The First Rank Is Announced, Ten from the Southern Territory

The next morning.

A message quickly spread, igniting the emotions of all the young martial artists in Qiuzhou City, and they flocked to Peach Plum Mountain in the city center like a tidal wave.

Yin Thirteen walked briskly through Qin Garden and arrived at the small residence where Li Weiyi lived. He saw Hidden Twenty-Four meditating in the courtyard. He was slightly surprised, but then understood.

"What's wrong?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yin Thirteen said, "The results for the top-ranked candidates have been released!"

"What's the meaning?"

Yin Thirteen said, "The Du'e Temple has posted the list of the first batch of martial artists who received invitations on the stone wall at the foot of Peach Plum Mountain, with ten people from each of the four directions: east, south, west, and north. Now, all the martial artists in the city are discussing it intensely, and everyone calls these forty people the top rank of all martial artists in the world."

Li Weiyi considered for a moment and said, "Du'e Temple is doing this on purpose. They are releasing the lists of those who have received invitations in batches to stir up emotions and provoke those who haven't received invitations yet."

Yin Thirteen laughed heartily, "You guessed right again! I went to the foot of Peach Plum Mountain to check, and the martial artists who didn't receive invitations were indeed all quite agitated. Some even went directly to challenge those who did receive invitations!"

"This isn't just an invitation; it's a matter of face. Who wouldn't want to be in the top tier? There will definitely be plenty of people who are dissatisfied," Li Weiyi said.

Yin Thirteen said, "What's even more interesting is that some of the martial artists who made it to the top rank declared on the spot that the Heavenly Pavilion would hold a banquet to celebrate tonight."

"The purpose of this banquet is probably not just to celebrate, but to prepare for alliances and to win over as many allies as possible in preparation for the fierce competition after the year ends. At the same time, it is also to create influence, build momentum for themselves, and gather more martial artists under their command to collect more power," Li Weiyi said.

Yin Thirteen nodded, his face full of worry. "The south side of the city is now known as the Hell Arena, where the competition is the most intense among the four cities."

"Oh?"

Li Weiyi, who was interested in participating in the Qianlong Lantern Festival, was naturally curious and asked, "Who are the people in the top rank in the south of the city?"

Yin Thirteen said, "The top scholar in the South City is Cangli, which is not surprising to most people."

"The following are, in order: Hua Yuzi, Zuoqiu Ting, Jiang Ning, Qi Jin, Heartless Golden Ape, Zuoqiu Lancheng, Kudi, Zuoqiu Qingyin, Li Shentong."

"Although there were ten people in the first rank, and no one was deliberately ranked, it was obvious to everyone that the Du'e Temple had the signs hung up according to the order of strength."

Li Weiyi frowned slightly. "Hua Yuzi and Qi Jin, who are under the Young Venerable's command, were actually assigned to the South City. Why was Jiang Ning also assigned to the South City?"

Yin Thirteen smiled and said, "The Jiang family is located in Fuzhou, which is one of the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory. However, Fuzhou is the core prefecture of the Imperial Court, so it is easily overlooked."

Li Weiyi said, "The three members of Zuoqiu Courtyard are ranked in the top tier. Their strength is indeed formidable. No wonder Zuoqiu Ting dared to wage war against the Young Venerable."

"Zuoqiu Lancheng and Zuoqiu Qingyin are the second and third inheritors, respectively. All three inheritors are at the Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver; this is the foundation of the Zuoqiu Courtyard's strength."

Yin Thirteen continued, "Although Cangli and Hua Yuzi are ranked ahead of Zuoqiu Ting, the three of them have never fought a decisive battle, so it's hard to say who is stronger."

"If it weren't for the appearance of the Young Venerable and his group, the Zuoqiu Courtyard would definitely have been able to control the situation and demonstrate their strength and resources."

Li Weiyi asked, "Where are the Phoenix-born Unicorn-young classified?"

Yin Thirteen shook his head and said, "There are forty men in the first rank, and his name is not among them."

"Could it be that his cultivation has already reached the Dao Seed stage, and he has been excluded?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yin Thirteen said, "This is probably the result that all young martial artists most want to see, but it's likely not that simple."

Li Weiyi smiled bitterly, "You're right, South City really is a hellish arena. Of the Coffin Mountain Four Truths, only one made the list. Tianya Ridge has countless Demon Race experts, yet only the Heartless Golden Ape made the list. Yang Qingxi and Chen Wenwu, despite their great reputation in Lizhou, are also temporarily absent from the list. And who is Li Shentong?"

"This is probably the question that all the young martial artists in the Seven Prefectures of the Southern Territory are asking right now."

Yin Thirteen said, "This Li Shentong seems to have appeared out of thin air. I had never heard of him before. Judging from his surname, he should be from Li City of Zhizhou. He is most likely a hidden master being cultivated in secret. After all, Licheng has produced a remarkable figure who is now very ambitious, and even the Zuoqiu Courtyard is finding it difficult to control him."

Li Weiyi said, "It's understandable that the top talents of the Southern Territory might fail to make the top 10, since almost all of them have Pure Immortal Body with Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver physique. But it would be truly shameful if someone didn't even make the top 2."

Heroes and beauties, a riot of color.

Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver, leading the way in style.

Li Weiyi was somewhat interested in the hustle and bustle outside, but he had no intention of leaving Qin Garden for the time being. In Qiuzhou City now, there were countless young masters, and going out would only result in being frustrated.

For the next two days, he secluded himself in his small retreat to nourish his lungs.

Late on the third night, after nourishing his lungs, he took two Crimson Haze Exotic Medicine and successfully broke through to the third Qi Sea.

By the morning of the fourth day, the Qi Sea had been fully expanded, and all the meridians had been established.

"The third Qi Sea, about 380 square meters, is still inferior to other people's main Qi Sea."

"The quality of my magical energy has improved, but it's still far from the fourth rank. I need to continue refining it."

Li Weiyi took out two pill bottles.

One of them was Qi Ascension Pill refined by Zen Sea Observing Mist, and there were several hundred of them, which were definitely enough for the Qi-accumulation of the third stage of the Five Seas Realm.

One of them was Qi Augmentation Pill brought back by Yin Thirteen, and there were as many as a hundred of them.

He took out a Qi Ascension Pill and swallowed it.

The pill entered his stomach and exploded like a cloud, enveloping his entire body in a cloud of magical energy.

It was fully absorbed after one hour.

"Upon reaching the third stage of the Five Seas Realm, the absorption speed has indeed increased; it only takes an hour to refine one."

"With only twenty days left until New Year's Eve, even if I refine pills for twelve hours straight every day without sleep, I still won't be able to complete the cultivation of the Third Sea."

Li Weiyi is not worried about the strength of his lungs now. With the nourishment of the Immortal Soil, as long as his Qi Sea cultivation is perfected, he can directly break through to the Fourth Sea.

Once the main sea is opened up, things will be completely different.

According to the pattern, the Fourth Sea of a martial arts cultivator is ten times larger than the first three seas combined, which is several thousand cubic meters!

"Yin Thirteen once said that there is a shortcut to the Fourth Sea. My current Third Sea should be comparable to the main sea of those Seven Springs martial artists. What exactly is this shortcut?"

Li Weiyi pushed open the door and took a breath of the cold air outside. He glanced at the "Snow Maiden" sitting cross-legged on the coffin lid, meditating. He sighed inwardly, thinking that everyone was working so hard for cultivation, and that effort was really nothing compared to what he had done.

Yin Thirteen has left and returned to the Imperial Court's camp; he is now in charge of Qin Garden.

The chores and household matters were entrusted to Hidden Twenty-Five.

Dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, Hidden Twenty-Five braved the wind and snow to arrive. Standing outside the courtyard gate, he announced, "Hidden Person, Yin Ten has sent someone to request an audience. They wish to speak with you privately."

Li Weiyi, who was pondering how to contact her superiors and find a shortcut, was overjoyed. She quickly went downstairs, stepped out into the courtyard, and asked, "Where is he?"

"Back door."

Hidden Twenty-Five followed closely behind Li Weiyi. After a moment's hesitation, he mustered his courage and asked, "May Hidden Person ask, Hidden Twenty-Four, what price did you pay to gain the qualification to observe that Silver Giant's corpse? What she can give, I may not be able to give, but a woman with Pure Immortal Body... I can seek her out..."

Li Weiyi interrupted him, "Don't make wild guesses, okay? What kind of person do you take me for? If she hears you saying that, she'll kill you. If you want to gain insight, go do it yourself. I'm not stopping you."

Hidden Twenty-Five was taken aback, then quickly knelt on one knee and bowed solemnly. "Thank you Hidden Person."

The back gate of Qin Garden is located in a narrow alley, about ten feet wide.

A very simple and unassuming carriage was parked on the snow.

Yin Shi's maid, who was leaning against the carriage, immediately rose and stepped forward to greet him upon hearing the noise from behind the door. She bowed and said, "Young Master Chi, my master says that a distinguished guest is waiting for you at the Heavenly Pavilion."

Li Weiyi had seen this maid in Giant Marsh City; she was probably a confidante of Yin Shi.

"Distinguished guest... what time?"

Li Weiyi immediately thought of Zuoqiu Ting.

If they are members of the Hidden Gate, they can simply meet at Qin Garden; why bother going to the Heavenly Pavilion?

"That distinguished guest is pressed for time and needs to leave now. I'll drive you there!"

The maid, with her delicate hands and subtle fragrance, opened the car door for him.

Inside the vehicle, there was a long, rectangular wooden box covered with runes; its contents were unknown.

After Li Weiyi sat down...

She cracked her whip and drove the carriage out of the alley.

"What's inside this box?" Li Weiyi asked curiously.

The maid said, "Some magical artifacts and clothing that can conceal one's identity."

Li Weiyi said, "I would like to see your master to discuss something very important."

"What is it? Just tell me, and I will convey it for you. I am the master's most trusted person," the maid said.

Li Weiyi asked, "Could you ask a martial artist in the Fourth Realm of the Five Seas what the shortcut to cultivating the Main Sea Realm is?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in the maid's eyes, but she smiled and said, "I can answer that question for you. Accumulating Qi is an extremely time-consuming process, especially for those cultivating in the Main Sea. Even with the assistance of Dao Domains and elixirs, it often takes several years, even more than ten years, to achieve the desired result."

"Therefore, major powers will spare no expense to cultivate any genius who has the hope of breaking through to the Longevity Realm, helping them shorten their cultivation time in the Five Seas Realm so that they can compete for the Dao Seed Realm with a younger body. For example, they may bestow upon them a Dao Lotus or Dao Fruit."

"A single Daoist lotus can enhance the vitality of all directions."

"One Dao Fruit increases one's Qi by tens of thousands of units."

Li Weiyi quickly asked, "What are Dao Lotus and Dao Fruit?"

"That's the foundation for Dao Seed Realm Martial Cultivator!"

The maid smiled. "Now you understand the value of this shortcut, don't you? It can only be obtained when Dao Seed Realm senior in the clan passes away, or when a powerful Dao Seed Realm enemy is slain. Only the most Exceptional Talent person in the clan is qualified to enjoy it."

"Bang!"

The sound of runes shattering and a wooden crate being opened came from inside the vehicle.

A flicker of panic crossed the maid's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, smiled slightly, and muttered to herself, "To be seen through so quickly... does she really need a bone-changing transformation?"

Li Weiyi stroked his chin, looking down at the maid who was curled up unconscious in the box, looking exactly like the woman outside. "You've disguised yourself very well, far more so than when you transformed into Long Ting. That effeminate aura... just thinking about it gives me the creeps. Can you please stop disguising yourself as a woman? Don't you have any idea how dangerous that is? As the first successor of the prestigious Zuoqiu Courtyard, aren't you afraid that if word gets out, it will damage your reputation?"

The maidservant driving the carriage chuckled sweetly, "Don't sound so dismissive. If I had learned the <Bone Shifting God Changing Chapter>, I guarantee I could deceive everyone and extract even more useful information today."

"No, no, change your voice first!"

Li Weiyi frowned, rubbed his temples, stepped out of the carriage, snatched the whip from the maid's hand, and nudged her with his elbow. "Hurry up and go inside and change back, I'll drive. The way you look... good heavens, I really can't imagine it, it gives me a headache. I put a set of my clothes inside, hurry up and go change."

"Change it on the street?"

Zuoqiu Ting, who was dressed as a maid, was taken aback and thought Li Weiyi was joking.

Li Weiyi said, "The curtain is drawn, who's going to see you?"

Zuoqiu Ting his head. "No! You'll have to bear with it yourself; you don't get many chances to see me transform into a woman."

Li Weiyi had no choice but to suppress his disgust, given the other man's cultivation level and status.

As he breathed, he inadvertently caught a whiff of her fragrance, and ultimately found it hard to accept. "Why don't we go back to Qin Garden? Since you've already found us, it'll be quieter there to practice magic, and we won't have to worry about being disturbed."

Li Weiyi naturally couldn't possibly believe that Zuoqiu Ting's true form was a woman. After all, he was a renowned master, and everyone knew he was a man, just as no one would believe that Cangli was a woman.

"I learn very quickly, no rush. Today we'll take you to the Heavenly Pavilion for a free banquet, there'll be a good show." Zuoqiu Ting next to him, leaning against the car door, her arms crossed over her chest, her legs and skirt dangling down below the car.

I finally made up for the 7,000 words I wrote today!