Gathering of the Hidden Ones

Qin Garden, located in the South City, is only two or three miles away from Immortal Forest, separated by three streets and a river. It can barely enjoy the strong magical energy emanating from the Daoist domain.

After meeting with the maidservants beside Qin Li, Li Weiyi arrived at this place.

The one who opened the door was none other than Hidden Twenty-Four, who was wearing a long veil and a bamboo hat.

After entering the park.

Li Weiyi glanced back and saw that the gate was once again covered by a layer of array Light Veil that was invisible to the naked eye.

Light Veil enveloped the entire Qin Garden; only by channeling one's magical power into one's eyes could one see the Formation Script suspended in the void.

His gaze shifted to Hidden Twenty-Four, who had removed her bamboo hat, and he exclaimed in surprise, "My goodness, you've grown so beautiful in just a few months! Transforming into Pure Immortal Body really makes a difference; you look like you stepped out of a painting. I almost don't recognize you!"

Hidden Twenty-Four, dressed in a magical Nightwalker's Robe, was tall and slender. After transforming into Pure Immortal Body, her flawless skin, bright eyes, and lustrous hair were enough to make a person look completely new.

Moreover, she was a year older than Yao Yin, and her figure was in the prime of her life.

Although she was still cold and aloof, she had completely lost the skinny look of the little girl. Her chest and hips were now full of curves, and her figure was much more graceful and slender. She was truly a graceful and elegant young woman.

She snorted softly, still rolling her eyes as she pleased, and led the way, a smirk playing on her lips as she said, "You stole so many Crimson Haze Exotic Medicine, why haven't you transformed into Pure Immortal Body yet?"

"I am Hidden Person, and transforming into Pure Immortal Body would be too high-profile and attract too much attention. Unlike some people who, for the sake of beauty, completely forget that a hermit needs to be as ordinary as possible and hide their brilliance as much as possible," Li Weiyi said, following behind her.

Hidden Twenty-Four frowned, stopped, and said, "I'm not after beauty, I'm after power. Pure Immortal Body, within the same realm, possesses combat strength far beyond that of ordinary people, and may even be able to defeat opponents across realms."

"Yeah?"

Li Weiyi laughed and said, "I am now at the Second Realm of the Five Seas Realm. We are at the same level. Why don't I, a mortal, spar with you, a Pure Immortal Body?"

"You've reached the Second Realm the Five Seas Realm?"

Hidden Twenty-Four knew that Li Weiyi's cultivation speed was extremely fast, and he also knew how amazing his talent was, but he still found it hard to believe.

"Whoosh!"

A sudden Wind Force arose in the garden.

Hidden Twenty-Four threw out his long gauze hat.

With hands forming a palm seal, she unleashed the "Heavenly Wind Palm Technique," instantly summoning winds from all directions. Her feet seemed to be moving horizontally as she struck Li Weiyi's chest with a palm. Her small, jade-white hand moved with the speed of a white lightning bolt.

Li Weiyi caught the flying long veil and bamboo hat, and calmly shifted to the side as Hidden Twenty-Four unleashed a palm strike that resembled thunder and lightning.

The speed was too fast, as if another figure had split off from within the body.

Before Hidden Twenty-Four could even see what was happening, his wrist had already been grabbed by Li Weiyi.

The energy flowing towards the palm was cut off.

A sharp pain shot through her wrist, leaving her entire arm feeling weak.

After subduing her, Li Weiyi grabbed her wrist and twisted it. Hidden Twenty-Four felt a pain in her shoulder and spun around like a top, losing control of her body and falling halfway around before her head and shoulders hit his chest.

"Your Pure Immortal Body isn't very strong. You seem to be unable to defeat mortals of the same realm. Did you undergo the wrong transformation? Did you become weaker?"

Li Weiyi jokingly twisted her wrist and pinned it to her lower back.

"Don't be so smug! At the same cultivation level, even Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver couldn't beat you, so it's normal that I can't. If you're so capable, go and fight against Yang Qingxi, Chen Wenwu, and those other top young masters... Ah..."

"Is this how you talk to the Hidden Person? Are you convinced now?"

Li Weiyi twisted her wrist and pulled her down.

Hidden Twenty-Four stood on tiptoe, chest puffed out, head thrown back in pain, his whole body trembling slightly, but he refused to beg for mercy or give in.

Hidden Twenty-Three, Hidden Twenty-Five, and Yao Yin arrived just in time to witness this scene.

The three men had different expressions.

Some were confused, some were surprised, and some understood.

Why are you bullying my sister?

Unlike the other two who were just watching the show, Yao Yin rushed over.

Li Weiyi covered Hidden Twenty-Four hat, released her wrist, and looked at Yao Yin who was walking over. "We were sparring. She lost a move and I captured her."

Yao Yin walked to Hidden Twenty-Four's side to make sure she was really alright, and then stared at Li Weiyi with a shared sense of righteous indignation, as if looking at a bully who was abusing his power.

Li Weiyi walked straight to Hidden Twenty-Five, asked if he had Silver Coin to repay the debt, took a money pouch, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"Thank goodness, you've finally shown up!"

Yin Thirteen arrived, his face pale, clearly injured. He said, "I heard that you were chased by Yuwen Chao and Huo Qiankun at the dock Giant Marsh City, and fled into Soldier Ancestor Marsh. After that, there was no news of you. Everyone thought... you had met with misfortune..."

"Ah!"

Yao Yin exclaimed in surprise.

She was unaware of this.

To be precise, none of the young hermits present were aware of this.

Yin Thirteen continued, "Yin Shi is furious. She said you were two-faced, agreeing to leave immediately but insisting on getting involved in the battle between top experts. You can't tell the difference between right and wrong. I should have knocked you out back in the Heavenly Pavilion and tied you up and taken you to the state capital."

Li Weiyi said, "Ignore her. I'm the Hidden Person without a trace. I've returned unharmed, haven't I?"

Yin Thirteen sighed, "She's doing this for your own good. Your cultivation levels are too low and your strength too weak right now. You need to grow under her protection. The higher-ups mean that you young hermits, all under twenty years old, only need to cultivate in seclusion in Qiuzhou and don't need to participate in any operations."

Li Weiyi immediately recalled what Jiang Ning had said when she left. Everyone meant well, but the underlying message was—you're too weak!

That's right, his cultivation level is still very low. Li Weiyi is self-aware and knows the huge gap between himself and young powerhouses.

But I just couldn't accept it.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yin Thirteen gave a wry smile, "It's a miracle we escaped alive. Luckily, we met Hidden Nine and Yin Shi, and we barely managed to save our lives. As for you, you've been missing for almost half a month. You weren't hiding somewhere, secretly recuperating, were you?"

"You were right!" Li Weiyi said.

Yin Thirteen was moved. "That's impressive, managing to escape from Huo Qiankun and Yuwen Chao. What about Zhuang Yue? Didn't you take him away?"

"She's not a child. She's a Pure Immortal Body expert at the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas. She left after her skin grew back! You've already entered the Imperial Court on behalf of the Hidden Gate, so I don't need to get too involved with the people in the Imperial Court. If she wants to leave, let her leave!" Li Weiyi said listlessly.

The hermits of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate do not all stay in one place, otherwise they could be easily wiped out in one fell swoop.

Yin Thirteen told Li Weiyi that Qin Garden was an estate left behind by an ancient hermit. Its Defensive Formation was powerful, and no connection with the Jiu Li Tribe could be found. For the next few months, the young hermits could simply hide here and cultivate.

"My injuries have stabilized, and I should be leaving in the next couple of days. I'll be leaving Qin Garden in your care!"

Li Weiyi asked, "Should we still return to the Imperial Court?"

Yin Thirteen nodded. "I've spent many years in the Attendant Hall and have cultivated my own team. I can't just throw them away. Besides, the Jiu Li Hidden Gate needs an eye on things in the Imperial Court. Don't worry, I risked my life for Jiang Ning, and I'll definitely have a place in the Imperial Court."

"By the way, all the hidden figures from the Five Seas Realm will be gathering at Qin Garden tonight. Hidden Nine said he has important matters to discuss."

In this sixty-year cycle, the Jiu Li Hidden Gate has selected only twenty-five hidden individuals. With the addition of Li Weiyi and Yao Yin this year, the total number is twenty-seven.

But those still alive, including Li Yao and the other two, number only twenty-one.

Among them, six have reached the Dao Seed Realm. Three of them are not from Qiuzhou.

That night.

Twelve young hermits Qin Garden.

However, after Hidden Nine and Yin Shi arrived, they announced that no one below the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas was allowed to enter and had no right to participate in the discussion. Only Li Weiyi was an exception and was allowed to go in and listen in.

"Since they've excluded us anyway, we might as well have gone somewhere else to discuss this in private," Hidden Twenty-Four complained in a low voice.

In the backyard of Qin Garden, a Magic Tool Bone Lantern is hung.

The light illuminated everything, obscuring all sound and sight.

Hidden Nine and Yin Shi sat on two chairs facing the main entrance, one on each side. Hidden Eleven's snake tail was wrapped around a beam, making his body almost invisible.

Yin Thirteen sat near the door.

Hidden Fifteen and Hidden Sixteen stood outside the courtyard, one holding a gun and the other carrying a sword. They were both in the shadows, one observing outside and the other watching inside the courtyard, both extremely vigilant.

Li Weiyi stood by the window outside, observing Hidden Fifteen and Hidden Sixteen, whom he had never seen before. The two concealed their auras extremely well, just like two ordinary people without any cultivation.

But it was precisely because of this that Li Weiyi judged that their cultivation level far surpassed that of Yin Thirteen.

The ability to perfectly conceal one's aura under his perception is a testament to one's cultivation level.

"We've been given a Jiu Li Hidden Gate: to investigate Ember Spirit, who is hiding among the young martial artists, and help Zuoqiu Courtyard eliminate as many uncertainties as possible regarding the Hidden Qianlong Lantern Festival. This matter must be done secretly, not openly, for Zuoqiu Courtyard fears it will attract criticism."

"Those Ember Spirit were attacked in the Netherworld of the Departed."

"Two months ago, turmoil broke out in Lizhou. Young martial artists from all over the world who were seeking opportunities in the Immortal Realm of Immortal Burial Town had no choice but to evacuate through the Mang Mountain Range and the Netherworld of the Departed. During this evacuation, many were ambushed, causing their Ember Spirit to don human skin or directly possess bodies and hide among various forces."

"At that time, all the young martial artists in Immortal Burial Town were registered and screened. There are still nearly a thousand suspicious individuals left, who need to be secretly investigated and eliminated."

Hidden Nine took out the list and said, "Everyone has some power at their disposal. Let's mobilize it all and find all the hidden Ember Spirit before the end of the year."

Li Weiyi asked, "Why before the end of the year? There's still half a month between the end of the year and the Lantern Festival."

Yin Shi said, "Because once the New Year arrives, this fierce competition among the younger generation will officially begin. The Lantern Festival night is just for everyone to get the final result."

The hidden figures present were all very confused.

Hidden Eleven asked, "What do you mean? The hidden dragon will be decided Lantern Festival? How will we determine who the hidden dragon is and who will receive treasures like the Longevity Pill, the Dragon Seed, and the Dragon Bone?"

There has to be some standard, right?

"For example, set up a ring and fight a real battle. It will be immediately clear who the real dragon is and who the fake dragon is."