Gathering at the City Gate

Liu Tianchen began his narration. "The Heavenly Demon Empress is a sour spirit who cultivated to the highest level, ranking first among the twenty-eight Stored Son of Heaven in Southern Yingzhou. Furthermore, Bai Yeqing is her son, and Bai Luan, one of the Five Luan, is her husband. This demon queen is notoriously ruthless and possessive; over a decade ago, she nearly wiped out the Jiu Li Tribe. Now you should understand why your Jiu Li Tribe lineage has brought you such a deadly calamity."

"Now that the Deputy Sentinel Lord has said that, I have no choice but to go! There's another matter: Chu Yutian might not be dead. The Deputy Sentinel Lord should inform all members of the Lesser Yang Division as soon as possible," Li Weiyi said.

Li Weiyi walked down from the small building where Liu Tianchen lived and saw Nangong's graceful figure outside the courtyard gate. He walked over lightly and said, "The battle in the Sacred Hall Life Realm involves a contest between Martial Path Son of Heaven. Even for those who are transcendent, it is extremely difficult to influence the situation. All we can do is help the Great Palace Master and the Clan Chief protect the Spring of Life and the Life Spring, and grant Yu Baxian a death sentence."

Do you think I'll fall into grief and depression?

Nangong turned around, her bright eyes fixed on him. "You're going to Miao An Temple, right? I want to go too."

Li Weiyi gently shook her head. "Too dangerous. What if we were captured alive..."

"Before we go, I will set up Death Spirit Fire for myself and will definitely not hold you back. Li Weiyi, don't speak yet, I have three reasons to convince you."

Nangong said, "First, I also want to break through to the peak realm."

"Secondly, do you see the array robe I'm wearing? Recently, I and twelve other top experts have been practicing the Thirteen-Winged Bright Battle Formation. This battle array uses the Bright Spring Eye as its power source, making it incredibly powerful. I want to take this opportunity to clash with the Demon Kingdom's Futuo Battle Formation."

"Third, I must use this battle to make the Demon Kingdom believe that the Life Spring Jade Scroll is in my hands, thereby protecting the true wielder of the Life Spring Jade Scroll."

"Slap! Slap..."

Seeing how serious she was, Li Weiyi decided against offering comfort. Instead, he encouraged her in a different way, gently clapping his hands. "You know, I've been waiting for you to fight alongside me."

"Really?" Nangong asked.

Li Weiyi nodded. "Of course! To give you an example, I am not afraid at all when facing Meng Quyi. But if Meng Quyi has Qing Xiang by his side, I will definitely be defeated. And you are my Qing Xiang."

"Come on, let me borrow your Bright Spring Eye."

Before going into seclusion with Nangong, Li Weiyi first visited the Seventh Elder of the Ancient Years Clan to inquire about the situation of the Chun Silkworm.

The Ancient Years Clan's Chun Silkworm were cultivated in batches and then delivered to the Ninth Generation Longevity Person as quickly as possible. Upon learning that several mature Chun Silkworm were still frozen, four were borrowed and sent to Chang's family.

Naturally, it was sent to Zuoqiu Hongting and Yao Qingxuan.

Perhaps it was because Li Weiyi had been studying the <Bright Star Book> for many years, or perhaps it was because his left foot had connected with the dark magic power of heaven and earth first, but the cultivation of the spring in his right foot went exceptionally smoothly.

He cultivated the "Bright Realm" in just one day.

For the next day and two nights, Li Weiyi was completely immersed in cultivating the power of light, the power of darkness, the realm of light, and the Dark Realm. All visitors were refused entry.

Soon, the time agreed upon with Mo Duanfeng and Xue Ding arrived.

Early morning.

It was just past dawn, and the sky was still dark.

Li Weiyi and Nangong drove out of the Yuliu Mountain Villa, followed by the other twelve members of the Thirteen-Winged Bright Battle Formation, each riding a majestic and powerful beast, heading towards the west city gate in a grand procession.

The spies planted by various forces outside the manor sent out messages like snowflakes.

In the past two days, news that Li Weiyi and two others were going to cause trouble at Miao An Temple, allegedly orchestrated by Wenren Tinghai, has caused a great stir in the city.

Wenren Tinghai did this to put Li Weiyi, Mo Duanfeng, and Xue Ding in a position of power, so that the three of them wouldn't back down in fear.

He also wanted to use this battle to tell the Demon Kingdom's higher-ups and all martial artists in the world that he, Wenren Tinghai, could deal with Li Weiyi and the other two without Gu Zhenxiang's intervention.

Meng Qingyuan.

After reading the contents of the talisman, Meng Quyi stood under the eaves covered with icicles, gazing at the falling snowflakes, and exhaled white breath. "They actually still want to go. Is it because they know the Demon Kingdom will never kill them, so they are fearless? Or are they truly confident in themselves?"

"You want to go too?" Qing Xiang walked over gracefully.

Meng Quyi laughed and said, "The reason why the Announcement of the Results Ceremony is called a grand event, and is different from the Longevity Competition, is that it is a lively gathering of young talents vying for supremacy. Such a lively event only happens once every sixty years, and only before the results are announced."

"After New Year's Eve, everyone will leave one after another, just like the end of a grand feast, when the excitement fades away, leaving only people fighting for their own interests."

"In this sixty-year period, Li Weiyi and Mo Duanfeng stirred up one storm after another, so spirited and young, overshadowing everyone else."

"I regret that I couldn't go."

Meng Quyi knew very well that because of Ye Tianchen and Uncle Chu Fang's presence, if he went to Miao An Temple, he would inevitably become a sharp weapon for the Demon Kingdom to deal with Li Weiyi and the other two.

He didn't want to be used.

"Winning will allow you to steal the spotlight from everyone else. Losing could mean utter ruin," Qing Xiang said.

The Chang family, the Grand Minister of Works' Manor.

Chang Shu respectfully handed the talisman to Chang Yuqing, who was meditating.

"No need to look anymore, I already know."

Chang Yuqing opened her eyes, and various scenes of Carefree Capital appeared in her pupils, quickly fading away after a moment. She said, "It seems this boy is truly obsessed with being number one on the <Longevity Earth Ranking>. Why is that?"

In her view, everything Li Weiyi did was aimed at reaching the peak realm and thus gaining the qualification to challenge the Gu Zhenxiang.

"No matter what, he can't die or have his cultivation crippled before the results are announced. I'll go there myself," Chang Yuqing said.

Chang Shu exclaimed in surprise, "Auntie, isn't that unnecessary? Even if the situation gets worse, Chang Zhi can still take him away."

"You know what's going on in the Sacred Hall Life Realm, right? Even that old monster Hunwu has come here. This little pawn that Yu Yaozi placed has now become crucial. Do you think the Netherworld of the Departed and the Taiyin Sect don't know how important it is?"

"Whoosh!"

Chang Yuqing slightly raised her right arm, her jade fingers forming a hand seal, and then she vanished in a flash.

A moment later, he stood in the wind and snow outside the west city gate.

The interior of the car was covered with warm jade.

Nangong informed each of the visitors from the past two days.

"Someone from the Crown Prince's Manor has come?" Li Weiyi asked in surprise.

Nangong nodded. "The man introduced himself as Cao Bin..."

"Cao Caishen?"

Li Weiyi found it unbelievable; that person was one of the eight transcendent beings under the command of the Lingxiao Palace.

Nangong gave him a questioning look before continuing, "That person was received by the Deputy Sentinel Lord. Anyway, from what I heard, it was the Crown Princess, who was formerly the Second Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace, who wanted to see you."

Li Weiyi truly felt the enormous change in his status and position. But at the same time, he was also deeply caught in the vortex of the world's situation, becoming the most important pawn of Yu Yaozi, known throughout the world.

"Nangong, the members of your Thirteen-Winged Bright Battle Formation must all be at least at the Peak Third Realm, right?" Li Weiyi asked.

Nangong nodded. "Three Saint Mind Master and ten Longevity Realm Martial Cultivators. Including myself, there is one Saint Mind Master of the Fourth Realm and four Longevity Realm Martial Cultivators of the Fourth Realm. This is the strongest lineup that the Ancient Years Clan can currently reveal."

"You have a fatal weakness," Li Weiyi said.

Nangong asked, "Speed?"

Li Weiyi nodded.

Nangong lifted his sleeve, revealing a radiant, multicolored light. "This is Heaven-grade Boundary Bag given to me by the clan leader. It can temporarily store the twelve of them inside at certain times to ensure their absolute safety."

Li Weiyi stared at her. "The Heaven-grade Boundary Bag is even more precious than the Myriad-character Artifact, with endless uses. It seems the clan leader really wants to put you in the open and make you the target of everyone's criticism by entrusting such a treasure to you."

The carriage drove out of the west city gate.

Mo Duanfeng and Guo Ju, the third-ranked scholar of the Sacred Dynasty, were already waiting beside the carriage in the snow.

Seeing Li Weiyi and Nangong get out of the carriage together, Mo Duanfeng teased from afar, "In the last sixty years, there was Bu Lianshi, and in this sixty years, it's you, Brother Weiyi. Every time, the woman who gets out of the carriage is different, and each one is like a fairy descending to earth."

"Don't you know Nangong? You're ruining her reputation." Li Weiyi and Nangong walked over, leaving two sets of footprints in the snow.

Mo Duanfeng said, "We do know each other, but we're not going anywhere to be trifled with."

"Brother Mo underestimates me! If all else fails, I'd like to take a few of your Duanfeng Seven Slashes." Nangong said.

Seeing that Li Weiyi and Nangong were serious, Mo Duanfeng said no more.

After exchanging introductions, he pulled Li Weiyi aside, pointed to the elegant figure in a Daoist robe standing on the city wall, and transmitted his voice, "I've checked, Eighth Generation Longevity Person, there is indeed one named Chang Yuqing."

"Thank you!"

Li Weiyi knew that Mo Duanfeng was concerned for his safety, which was why he investigated, fearing that he might be plotted against by the Chang family.

"In addition, I borrowed a Psychic Attack weapon. You will wield it. You have the psychic power of the peak of the Fourth Realm. Let's see if you can break the Floating Pagoda Formation Tower." Mo Duanfeng took out a bell and put it in Li Weiyi's hand.

Li Weiyi stared at the bell for a moment, stunned. "The Evil Camel Bell?"

The bell that Mo Duanfeng handed over was exactly the same as the Evil Camel Bell.

"You actually know about the Evil Camel Bell? This is just a replica, but it's of high quality and has some of the same wonderful uses. Don't lose it, or I'll have to return it," he said.

Lu Jingchen's carriage slowly drove up, driven by an Old Man dressed in black martial arts attire.

After parting Mo Duanfeng, Li Weiyi went up to pay his respects.

Lu Jingchen sat in the car, casting an apologetic glance at him. Then, he took out two Seven-Thousand-Year Elixir and a stack of talismans made from the golden bones of Ancient Son of Heaven.

Two days ago, Li Weiyi asked him and Lu Jingshen to help him buy it.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Jingchen took out a jade box the size of a walnut and handed it to him.

What is this?

Li Weiyi opened the box, and a shimmering light emanated from it. It contained a colorful, moist soil with a faint fragrance.

"The Fu Tian Divine Mud can greatly increase the success rate of refining talismans. It's very expensive, and I could only get a little bit of it. Consider it an apology. I can't be sure if the problem with you and Mo Duanfeng was caused by Thousand Mile Mountain, but I don't want this to become a thorn in our friendship." Lu Jingchen stated his position directly.

"That matter has nothing to do with Brother Lu... but I really need this. I'll remember this favor!" Li Weiyi said.

"Haha, you all drove? It seems I'm a little late."

Xue Ding spread his Six Wings, rode the wind out of the city gate, and landed with a thud on top of Mo Duanfeng and Guo Ju's carriage. Then he soared towards the western mountains. "This prince will go first and see if Wenren Tinghai has the courage to fight this time."

"A battle of the top three scholars, Wenren Tinghai is Guo's match."

Guo Ju to use his movement technique and sped across the ground, managing to keep up with Xue Ding's flight speed.