Shenji

Upon hearing Li Weiyi's affirmative answer, Zhao Tang and Yan Zhiruo exchanged glances, thinking to themselves, "No wonder he had to fake the destruction of his ancestral land and arrange a marriage alliance with the Zuoqiu Courtyard when he was at the Dao Seed Realm. It would be strange if the Jiu Li Tribe could protect a genius of this caliber."

Li Weiyi pulled out a five-foot-long arrow, about the thickness of a thumb, made of special material, weighing a thousand catties, which was an arrow of the Thousand Character Artifact level.

This single arrow is of immense value.

The feathers at the end of the arrow are peacock feathers, exuding a strong Yao Qi.

Yan Zhiruo knew how dangerous it had just been. If it had been her, she might have been blown apart by an arrow, because ordinary armor with Thousand Character Artifact weapon wouldn't have been able to stop it at all.

"The bow used for that arrow just now was definitely not low-grade. It was at least Seventh-Rank Thousand Character Artifact!" she said.

Zhao Tang asked, "The Demon Race?"

Li Weiyi gently shook his head. "I do have a mortal enemy in the Demon Race, but how could he make it so obvious? It would only make things more obvious. The Demon Kingdom is more likely to be the culprit."

Yan Zhiruo said, "The only ones in the Demon Kingdom capable of shooting this arrow are Xue Sanguan, Yu Qi, and the three Son of Heaven's Disciples. Among them, Xue Sanguan and Wenren Tinghai are the most likely!"

"Given Wenren Tinghai's cultivation and personality, it would never be as simple as just firing a sneak arrow from afar."

Li Weiyi put the dark red arrow into his magic bag.

From this moment on, Xue Sanguan was added to his kill list.

Tang Wanzhou arrived and, seeing that everyone was unharmed, made the same judgment as Zhao Tang, believing that the Taiyin Sect's move was a deliberate attempt to expose Li Weiyi's strength.

The impact of rumors and firsthand observation is different.

"Do you know why you were in such danger just now?" Tang Wanzhou asked Li Weiyi after listening to Yan Zhiruo's account.

In terms of combat experience, no one present could compare to Tang Wanzhou.

Li Weiyi said, "When surrounded by powerful enemies, one can only use up to 70% of their strength to attack, reserving 30% for contingencies. Because the opportunity was rare, I used 90% of my strength when I slashed at Huangfu Song, which gave the enemy the chance. Fortunately, I reserved 10% of my strength, which allowed me to barely turn around and dodge. If I had used 100% of my strength, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Tang Wanzhou nodded. "In the East China Sea, to assassinate Qin Zhengyang, you have to be swift and leave yourself no way out in order to succeed. But given the current situation in Chun City, whoever is hasty will make a mistake. We must slow down, especially for the two of us. You should understand what I mean, right?"

Li Weiyi looked into the distance and sensed the powerful battle fluctuations.

Two figures moved swiftly out of the city from the sky, the Longevity Scriptures flashing like stars in the sky, like two gods battling it out.

"Chu Yutian?"

In the Fanye Valley Nether Domain, Li Weiyi had sensed Chu Yutian's presence from afar.

Tang Wanzhou said, "I anticipated that the Taiyin Sect would take action after we went out of the city to meet you and Qing Ziqin, so I asked a friend to help look after the Sentinel Spirit Army's garrison."

She paused slightly when she said the word "friend," but what she really meant to say was "ally."

"Anyone who can rival Chu Yutian must be no ordinary person, right?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Wanzhou said, "The first person within a hundred years of the Du'e Temple is Shen Ji."

Li Weiyi had long heard that the Du'e Temple had two Longevity Realm experts who could compete for the true inheritance: Qi Jianru one, and Shen Ji was the stronger one.

Yao Yin has even greater talent in martial arts, but he is too young, not even twenty.

The Sentinel Spirit Army's garrison in Chun City was left behind by their predecessors. The walls are high and there are many formations set up, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

It is said that it was once a royal palace of the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin, but unfortunately it has long been destroyed. Except for the outer walls, everything else is newly built.

As Li Weiyi entered the camp, Chang Yujian was most excited and punched him in the chest.

"Hidden? You can't hide it anymore, can you? How does it feel to break through to immortality? I was just asking for nothing. For everyone in the world, breaking through to immortality is incredibly difficult for you, but you know very well that it's nothing! Haha!" Chang Yujian laughed loudly, happy for him.

Chi Haohan, with his enormous body, stood in the center of the courtyard, Fire Path, "It seems I'm the weakest one in the Lesser Yang Division! You're all hiding your talents, while I was arrogant, thinking I could at least be ranked in the upper-middle range."

Inside the formation, Tang Wanzhou finally relaxed and smiled, "Although we suffered a crushing defeat at the Burning Karma Valley, this battle has finally united us. Without such a test, we can never truly trust each other. Without trust, we are full of flaws, and the mere Taixu Race Clan almost wiped us out."

Nangong removed her mask, revealing her stunning beauty, and said in a gentle tone, "Even if Jingzhen infiltrates the Lesser Yang Division again, given our current state, he won't be able to get the news out. Any rash move will expose us."

Li Weiyi felt a strange sensation, knowing that she was saying this to someone special.

The foremost figure of the Du'e Temple, the Young Master Shenji, rode twelve rings of divine light and landed outside the Sentinel Spirit Army's encampment.

The formation is activated.

He walked in dressed in a blue Daoist robe, appearing to be very familiar with the people from the Lesser Yang Division, indicating that they often interacted.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin. He was dressed simply and had no imposing presence. His appearance could be described as handsome, but not particularly striking.

If you met him on the street, you would only think of him as an ordinary disciple of the Du'e Temple, and you would never imagine that he is the most outstanding New Generation talent of the Du'e Temple.

After entering, Young Master Shenji began discussing matters with Tang Wanzhou, focusing on the Departed Spirit Army.

"You're absolutely right. This isn't a crisis, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The Young Master Shenji possessed both the ethereal air of a recluse and a spirited, sharp edge. He continued, "Wenren Tinghai is short-sighted, losing himself early on in the vortex of power, unable to distinguish between what's important and what's not. Gu Zhenxiang would never be like that, it's a pity he went to Chunze. I'll go find Qu Yao; with her intelligence and talent, she must share our thoughts. Dao Palace... that's difficult to win over, and the Demon Race is even less of a possibility."

After the discussion, Young Master Shenji's gaze fell on Li Weiyi, his eyes filled with curiosity. After a moment of contemplation, he walked over.

"I am Shen Ji, and even from afar at the Du'e Temple, I have heard your name many times. There is no need to pay attention to the Taiyin Sect's words of flattery and harm; such petty people can only bewitch those with narrow minds. Even a small place like the Du'e Temple can accommodate martial arts talents like Yao Yin and mental power talents Zuoqiu Hongting. The world is vast enough to accommodate Gu Zhenxiang, Tang Wanzhou, and even you and me. There are mountains beyond mountains, and heavens beyond heavens; we should not compare ourselves with anyone else, but only with ourselves," he said.

Li Weiyi liked his willingness to speak his mind, and smiled, "A small Du'e Temple?"

"Small is compared to the world! However, if a disciple of the Du'e Temple says this, no one else should say it, or I will beat them. Farewell!" Young Master Shenji prepared to leave.

Li Weiyi's heart stirred, and he asked, "Young Master Shenji, are you interested in the position of the true disciple of the Du'e Temple?"

Everyone present could tell that there was a hidden meaning in his words.

The Young Master Shenji smiled and asked in return, "Are you asking this on behalf of Zuoqiu Hongting, or on behalf of Yao Yin?"

"I asked first," Li Weiyi said.

The Young Master Shenji said nonchalantly, "I'm ninety-three this year! Even if I snatched the position of true disciple from them, no one in the world would look up to me. In the Du'e Temple, I can obtain all the resources that a true disciple can get. Let them give that position to the younger generation, and the Du'e Temple will be infinitely glorious among the New Generation for the next sixty years. Does this kind of question and answer reassure you? And your answer? You'd better not answer, lest you escalate the conflicts within our Du'e Temple."

The Young Master Shenji stepped out of the formation and disappeared into the Netherworld Mist.

Li Weiyi sighed, "Those who reach the top are no ordinary people! I understand now why someone as proud and arrogant as you would call him a friend."

"You don't seem too happy?" Tang Wanzhou smiled.

Li Weiyi frankly replied, "Yes, after all, I was your only friend before."

"Friends? I'm sorry, but I'm different now. I have several new friends: Nangong, Zhao Tang, and Yan Zhiruo are all good friends. I've also inexplicably gained a few formidable enemies, such as Dao Palace Shinden."

Tang Wanzhou's smile vanished, and he walked straight into the Barracks.

Li Weiyi met the strange and curious gazes of the crowd, pointing at Chi Haohan, Chang Yujian, and Liu Ye: "What's wrong with you three? How come you're not qualified to be friends with the Holy Master?"

He quickly followed inside, releasing his magical energy to isolate himself from the outside world.

Tang Wanzhou stood by the window, looking outside, but his thoughts were inward, observing himself.

"You sparred with the Dao Palace Shinden again?" Li Weiyi asked.

"That's right! If Nangong hadn't saved me, I would have almost been beaten to death by her. You would never have dreamed that she was," Tang Wanzhou said.

Li Weiyi gave a wry smile, "I might know."

Tang Wanzhou turned his face and looked at him with a surprised expression.

After a long silence, she took out a medicine box and placed it on the table. "I've only found two five-thousand-year-old medicinal herbs so far, I owe you two."

A five-thousand-year-old refined medicine can be called a spiritual medicine, and its quality is completely different. Although it cannot directly enable the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors to break through to the next realm, it can propel them forward by a significant step, shortening the time it takes for them to break through to the Second Realm.

Li Weiyi said, "You were injured while picking them? Given our relationship, why do we have to be so calculating?"

Tang Wanzhou had no intention of answering his question. He turned and looked out the window again. After a long while, he sighed, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have acted impulsively that day. After acting impulsively, I suddenly realized that my heart had shrunk! You know, I deliberately used the word 'friend' earlier to see if you would care. Do you think this is the kind of spirit that Shaojun should have?"

Li Weiyi could sense her emotional fluctuations. He slowly stepped forward, gently hugged her from behind, and placed his hands on her slender yet resilient waist. "Are you that concerned about the title 'Young Master'?"

"If one day I stop caring, then Tang Wanzhou will be at least half dead." She added, "You know, when I was inexplicably beaten by the Dao Palace, I even felt like I was a concubine, even though she was nothing at all."

"Is it really that inexplicable?" Li Weiyi wondered, feeling that Tang Wanzhou hadn't explained everything.

He wasn't that arrogant; he knew he didn't carry that much weight, and there must be some hidden reason.

Just like the dispute between Zuoqiu Hongting and Yao Yin over the true inheritance, it actually had almost nothing to do with him; it was the situation that pushed them to that position.

Of all the women, Li Weiyi only truly felt the deep and restrained emotions between a man and a woman in Tang Wanzhou. With the others, it seemed they were still standing on the sidelines, their relationship hazy and ambiguous, each carefully maintaining a distance.

Tang Wanzhou said, "When I came of age, my mother told me that there are just as many men and women in the world, but when it comes to feelings, it's never a fair one-to-one distribution. Instead, ten men love one woman, ten women love one man, and the rest are compromises!"

She said, "You either become one of those ten women, compromise, or don't fall in love at all."

"I always chose the last option, but it's all the Six Thoughts Mind Curse's fault. I shouldn't have gone to the Underground Immortal Mansion. Okay, I've vented my emotions!"

Tang Wanzhou freed himself from Li Weiyi's arms, his previous resentment gone, replaced by seriousness and wisdom. "With the power of the Lesser Yang Star, how long will it take you to break the Soul Return Lock?"

"It will take at least one or two years," Li Weiyi said.

Tang Wanzhou said, "I've made a deal with Nangong. The people from the Ancient Years Clan should be secretly arriving in the next few days."

(Asking for monthly votes every month annoys everyone, and I find it annoying too. This month, I won't bother you all. I'll try to add more chapters and see if I can keep it up. One extra chapter for every 10,000 monthly votes!)

As everyone knows, Old Yu type very, very slowly; 6,000 words is actually my limit! So, I'll try this month, and if I can't keep it up, I won't try next month.