Yin Ershi said, "The greatest value of this high-level blood-refined magical artifact lies in the strength of the blood soul within it. If the internal blood soul's combat power is only at the Third Realm of the Five Seas, then its price will be just over ten thousand Spring Surge Coins."
"You have ten thousand Spring Surge Coins?"
Li Weiyi looked her up and down, doubtful that a mere Five Seas Boundary cultivator like Yin Ershi could be wealthy to such an extent. Ten thousand Spring Surge Coins equate to one million silver coins or one hundred million copper coins. She was only sixteen years old; how could she possibly have such a substantial fortune?
Yin Ershi's face showed a hint of embarrassment. Hesitantly, she said, "At this stage, I obviously do not have that much money. But aren’t we going to gather the precious herbs in the spider cave?
Its value isn’t low; I just won’t take a pound."
"That’s still far from enough."
Li Weiyi waved her hand dismissively.
"Stop messing around! I really need money—especially for the Radiant Flame Pill."
The Radiant Flame Pill is a high-quality elixir formed from condensed spiritual flames, refined only by Spirit Sense Masters. It is a treasure that helps practitioners rapidly increase their cultivation levels. Each pill is a rare item.
Making a pill in the realm of medicinal materials is akin to a remarkable transformation.
"The noodles are ready!"
Two bowls of steaming noodle soup were brought over. Selling it was absolutely out of the question. Yin Ershi suspected that Li Weiyi didn't understand the true value of this battle treasure.
She asked, "Blood-refined magical artifacts mostly come from the Underworld, the Monster Race, or the Demon Kingdom. Such treasures shouldn’t end up in the hands of a mere Spring Surge Realm cultivator like you. Where on earth did you obtain it?"
The Three-Headed Snake Bracelet was naturally acquired from the bronze ship. The reason she brought it out to sell was because it required her own blood for the blood sacrifice to activate it. Just like Director Yang back then, who drained his entire blood supply to activate the bracelet, it left him looking like a desiccated corpse.
Such self-destructive treasures, no matter how powerful they may be, didn’t interest Li Weiyi. Li Weiyi smiled and said, "Didn’t you say that in the eyes of the Hidden Sect, I am transparent?" She wasn’t afraid of revealing some magical artifacts; after all, she was concealing an imperial sword.
At that time, she could just pin everything on her coffin master. Yin Ershi knew that Li Weiyi had already captured the attention of the Hidden Lords and Elders and she could do nothing to him. However, she still put the Three-Headed Snake Bracelet onto her wrist and began tasting the noodle soup.
It was indeed more delicious than medicinal cuisine.
"Spring Surge Coins won’t be lacking! As for the Radiant Flame Pill, how many do you need? I do have a way to help you obtain some," she said earnestly.
Li Weiyi became serious and reminded her, "This thing must use one’s own blood for a blood sacrifice to activate. I have witnessed someone die from this, their blood completely drained—it's extremely tragic." Yin Ershi clearly understood the danger of blood sacrifice artifacts.
She replied, "That just means they were too weak, their blood quality insufficient. You should know, the higher one's cultivation, the less blood is consumed for such blood-refined magical artifacts. Besides, I’m not going to treat it as a battle treasure I can use anytime.
I’d only use it in a life-or-death situation. It could very well be my second life." Seeing her insist, Li Weiyi thought that for the time being, she only needed the Radiant Flame Pill.
So, she asked, "How many Radiant Flame Pills can you get?"
"Three to five pieces should be no problem," Yin Ershi replied.
Li Weiyi looked at her in a new light.
"You’re not the illegitimate daughter of a certain priest from the Nine Li Shrine, are you?"
In Li Prefecture, when it comes to powerful Spirit Sense Masters capable of refining pills, one cannot bypass the nine priests of the Nine Li Shrine. Those nine are definitely individuals who have gone extremely far in spiritual cultivation. Radiant Flame Pills are so precious that just one can cost millions of copper coins.
Even someone of Li Ling’s status probably has never consumed one in her entire life. Eating one is equivalent to owning a mansion in the Nine Li City. Yin Ershi said nonchalantly, "Don’t underestimate me.
I’m a Six Springs-Cloud cultivator at only sixteen years old, which is a notable figure in the entire Li Prefecture. You must be twenty, right?"
"Let's eat."
After a while, Li Weiyi raised her head again and said, "Upon returning to the Hidden Sect, let the Elders appraise the combat strength of the Three-Headed Snake Blood Soul. I sense it’s not as simple as just the Third Realm of the Five Seas. The payment must be clearly calculated." ……
The two exited the city and entered the southern area of the outskirts. Li Weiyi first returned to the residence she had previously stayed at and turned around before heading to the Changlin Gang with Yin Ershi. The Changlin Gang's headquarters was a large estate spanning a hundred acres.
The walls stood over two zhang high, with dense buildings inside, rockeries, ponds, and dozens of century-old trees thriving within. Such a luxurious estate could only be afforded by top families if it were within the city limits. The two rented a room in an inn not far from the Changlin Gang, quickly changing into low-level artifact night clothes.
Li Weiyi injected his magical aura into the night clothes, and his body gradually became invisible. The grade was too low to achieve complete stealth. If it were at night, and if the speed were sufficiently fast, it could somewhat mask their presence.
But to use it for close combat against martial arts masters for assassination was merely a pipe dream. Yin Ershi stood by the window, her keen eyes not blinking as she observed various people coming and going around the Changlin Gang's headquarters.
"The size of this headquarters is far beyond the scale one would expect from an ordinary suburban gang. Even the eight gatekeepers are likely martial practitioners at the level of Fifth and Sixth Springs realms."
Li Weiyi approached the window, his tall and elegant figure contrasting with Yin Ershi, who was a head shorter. After a careful look, he felt an unusual depth emanating from the vast estate before him.
"Isn’t it too quiet for a gang headquarters?"
Li Weiyi inquired.
"It’s an array! This headquarters is enveloped in a hundred-patterned formation; what we see is not the real scene inside," Yin Ershi observed something and cast her gaze toward the wide street ahead.
A team of green-clad carts was coming slowly. With a swift motion, she grabbed Li Weiyi's arm, pulling him back two steps away from the window.
"What’s wrong?"
Li Weiyi asked. Yin Ershi’s expression grew serious.
"That cart team contains a formidable martial practitioner at the Five Seas level. Just now, he was surveying the surroundings, and his gaze was exceedingly sharp. When he was observing, the presence of his aura involuntarily leaked out; otherwise, I wouldn’t have sensed it in advance."
Li Weiyi had always thought his perception was very keen, but compared to a martial practitioner at the Five Seas level, it seemed there was still a gap. He asked, "Your perception is so incredible; have you already cultivated the intent of battle?"
"Is that surprising? I’m a genius as well, you know! Excluding the Hidden Sect, in the entire Nine Li Tribe over the past ten years, there have only been six Six Springs cultivators," Yin Ershi proudly lifted her chin. ……
Below, the green-clad cart team consisted of eight carts, each carrying four giant wooden boxes, all coming to a stop outside the impressive bronze gate of the Changlin Gang.
Around thirty to forty martial practitioners accompanying the goods, though they dressed plainly to blend in, couldn’t deceive Li Weiyi and Yin Ershi; they could tell that their cultivation levels were quite high, with many at the Seven Springs realm. However, despite all being men, there was a trace of a sinister gentleness about them.
The Deputy Leader of the Changlin Gang, Tang Yan, personally came out to greet them. Tang Yan was cautious, carefully scanning the surroundings before smiling flatteringly at the leading martial practitioner of the cart team, a formidable figure from the Five Seas realm.
"Lord Min, the journey must have been tiring. Please enter quickly. Our gang has prepared fine wines and delicacies to receive you and wash away your fatigue."
Min Jun was the leader of the cart team. Despite his high cultivation, he remained low-key, riding on just a strong horse. He appeared to be in his thirties, with a white face and no beard, his voice sharp and gentle, "Where is Yang Qingxi?
Such an important matter, and Sui Sect has left it in your hands?" Tang Yan sensed the presence and aura of superiority from Min Jun but dared not show any displeasure.
"After all, Nine Li City is dominated by the power of the Nine Li Tribe; the many eyes amongst the citizens of the city can easily detect everything. But it is different here—the entire area is under the control of the Changlin Gang, and we have our spies everywhere. No one shall know of this matter."
"In addition, the young lady is taking this matter very seriously and will return to Nine Li City later today."
"Alright, I’ll temporarily hand over the items to you. I still have to enter the city for a time and will come back here to meet Yang Qingxi in the evening."
Min Jun departed with four of his retainers, heading towards the city gate. Tang Yan watched the five retreating figures, a glint of mockery flashing in his eyes as he thought, "Another one of those pompous eunuchs. What’s the use of having high cultivation?
Ha!"
"Make sure to transport everything into the headquarters and guard it properly; there must be no losses."
Tang Yan clasped his hands behind his back and entered the main gate of the headquarters first. …… In a distant inn, Li Weiyi stared at the direction of the Changlin Gang’s main gate.
"How come there are so many eunuchs?"
"They are all from the outside, remnants of the Small Eden Order left behind," Yin Ershi replied.
Li Weiyi had heard the term "Small Eden Order" several times. It was said that the turmoil in the world stemmed from the issuance of this order by Lingxiao Palace. His curiosity piqued, he asked, "What exactly does the Small Eden Order entail?"
"It’s literally what it states."
Yin Ershi showed no intention of providing more explanation—after all, that was an old story from over a decade ago. She continued, "To get Yang Qingxi to personally rush back from the Burial Immortal Town, this batch of goods must be extraordinary."
"Then before dark, let’s take down the Changlin Gang and send Yang Qingxi a grand gift," Li Weiyi concluded.
"Swish! Swish!"
The two gathered their magical powers, activating the invisibility of their night clothes, leaping down from the inn's window and suppressing their own presence as they charged toward the Changlin Gang's main gate, closely following the last transporting cart into the estate. Tang Yan had heard a faint sound and instinctively glanced back at the cart team.
"Whoosh—" Li Weiyi acted decisively, stepping atop one cart after another, his body hidden under the night clothes, moving like a rapidly shifting translucent shadow.
When he arrived just a foot above Tang Yan, he spread his fingers wide, magical power surging within him. The magical aura coalesced into a three-foot-square divine imprint in front of his palm.
He needed to resolve Tang Yan swiftly and unexpectedly, or else, when Xu Changlin, the head of Changlin Gang, and a large number of Five Seas realm experts came to surround him, he couldn’t even think about killing; he might have to rely on Yin Ershi's power to escape. How embarrassing that would be.
Tang Yan had reached the Five Seas realm for over twenty years, his martial skills having reached their peak. Faced with this sudden strike from Li Weiyi, he reacted instantaneously and threw a punch. His fist, bright with magical aura like the stars, crushed the air with a wham.
"Boom!"
The clash of fists and palms sounded like thunder. The entire garden shook with waves of magical wind. Whether it was the eunuchs escorting the goods or the members of the Changlin Gang in the front courtyard, everyone was blown back repeatedly by this surging counterforce.
The clash at the Five Seas level was earth-shattering; the ground trembled.
(End of Chapter)