"At the end of the month, the first trial will begin."
"The difficulty of the trial varies for martial practitioners at different levels."
"A word of warning: the mortality rate for the first trial is very high. So, no matter what level you're at, try to improve your combat power as quickly as possible. A month passes by very quickly."
"Those above the Seven Springs, follow me."
Only seven people were above the Seven Springs. Among them were two at the Seven Springs: Li Weiyi and Yao Yin. Four at the Eight Springs, and one at the Nine Springs.
Yin Twenty-Four led them across the river valley, walking on a lawn that emitted a faint blue light. The dew on the grass soaked their shoes. In the distance, there were many low hills rising high...
In the underground space, even low hills appeared towering.
"Right now, the most important thing for you is undoubtedly to temper the meridian traces within your bodies. The Blood Tree Forest Cliff is the best place to help temper the red meridian traces. You two at the Seven Springs will stay here!"
It was clear that Yin Twenty-Four had already assessed their cultivation levels when they boarded the ship. She pointed at Yao Yin and Li Weiyi. Li Qing showed a look of surprise as he glanced at Li Weiyi.
He had personally witnessed the battle by the Sui River and had always thought Li Weiyi was at the Eight Springs level. He couldn't imagine how a Seven Springs mortal could achieve such terrifying feats.
He secretly suspected that an expert from the Earth Wolf King Army had sealed Li Weiyi's Eighth Spring to enhance his survival chances within the Hidden Sect. But it didn't matter. There was no difference between Seven Springs and Eight Springs.
He would find an opportunity to eliminate him. Yao Yin frowned, "Can I refuse to live in the same place as him?"
"You can. Then you can live with those at the Eight Springs and Nine Springs," Yin Twenty-Four replied.
"Forget it!"
Yao Yin chose to compromise. The one-month protection period against infighting was almost over. Who knew what the rules would be after that?
Li Weiyi asked, "Is there a place that can help temper the golden meridian traces?" Yao Yin looked at Li Weiyi as if he were a fool and walked into the Blood Tree Forest first.
Yin Twenty-Four, who had been expressionless all along, rolled her eyes and said, "You'll have to reach the Nine Springs first," before leading the remaining five to the Silver Beach River Valley, where they could temper their silver meridian traces. Li Weiyi felt that he had asked sincerely, so why did he get so many eye rolls?
He needed to temper his golden meridian traces. Otherwise, what advantage would he have when facing martial practitioners with fully silver meridians? Someone like Cang Li, the top talent of the younger generation in Li Prefecture, was almost certainly fully silver.
Sighing, he entered the Blood Tree Forest. It was a small forest, only slightly taller than a person, but it was clearly an abnormal plant. The leaves emitted a faint blood-red glow, and the trunks and branches were as hard as wrought iron.
The cave dwellings were carved into the cliff deep within the Blood Tree Forest. There were five entrances, each equipped with stone doors and array inscriptions. Yao Yin stood outside one of the cave dwellings, eyeing him like a thief.
Li Weiyi, of course, wouldn't invite trouble and deliberately chose the dwelling farthest from her. As soon as he closed the stone door, the ten array inscriptions on the door lit up automatically. After tidying up the cave dwelling, Li Weiyi entered the blood mud space of the Buddha's relic: "Coffin Master, I've entered the Hidden Sect."
He then explained everything that had happened. After listening, the Spirit Tablet Master spoke first: "It's clear that Coffin Mountain and the Earth Wolf King Army have joined forces. There's also a traitor among the Nine Li Tribe's higher-ups.
Most likely, other forces are involved as well. What they fear the most is undoubtedly the Nine Li Hidden Sect, so they want to assess the sect's strength before making a move." Li Weiyi said, "I think the Nine Li Hidden Sect's strength is beyond imagination.
If Coffin Mountain and the Earth Wolf King Army misjudge, they're in for a big surprise. But the key is that Li Qing must not leak the information, or they'll be prepared. I've heard that even the Dragon Gate, one of the Ten Thousand Gates, is involved.
This is no small matter."
"Then eliminate him," the Coffin Master's voice rang out.
Li Weiyi asked, "Should we proceed with the initial plan and go directly to the Hidden Lord?" The initial plan, of course, was to use the Coffin Master's identity to gain the absolute trust of the Nine Li Hidden Sect.
Then, with the identity of a bug controller who commanded seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors, he would directly become the Hidden Person of this era. Li Weiyi wasn't in such a hurry because he wanted to complete the mission within a month and claim the reward prepared by Shi Liuyu.
Rather, this was the simplest and most direct way to use the Hidden Sect to eliminate Li Qing and expose the traitor. After a long moment of contemplation, the Coffin Master said, "Weiyi, do you have confidence in yourself? I mean, relying on your own strength to compete for the position of Hidden Person."
Li Weiyi smiled, "To be honest, after hearing Yin Twenty-Four's explanation earlier, I really wanted to give it a shot and push myself."
"The letter is ready. It contains the aura of both me and the Nine Emperor Banners, and the handwriting is mine, with the leader's secret mark! You decide whether to hand it over to the Hidden Sect now."
The coffin lid opened slightly, and a letter was handed out. Li Weiyi had already sent paper and pen into the coffin earlier. After taking the letter, Li Weiyi asked, "What is the Coffin Master worried about?"
The Coffin Master said, "The grade of the Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors far exceeds my expectations. I'm worried that revealing them too early could cause problems. If they were just seven Marquis-level moths, you could reveal them freely, and the Hidden Sect would openly declare you the Hidden Person of this generation without any issues."
"But these are seven Emperor-level moths!"
The voice of the Jar Master came from underground: "Not just them, even at my peak, I would be tempted to kill and seize them. No... not just kill, but massacre a city, unleash a bloodbath, all without hesitation." The Jar Master's ashes had long been buried in the blood mud.
The Coffin Master added, "But don't be too afraid. After all, you have my letter. In the letter, I stated that I would return in ten years, and you are my successor.
That alone should be enough to intimidate them. The risk isn't actually that high." Li Weiyi pondered carefully, "How about this: I'll try to push myself first.
If I truly face a life-threatening situation, this letter can serve as my lifeline."
"Burial Immortal Town has undergone a major change, and there's an incredible opportunity there. It should keep Coffin Mountain and the Earth Wolf King Army occupied for a few months, so there shouldn't be any major issues. The Hidden Sect's information hasn't leaked, so they won't dare act rashly."
"Four months. If I can't become the Hidden Person within four months, we'll go with the initial plan."
The Jar Master underground asked, "So urgent? Why four months?" Li Weiyi smiled bitterly, "Because Shi Liuyu planted a Six Desires Talisman on me.
If I don't see him within four months, I'm... done for!"
"Let me see," the Spirit Tablet Master said.
Li Weiyi walked to the spirit tablet and pulled open his collar, revealing his muscular chest. A strand of spiritual light emanated from the spirit tablet, forming a glowing hand that pressed against his chest. Since arriving at Shaoyang Star and absorbing its energy, the Spirit Tablet Master's remnant soul had grown noticeably stronger.
"Whoosh! Whoosh..."
The glowing hand tapped seven times in quick succession. A complex green talisman appeared in the center of Li Weiyi's chest. The Spirit Tablet Master withdrew her hand, "It really is the Six Desires Talisman.
This is troublesome!"
"Can it be removed?"
Li Weiyi asked.
"It can."
The Spirit Tablet Master said, "But... while the talisman's pattern is the same for all Six Desires Talismans, the stroke order is different. Only by finding the correct order can it be removed." Li Weiyi smiled bitterly.
He knew he would have to find Shi Liuyu after all. There were too many strokes, and the possible combinations numbered in the tens of thousands.
"We can try one by one. With my expertise in talismans, it should take no more than a hundred attempts to figure it out," the Spirit Tablet Master said.
Before Li Weiyi could feel relieved, she added, "But you'll need to have two or three close female companions by your side, because each failed attempt will result in severe backlash from the talisman."
"Forget it. I'll just find Shi Liuyu. That seems more reliable."
Li Weiyi decisively refused. He didn't want to end up like Shi Liuyu, emaciated from the backlash. As long as he became the Hidden Person, he could use the Hidden Sect's power to capture Shi Liuyu and force him to comply.
Besides, where would he find two or three close female companions? He didn't even have one right now. Even if he did, it would be strange if they were willing. ...
Exiting the blood mud space, Li Weiyi carefully wrapped the letter in oiled paper and hid it close to his body. To become the Hidden Person within four months, he would have to reach the Ninth Spring and defeat the three figures on the mental power mural.
As for comprehending the battle intent of the Nine Li God, that was too vague, and he didn't consider it. At least not before becoming the Hidden Person. He couldn't afford to waste that time.
"My biggest advantage right now is that I don't need to spend a lot of time tempering my meridian traces. My breakthroughs will definitely be faster than other Seven Springs martial practitioners."
"Moreover, the spiritual energy here is dense, comparable to a Dao Domain."
"I also need to practice a few more moves from the Twelve Loose Hands of the Chan Sect. The third move will be the Heaven-Overturning Hand Seal!"
In the insect jar, the seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors were causing trouble again. Li Weiyi had no choice but to let them out and cut a pound of Cistanche to feed them. Although they despised this ordinary medicinal herb, the starving moth emperors quickly pounced on it and began devouring it.
"The Hidden Sect must have many precious herbs. This place is clearly rich in resources."
Li Weiyi's eyes lit up. After opening the array, he rushed out of the cave dwelling. Just as he stepped out of the Blood Tree Forest, he saw Yin Twenty-Four returning from the Silver Beach River Valley.
Li Weiyi quickly approached her, carefully considering his words. She was younger than him, so he couldn't call her "sister," could he?
"Miss Twenty-Four, do you have any precious herbs? I... seem to be hungry!"
Li Weiyi said.
"Trying to get close won't work. Just call me Yin Twenty-Four."
Yin Twenty-Four stood with her back to the Blood River. Though only sixteen, she had a heroic bearing and spoke sternly, "Precious herbs aren't that abundant. If you're hungry, you can go to the medicinal kitchen near the mental power stone wall.
They provide beast blood medicinal meals every day. These meals can temper your body and make you stronger, but most of the ingredients are ordinary and old herbs. Each pot only has one or two precious herbs."
Li Weiyi was slightly disappointed but then asked, "I'm a bug controller. Can I bring my insects to eat the medicinal meals?"
"You're a bug controller?"
Yin Twenty-Four looked at him with newfound respect, "It's rare to find someone who practices both martial arts and mental power. What level is your mental power at?"
"I'm still nurturing a small flame, but I should reach the level of a small blaze soon," Li Weiyi said.
Yin Twenty-Four felt like she had been tricked. She had been somewhat hopeful, thinking Li Weiyi had the potential to become Yin Twenty-Six. After all, this place was called the Nine Li Insect Valley, and bug controllers had a natural advantage.
But his mental power was so weak. Or rather, it was practically nonexistent.
"You can bring your insects to eat the medicinal meals."
Yin Twenty-Four was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something and stopped, "If you want precious herbs, try to pass the first trial in a month. You'll have a chance to gather some during the trial. Those who pass will also receive precious herb medicinal meals as a reward."
"Why is she rolling her eyes at me again?"
Li Weiyi felt that he had been very sincere, polite, and humble. But the thought of being able to bring his seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors for a free meal made all his unhappiness vanish.
"Hmm... I should also focus on cultivating my mental power and reach the small blaze level as soon as possible. Otherwise, it'll be hard to command those seven little ones. Besides, the underground is the domain of insects. The stronger my mental power, the greater my advantage."
Li Weiyi clenched his fingers, excitedly returned to his cave dwelling, grabbed his insect jar, and headed straight for the medicinal kitchen. ... A month passed in the blink of an eye. Peaceful, serene, carefree, like a paradise—that was Li Weiyi's assessment of his first month in the Hidden Sect.
He sat cross-legged in the Blood Tree Forest, secretly using the spatial power of the Buddha's relic to continuously draw the blood-red light from the leaves into his brow. Ten days ago, he had broken through. The small flame in his spiritual sea had grown into a blazing fire.
After his mental power breakthrough, his control over the spatial power of the Buddha's relic had strengthened. He could now control it finely within a three-zhang radius. Thus, he dared to boldly absorb the blood light from the Blood Tree Forest.
In just ten short days, the blazing fire in his spiritual sea had grown to the size of a ripe red date. Perhaps because he had absorbed the blood light, his blazing fire had a reddish hue.
Noticing Yao Yin leaving her cave dwelling, Li Weiyi immediately stopped activating the Buddha's relic, tucked the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish into his collar, straightened his robes, and quickly left the Blood Tree Forest. At first, he hadn't left so quickly but had remained seated in the dense forest... This had led to some misunderstandings.
"It's him again!"
Yao Yin was exasperated. That guy was always lurking in the Blood Tree Forest, sneaking around. Who knew what he was up to?
Before, he would at least pretend to sit cross-legged and cultivate his mental power. Now, as soon as she stepped out of her cave dwelling, he would hurriedly leave. Of course, from Li Weiyi's perspective, he didn't feel the slightest bit sneaky or hurried.
He always left calmly and composedly.
"No, I must break through to the Eight Springs as soon as possible. I can't stay alone with him in the Blood Tree Forest Cliff. The one-month protection period is almost over. What if he's planning something..."
Yao Yin knew Li Weiyi was strange. Despite being at the Seven Springs, his strength was incredibly formidable. Most importantly, he had already set his sights on her.
During this time, Yao Yin had dressed more conservatively, even wearing a veil and keeping to herself as much as possible. Li Weiyi arrived at the medicinal kitchen before Yao Yin. Yao Yin chose a seat as far from Li Weiyi as possible.
Her gaze was not only cold but also filled with disdain, as if being under the same roof as Li Weiyi made her skin crawl. The other youths from their batch arrived one after another. They rarely gathered like this.
The first trial was about to begin, and for many, this meal would be their last. ...
8,000 words.
Continuing to ask for monthly votes.
(End of Chapter)