Chapter 71: Four Major Powerful Families

“Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I truly feel unworthy of such a precious treasure,” Li Weiyi said after pondering for a moment.

He genuinely felt a bit ashamed in his heart. The other person treated him with sincerity, yet he had kept many things hidden.

As the saying goes, "Those who treat others with sincerity will be met with sincerity."

But if he didn't hide it, how could he then go to the Hidden Gate and become a God-Hidden person?

Li Songlin had been observing Li Weiyi's state of mind. He smiled slightly and asked, "Why are you calling me Senior again?"

“Fourth Uncle.”

Li Weiyi was very willing to use this address.

Having no relatives since childhood, his master, senior brother, and senior sister were his entire world. The term "relative" was incredibly precious to him.

This "Fourth Uncle" was spoken with more solemnity than when he had addressed him in Jiuli City.

“That mystical herb tainted with celestial glow is at Zaomei Manor; we'll go fetch it now. There's nothing to feel unworthy about; don't burden yourself psychologically. Have you forgotten that the Canglei Tribe still owes you a favor from Buried Immortal Town?”

Pausing, Li Songlin revealed a strange smile. “My second brother and second sister have already heard your name and inquired about you. Don't worry, don't feel pressured. Just be a bit more spirited later; this day will come sooner or later.”

Li Weiyi looked at the bright-eyed, white-toothed young girl sitting opposite him. She was also staring at him. He secretly sighed to himself, perhaps a large part of the reason Fourth Uncle treated him with such sincerity was because of Li Ling.

It was clear they were treating him as a future son-in-law for the Fourth Miss.

After a brief moment of awkwardness, Li Ling asked, “Fourth Uncle, what exactly is the situation with Buried Immortal Town? I've heard some people say it's a land where immortals fell, filled with countless immortal treasures? Others even say it's connected to a corner of the immortal realm below, a place where one can ascend to immortality in a single step. Can we really go to the immortal realm in mortal bodies?”

The relaxed air around Li Songlin disappeared. His eyes sharpened like swords, and he straightened his back, saying, “These rumors must have been spread by those with malicious intentions, who wish to lure strong cultivators from various states to destabilize Lizhou and profit from it. So far, no one has entered the underground and returned alive. There were Dao Seed realm cultivators who tried to force their way down, but it's unknown what they encountered; they turned into a rain of blood in the celestial glow, their bones reduced to dust.”

Li Weiyi was shocked. Even Dao Seed realm experts died mysteriously?

He immediately gave up on the so-called great opportunities at Buried Immortal Town. Instead, he became more concerned about whether Lizhou was safe and stable. So he asked, “Were the rumors spread by the Earth Wolf Royal Army?”

Li Songlin nodded. “It is said that the Earth Wolf Royal Army has dispatched three Great Dharma Kings to Lizhou, full of ambition, surely intending to make their move. But relying solely on their faction, they don't have the appetite to swallow all of Lizhou. There must be other forces involved. The Million-Gate Dragon Gate from the Eastern Realm is one of them.”

Li Weiyi was no longer the naive boy from Earth who had just arrived. He already understood the world's situation and naturally knew the weight of the Million-Gates. They were behemoths, few and far between in the entire Lingxiao Living Realm.

The 'Dragon Gate' in the East, the 'Zuoqiu' in the South, the 'Zhumen' in the West, and the 'Snow Sword Tang Court' in the North.

These Million-Gates are, at minimum, dominant powers ruling entire states. Their influence, industries, and clansmen spread throughout the Lingxiao Living Realm. Pills, magical artifacts, exotic beasts, salt, banks, spices, mining areas, porcelain tea, inns, brothels, silk... their presence can be found in almost every industry, deeply entrenched, pervasive, and ubiquitous across the twenty-eight states.

With foundations spanning thousands, even tens of thousands of years.

How dense must these roots be?

How solid must these foundations be?

Ten years ago, the first clarion call against the Lingxiao Palace sounded in the Eastern Realm, blown jointly by the Dragon Gate and the Leixiao Sect, and then rapidly spread across the land, leading to the current situation of incessant warfare and regional warlordism.

There were over a hundred resistance armies, large and small. Smoke signals rose everywhere, as dragons and serpents vied for supremacy.

Apart from Lizhou, which remained relatively stable, there was no longer a single peaceful place in the world.

Li Songlin saw that both Li Weiyi and Li Ling were feeling heavy-hearted, and said, “Don't worry! Although the Dragon Gate is powerful, their foundation is in the Eastern Realm. It's impossible for them to launch a large-scale invasion of the Southern Realm. Otherwise, the local forces, led by the Zuoqiu Gate, would certainly respond.”

“Besides, regarding the struggle for the world, the older generation will naturally bear the brunt. It's not your turn to worry yet.”

Li Ling was more concerned about the situation in Buried Immortal Town. She asked, “Since no one has entered the underground, then the mystical herbs tainted with celestial glow that Fourth Uncle collected must be from the area around Buried Immortal Town, right? How exactly do these mystical herbs form, and is collecting them dangerous?”

Clearly, she was obsessed with transforming into a Pure Immortal Body.

Li Songlin said, “For dozens of miles around Buried Immortal Town, the area is enveloped in celestial glow, and its interior seems to be continuously expanding. These mystical herbs grow in the wild mountains and are not of particularly high grade; many are just decades-old or ancient herbs.”

“However, some of them are capable of absorbing a wisp of celestial glow to nourish themselves, which is why they undergo miraculous transformations.”

“Some of these mystical herbs can help a Pure Immortal Body transform, some can help open up the Fengfu and Ancestral Fields, and others can help expand the Qi Sea. Now you understand why so many proud talents of the younger generation are gathering here, don't you?”

“The two of you had best not venture there. There are many formidable individuals in that area. Even if you're lucky enough to gather some, you won't be able to take it away. Furthermore, there are some lingering spirit malevolent demons lurking, making it quite dangerous.”

Li Ling showed a look of disappointment and let out a long sigh.

Li Weiyi asked, “What did Fourth Uncle mean when you said the interior of Buried Immortal Town is continuously expanding?”

“The area around Buried Immortal Town covered by celestial glow is continuously expanding. It's as if space itself is stretching open little by little. Recently, an elder powerhouse ventured two hundred li deep and still couldn't find the ancient town that was once there.”

“Could it really be connected to the immortal realm?” Li Weiyi was moved. “That's simply too incredible.”

Li Songlin shook his head, smiling. He also didn't know how the situation would develop. Currently, the patriarchs of the Nine Great Tribes were all having massive headaches.

The ox cart stopped in front of Zaomei Manor.

This was the Canglei Tribe's property in Yaoguan City. Li Weiyi and Gao Huan had visited it once when they first arrived in this world.

No one needed to drive it. After Li Songlin got off with the two, the green ox automatically pulled the cart around to the back courtyard, displaying remarkably high spirituality and intelligence.

The sun had not yet set; the slanting light was dim and yellow, casting shadows of branches on the wall.

Li Qing'er, waiting at the entrance, was Li Ling's sixteen-year-old cousin. Though not a Pure Immortal Body or Half-Immortal Body, she still possessed an outstanding appearance and figure, with considerable cultivation in martial arts and magic, having already opened seven springs.

“I heard you had a conflict with the Changlin Gang; I was so worried about you. They are too bold,” Li Qing'er gripped Li Ling's hand and said worriedly. Then she bowed to Li Songlin, calling out 'Fourth Uncle'.

Li Ling said, “Did the news travel back so quickly?”

“Yaoguan is only so big! Brother Ming mentioned it when he came just now. He said that Xue Zheng is already a Pure Immortal Body, invincible below the Five Seas Realm, and you almost suffered a great loss.”

As she said this, Li Qing'er only briefly glanced at Li Weiyi. Her impression was not very good.

Because she had heard from Qing Chengming that this person had been hiding behind Li Ling the whole time, not daring to utter a single word. What future could such a man possibly have?

After Li Ling and Li Qing'er entered hand-in-hand, Li Weiyi followed Li Songlin into Zaomei Manor.

Passing through the spirit screen.

Inside the courtyard, sounds gradually grew noisy.

A group of young cultivators from Lizhou were holding a gathering. They enjoyed fine clothes, good wine, pursued fame and fortune, and celebrated their youth. They spoke grandly of ambitions and the world's affairs, full of heroic spirit, making the atmosphere quite lively. Among them, Canglei was naturally the leader.

In addition, there were four other young figures with formidable auras in the main hall, seated among the guests. All four were exceptionally heroic and carried themselves with an impressive demeanor that commanded admiration.

They were the foremost young talents, not exceeding thirty years of age, from four of the Nine Great Tribes of the Jiuli clan.

Among the dozens of young figures, there were many Pure Immortal Bodies and exceptionally beautiful proud daughters of heaven, but only five were seated among the leaders. This was the treatment reserved for the leading figures of a tribe. Their formidable strength made them a class that others could only look up to.

Li Weiyi overheard fragmented conversations: "gathering herbs in the celestial glow area," "Chen Wenwu from Three Chen Academy has arrived," "the Suizong is getting increasingly arrogant," and so on.

Li Songlin asked, “They are the most outstanding young people of the Jiuli clan's younger generation. In a few decades, they will be the titans of various industries in Lizhou. Do you want to go and get acquainted? Young people together, passions collide, youth is like a song, and they will certainly have many common topics.”

Li Weiyi gently shook his head, not very interested, but his eyes were scanning the Pure Immortal Bodies and the four seated individuals inside.

Because Li Songlin had mentioned that, apart from Canglei, the Jiuli clan had five other individuals who had broken through the Nine Springs in the last decade. Some of them should be in the gathering.

Li Qing'er had already pulled Li Ling into the main hall.

A moment later.

Canglei was the first to walk out. His skin glowed all over. His handsome and heroic appearance was both noble and sharp. He possessed a perfect aura that could captivate all women under heaven.

His gaze fell upon Li Weiyi. His eyes were complex, no longer as gentle and pure as before. He scrutinized Li Weiyi sharply.

“Brother, he's my best friend,” Li Ling reminded him.

The group of Lizhou's talented youths and proud maidens who had walked out with Canglei only then began to seriously size up Li Weiyi after hearing her words.

Li Ling's talent was by no means low. At just sixteen, she was already a Great Mind Master.

To defend an outsider man in such a way, and call him "best friend," was probably not that simple.

Canglei's gaze softened slightly. He asked, “How confident are you against Xue Zheng?”

Even under the gaze of countless eyes, Li Weiyi remained completely at ease. “One hundred percent... well, ninety percent!”

He didn't want to sound too arrogant by boasting too much.

Someone in the crowd let out a low chuckle.

Canglei frowned. “Being able to slay Yao Zhengsheng with a single sword strike indicates that your sword dao has reached the Heavenly Dao Dharma Union, which is quite good for your age. However, if you want to contend with the current Xue Zheng, you must break through the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field; otherwise, you won't stand a chance. The prestige you've lost, you must reclaim it yourself. Only then can you hold your head high in the future.”

Following that, he pulled out a booklet from his chest. “This contains the experiences and insights written by all the martial cultivators of the Canglei Tribe who have broken through the Nine Springs since ancient times, including my own. Read it carefully; it should be helpful.”

“You must fight for it, you absolutely must. This is the only chance for mortals to catch up to Pure Immortal Bodies!”

“Your strength is not weak; there's a sliver of hope.”