"You all don't know this, but within the city, there are divisions between the city domain and the Dao domain. The Dao domain is located within the Heavenly Law and Earthly Spring, where the energy of heaven and earth is countless times denser than here. Not only is there the Nine Li Academy, but also the Sui Sect, the Tianyi Gate, the Coffin Sea Pavilion, and the Three Chen Palaces of the Chen Clan's school."
"I, Gao Huan, with my Pure Immortal Body, have only been cultivating for a little over ten days, right? And I've already opened my first spring."
Gao Huan chatted enthusiastically with Old Liu, Old Guan, and Qin Ke, then lowered his voice and said, "I'm not afraid to tell you, those Five Seas Realm seniors from the Nine Li Academy are all vying to take me as their disciple.
They keep introducing me to the most beautiful granddaughters and nieces from their clans, wanting to arrange marriages with me. They even said I could marry multiple women since they don't follow the one-husband-one-wife system here. Isn't that annoying?"
"Annoying, very annoying," everyone chimed in unison. ...
After lunch, Li Ling and Gao Huan left. Before departing, Li Ling tapped Qin Ke and the others on their foreheads, saying she would be going to the Nine Li Academy to cultivate for a while. She told Li Weiyi to come find her there if he needed anything.
Cai Yutong stayed behind. She didn't seem interested in people but was fascinated when she discovered the room was full of Armored Spiders. In the dimly lit room, Li Weiyi relayed Li Songlin's words exactly to the Coffin Elder and the Spirit Tablet Elder, seeking their advice.
After all, their understanding of cultivation and the Nine Li Tribe far surpassed his own. The skeletal remains in the stone coffin pondered for a moment before speaking, "In the past, entering the Nine Li Academy would have been a great path. But from what your companion said, the Dao domain is now filled with so many sects and factions.
This shows how much the Nine Li Tribe has declined."
"You must understand, the Dao domain of Nine Li City is the core of the Nine Li Tribe's interests. In the past, only the Nine Li Academy existed there. Now, even their core interests have been divided and taken over by others."
Li Weiyi could sense the disappointment and anger emanating from the Coffin Elder.
"The clan leaders of the Nine Li Tribe over the past few generations have been utterly incompetent," the Spirit Tablet Elder fumed.
The Coffin Elder continued, "Weiyi, your physique and cultivation speed are extraordinary, and you carry too many secrets. If you enter the Nine Li Academy without strong backing, your brilliance will attract disaster."
"Such backing must be based on blood ties. Take Cang Li, for example. He likely has the support of not just the Cang Li Tribe but the entire Nine Li Tribe."
"He is clearly being groomed as the next inheritor of the Nine Li Academy, someone who can represent the Nine Li Tribe and shoulder the responsibility of reviving their glory."
"Someone like him, who is so special, would make anyone think twice before acting against him. The cost of killing him would be incurring the wrath of the entire Nine Li Tribe."
"Do you think the Nine Li Tribe would unite to avenge you if someone killed you? Even the Cang Li Tribe—how far would they go to support you? Would they risk their entire tribe for your sake?"
"Not to mention, if people found out you opened five springs in just a month, that alone would be enough to draw Five Seas Realm cultivators to kill you!"
Li Weiyi's emotions were complicated.
"It seems entering the Nine Li Academy would bring more harm than good."
"There is another path, though it carries greater risks. But for you, it might be the better choice."
The Coffin Elder continued, "In the Lingxiao Living Realm, the top forces all groom inheritors for each generation—sometimes one, sometimes several. Without exception, these inheritors possess Pure Immortal Bodies, have opened nine springs, and possess unparalleled talent and appearance."
"They travel the world, observing the myriad facets of mortal life and the dangers of various professions. While they gain experience, they also serve as living advertisements for their sects and clans, attracting countless talents to follow and join them. Naturally, their sects and clans grow stronger as a result."
"Thus, these inheritors usually become the future leaders of their sects or clans."
Li Weiyi smiled.
"The charm of an idol can indeed drive many to fanaticism."
The Coffin Elder said, "But for a superpower to last a thousand, or even ten thousand years, relying solely on visible strength would make them too predictable. So, in addition to grooming the face of their power, they must also cultivate the hidden core."
"The inheritor is the face, while the hidden core is known as the Hidden One."
"The Hidden One receives even more resources than the inheritor, but the competition for this position is far more brutal."
"You should be able to guess that I have some connection to the Nine Li Tribe in my past life. I admit, suggesting this path for you is partly out of self-interest."
"But the path of the Hidden One allows you to access the Nine Li Tribe's cultivation resources while also gaining their protection, with minimal restrictions on you. I think you should seriously consider it."
Li Weiyi asked, "Elder, when you say the competition is brutal, what exactly do you mean?"
"The competition is extremely fierce."
The Coffin Elder explained, "Every year, the nine major tribes select one or several youths to send to the Nine Li Hidden Gate. But only one person survives each year. And even that one person might not become the Hidden One—they might only end up as a hidden servant."
"The Hidden One is only chosen once every few decades."
Li Weiyi chuckled.
"Elder... aren't you setting me up for failure?"
The Coffin Elder replied, "Hear me out. Since I've prepared this path for you, I naturally have a foolproof plan. Before going to the Nine Li Hidden Gate, you must first open your ninth spring.
With the combat power you'll have at the ninth spring, you won't even need to compete—you can simply conquer the Nine Li Hidden Gate. Then, after taking the Hidden Gate's Five Seas Pill, you can directly enter the Five Seas Realm."
"Aside from opening nine springs, there's another way to compete for the position of Hidden One, but it's riskier. You'd have to visit the Tomb of the Cang King. But given our current timeline and your rapid cultivation speed, we don't need to take that risk."
At this point, the Spirit Tablet Elder interjected, "The current situation is more complicated than we imagined. Both the external and internal affairs of the Nine Li Tribe seem to be in turmoil. I think he should go to the Hidden Gate as soon as possible.
The cultivation environment there is even better than the Dao domain, allowing you to progress faster. On the path of cultivation, there's no avoiding risks." Li Weiyi said, "Wait a moment...
To become the Nine Li Tribe's Hidden One, wouldn't I need not just strength but also their absolute trust?"
"Don't worry about that. Since your Coffin Elder dares to suggest this path, he can handle that aspect," the Spirit Tablet Elder assured.
"That's right. Focus on your cultivation for now. As for which of the two methods to choose, your Spirit Tablet Elder and I will discuss it further."
The Coffin Elder seemed to remember something and added, "Our current group is too weak. We need to cultivate a strong protector. What do you think of Zhao Zhizhuo?"
Li Weiyi smiled.
"We're on the same page! But the consequences of revealing a top-tier artifact are something I can't afford right now."
"Are you being overly cautious? Even if Zhao Zhizhuo recovers his cultivation, no one would suspect a Spring Surge Realm cultivator like you."
The Coffin Elder said, "Here's what we'll do. Hand him over to me, and I'll help him recover his cultivation while also disguising him as a powerful figure to intimidate him a little. Of course, this will cost you..."
The cost would definitely be substantial! Li Weiyi winced in pain, his face grimacing.
"I just managed to make two windfalls, and now I have to spend so much?"
Aside from the 100,000 silver coins from the Changlin Gang, Li Ling had also brought money from the Cang Li Tribe to buy a residence.
"Think about how much those sects spend to cultivate a Five Seas Realm expert. That might make you feel better," the Coffin Elder said with a rare chuckle.
Li Weiyi left the room and looked at the large group of people before him. Feeling a severe lack of security, he decided to prioritize the plan to restore Zhao Zhizhuo's cultivation.
Only with a true Five Seas Realm expert by his side could he feel more at ease, whether he was heading to the Tomb of the Cang King or secluding himself to break through to the sixth spring. ... The next day, Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo rode a newly purchased carriage toward the city gates.
Zhao Zhizhuo still bore many scars, but he was mostly healed and could move freely. Once inside the city, grand and majestic buildings came into view. Luxurious carriages were everywhere, and one could frequently see awe-inspiring exotic beasts and disciples from various sects dressed in uniform attire.
"Head to the West Market," Li Weiyi instructed.
Zhao Zhizhuo was an experienced driver. He pulled the reins, cracked the whip, and turned the carriage westward. Li Weiyi asked, "I've heard that to break through and reshape a spring, one needs to purchase spring liquid.
That stuff must be expensive, right?" Zhao Zhizhuo was all too familiar with spring liquid.
"Spring liquid is the essence condensed from the spring eyes of Dao Seed Realm experts. Unless they're utterly destitute, they would never sell this. On the market, a single drop of spring liquid is worth a thousand silver coins."
Li Weiyi patted his chest and asked again, "How many drops are needed to reshape one spring?"
"I used three drops to reshape my first spring and five drops for the second," Zhao Zhizhuo replied.
Li Weiyi asked, "Old Zhao, how many springs did you open back in the day?"
"Eight springs."
Zhao Zhizhuo's face lit up with pride as he recalled his past glory. He added, "You should know, for martial cultivators, breaking through to eight springs is considered a prodigy. It's even harder than reaching the Five Seas Realm.
Let me put it this way: out of twenty seven-spring martial cultivators, maybe only one can break through to eight springs. But out of ten seven-spring cultivators, one can enter the Five Seas Realm. Of course, these numbers aren't exact—just an example."
"Old Zhao, do you trust me?"
Li Weiyi asked. Zhao Zhizhuo wasn't a fool. He immediately grew tense.
"Brother Li, are you thinking of buying spring liquid for me? There's no need to waste money like that. I wasted so much money back then, and it was all for nothing. I tried every method, and after years of effort, I only managed to reshape two springs. I've long since made peace with it."
"Have you given up? Are you content? I heard you once had all five of your Five Seas Realm's qi seas open. Your cultivation was incredibly high."
Li Weiyi said, "If you trust me, don't ask any questions. We'll buy the spring liquid, and I'll take you to meet an elder who can help you." Zhao Zhizhuo knew Li Weiyi's character well.
He wouldn't make empty promises. Zhao Zhizhuo's emotions were instantly ignited, and his heart surged with turbulent waves. He stared intently at Li Weiyi, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
"Drive, drive, watch the road... Sit back... Can't you stay calm?"
Li Weiyi chided. How could Zhao Zhizhuo stay calm? He was on the verge of tears, urgently asking, "Which elder is it?
Artifacts that can help reshape spring eyes are incredibly rare—there are fewer than ten in the entire Lingxiao Living Realm... I don't think there are any in Li Prefecture..."
"I told you not to ask. If you keep asking, we'll turn back right now. That elder hates people who talk too much," Li Weiyi warned.
"I won't ask, I won't ask... I won't ask anymore."
After saying this, Zhao Zhizhuo added, "That elder is really in Nine Li City... Okay, okay, I won't ask... I'll drive, I'll drive properly..."
(End of Chapter)