Chapter 104: Chapter 87: Weighing Strength, 9 Oxen and 2 Tigers

Inside Heshui Cave, the air was abuzz with voices, and the hall was packed.

This was the first time Jiang Yi had attended a gathering of Inner Peak Disciples.

Han Li of the Huangfeng Han Clan was essentially the second-in-command, second only to Xu Yan, and his words carried considerable weight.

Jiang Yi was invited to sit at the lower end of Han Li’s table. Meanwhile, Wang Heng, usually a master of networking, and Lu Yun, a veteran from Gathering Herbs Peak, could only huddle together at a different table, both looking awkward and reserved.

After all, everyone at the main table was a senior brother from the Inner Peak whose cultivation far surpassed their own. On a normal day, they might barely manage to exchange a few words, but they were by no means qualified to sit at the same table tonight.

Han Li had a direct personality and didn’t beat around the bush. He got straight to the point.

“Junior Brother Jiang, what is your cultivation level now?”

Jiang Yi gave a composed, slight bow and answered slowly.

“A while ago, I was fortunate enough to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. Thanks to Marshal Yang’s great favor, he bestowed upon me a portion of Mingtang Qi. My practice reached perfection this morning, and I successfully broke through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.”

Han Li had been somewhat nonchalant, since Jiang Yi had not yet been formally granted a position in the Inner Peak and was still considered an Outer Sect Mortal Servant in the eyes of others.

But upon hearing the four words “Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer,” his expression immediately grew more serious.

“Junior Brother Jiang, you’re quite fortunate! Among Spiritual Energies compatible with Ding Fire, Mingtang Qi is a rare treasure. It’s not easy to come by.”

A look of humility appeared on Jiang Yi’s face.

“I relied entirely on Marshal Yang’s nurturing. It wasn’t the result of my own hard cultivation.”

“Ah, I must disagree!”

Han Li waved his hand dismissively.

“These days, not even Immortal Cultivators are hung up on the idea of ’not relying on external objects,’ let alone we Demon Cultivators.”

“That’s just pedantic nonsense handed down from ancient times! If you’ll pardon my bluntness, those Ancient Cultivators were simply born in the right era and hogged all the world’s richest benefits.”

Jiang Yi let out an “Oh?” and played along. “How so?” he asked.

Han Li had loved reading history since childhood. The moment he began speaking of ancient matters, he became eloquent, his expression alight with passion.

“Junior brothers, just imagine it. In the age of the Ancient Cultivators, what was the Yanfu Vast Land like?”

“Spiritual Energy was rich and abundant, and Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands were everywhere! The Great Dao manifested in the sun, moon, and stars, in the mountains and great lakes. One could grasp the ultimate principles of cultivation just by climbing a high peak to gaze into the distance or by quietly watching the vast ocean.”

“What’s more, those with the innate talent for Cultivation were rarer than one in ten million back then. An Immortal Saint Court would have at most a few hundred or a thousand disciples under its command.”

“Hahaha, now look at the present day! A single Grand Sect Dharma Lineage has at least a hundred thousand disciples!”

He paused, his tone growing even more impassioned.

“Those Ancient Cultivators were the darlings of the Dao. They sat in the mountains chanting Daoist Scriptures, and all sorts of Resources were delivered to their door in a continuous stream.”

“And yet, in the end, some ignorant fools criticize modern cultivators for being bloodthirsty and contentious, for scrambling shamelessly for the tiniest advantage, calling us no better than bandits. They claim we lack the transcendent grace and peaceful harmony of the ancient courts. How utterly absurd!”

Han Li’s words clearly resonated with the Inner Peak Disciples. Although the Demon Dao occupied an entire continent, governing its lands and spreading its teachings, in terms of reputation, it had always been considered a step below the Immortal Dao.

It was said that the Dao Materials from the Grand Sects and Ancestral Sects often complained that whenever followers of the Immortal Dao, Buddhist Dao, or even the Demon Dao committed a crime, their favorite scapegoats were Demon Cultivators.

“Senior Brother Han is absolutely right!”

Someone at a nearby table chimed in loudly.

“Forget all that talk about ’cultivating one’s nature by absorbing qi’ and ’seeking truth in the disposition.’ To endure a thousand calamities and ten thousand disasters to achieve immortality and eternal life—that is the true skill!”

As the conversation grew more animated, people raised their cups and toasted one another, and the atmosphere at the feast became increasingly fervent.

Gradually, the topic of conversation naturally shifted to Cultivation.

Han Li toyed with the Jade Cup in his hand and said with great interest,

“I heard from Senior Brother Xu that the proprietor of this Heshui Cave is none other than Elder Xu from the Skill Transmission Institute.”

“He specifically commissioned Mechanical Artisans to forge numerous Copper Bulls and Iron Tigers from Copper and Iron Essences and had them placed out front.”

Jiang Yi took a small sip of the Cyan Ganoderma Dew in his cup. Heshui Cave seemed to have improved the recipe; the taste was even more refreshing and pleasant than before.

He was well aware that sitting next to Han Li required him to play the part of an attentive audience to prevent any lulls in conversation, so he asked,

“What is Elder Xu’s purpose in doing this?”

Han Li was thoroughly enjoying today’s little gathering and was in a fine mood for conversation.

“You might not know this, Junior Brother Jiang. For Qi Cultivation Cultivators like us who have surpassed the Fifth Layer, our Primordial Gate gives birth to Divine Thought, our Inner Mansion stores Spiritual Liquid, and the True Qi within our bodies is immensely powerful.”

“However, Qi varies in both endurance and power. Elder Xu had these Copper Bulls and Iron Tigers forged precisely to allow Inner Peak Disciples to measure the strength of their True Qi. He even set up a prize.”

“If anyone has the power to lift nine of the bulls, Heshui Cave will gift them a portion of Harmonious Yang Qi with Zhao Rong’s Nature.”

Jiang Yi chuckled to himself. ’This Elder Xu certainly knows how to do business. On the surface, he’s letting the Inner Peak Disciples measure their strength and compete with one another, but it’s really a way to attract customers to Heshui Cave and build its reputation.’

’Everyone has a competitive spirit. With those Copper Bull and Iron Tiger statues sitting out front, who could resist stepping up to test their mettle?’

Han Li looked over at Jiang Yi, his smile widening.

“Junior Brother Jiang, you just broke through to the Sixth Layer. Your True Qi must be at its peak. Any interest in going to test it?”

Jiang Yi was indeed very tempted by the Harmonious Yang Qi with Zhao Rong’s Nature. It was just what he needed to practice the Embrace Thought Nourishing Spirit Seven Emotions Curse.

But since this was his first time attending an Inner Peak gathering, he wasn’t sure if he should be the one to step into the limelight.

Besides, there were nearly a hundred Inner Peak Disciples. It was almost certain that there were some truly powerful, hidden experts among them. Rashly showing off might not be the wisest course of action.

Hearing this, Jiang Yi smiled and cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

“You jest, Senior Brother Han. I’m a newcomer with shallow Cultivation. How could I dare to show off my meager skills before so many esteemed senior brothers?”

“Ah, no need to be so modest, Junior Brother.”

But Han Li just shook his head.

“I only just broke through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer a few days ago. My Cultivation is only half a step ahead of yours, at best.”

“You should know this: the Sixth Layer is about passing the Body Barrier, and the Seventh Layer is about passing the Divine Barrier. At my Realm, there’s little benefit in competing over the power of our True Qi. It’s far better to focus on honing my Divine Thought.”

“It’s a pity. If Elder Xu had brought the Copper Bull and Iron Tiger statues here a few days earlier, I really would have liked to have a go at it!”

Jiang Yi smiled, but before he could say anything else, someone at the neighboring table suddenly shot to his feet.

“Junior Brother Jiang must be feeling a bit shy and holding back since it’s his first time gathering with us from the Inner Peak!”

“No matter! Today, li will set an example for you. I’ll let you see just how tough these Copper Bull and Iron Tiger statues are!”

Jiang Yi looked up and saw that the speaker was a slender young man with a slightly sallow complexion and a competitive glint in his eyes.

“Excellent! Junior Brother Li has been in the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer for three years now. His Merit long ago reached the Middle Stage, and his foundation is solid. He’ll definitely be able to move these Copper Bull and Iron Tiger statues!”

Han Li clapped his hands in praise, raised his Jade Cup, and announced loudly,

“If Junior Brother Li takes the grand prize from Heshui Cave, I’ll join the fun and add to the stakes: a ’Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill’!”

The words had barely left his lips when a wave of stunned gasps swept through the hall.

The Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill cost three hundred minor merits to redeem from the Skill Transmission Institute.

That was no small sum!

Guarding a Resource Land for half a year without a single day off, toiling day and night, would only earn them one hundred minor merits.

Moreover, privately gifting a Technique and Daoist Skill from the Skill Transmission Institute required paying an additional fee of minor merits; otherwise, it would be considered leaking the sect’s secrets and would incur severe punishment.

Everyone immediately cupped their hands in salute, their voices dripping with fervent flattery.

“Senior Brother Han, you are too generous!”

「A short while later.」

The group relocated to the entrance of Heshui Cave, where the spacious front plaza was indeed adorned with dozens of lifelike Copper Bull and Iron Tiger statues.

They didn’t look enormous, but their weight was clearly staggering, as the bluestone slabs beneath them were pressed down and marked with spiderweb-like cracks.

The aforementioned Junior Brother Li stood proudly in the middle of the plaza. Han Li raised a hand and beckoned over Steward Xu, who managed Heshui Cave, telling him to bring a plate of Copper and Iron Essences.

“Junior Brother Li, feel free to give it your all!”

Han Li grabbed a handful of the round, pellet-like Essence of Copper and Iron. With a flick of his finger, he sent the pellets shooting out, each one landing precisely in the mouth of a Copper Bull.

With a BOOM, the inanimate object sprang to life. Its four hooves stabbed into the paving stones like iron pillars, and a dark light coursed over its body as if it were about to break into a frantic stampede at any moment.

Junior Brother Li’s face was a little tense, but he didn’t back down. His hands flew through a series of signs as his Primordial Gate suddenly vibrated. A cloud of fiery True Qi erupted from the crown of his head.

Steered by his Divine Thought, it instantly swelled to be several yards wide, descending like a heavy piece of brocade to completely envelop the Copper Bull!

CRACK! CRACK!

The bluestone slabs beneath it shattered one after another, sending shards of stone flying.

Two immense forces battled fiercely in the middle of the plaza, churning the surrounding air until it felt as thick as water. Waves of Qi blasted outward, whipping at everyone’s robes!

After about seven or eight breaths’ time, the Copper Bull could no longer hold its ground. As if its strength had been exhausted, it was forcibly lifted by Junior Brother Li’s True Qi and thrown aside with a loud CLANG!

“Mighty, Senior Brother Li!”

“What power!”

“Such Profound Merits and Virtues…”

The Inner Peak Disciples erupted in cheers and applause.

One must understand that while a Copper Bull looked small, a single one weighed ten thousand jin. To move it with True Qi alone was no easy feat.

If one’s Merit wasn’t refined and their mind and Qi not in harmony, they wouldn’t even know where to begin.

“Again!”

Junior Brother Li’s confidence soared. He decided to strike while the iron was hot, moving one Copper Bull after another.

By the time he reached the fifth bull, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, and his movements were becoming visibly strained.

But for the sake of the prize Han Li had added—that Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill—he gritted his teeth and refused to give up.

Junior Brother Li’s face was flushed crimson. He strained until his True Qi was churning and his legs felt weak, but in the end, he managed to wrench another bull from the ground!

Seeing this, Han Li nodded in satisfaction and turned to Steward Xu. “Lifting six bulls,” he asked, “is such a feat considered exceptional?”

Steward Xu bowed and answered,

“Senior Brother Li’s strength is such that he must be considered one of the very best among the Inner Peak’s Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer disciples!”

Standing quietly to the side, Jiang Yi’s heart stirred.

’That… doesn’t seem too difficult, does it?’

’This Junior Brother Li might be at the Mid-stage Cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, but when it comes to the purity of his True Qi and the depth of his foundation, he’s probably far inferior to me.’

’A portion of Harmonious Yang Qi with Zhao Rong’s Nature, plus the Cloud Soaring and Flame Riding Skill that costs three hundred minor merits to redeem.’

’That prize is truly tempting!’

Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, his eyelids lowering slightly as a golden glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Han Li turned his gaze back to him and asked softly,

“Junior Brother Jiang, care to see how you measure up?”

Jiang Yi mulled it over for a moment, as if having come to a definite conclusion and reached absolute certainty. He suddenly straightened his posture, his Qi Mechanism flaring outward.

Han Li was slightly taken aback. He saw a sharp, fierce glint suddenly appear in this Junior Brother Jiang’s otherwise placid eyes.

“Since Senior Brother has invited me, I dare not refuse.”

Jiang Yi raised a hand to straighten his Daoist Robe, then stepped forward past the crowd. His gaze fell upon Steward Xu, who was holding the Wooden Plate. In a calm voice, he said,

“My strength should be enough to lift nine bulls and two tigers. There’s no need to activate them one by one. Release them all at once!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep