(It’s really hard to split this chapter.) ...
“I’m not going.”
Li Weiyi refused outright. If it were Cang Li’s clan leader Li Songlin or Cang Li’s personal invitation, Li Weiyi wouldn’t have been able to refuse so easily. After all, these two had taken great care of him in Nine Li City.
Especially Li Songlin, who had not only helped him secure a spot in the Nine Li Academy’s challenge but had also personally gone to intimidate the Long Lin Gang. He had even risked offending the Yang Clan to ensure Li Weiyi’s safety for a month. This debt of gratitude was something Li Weiyi had always kept in mind.
But going with Li Ling to meet her parents and her entire family? What was that supposed to mean?
“Don’t leave! My father, mother, and brother already know about us!”
Li Ling chased after him, refusing to let him go. Li Weiyi emphasized, “There’s nothing between us! If you keep spreading rumors and ruining my reputation, or using your family’s influence to pressure me, we really won’t even be friends anymore.”
“I haven’t been spreading rumors.”
Li Ling continued, “A month ago, when you were being targeted and hunted, I immediately left Nine Li Academy to search for you. My mother thought I was too concerned about you and became suspicious, so she questioned me. I told her you were my best friend and had saved my life multiple times.
That’s all I said, not a single word more. I can swear by the Nine Li gods.” Li Weiyi responded with silence.
He could imagine what Li Ling’s mother must have thought after hearing her daughter’s explanation. Li Ling said, “Do I not even have the right to care about you? Or am I not allowed to consider you my best friend, even if it’s just my own wishful thinking?” ...
Demon Pass City had no city walls and resembled a massive town with a population of several hundred thousand. Most of the houses in the city were built using rammed earth and stone, appearing low and primitive. Only a few large clan estates, inns, and taverns stood out, constructed with round logs and reaching three or four stories high.
The celestial anomaly that erupted in Burial Immortal Town had caused too much commotion, enveloping the entire region. Within a month, it had shaken the entire southern region, with all sorts of rumors spreading. Some said that Burial Immortal Town was an ancient site where an immortal had fallen, and many treasures were about to emerge.
Others claimed that beneath Burial Immortal Town lay a corner of the immortal realm, which was about to open. The massive beam of light that shot out from the ground was said to be a path to the immortal realm.
Some of the older generation of experts from Li Prefecture had descended along the light beam and seen scenes not of this world. However, they dared not venture too deep, sensing a terrifying aura, and only caught a glimpse before hastily returning to the surface.
The mix of truth and falsehood in these rumors attracted countless cultivators, naturally bringing an unusual level of bustle and prosperity to this small city closest to Burial Immortal Town. Inns and taverns were already fully booked, with room and meal prices skyrocketing several times over.
The Beast Li Tribe, as the local rulers, took advantage of the situation to sell various rare resources, including coffins from other realms, precious herbs, exotic beasts, beast eggs, insect eggs, rare metal ores, and even the blood of ancient immortal beasts...
As long as you had money, you could buy many resources and treasures in Demon Pass City that were usually hard to come by. Li Weiyi was quite familiar with Demon Pass City. His first night in this world had been spent here with Gao Huan.
Instead of heading to the most bustling district in the city, he made his way to the medicinal herb market in the western part of the city. The western part of the city was close to the Mang Mountain Range.
Herbalists would bring the freshest herbs from the mountains to sell here, and the prices were much cheaper than those in the shops run by powerful clans and sects. Of course, the quality of the herbs here wasn’t high... But what did seven larvae need with high-quality herbs?
The most crucial reason was that Li Weiyi was strapped for cash, and high-grade herbs were outrageously expensive. As he entered the western medicinal market, the mixed scents of various herbs filled the air. The stalls were simple, some even just spreading a piece of cloth or a straw mat on the ground to sell their wares.
The entire market was chaotic, filled with the sounds of haggling and disputes. Li Ling, who had been following him, couldn’t help but say, “If you’re buying herbs, you should go to the merchant guilds. There’s nothing good here.
The market is full of all sorts of people, and even if they find rare herbs, they’ll sell them secretly to the guilds first. The Tianyi Merchant Guild has a branch in Demon Pass, and with the Cang Li Tribe’s status, you can get a decent discount.”
“I don’t have the money,” Li Weiyi said.
Li Ling didn’t believe him: “What about the money the Cang Li Tribe gave you to buy a house? It was two hundred thousand silver coins!” Li Weiyi didn’t know how to explain, so he remained silent.
He approached a stall with a wide variety of herbs and pointed to a meter-long piece of Cistanche on the ground, asking, “How much for this one?” The stall owner, seeing Li Weiyi’s shabby appearance, initially didn’t want to bother.
But upon noticing the well-dressed, fairy-like Li Ling behind him, he immediately put on a smile: “Young man, you’ve got a good eye! This is an old herb, weighing sixty-three jin. Fifty silver coins per jin.
How much do you want?” Herbs that have grown for ten years are considered medicinal, a hundred years make them treasures, and a thousand years turn them into spirits. Herbs over ten years old can be called “medicinal herbs.”
The price of medicinal herbs isn’t cheap, with the lowest starting at five silver coins. To be called an “old herb,” it must be at least fifty years old. Herbs over a hundred years old are called “treasure herbs.”
Those over a thousand years old almost gain consciousness, possess magical power, and even the ability to transform. Each one is incredibly precious, known as “thousand-year spirit herbs” or “thousand-year demon herbs.”
Li Weiyi was interested in this Cistanche not because it was particularly valuable, but because of its quantity—it would definitely feed the seven little ones for a long time.
“Fifty silver coins per jin is too expensive. Can you lower the price?”
Li Weiyi frowned. The nine-leaf grass was a three-hundred-year-old treasure herb, so its high price was understandable. But an old herb of medicinal grade being this expensive was shocking.
Buying the entire thing would cost three thousand one hundred and fifty silver coins. All the money he had on him combined could only be exchanged for about twelve thousand silver coins. How long would that last for the seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors?
The stall owner’s expression darkened: “Fifty silver coins isn’t expensive at all. Do you know how dangerous the Mang Mountain Range is? Do you know how hard it is to harvest an old herb?”
Li Ling walked over to the Cistanche, plucked a fingernail-sized piece, and sniffed it lightly. She seemed to notice something and then smiled: “This isn’t an old herb, is it? I’d say it’s only about thirty years old.”
The stall owner said, “Young lady, you’ve damaged the quality of my old herb. You’ll have to compensate me.”
“Sure, how much?”
Li Ling took out a black metal token and casually tossed it to the stall owner. The stall owner caught it, took one look, and immediately the token felt like it was burning his hand. He quickly returned it with a respectful bow, stammering an apology: “So it’s the Mourning Lantern Guide from the Divine Hall.
No wonder your eyes are so sharp. How could any herb in the world escape your notice?”
“So, is this an old herb?”
“No, no...”
The stall owner laughed awkwardly. After retrieving the Mourning Lantern Guide token, Li Ling asked, “So, what’s the price now?”
“Thirty silver coins per jin, no, twenty-five silver coins per jin.”
The stall owner forced a smile. Li Ling glanced triumphantly at Li Weiyi and said, “Alright. You’re from the Beast Li Tribe, right?
Let’s go to the Beast Li Tribe’s ancestral hall in the city. You can explain to the elders in charge of clan laws and punishments how you tried to cheat my friend, disrupted market order, and tarnished the Beast Li Tribe’s reputation.”
In the herb market, the age of herbs was always exaggerated by the sellers, trying to cheat whoever they could. If someone knew their stuff, they’d just negotiate a price, and there’d be no issues. But today, the stall owner had messed with the wrong person.
After all, the Nine Li Divine Hall was responsible for managing the ancestral halls of various clans and towns. The stall owner said, “How about you set the price, my lady?” ... In the end, Li Weiyi spent six hundred and thirty silver coins to buy the sixty-three jin of Cistanche.
With the chance to buy herbs at a low price, Li Weiyi wasn’t about to let it go. So, at the same stall, he picked out six other old herbs, and after rounding off the total, he spent two thousand four hundred silver coins. Li Weiyi didn’t feel guilty.
After all, if it weren’t for Li Ling, given his limited knowledge of herbs, he would have been cheated out of a lot of money. If the stall owner hadn’t tried to deceive him first, he wouldn’t have allowed Li Ling to use her influence to pressure him.
After wandering around the herb market, he indeed didn’t see a single treasure herb. Spending five silver coins, he bought a foot-long insect container and left the market. If he had enough funds, he would have preferred to buy treasure herbs to feed the Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors.
After all, the more precious their food, the faster they would grow. He couldn’t help but wish he could quickly raise the seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors to a level where their combat power rivaled that of seven Five Seas Realm experts.
“Looks like I’ll have to sell some artifacts,” Li Weiyi thought to himself, playing with the newly bought insect container made of red gold bamboo.
It was extremely sturdy, with ventilation holes and a strap. The Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors were emperor-level rare insects. Even his stone coffin master and jar master hadn’t recognized them.
The spirit tablet elder had said that even in their era, there were no more than ten insect tamers in the entire Lingxiao Realm who could identify them. Therefore, she advised Li Weiyi not to worry too much about exposure. Keeping the Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors in the blood mud space on the Buddha’s relic was fine.
But if he encountered a powerful enemy and needed to release them for help, the secret of his spatial treasure would inevitably be exposed. Li Weiyi suddenly stopped and looked at Li Ling, who had been following him: “Aren’t you curious why I’m buying these things?”
“Even if I were curious, you wouldn’t tell me. You never appreciate my kindness. You always think I’m out to harm you,” Li Ling said.
Li Weiyi thought for a moment: “How about I treat you to some noodles?” Li Ling’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.
“You helped me save a lot of money today. I should thank you.”
Li Weiyi led Li Ling to a roadside noodle stall and sat down at a square table by the road: “Two bowls of soup noodles, with beef.” Li Ling, dressed in a gorgeous dress with a spotless white belt, sleeves, and collar, along with her flawless semi-immortal skin and exquisite features, looked completely out of place in this environment.
As she sat down to Li Weiyi’s right, countless curious and envious eyes turned towards her from both the stall and the street. Li Ling handed him a silk handkerchief: “Wipe the dust off your face. No one in Demon Pass dares to touch you.
There are many strong experts from the Cang Li Tribe in the city.” Li Weiyi wasn’t sure how to handle his relationship with Li Ling. He wasn’t a cold-hearted person and cherished every bond he formed.
Just like Cai Yutong’s bowl of fish soup, he would remember it for a lifetime. After hesitating for a long time, he finally took the handkerchief and wiped his face, asking, “Has the bounty on my head at the Five Burial Temple gone up?”
Just now, walking from the herb market to the noodle stall, a distance of a few hundred meters, Li Weiyi had noticed at least three people following him, their eyes filled with hostility and killing intent. It couldn’t be helped. Demon Pass was too small, and Li Ling was too conspicuous.
Walking with Li Ling, it would be strange if he wasn’t noticed and recognized. Of course, it was also because he was with Li Ling that no one had dared to make a move yet.
“It’s gone up, several times over. Some Five Seas Realm cultivators are looking for you everywhere.”
Li Ling added, “Now you know why I have to take you to see my parents, right? Because only by staying with them will you be truly safe. When we return to Nine Li City, you can directly enter the academy to cultivate.
You won’t have to worry about assassins from the Five Burial Temple or outside contractors.”
“Oh? Don’t I have to compete for a spot in the academy?”
Li Weiyi smiled. Li Ling smiled back: “A month ago, in that battle, you dyed an entire street red and stained the Sui River with blood. Who would dare look down on you now?
Yao Zhengsheng and Lu Can, both top hundred martial artists, died at your hands. There’s no obstacle to entering the academy now. Fourth Uncle even has thoughts of taking you as his disciple.”
“A person’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow. You’ve gained some fame among the younger generation now.”
“Only some fame?”
Li Weiyi asked. Li Ling said, “Without breaking through the ninth spring ancestral field, not being a pure immortal body, and not entering the Five Seas Realm, how much fame do you expect? My brother has all three, and he’s still not famous throughout the world.”
Two bowls of steaming hot soup noodles were served, the aroma wafting through the air. The beef was generous, with over a dozen slices in each bowl.
Just as Li Weiyi started eating, a chubby teenager, around fifteen or sixteen, rushed into the stall, panting, and sat down at the square table with Li Weiyi and Li Ling, shouting, “I’m starving! Boss, ten bowls of soup noodles.” The stall owner by the stove was stunned: “How many people?”
“Can’t you see? Just me, only me.”
The chubby boy slapped the table and added, “Stop wasting time, I’ll pay.” Li Ling looked around and, seeing no empty tables, didn’t bother to chase him away.
The chubby boy eyed the bowl of noodles in front of Li Ling, which she hadn’t touched yet, and with a familiar smile, said, “You, a fairy-like pure immortal body sister, don’t seem like someone who would eat in a place like this. How about letting me have this bowl first?”
It was hard to tell the difference between a semi-immortal body and a pure immortal body just by appearance.
“Your mouth is quite sweet. Go ahead, I’m not hungry,” Li Ling said.
“Thank you so much!”
The chubby boy quickly took the bowl and asked, “I’m Shi Shi. What about you two?” Li Ling said, “Cang Li Tribe, Li Ling.”
“Cang Li Tribe, Xie Tianshu.”
Li Weiyi secretly observed this suddenly appearing chubby boy. He couldn’t sense any aura of cultivation or spiritual power, nor any dangerous vibes. He seemed like an ordinary person.
But an ordinary person without any cultivation appearing in Demon Pass City at this time was indeed strange. While wolfing down the noodles, the chubby boy could still talk, commenting on the people passing by on the street: “Brother Tianshu, see that carriage pulled by fire lizards? That’s the young city lord of Li City in Zhi Prefecture.
The Li family is quite impressive, having produced a big shot. In a few decades, they might become the second family in the southern region with a million members. This young city lord is only seventeen and has already broken through five seas in the nine springs.
It’s a pity he’s just a mortal. If he were a pure immortal body, that would be something!”
“Sister Ling, see those dozen or so young men in green martial robes? The one leading them is Chen Wenwu, the top talent of the younger generation from the Three Chen Academy. He’s among the top ten in Li Prefecture under thirty... maybe even top five...”
“Xue Zheng from the Seven Springs Hall, ranked fourth in Li Prefecture, is here too! He’s no ordinary person either. With such combat power under twenty-five and below the Five Seas Realm, he can stand shoulder to shoulder with pure immortal bodies. Once he breaks through to the Five Seas Realm, it’ll be like a fish transforming into a dragon.”
Only then did Li Weiyi and Li Ling finally look towards the street. Sure enough, Xue Zheng’s tall figure, carrying a long saber, was approaching from a distance, his gaze fixed on the noodle stall. Under the sunlight, his silver skin shone brightly.
Accompanying Xue Zheng were two Five Seas Realm experts from the Long Lin Gang, Xu Changlin and Tang Yan. But in terms of demeanor and spirit, the two Five Seas Realm experts seemed slightly inferior. Everyone on the street could sense the unusual danger.
Except for those confident in their own strength, the rest quickly moved away. Li Ling, of course, knew they meant trouble. She stood up abruptly and walked out of the stall: “The Long Lin Gang’s courage is growing.
I haven’t even gone to cause trouble for you, and you’ve come to me instead. Want to kill someone in Demon Pass City? Do you think you can get past me?”
Xue Zheng cupped his fists: “Fourth Miss, you misunderstand! I’ve come to inquire about Brother