After Zhao Zhizhuo left, Li Weiyi sat alone beneath a lamp made from cow horn and bone, studying the Evil Camel Bell. The bell was ancient in style, its copper parts rough and corroded. Faint inscriptions—scriptures eroded by time—could be seen on its surface.
It was so eerie that it could influence one’s mind, seduce sinful thoughts, and magnify evil intentions. It seemed… that it could even gather evil thoughts. At that time, Li Weiyi had wanted to throw it into the Blood Sea, to sink it forever.
But because it could store tangible objects and contained an unfathomable space within, it was kept. Li Weiyi planned to return to the Bronze Ship later and purchase a batch of food to bring back with him. Between him and Gao Huan, how much could they carry?
If indeed it were a treasure capable of encompassing heaven and earth, then it would be much more convenient!
“It should be classified as a magical tool. According to old Zhao, one only needs to use magical power to activate it. The degree of activation depends on one’s cultivation level, as well as the strength and amount of magical power,” Li Weiyi mused, worried about unforeseen mishaps.
He quickly covered his ears. Then he gathered the magical power from the two spring-eyes in his soles and gradually infused it into the bell. Before long, “Hua—” the surface of the bell shimmered with light, trembled slightly, and grew to several times its original size.
After hesitating for a moment, Li Weiyi put on his Silver Thread Gloves and reached his hand inside the bell. His entire arm went in; the interior was vast, and he couldn’t even feel any walls or edges. He did not come into contact with those semi-illusory camels either.
He couldn’t tell what exactly lay inside; all he could feel were a few cans of Golden Crow Blood—clearly loaded by Yu Tuonan on the Bronze Ship. He then infused more magical power to activate it further, and the Evil Camel Bell stopped growing. With his current cultivation, this was the farthest he could manage.
Moreover, even if the bell were to enlarge enough, he would never dare enter lightly. As for “rocking the Evil Camel Bell,” Li Weiyi dared not attempt it for now, fearing irreparable danger.
“Old Zhao said that once you open a fourth spring, your magical power will begin to overflow, allowing you to manipulate it at will. With enough magical power, you could even pluck objects from afar.”
For Li Weiyi, who had been practicing martial arts since childhood, that level of cultivation was enchanting and deeply desired.
“Only by opening four springs can one gain a certain status—only then can one be called a half-immortal. To complete the other half, you must transcend to beyond the Spring Surge Realm.”
At that time, Zhao Zhizhuo had expressed such sentiments. Having stored away the Evil Camel Bell, Li Weiyi lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, finding it difficult to sleep.
Sometimes he thought of Cai Yutong, taken away by Bone Demon creatures; sometimes he recalled his senior on the Bronze Ship; sometimes he remembered every small moment learning martial arts with his master on the mountain.
“Martial Dao, Martial Dao—only martial strength remains, while the Dao has been lost.”
That was something his master had once said! Yet now, a grand path of martial cultivation lay before him. Whether it was the overflowing magical power, the ability to pluck objects from afar, or, like in Stone Nine Chamber, exhaling one’s qi into clouds and scaling cliffs, they were all overwhelmingly enticing.
On the future path of martial cultivation, there would undoubtedly be countless divine abilities waiting for him to climb and pursue. As for transcending to being above ordinary mortals… Who would be content to remain at the bottom for all eternity, never seeing daylight, only forced to endure the steps of others pressing down on them?
Li Weiyi sat up in bed, picked up a can of Golden Crow Blood, and took a large swallow. Then he sat on the floor and began practicing the Jade Void Breathing Technique, summoning both cold and warm streams of magical power to refine his body. …
After a night of cultivation, the next morning Li Weiyi appeared wearing a dark blue cloth robe printed with beast patterns, a purple belt tied around his waist. He sat at the railing on the second-floor platform of Remote Hua Hall, silently observing the bustling street below.
He watched the diverse crowd, and the various fierce beasts that followed at their sides. Those with high-level cultivation rode giant pythons over ten meters long, instilling dread in everyone. Wild oxen weighing several thousand jin pulled carts, while ragged commoners led cattle along.
Cultivators from prominent families, practicing magical martial arts, rode enormous four-armed ape-like creatures carrying some kind of mineral. The latter were immensely strong but could only be enslaved.
Li Weiyi was well aware that he and Gao Huan could live in Remote Hua Hall, enjoy sumptuous food, and relish the privileges of those above ordinary men—simply because they had rendered great service to the Cang Li Tribe. For a time, people respected them and even paid for their comforts.
But no matter how great a favor one receives, it eventually must be repaid. Only by having one’s own strength could one truly become an exalted individual, without worrying that one morning you might be expelled, left homeless and wandering like a beggar by the roadside. Survival and securing one’s footing were of utmost importance.
How one lived, and how splendidly one did so, depended entirely on martial cultivation. All around him was a clamorous world of prosperity—rushing carriages, haggling vendors, and the myriad faces of life.
In fleeting moments, Li Weiyi’s thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened on the Bronze Ship; even the nineteen years he had lived on Earth seemed like a dream. Yet the world before him now felt truly real. He spread open his right palm, which felt scorching hot as if a miniature volcano were erupting within.
Eleven silver tracks emanated from the spring-eye in his palm, extending into eleven new channels for energy distribution. If he could activate his palm spring-eye simultaneously with a skill like the “Heaven-Turning Palm Seal,” its power would far surpass anything he had achieved before. This third spring-eye was opened that very morning.
In total, his body now possessed thirty-seven silver tracks. Li Weiyi was puzzled. Last night, Zhao Zhizhuo had said that opening a spring-eye was extraordinarily difficult—even with top talent one had to endure ten years of grueling cultivation to open all four limb springs.
And beyond the four springs, it would become even more challenging. But Li Weiyi thought that perhaps Zhao Zhizhuo had experienced too many hardships in his life and tended to exaggerate the difficulties to the point of losing confidence in meeting life’s challenges.
He recalled those abnormal individuals who had managed to open one spring and thought they were a match for someone who should be able to open three springs—it was simply incomparable to him. Opening a spring-eye was indeed challenging, but it was by no means as impossible as Zhao had described.
Otherwise, how could he have opened a spring-eye in just a few days? Perhaps it was just slightly more difficult for him than for others, since everyone’s cultivation speed and talent differ. But how great can the gap between individuals really be?
Even candidates at a top university do not have one more brain than those at a community college. Gao Huan then entered Li Weiyi’s room, leaning over close by and speaking in a mysterious tone, “Brother Li, do you think that the Nine Li Tribe in this world might be the same as the one from Earth’s ancient myths?”
“How would I know?”
Li Weiyi replied with a smile. Gao Huan continued, “I think it’s very possible! Legend has it that after the Battle of Zhuolu, the remnants of the Nine Li escaped into the North Sea and entered the Underworld.
And weren’t we the ones who set out from the Arctic? Along the way, we even discovered the stone monument of the ancient Zhuolu Road, proving that someone from ancient Hua had once traveled this path.”
“If we could gain access to the inner circle of the Nine Li Tribe and examine the bloodline of their ancestors, we might find the answer.”
Li Weiyi knew that Gao Huan was always speaking in a rambling, whimsical way, so he casually asked, “What exactly are you trying to say?” Gao Huan replied, “They are the people, and so are we—common folk. This means we may share a common ancestor.
Even though I’m not sure whether we can return to Earth, here I have found an inexplicable sense of belonging and security. Besides, you wouldn’t want to go back on the ship and continue drifting on that dangerous, unpredictable Blood Sea, would you?”
“So you want to stay?”
Li Weiyi asked. Gao Huan nodded, “In your view, we now owe a favor to the Cang Li Tribe. As long as we behave ourselves and remain within their tribe, survival shouldn’t be hard.
The only question is how to bring over the First Mate and the others.” Li Weiyi naturally mulled over this matter in his heart. … Soon, Zhao Zhizhuo arrived again in a carriage, stopping outside the grand gate of Remote Hua Hall.
After picking up Li Weiyi and Gao Huan, as he drove he explained, “The Young Clan Leader of the Cang Li Tribe understands Brother Xiao’s (my affectionate title) concerns. But since we owe them such a huge debt, it must be acknowledged face-to-face. Don’t worry—this matter will not become widely known.”
An attack on the Cang Li Tribe was bound to create a sensation. If everyone knew that two people had rescued Zhao Zhizhuo and brought him to Yao Guan City for help, causing the enemy’s plans to collapse at the last moment, then both the Earth Wolf King Army and Stone Nine Chamber would surely take notice.
With an investigation, those two troublesome individuals could definitely be caught. No matter which way the situation turned, Li Weiyi needed to plan along that direction. That was why, last night, he had refused to accompany Zhao Zhizhuo to pay respects to the Young Clan Leader of the Cang Li Tribe—there were simply too many eyes and ears around.
His own strength was not yet at the level where he could afford to appear on the public stage. At the very least, one had to be an exalted individual transcending into the Spring Surge Realm or higher, to have the confidence and capital in this brutal world where people could be killed at any time.
“Old Zhao, don’t call me ‘Brother Xiao’ anymore. If you don’t mind, just call me ‘Little Brother’ or ‘Brother Xie’—any of those will do!”
Li Weiyi said.
“Alright then,” Zhao Zhizhuo replied happily, happy to use a friendlier address. …
Under Zhao Zhizhuo’s lead, Li Weiyi and Gao Huan, now temporarily lodged at the Jiao Mei Manor of the Cang Li Tribe, met with the Young Clan Leader.
“Young Clan Leader, Miss Li Ling, this is Brother Xie,” Zhao Zhizhuo introduced.
“He defeated those two aberrant cultivators from the Fo Du Sect yesterday, and after rescuing me, he even brought me to Yao Guan City for help.”
He added, “Brother Xie’s full name is Xie Jin! And this noble fellow is Gao Huan; he has a congenital speech disorder… and only speaks in the dialect of his hometown.” Li Weiyi observed the Cang Li Tribe member closely, feeling a deep emotion in his heart.
This was what true highborn looked like in this world—the kind of superior individuals who, just by the way they dressed, their accessories, and their aura, exuded an indescribable nobility. Any woman who saw them would likely fall head over heels. He, Li Weiyi, was of similar age, exceptionally handsome.
Like Gao Huan and Cai Yutong, he seemed to have shed his mortal skin, his body and skin imbued with an immortal radiance, without a single flaw. Even more impressive was the invisible aura that emanated from him—a byproduct of his extraordinary cultivation—that set him apart from everyone present.
Li Weiyi never felt inferior or belittled, but everyone held an unspoken measure within their hearts by which they evaluated themselves and others. The Cang Li Tribe member, despite his efforts to appear approachable and grateful towards Li Weiyi and Gao Huan with his gentle, polite, and friendly manners, still maintained a great distance.
His status was too high; to be at that level was an enormous achievement. He said, “I’ve heard everything about you two from Zhao Zhizhuo. The world has been at war for ten years now.
Out beyond, there are departing spirit, evil spirits and monstrous curses, while at home, banditry and military chaos have left the common folk struggling more and more each year. Now it seems that Li Prefecture is also about to fall into chaos!”
His words did not seem directed at Li Weiyi alone; they sounded as if he were lamenting over the state of the world. The Cang Li Tribe member clearly cared little about where Li Weiyi and Gao Huan came from. He asked, “You practice the path of magical martial arts, don’t you?
How many spring-eyes have you opened?”
“Three,” Li Weiyi replied.
“That’s not bad,” he said.
By that age, having opened three spring-eyes was, in the eyes of the exceptionally talented Cang Li, merely average. But the old clan leader had always instructed him to watch his tongue; a clan leader must be careful not to offend anyone by speaking too bluntly.
One must be courteous and recruit talent with pleasant words, so as not to give offense from the outset. Standing behind the Cang Li Tribe member was Li Ling.
Barefoot and only about fifteen or sixteen, with nine silver bracelets adorning her wrists and dressed in a colorful robe, her long hair braided into many long plaits, all suffused with the blue mist light trace. Next to Li Weiyi stood Gao Huan. Ever since he had seen Li Ling, he could never take his eyes off her.
Transformed, Cai Yutong, though as beautiful as a celestial being, was always kept at a respectful distance by Gao Huan due to her high-cold demeanor and temper. But the maiden before him was different—like an elf emerging in the mist, with a delicate, sweet yet mysterious and serene beauty that struck straight to his heart.
As for Liu Ying… he dared not recall her at all, feeling that she was an insurmountable hurdle in his life. The Cang Li Tribe member had long taken an interest in Gao Huan, far more so than in Li Weiyi. And this was a Pure Immortal Body!
(End of Chapter)