Chapter 72: Four Great Million-doored Sects
“Thank you, Senior, for your kindness, but this treasure is so precious that this junior truly feels unworthy of it.” Li Weiyi pondered for a moment before saying this.
He truly felt a bit ashamed in his heart. The other party treated him with sincerity, yet he had many concealments.
As the saying goes, “Those who treat others with sincerity will be met with sincerity in return.”
But if he did not conceal things, how could he go to the Hidden Sect and become a Hidden Person?
Li Songlin had been observing Li Weiyi’s state of mind, and he smiled faintly: “Why call me Senior again?”
“Fourth Uncle.”
Li Weiyi was very happy to address him this way.
Having no family since childhood, his Master, Senior Disciple Brother, and Senior Disciple Sister were his entire world. The title of family member was extremely precious to him.
This “Fourth Uncle” was called even more solemnly than in Jiu Li City.
“That exotic medicine stained with Immortal Radiance is stored in Date Plum Manor. We can go get it now. There’s no need to feel unworthy—don’t have any psychological burden. Have you forgotten? The Cang Li Tribe still owes you a favor in Zangxian Town?”
Pausing for a moment, Li Songlin revealed a strange smile: “Second Brother and Second Sister have already heard your name and asked about you. Relax, don’t feel pressured. Be a bit more spirited later—this day will come eventually.”
Li Weiyi looked at the bright-eyed, white-toothed young girl sitting across from him. She was also staring at him, and he sighed inwardly. Perhaps a large part of Fourth Uncle’s sincere treatment toward him was because of Li Ling.
It was clear that he was being regarded as the Fourth Miss’s prospective son-in-law.
After a brief awkward atmosphere, Li Ling asked: “Fourth Uncle, what exactly is the situation in Zangxian Town? I’ve heard some people say it’s a place in the Immortal Fall Realm with countless immortal treasures. Others say it’s connected to a corner of the Immortal Realm, a place where one step leads to ascension. Can we really go to the Immortal Realm with our mortal bodies?”
The lazy air around Li Songlin disappeared, his eyes became as sharp as swords, and he straightened his back: “These rumors must have been spread by those with ill intentions, aiming to draw strong practitioners from various prefectures, thereby causing turmoil in Li Zhou and profiting from it. So far, no one has entered underground and come back alive. There were Dao Seed Realm cultivators who tried to force their way down, but no one knows what they encountered—they turned into a shower of blood in the Immortal Radiance, their bones ground to powder.”
Li Weiyi was greatly shocked. Even Dao Seed Realm strong practitioners died inexplicably?
He immediately lost interest in the so-called great opportunity in Zangxian Town and instead cared more about whether Li Zhou was safe and stable, so he asked: “Were the rumors spread by the Earth Wolf King Army?”
Li Songlin nodded: “It’s said that the Earth Wolf King Army sent three Law Kings to Li Zhou, full of ambition and sure to make a move. But they alone don’t have the appetite to swallow all of Li Zhou; there must be other forces involved. The Dragon Gate of the Ten Million Gateways in the Eastern Territory is one of them.”
Li Weiyi was no longer the novice young man from Earth who had just arrived; he already understood the world situation and naturally knew the weight of the Ten Million Gateways. It was a colossus that could be counted on one’s fingers across the entire Lingxiao Life Realm.
Eastern Territory’s “Dragon Gate”, Southern Territory’s “Zuo Qiu”, Western Territory’s “Zhu Men”, and Northern Territory’s “Snow Sword Tang Court”.
These Ten Million Gateways were at least hegemons dominating a single prefecture, with their forces, industries, and tribe members spread throughout the Lingxiao Life Realm: pills, magic tools, exotic beasts, salt goods, money houses, spices, mining areas, porcelain tea, inns, brothels, silk… almost every industry had their presence, deeply rooted in the Twenty-eight Prefectures, pervasive and omnipresent.
Foundations of a thousand years, or even thousands or tens of thousands of years.
How dense must these roots be?
How solid must these foundations be?
Ten years ago, the first clarion call against Lingxiao Palace was sounded in the Eastern Territory by Dragon Gate and Lei Xiao Sect together, then rapidly spread across the land, forming today’s endless warfare and a situation of warlords dividing the realm.
Large and small Righteous Armies numbered over a hundred, with beacon fires rising everywhere and dragons and serpents vying for supremacy.
Except for Li Zhou, which was still relatively stable, there was no safe land left under heaven.
Seeing that Li Weiyi and Li Ling both looked grim, Li Songlin said: “Don’t worry! Although Dragon Gate is powerful, their foundation is in the Eastern Territory; they can’t launch a large-scale invasion of the Southern Territory. Otherwise, the native forces led by Zuo Qiu Gatehouse would surely respond.”
“Moreover, the struggles of the world are shouldered by the older generation ahead; it’s not your turn to worry yet.”
Li Ling was more concerned about the situation in Zangxian Town and asked: “Since no one has entered underground, then the exotic medicine stained with Immortal Radiance that Fourth Uncle gathered should be from the areas around Zangxian Town, right? How exactly do such exotic medicines form? Is gathering them dangerous?”
It was clear she had an obsession with metamorphosing into a Pure Immortal Body.
Li Songlin said: “The area dozens of li around Zangxian Town is all shrouded in Immortal Radiance, and the interior seems to be constantly expanding. These exotic medicines grow in the mountains and wilderness, with grades not particularly high—many are just decades-old medicinal herbs or old medicines.”
“However, some of them can actually absorb a strand of Immortal Radiance to nourish themselves, leading to divine changes.”
“These exotic medicines can help Pure Immortal Bodies metamorphose, some can help open Feng Fu and Zu Tian, and others can help expand the Sea of Qi. Now you know why so many heaven’s chosen of the younger generation have gathered there, right?”
“You two had better not go adventuring. There are many powerful figures in that area; even if you’re lucky enough to gather some, you won’t be able to take them away. Besides, there are Departed Spirit Fiend Demons appearing, which are quite dangerous.”
Li Ling showed a disappointed expression and let out a long, wistful sigh.
Li Weiyi asked: “What does Fourth Uncle mean by Zangxian Town’s interior constantly expanding?”
“The area shrouded by Immortal Radiance around Zangxian Town is continuously becoming broader, like space being slowly pulled open. Recently, some older generation strong practitioners went in two hundred li deep and still didn’t find the ancient town from before.”
“Could it really be connected to the Immortal Realm?” Li Weiyi was moved; this was too unbelievable.
Li Songlin shook his head with a smile; he also didn’t know how the situation would develop. Now, the tribe leaders of the Nine Great Tribes were all extremely troubled.
The ox cart stopped in front of Date Plum Manor.
This was the Cang Li Tribe’s industry in Yaoguan City. When Li Weiyi and Gao Huan first arrived in this world, they had come here once.
Without anyone driving, after Li Songlin led the two off the cart, the Green Ox automatically pulled the cart around to the back courtyard, extremely intelligent and wise.
The sun had not yet set, with slanting yellow light and branch shadows cast on the walls.
Li Qing’er, waiting at the door, was the sixteen-year-old cousin that Li Ling had mentioned. Not a Pure Immortal Body or Half Immortal Body, but still possessing outstanding looks and figure, with not low Martial Arts cultivation—she had already opened Seven Springs.
“I heard you had a conflict with Chang Lin Gang; I was worried sick. They’re too bold.” Li Qing’er grabbed Li Ling’s hand and said worriedly. She then saluted Li Songlin and called out “Fourth Uncle.”
Li Ling said: “The news spread back so quickly?”
“Yaoguan is just this big! Brother Qing Cheng mentioned it when he came earlier, saying Xue Zheng is already a Pure Immortal Body, invincible below Five Seas Realm, and you two nearly suffered a big loss.”
As she said this, Li Qing’er finally glanced at Li Weiyi, her impression not very good.
Because she heard from Qing Cheng that the man in front of her had been hiding behind Li Ling the whole time, not even daring to say a word. What prospects could such a man have?
After Li Ling and Li Qing’er entered hand in hand, Li Weiyi followed behind Li Songlin into Date Plum Manor.
Passing through the spirit screen wall.
In the courtyard inside, the voices gradually became lively.
A group of Li Zhou’s younger generation cultivators were gathering, with fine clothes and fine wine, fame and youth; they pointed at the world with boundless passion, quite lively. Naturally, Cang Li was the leader among them.
Additionally, in the main hall, there were four young figures with powerful auras who could sit at the table. Each of the four was extraordinary in bearing, with captivating grace in every gesture.
They were the Number One Persons of the younger generation from four of the Nine Great Tribes of Jiu Li, none over thirty years old.
Dozens of young figures, not lacking Pure Immortal Bodies or heavenly proud daughters of stunning beauty, but only five were seated. This was the treatment of a tribe’s leading figures, their own formidable strength making them a class that others could only look up to.
Li Weiyi heard snippets in his ears: “gathering medicine in the Immortal Radiance area”, “Chen Wenwu of Three Chen Academy has arrived”, “Sui Sect is getting more arrogant”… and so on.
Li Songlin asked: “They are the most outstanding group of the Jiu Li’s younger generation; in a few decades, they will be the tycoons of Li Zhou’s various industries. Do you want to go get acquainted? Young people together, sparks flying, youth like a song—surely many common topics.”
Li Weiyi shook his head lightly, not very interested, but his eyes were sizing up the several Pure Immortal Bodies inside and the four seated ones.
Because Li Songlin had said that besides Cang Li, Jiu Li had five others in the past decade who broke through Nine Springs; some should be at the gathering.
Li Qing’er had already pulled Li Ling into the main hall.
Moments later.
Cang Li was the first to walk out, his skin emitting a glow all over, his handsome bearing noble and sharp, possessing a perfect temperament that could make women under heaven swoon.
His gaze fell on Li Weiyi, his eyes complex, no longer as gentle and pure as before, but sharply scrutinizing.
“Brother, he’s my best friend.” Li Ling reminded him like this.
The group of Li Zhou’s proud young heroes and beauties who followed Cang Li out then seriously sized up Li Weiyi.
Li Ling’s talent was not low; at just sixteen, she was already a Great Mind Master.
For her to defend an outsider male like this, calling him “best friend”, it probably wasn’t that simple.
Cang Li’s gaze softened a bit, and he asked: “Against Xue Zheng, what are your odds?”
Even stared at by countless eyes, Li Weiyi was not the least bit flustered: “Ten tenths… nine tenths, I suppose!”
He didn’t want to sound too full of himself, appearing too arrogant.
Someone in the crowd chuckled lowly.
Cang Li frowned: “Being able to slay Yao Zheng Sheng with one sword means your Sword Dao has reached Heavenly Law Integration; at your age, that’s not bad. But to fight the current Xue Zheng, you must break through Ninth Spring Zu Tian; otherwise, you have no chance at all. The face you’ve lost must be regained by yourself; only then can you stand tall in the future.”
Immediately after, he took out a booklet from his bosom: “This is the experiences and insights written by all Martial Cultivators from Cang Li Tribe since ancient times who broke through Nine Springs, including mine. Flip through it more; it should help.”
“You must fight for it. This is the only chance for a mortal to catch up to a Pure Immortal Body!”
“Your strength is not weak; there is a glimmer of hope.”
