn’t have easily crushed us. Sui Sect relied only on Yang Shenjing and Yao Qian to suppress Jiu Li’s old and middle generations.”
“A thousand years ago, the top magic tool symbolizing the Jiu Li Leader disappeared, and afterward no matter who became leader, the tribes were unconvinced, overt and covert struggles never stopping, and over time, Jiu Li had no leader, each acting independently. Being able to maintain a millennium of dignity was already considered deep foundation, able to withstand defeat.”
Li Weiyi was very interested in that magnificent era and asked: “Did someone really manage to suppress an entire generation of Li Zhou with their own power?”
Zhao Zhizhuo nodded, many bad memories surfacing in his mind, especially that figure who left a shadow in his heart, saying: “Now you understand why the young tribe leader’s influence is so great, right? Because the elders of the Jiu Li tribes see hope in him. If Jiu Li’s younger generation back then had been competitive enough, even if the old and middle generations were defeated, the outside world would at least praise that the ten-million-year ancient clan had promising future, it was just the previous two generations weren’t strong enough.”
Neither of them was in the mood or inclination to stroll in West Market, and after spending a fortune to purchase spring fluid, they left the bustling market district and proceeded along the dozens-of-zhang-wide Divine Dragon Great Street that ran north-south through Jiu Li City.
Li Weiyi planned to find an inn suitable for a senior master to live in, then proceed to have Coffin Senior, placed in the Evil Camel Bell, help Zhao Zhizhuo remake his spring eye.
He was very cautious about this, including purchasing spring fluid, all done masked.
“Seems like we’ve been targeted!”
Li Weiyi had always been on guard against being followed, and upon sensing something, he looked back.
The carriage following behind them was pulled by a five-meter-tall exotic beast Silver Horned Elk, its wheels and body box not knowing if gold-plated or pure golden cast, extremely luxurious and magnificent.
The carriage curtain was white light gauze, faintly revealing the upright figure seated inside.
Li Weiyi had just had Zhao Zhizhuo pull over to stop when the Silver Horned Elk carriage behind came clopping up. It was extremely tall and majestic, making their carriage-pulling sturdy horse look like a little donkey.
The released aura made the “little donkey” restless and anxious, almost tremblingly prostrating to the ground.
The golden carriage box carried a faint fragrance and stopped at Li Weiyi’s side.
The figure behind the white light gauze looked at him through the gauze, teasingly laughing: “That day on the ship, I actually misjudged, thinking you were just a lowly servant of Cang Li Tribe, who would have thought you were a magic tool martial arts master, even killing two Seven Springs martial cultivators of Chang Lin Gang in your hands.”
It was Yang Yun.
Yang Qingxi’s younger brother, the Sui Sect outstanding person who opened Eight Springs at seventeen.
Li Weiyi recognized his voice, calmly saying: “I misjudged too! That day on the ship, I thought Young Master Yang was a pure innocent boy, but seeing your posture today, not quite like it!”
Yang Yun very much disliked how the other was clearly lower in status and cultivation yet utterly unafraid of him, saying: “I heard you possess more than one magic tool, I don’t even have that yet. That day on the ship, I gave you a Yongquan Coin, how about today you give me a magic tool?”
Li Weiyi said: “I’m used to being poor, can’t match Young Master Yang’s generosity. In front of Fourth Miss Li, weren’t you all rich as an enemy country? Buy one yourself.”
Yang Yun’s tone carried disappointment: “People can’t be too greedy, must understand the principle of spending money to avert disaster. You just made a windfall of 100,000 silver coins from Chang Lin Gang, yet unwilling to part with a magic tool, looks like today you’re destined for blood light disaster… haha… let’s go…”
“Clop clop!”
The Silver Horned Elk pulled the carriage straight ahead.
Li Weiyi watched that golden carriage gleaming in the sunlight, his heart alerting. Since Yang Yun appeared here, it couldn’t just be to say those words, there must be some indication.
Li Weiyi asked: “Old Zhao, does Yang Clan dare to kill on the street in the city?”
Zhao Zhizhuo was somewhat worried: “Hard to say! Since Lingxiao Palace’s battle situation turned unfavorable these past two years, with righteous armies winning successive victories, here in Li Zhou, the clans and sects increasingly disregard the Governor’s Mansion and City Defense Camp. Of course, the leader only met with you yesterday, with Yang Clan and Cang Li Tribe’s relationship, Yang Yun shouldn’t go too far. Otherwise, it’d be slapping the leader in the face!”
Lingxiao Palace was the sovereign of Lingxiao Life Realm’s Twenty-eight Prefectures, the supreme authority, with each prefecture’s governors personally appointed by Yu Yaozi’s own hand.
At least for now, that was still the case.
“Watch out!”
Li Weiyi’s ears twitched slightly, his expression abruptly changing as he grabbed Zhao Zhizhuo’s left shoulder.
The two rolled out toward the center of Divine Dragon Great Street.
Almost in the next instant, from the rooftop on the right side, a nearly four-meter-tall deformed humanoid race master shaped like a giant ape with silver fur on its back, holding a two-meter-plus-long, nearly bowl mouth thick iron rod, jumped down, smashing the position where Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo had just been sitting into pieces.
“Boom!”
The carriage shaft broke, the sturdy horse startled and fled.
The carriage body behind was shaken into shattered fragments.
The iron rod didn’t know how heavy it was, actually embedding deeply into the broken stone slabs below.
One could imagine, if Li Weiyi had reacted even a breath slower just now, he and Zhao Zhizhuo would surely have already turned into a pile of mush.
Li Weiyi only wanted to stably establish himself in this unfamiliar world with the people from Earth who came with him, then quietly cultivate the martial way, never actively provoking trouble, let alone wanting to fight and kill.
But just now was too dangerous, nearly brushing past death.
He drew the Yellow Dragon Sword on his back, his gaze fixing on the Silver Horned Elk carriage that had gone far into the distance. There, the carriage at a hundred paces away had turned a corner, facing directly toward Li Weiyi, the person inside in a posture ready to watch the show.
“Roar!”
The giant ape-like deformed humanoid race missed the first strike, immediately raising the rod, stepping forward to arrive before Li Weiyi, swinging out the second rod like a mountain pressing down.
Li Weiyi had never encountered such a terrifying opponent.
That iron rod was clearly extremely cumbersome, yet in his hands, it was incomparably agile.
This rod was even exquisitely masterful to the peak, whipping up fierce wind force in its swing, as if to directly blow him flying.
Against previous opponents, even if Li Weiyi was inferior in power, he would find a way to evade. But the rod pressing from above gave him the feeling that he couldn’t dodge no matter what.
Not knowing where to attack, not knowing where to evade.
“His battle techniques are superior to mine. His attainment in rod arts is nearly at the dao level.”
This thought flashed through Li Weiyi’s mind, after which no more distracting thoughts remained, and he swung out one sword, clashing hard against the iron rod.
Like a mountain pressing on his body.
Overwhelming power transmitted from the Yellow Dragon Sword to his body.
“Boom!”
Li Weiyi retreated several zhang away, his tiger mouth split open, fingers unable to grip the sword hilt steadily.
“Old Zhao, you go first!”
Li Weiyi knew his power was inferior, immediately mobilizing the Five Springs in his body, surging magic power infusing his entire body’s sixty veins, then surging toward his right arm. The pain in his tiger mouth and fingers dissipated, replaced by vigorous and endless power.
Battle intent boiled up accordingly.
Finally, before the giant ape deformed humanoid race attacked again, a layer of radiance appeared on the sword edge of the Yellow Dragon Sword.
“Grand Unity Opens the Sea!”
Not daring to hold back at all, one sword swung out in a slash.
Sword qi broke the wind force, the sword mark gone without return, as if it could really split the great sea with one sword. At least in Li Weiyi’s heart at this moment, that’s what he thought.
He had never before reached such a spirit state!
Terrifying power transmitted again, shaking Li Weiyi back three steps.
But the power of this sword shocked all onlookers. It actually severed the nearly bowl mouth thick iron rod in the giant ape deformed humanoid race’s hand into two sections, the residual sword wind leaving a dao ruler-long blood mark on its chest, successfully deterring it in place, not daring to advance another step.
In the distance, inside the Silver Horned Elk carriage.
“That’s his magic tool? What a beautiful sword, such a sharp magic tool, if only it were mine.”
Yang Yun in a cloud satin robe sat on a seat padded with white fox fur, using a dao ruler-long cyan whetstone to sharpen a three-inch-long small knife. The blade had been sharpened by him to mirror-like smoothness, able to reflect people.
But this small knife he had always treasured most now looked more and more ordinary the longer he looked.
As if he didn’t like it so much anymore!
The tiger-like deformed humanoid race driving the carriage said: “Young Master, City Defense Camp is coming up.”
“Then let’s go! Just a Seven Springs martial cultivator, but wielding a magic tool, that’s no small boost in combat power. We’ve helped probe it out, the Five Burial Temple killer should have a good idea now.”
Yang Yun sheathed the small knife back into the hidden sheath in his boot and asked: “Tell me, we’ve given Cang Li Tribe plenty of face, right?”
The tiger-like deformed humanoid race driving said: “The Silverback Ape Yao Zheng Sheng who acted was found at Seven Springs Hall. The one actually killing is Five Burial Temple. What relation to us? Young Master is overthinking!”
“Between you and Yao Zheng Sheng, who is stronger?” Yang Yun asked.
The tiger-like deformed humanoid race said: “At Seven Springs Hall, I rank seventy-two, he eighty-two, both Li Zhou’s Top Hundred Martial Artists, about even!”
“Your second Five Seas Pill is already being applied for. This time, don’t disappoint my sister again!” Yang Yun said.
The tiger-like deformed humanoid race’s eyes showed great joy. Originally, after failing to breakthrough with the first Five Seas Pill, he had accepted his fate. Who would have thought there would be a second chance?
“Lu Can will devote his life to serving Young Lady and Young Master.”
