Chapter 87: Coffin Sea Pavilion
After the two walked down the stone bridge, they followed the stone steps passage for hundreds of steps, arriving in a dim and spacious underground storeroom.
Although the light was dim, it was still possible to see the mountain-like piles of iron boxes and otherworld coffins here, in such vast quantities that it might take ten days and ten nights to count them all.
An elderly figure appeared silently behind Li Weiyi, holding a lamp, and rasped: “Little Twenty-Four, is this this year’s newcomer?”
Li Weiyi quickly shifted his body sideways and looked at the person behind him, his heart pounding wildly.
How could there be no sound or aura at all? Was it a person or a ghost?
He was so old he was unrecognizable, extremely hunched, with sparse hair on his head. In this dark underground warehouse, he looked just like a ghostly specter from the underworld.
What he held in his hand was not a lamp, but a ball of flame grasped in his palm.
“He is not Yin Twenty-Six, but someone personally arranged by the Hidden Lord for a special trial.”
Yin Twenty-Four respectfully saluted the old man, then said to Li Weiyi: “This is the Forty-Fifth Grand Elder of the Hidden Sect, responsible for guarding the entrance from Jiu Li City to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect.”
In the Hidden Sect, hidden persons from the previous Jia Zi cycle were called elders.
Grand Elders were hidden persons from the cycle before that.
In other words, the Forty-Fifth Grand Elder before them was the Hidden Forty-Fifth from the cycle before last, absolutely an old guy over a hundred years old. One could imagine his cultivation from the fact that he guarded such an important place.
Li Weiyi quickly cupped his hands in a bow.
The Forty-Fifth Grand Elder raised the flame in his hand and brought it close, squinting to examine Li Weiyi carefully, then laughed: “Indeed very interesting. You two change clothes first!”
He hunched his back and shuffled away with unsteady steps.
The surroundings grew dimmer,
Yin Twenty-Four tossed a set of purplish-black robes to Li Weiyi, then untied his belt and began undressing… Of course, he was still wearing middle garments, just changing the outer robe.
Li Weiyi caught the purplish-black robes and examined them closely, seeing the silver coffin emblem embroidered on the cuffs, and said moved: “This is the standard martial robe of Coffin Sea Pavilion disciples!”
Yin Twenty-Four said: “Correct. This is the third layer of the Coffin Sea Pavilion’s underground treasury, a forbidden area that only the pavilion master can enter. What we are wearing is the standard martial robe of the Coffin Sea Pavilion’s External Affairs Hall disciples.”
“We are now directly below the most core Dao Domain of Jiu Li City?” Li Weiyi confirmed again, somewhat incredulous.
Yin Twenty-Four said: “Jiu Li Insect Valley itself is underground in Jiu Li City, right beneath the Dao Domain. Otherwise, do you think why the Hidden Sect’s magic energy is so thick? Why it’s so suitable for cultivation? Why it’s so easy to grow precious medicines? Of course, there are ancient formations layered in between, so no one can drill through them.”
“Great concealment in the city, truly impressive. I should have thought of it earlier!”
Li Weiyi smiled bitterly, then muttered to himself: “Jiu Li Insect Valley is completely shrouded in magic energy, forming a Dao Domain, so there must absolutely be a super-large Heaven Earth Spring nearby. With such a large Heaven Earth Spring, if it weren’t undiscovered, where else but Jiu Li City could it be?”
After changing into the Coffin Sea Pavilion External Affairs Hall disciple martial robes, the two cast the Disguise Art, altering their appearances and figures.
At the same time, there were two prepared bundles.
Opening them, inside were low-grade magic tool level night-walking clothes. When activated, they provided a certain degree of defense and invisibility, worn during missions.
There was also a bottle of powder. According to Yin Twenty-Four, this powder could temporarily deprive trackers of their sense of smell.
“Will your Yellow Dragon Sword expose your identity as the perpetrator? Do you need to carry another magic tool?” Yin Twenty-Four said.
Li Weiyi said: “Of course.”
“With our permissions, we can only apply for one low-grade magic tool, and it must be returned after the mission. If lost, compensation is required,” Yin Twenty-Four said.
“Not given for free?”
“Do you really think the Hidden Sect’s resources are endless?”
Li Weiyi waved his hand: “Forget it then! I feel that I already have grudges with the Chang Lin Gang. Taking revenge as Li Weiyi won’t make anyone think of the Hidden Sect, and it’s more reasonable. The current problem is, how strong are Xu Changlin and Tang Yan exactly? I know nothing of their strength, nor of the strength of the Five Seas Realm.”
If even the Five Seas Realm could lift a Five Seas Pillar with their physical body alone, and their magic power condensation was higher level than the Spring Gushing Realm, with a vast Sea of Qi magic energy, then Li Weiyi felt it best to turn back now, smash the Jar Master’s letter through the Hidden Sect.
Yin Twenty-Four disdainfully said: “Both are at the Seven Springs Breaking Five Seas Realm, and have only opened their first Sea of Qi. With my strength just two months after breaking through to the Five Seas Realm, dealing with them would only take one hand!”
“I’ve only opened Eight Springs,” Li Weiyi said.
The arrogant demeanor on Yin Twenty-Four instantly vanished, and he said coldly: “Don’t worry, just two wastrels hollowed out by wine and women. With me backing you up, go ahead boldly.”
Li Weiyi wouldn’t dare entrust his life to Yin Twenty-Four. He secretly considered what trump cards he could reveal, then carried them on him.
After all, when he fought the Yang Shenjing, he had only used the Yellow Dragon Sword.
That was not his true peak combat power.
“What are in all these iron boxes?”
Li Weiyi asked curiously, wanting to open one to see, but formations were set up.
“This is not only the Coffin Sea Pavilion’s most important treasury, but also the storage warehouse for the Coffin Sea Merchant Association’s rarest goods. Almost all the auction house’s finale items are kept here. Additionally, many of the Hidden Sect’s resources and treasures are stored here,” Yin Twenty-Four said.
The Coffin Sea Pavilion was the sect established by the Coffin Sea Merchant Association.
Fourteen years ago, the Jiu Li Clan suffered a great defeat, and four pieces of Jiu Li City’s Dao Domain were carved away, establishing four great sects.
Namely: Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, Tian Yi Sect, Coffin Sea Pavilion.
In today’s Li Zhou, the Jiu Li Dao Academy and Sui Sect stood as the two powers, with San Chen Palace close behind. Tian Yi Sect and Coffin Sea Pavilion were established only fourteen years ago, with much weaker strength and foundation.
Li Weiyi asked: “What exactly is the relationship between this Coffin Sea Pavilion and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect?”
Yin Twenty-Four said: “Actually, the Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, Tian Yi Sect, and Coffin Sea Pavilion—these four major powers were originally house slaves and servants dispatched by the Jiu Li Clan to sell otherworld coffins.”
“The Sui Sect old ancestors’ batch handled water transport, shipping otherworld coffins along the Sui River to the various states of Lingxiao Life Realm.”
“The San Chen Palace old ancestors handled the three land routes: from Northern Straight Path, Prefecture West Path, and East Forest Path, transporting to the Northern Territory, Western Territory, and Eastern Territory.”
“The Tian Yi Sect and Coffin Sea Pavilion old ancestors handled selling, which is now the Tianyi Merchant Guild and Coffin Sea Merchant Association.”
“With the ten-million-year ancient clan Jiu Li Clan behind them, all the large and small powers in the entire Lingxiao Life Realm naturally had to give them face. Flying the Jiu Li Clan’s banner, gradually their powers grew larger, establishing gangs, recruiting martial cultivators, training dead soldiers, and expanding massively.”
“With transport passages opened up, ambitions grew, and business naturally expanded beyond just otherworld coffins. Salt and iron, ore, cloth, brothels, gambling dens, restaurants, human trafficking… After a millennium of operation, they gradually grew rich, clinging to the Jiu Li Clan to suck blood and devour flesh, borrowing the tiger’s might. Small saplings grew into towering trees, even spawning several million-strong clans.”
“The Jiu Li Clan, having lost their supreme magic tool and unable to select a leader who could convince all, lay dreaming beautiful dreams on the natural treasury of otherworld coffins. To fish out more coffins, seize more wealth and benefits, infighting raged within the clan. The Dao Academy and Divine Hall, which should have presided over the situation, instead became the epicenters of infighting, losing ruling power.”
“In this context, the clan instead pulled in and nurtured those house servants and slaves, pouring massive resources into them, seeing them as their own thugs to use against other tribes, completely blind to their wolfish ambitions. These house servants and slaves profited from all sides, growing step by step, thriving happily.”
“Fourteen years ago, these house servants and slaves saw the Jiu Li Clan’s weakness and stopped pretending, leading to the half-year martial combat and the Mang Mountain battle.”
“Only then, after suffering great humiliation, did the Jiu Li Clan leadership finally awaken, realizing they were no longer that ten-million-year ancient clan. Afterward, the nine clan leaders calmly sat down to negotiate. The nine clans ceased infighting, and all contradictions seemed to have room for compromise, but how could centuries of decline be recovered in fourteen years?”
Li Weiyi sneered: “It’s the same everywhere. Without external threats and with abundant internal resources, infighting is inevitable. Once external enemies appear, they can unite. But why didn’t the Hidden Sect act, just letting former house servants and slaves bully their masters and even carve away the Dao Domain?”
“How can they know shame and then strive without suffering some humiliation? Knowing someone has their back, they only grow more reckless and decadent in luxury. Besides…”
Yin Twenty-Four looked at the treasury before them and said: “Who says the Hidden Sect didn’t act?”
Li Weiyi said: “The Coffin Sea Pavilion’s leadership have long been controlled by the Hidden Sect? Or rather, there are Hidden Sect people inside the Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, and Tian Yi Sect?”
“I’m just a hidden person who arrived two years before you. How would I know so many secrets?” Yin Twenty-Four didn’t want to say more.
The Forty-Fifth Grand Elder appeared ghost-like, shifting out from behind Li Weiyi, and rasped: “When leaving the Hidden Sect for missions, death spiritual fire must be planted.”
Yin Twenty-Four clearly knew the rules, closed his eyes, and calmly accepted the flame overflowing from the Forty-Fifth Grand Elder’s fingertip. The flame entered his brow.
Li Weiyi thought of Li Qing’s death state and was horrified, naturally resisting.
Yin Twenty-Four said: “The death spiritual fire only erupts if you are captured and invaded by a mind master’s consciousness. If it comes to that, do you think the enemy will spare your life? Don’t worry, after the mission ends, the death spiritual fire will be removed.”
Li Weiyi said: “Then… if I voluntarily reveal the secrets I know, will the death spiritual fire erupt?”
“No.”
Yin Twenty-Four immediately added: “But you will face pursuit and killing from the entire Hidden Sect. And all informed parties will also be eliminated. Of course, if you are truly captured and don’t want to suffer mind power invasion, you can trigger the death spiritual fire yourself. No choice, the Hidden Sect must ensure its own safety.”
Li Weiyi couldn’t find a reason to refute, so he nodded.
After planting the death spiritual fire, Li Weiyi and Yin Twenty-Four went upward along the stone steps, passing through three layers of treasury before finally reaching the ground.
The two disguised as Coffin Sea Pavilion External Affairs Hall disciples, helping transport goods from the first layer warehouse. Together with the merchant association’s convoy, they left the Dao Domain and entered the bustling city area streets of Jiu Li City.
The noisy and lively sounds came rushing at them.
The two quietly got off the cart on the road and blended into the endless stream of people.
July’s sunlight was extremely harsh.
But finally feeling the sunlight again and seeing the blue sky and white clouds, Li Weiyi felt an indescribable exhilaration: “After two months of medicinal cuisine, I really miss mortal world’s delicious food. Come on, let’s eat a good meal first. It’s on me!”
Yin Twenty-Four was somewhat surprised, not expecting this guy to have such generous and bold moments. Having gone too long without satisfying his appetite, he was of course a bit expectant too.
But when Li Weiyi brought him to the eating place, he instantly froze, scrutinizing this shabby noodle stall on the street side, trying to see its extraordinary qualities—perhaps his eyes were not sharp enough. Who knew, maybe there was something special in the pot, and the shopkeeper would produce all sorts of colorful, aromatic mortal world delicacies next moment.
Li Weiyi had already sat down first and shouted: “Shopkeeper, two bowls of noodle soup, extra beef. Sit down quick, don’t just stand there stiffly.”
Yin Twenty-Four’s expression was very unpleasant: “If it’s just two bowls of noodle soup, you didn’t need to build up my expectations earlier.”
“How could it just be two bowls of noodle soup?” Li Weiyi said.
Yin Twenty-Four said: “There’s beef too, right? This joke isn’t funny.”
Li Weiyi took out the Three-headed Snake Bracelet and placed it on the table: “This is the real hard dish!”
Yin Twenty-Four, naturally worldly, immediately saw the bracelet’s extraordinariness, quickly picked it up, and examined every detail, his eyes growing increasingly fervent.
He said in a low voice: “This is a blood-refined magic tool! It should have a powerful blood soul sealed inside. From the forging craft, it’s not a low-grade magic tool.”
“Good eye, worthy of the Five Seas Realm.”
Li Weiyi, never one to hold back, said: “This is a high-grade magic tool!”
Even with Yin Twenty-Four’s composure, his hands trembled, and the bracelet nearly fell.
A high-grade magic tool was a treasure that only top figures of the Five Seas Realm qualified to possess.
What’s more, this high-grade magic tool had a blood soul sealed inside…
Li Weiyi seemed oblivious to his shock, gazing toward the pot where the noodles were starting to cook, and said in a low voice: “Help me sell it. Doesn’t your Hidden Sect control the Coffin Sea Pavilion? Secretly sell it at the Coffin Sea Merchant Association, buy me some Radiant Flame Pills. I must quickly break through my mind power, impact Square Inch Bright Fire. Otherwise, who knows how many years it will take to forge the gold veins. I can’t wait that long.”
Yin Twenty-Four couldn’t listen anymore and wanted to curse: “Are you insane? The blood soul inside a high-grade magic tool has combat power at least at the Five Seas Realm third realm level at minimum. You want to sell it just for Radiant Flame Pills? Fine, sell it to me.”
Seeing Li Weiyi glare at him in surprise, he quickly pocketed the Three-headed Snake Bracelet.
Then, Li Weiyi asked a question that struck at his soul: “Can you afford it?”
