Lack of Money

The cabin was dimly lit, its doors and windows tightly shut.

Li Weiyi poured all the coins he had onto the table, including those he'd looted from Xing Wanxing, Fang Tong, and Yan Qingqing. They clattered into a small pile, and he carefully counted them twice.

"Eighty-two Spring Coins, one hundred and eighty-seven silver coins, and eighty copper coins."

One Spring Coin = one hundred silver coins = ten thousand copper coins.

Li Weiyi already had some understanding of the purchasing power in this world. For instance, the boat fare for one person from Yao Pass to Jiu Li City, a nine-to-ten-day journey, was eight silver coins. Zhao Meng was an exception, costing sixty-four silver coins.

Shipping the Stone Coffin incurred an additional sixteen silver coins.

Daily meals were also a significant expense. Fortunately, when Zhao Meng left the Bronze Ship, he had packed many bottles and jars of Golden Crow Blood and Black Flood Dragon Blood for consumption. Otherwise, he alone could have consumed the food for dozens of people.

However, Li Weiyi was also consuming the Golden Crow Blood and Black Flood Dragon Blood, so they would undoubtedly be depleted soon.

Li Weiyi had asked Zhao Zhizhuo about the price of houses in Jiu Li City and was shocked. Even a small courtyard on the outskirts, capable of housing five to six people, in a good location near the main city, cost tens of thousands of silver coins.

Properties in worse locations, further away, still cost nearly ten thousand silver coins.

At best, all the money he had now would only be enough to buy such a small residence.

He didn't even dare to dream of larger ones, especially those within the city proper.

Of course, he also had several Magic Tools and the Otherworldly Coffin he'd acquired, which could be sold for a considerable price.

This was the confidence that allowed him to consider settling in Jiu Li City for the time being!

"Selling the Otherworldly Coffin privately carries risks, so I need to wait. I could sell a Magic Tool first, but would I, an outsider cultivator from the Spring Realm with no background, attract too much attention and get into trouble?" Li Weiyi muttered to himself.

The Lingering Corpse in the Stone Coffin said, "You could ask Li Ling. She's a Netherlight Guide Envoy and the granddaughter of the Cangli Tribe Leader."

Li Weiyi had already explained all the preceding events and the context in detail to everyone, which naturally elicited a wave of laughter and amusement.

Everyone unanimously agreed that there was only one unreasonable aspect.

That was, why would Li Ling approach him?

So many Magic Tools couldn't move her heart; what else could she want?

The Senior Spirit Tablet told Li Weiyi that since Li Ling was a Netherlight Guide Envoy, she might have activated "Perceptive Enlightenment." Activating "Perceptive Enlightenment" meant she had won the competition among the Guide Envoys and become the successor to the priest.

Netherlight Guide Envoys could predict the general fortune of an event and find the correct path in the Departed Spirit Mist Domain. However, Netherlight Guide Envoys who had activated "Perceptive Enlightenment" possessed an additional special ability: once they genuinely fell in love with a man, they could find him, regardless of the distance, through their perception.

The Senior Spirit Tablet believed this was the only plausible explanation; otherwise, Li Ling's actions were too strange.

Li Weiyi had never dared to be narcissistic or arrogant, and he didn't believe he possessed such charm. But what troubled him was that Li Ling wasn't releasing any malice or making any overt moves; instead, she was becoming increasingly sincere.

He just wanted to draw a clear line between them as soon as possible...

Asking her to help sell a Magic Tool would only create another bond?

"Clang clang!"

A sound like camel bells rang in Li Weiyi's mind.

Immediately, a flood of chaotic thoughts and negative emotions surged, as if seeking to devour him. He quickly performed the Jade Void Breathing Technique, and it took him fifteen minutes for his thoughts to calm down and the bell sound in his mind to dissipate.

Ever since he had shaken the Evil Camel Bell at the Blood Sea Coffin Dock, summoning a giant camel bell and killing Fang Tong, the bell sound had appeared in his mind from time to time, as if some connection had been established.

"It rang again?" the Lingering Corpse in the Stone Coffin asked.

Li Weiyi nodded. "It's happening more frequently, and the impact is greater... Is there really no way to solve this?"

The Lingering Corpse in the Stone Coffin said, "Yu Tuo Nan is no ordinary figure. Back in the Carefree Capital of the Demonic Kingdom, only Yu Baxian could suppress him. The Evil Camel Bell is also immensely powerful; it once caused a living realm to fall into turmoil, leading to immense bloodshed. To put it simply, all the Magic Tools you possess combined are not half as significant as the Evil Camel Bell."

"For you, if used well, the Evil Camel Bell will be a powerful trump card. Right now, you can only summon a camel about three to four meters tall. In the future, it might become a camel train, and the camels might even transform into Dragon-Headed Tors."

"But if you can't control it and are influenced by its malice, affecting your mind and spirit, the consequences will be dire. You might fall into the Demonic Dao."

"It likely recognized you as its master when you used your mana to shake it. However, such powerful demonic artifacts often devour their masters. As it continuously absorbs the malice of heaven and earth, its soul energy will recover rapidly and grow stronger. You must become stronger than it to avoid being controlled by it."

"If you could invite a Mind Master at the priest level from the Jiu Li Tribe, they could, at this stage, obliterate its soul energy and remove the hidden danger. Once it grows strong enough, eradicating it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven."

It was clearly too late to discard it now.

The Senior Spirit Tablet said, "Your breathing technique is very potent, but it's only a direct resistance. You need to cultivate Spiritual Light as soon as possible. Spiritual Light can suppress the soul of a Magic Tool. Once you have that, you'll be able to control it, instead of it constantly affecting you."

"Additionally, activating the central core of the Fifth Spring in your back will give warriors a certain ability to resist and tame soul thoughts," the Lingering Corpse in the Stone Coffin added.

Master Urn, the Senior Spirit Tablet, and the Coffin Senior were clearly much weaker than Zen Sea Observing Mist and Yu Tuo Nan. After all, the latter two could already manifest their forms and move freely.

"Knock knock."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Brother Xie, Fourth Miss has woken up," Zhao Zhizhuo's voice called from outside.

After putting all his coins away, Li Weiyi opened the door and smiled, "Old Zhao, please don't call me Brother Xie anymore. We're all friends now, there's no need to hide anything. My real name is Li Weiyi. You can call me Weiyi, or Brother Li."

Li Weiyi's hearing was incredibly sharp, and he had long been aware of Li Ling's subtle actions.

He had a good impression of Zhao Zhizhuo, who, out of gratitude, was willing to conceal things from the Young Tribe Leader and Li Ling and hadn't revealed the matter of the Magic Tools. In this world, being able to distinguish between kindness and enmity was already extremely rare.

Zhao Zhizhuo naturally feigned surprise and made a few playful remarks before saying, "Alright, I'll call you Brother Li. But you shouldn't call me Old Zhao anymore, just Zhao. Haha!"

His approval of Li Weiyi deepened in his heart.

He could understand Li Weiyi hiding his true name; after all, one had to be extremely cautious when one's cultivation was low. If Li Weiyi had become arrogant and self-important after helping the Cangli Tribe, thinking himself a great figure, Zhao Zhizhuo would have quickly repaid the favor and distanced himself.

The two walked along the corridor outside the cabin. Li Weiyi asked, "Old Zhao, you said before that you cultivated your Two Springs again. Does that mean if a spring eye shatters, it can be reshaped?"

The smile on Zhao Zhizhuo's face faded, and he said bitterly, "Reshaping a shattered spring is very difficult and requires immense perseverance. It's been so many years, and I've only managed to reshape two springs. Unless one can find those top-tier magic tools, their power might allow for rapid reshaping."

"But magic tools like that..."

"Let's just say, our entire Jiu Li Tribe only has one legendary, lost magic tool with that kind of ability. Otherwise, the tribe would have helped me recover my cultivation back then... Sigh..."

Zhao Zhizhuo sighed with a heavy heart. Falling from his peak to the mud, he had endured countless humiliations, mockery, and curses. His heart had been worn down to a state of peace, but today, Li Ling and Li Weiyi had stirred up those painful memories.

He too had once been infinitely glorious, once adored by thousands.

Not wanting to discuss it further, he said, "We're here!"

Li Weiyi secretly pondered. Once he opened the Fifth Spring's core or cultivated Spiritual Light and could control the Evil Camel Bell, should he try to help Zhao Zhizhuo?

This thought flashed through his mind and was gone.

Exposing a magic tool of this level was no small matter; he had to think it through carefully.

Li Ling was a Half-Immortal Body, her skin as delicate and fair as jade wax. Her long black hair cascaded down beside her cheeks. Bathed in the setting sun outside the door, her facial features were distinct, her profile incredibly perfect.

"Didn't you always want to draw a line between us? Why save me? Doesn't that blur the lines again?" she asked.

Li Weiyi found a stool and sat down. "I think anyone would have saved someone in that situation. It was just a casual act."

Li Ling said, "Is that so? I remember when I was seriously injured and lost consciousness, Fang Tong was still alive. To save me, you had to deal with him first. That wasn't a casual act. Such great kindness and loyalty, I must repay you somehow, right?"

Li Weiyi, afraid she would say something about dedicating herself to him, especially with Zhao Zhizhuo present, quickly said, "Alright, give me the money!"

Li Ling frowned. "Are you that short on money?"

"Going to Jiu Li City, everywhere costs money. Although I have some savings, I can't just eat through them, can I? It just so happens that you want to repay me." Li Weiyi felt that no matter how much Li Ling gave him, he would deserve it.

Li Ling no longer mentioned repayment and asked, "Did Fang Tong escape?"

Li Weiyi thought for a moment. "He escaped very quickly."

"Did you take the heads of the other two?" she asked, clearly concerned about this.

"No, that would be too cruel."

Li Weiyi knew what she wanted. He took out the Snow Wolf King's tooth necklace and said, "I think this is enough as evidence!"

Li Ling reached out to take it.

Li Weiyi put it away and stared into her eyes. "I'm very short on money."

"What do you need so much money for?" Li Ling asked.

Li Weiyi said, "Buying a courtyard in Jiu Li City is a huge expense. I don't have enough money."

"With this necklace, I can apply to the tribe for a large courtyard for you," Li Ling said.

Li Weiyi shook his head. "I don't want to have too deep a connection with your Cangli Tribe or the Jiu Li Tribe. If the Earth Wolf King Army investigates, they'll find me. You must tell everyone that you obtained this wolf tooth yourself. Just give me the money!"

"Alright, I promise," Li Ling said with a radiant smile. "Your consideration is correct! Jiu Li City is indeed a money pit; no amount of money is too much to spend. Cultivating the Martial Path, breaking through one realm costs ten thousand silver."

She was about to take the wolf tooth necklace when Li Weiyi retracted his hand again. "I also need to see Cai Yutong and Qi Shanshan. They are my companions."

Li Ling's eyes narrowed slightly. "Alright, I'll arrange it."

"You should know, when I negotiate with you, I'm actually trying to trust you. This opportunity is only once!" Li Weiyi said.

Li Ling replied, "I know! If anything goes wrong, we won't even be friends in the future; we'll likely be enemies."