Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 69 Feudal Sovereigns

Passing through the mouth of the valley, there is a cave inside the valley.

As far as the eye can see, there are layers of buildings, and the architectural style is mostly simple and heavy. There are statues of ghost dogs on both sides of the door, and black wooden plaques can be seen hanging under the eaves everywhere.

According to Yangyang, the black wooden plaque is made from a spiritual plant called "Soul-Suppressing Wood." Its fragrance can calm the mind, and when it sways gently in the wind, it emits a deep humming sound that can resist the erosion of yin energy.

Yangyang was in high spirits and pulled Zhouli through the corridors and courtyards. Along the way, they saw many spiritual plants that grew with yin energy, such as the "Ghost Leaf Grass" with leaves like ghost hands and the "Moon Soul Flower" with translucent petals.

She also took Zhou Li to see several docile spirits that the family had tamed. These spirits could move through the shadows and were often used to guard doors and guide people.

As the two crossed the Blackwater Bridge, they encountered a member of the Situ family dressed in black robes with a cold and stern face.

When the other person saw Yangyang pulling a strange man, their brows furrowed slightly, and a barely perceptible scrutiny flashed in their eyes.

Yangyang, however, didn't seem to care at all and introduced it generously: "Fourth Brother, this is the Zhou etiquette I told you about."

The young man, referred to as Fourth Brother, simply nodded and walked past him.

"Don't mind my fourth brother, he's just like that, always with a stern face, but he's actually a very kind person." Yangyang stuck out her tongue and whispered to Zhou Li, "The cultivation method practiced by our Situ family is rather cold, so many people don't like to talk much."

"Moreover, because of the Yin meridians, the clan is filled with Yin energy, so few fellow practitioners are willing to come and visit us."

Yangyang walked barefoot on the Black Water Bridge. The dark mist churned below, but she walked as if on flat ground. At this moment, she angrily kicked up water, scaring the evil spirits in the mist away.

Zhou Li smiled slightly and said, "In my opinion, Yangyang is free-spirited and sincere. He will surely be surrounded by distinguished guests in the future and will never lack friends."

Upon hearing this, Yangyang's face immediately lit up with a smile.

After touring around, the two sat down in a pavilion overlooking a cliff.

Zhou Li stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point: "Yang Yang, to be honest, I have come here to explore the cultivation method of Xuan Yin Qi."

Upon hearing this, Yangyang pouted and said, "So that's why Senior Brother Zhou came. I thought you came here specifically to see me."

Zhou Li smiled upon hearing this, not expecting Yang Yang to be such a sentimental person, and felt much closer to her.

So he coaxed her gently, "Of course I came here specifically to see Yangyang. I've heard that the Situ family has a long history, so I thought I'd ask around and see if there are any relevant books for reference."

But then Yangyang gave a sly laugh: "I didn't expect that Senior Brother is not only sharp-sworded, but also quick-witted. He can spout such lies so easily."

Zhou Li was taken aback, then heard Yangyang say with a smile, "That Wu Liang is a disciple of our Situ family. Even before Senior Brother arrived, I already knew why you came!"

Zhou Li raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly embarrassed: "Is that so? It's been so kind of you, Yangyang, to accompany me for so long..."

Yangyang continued, "Senior brother, don't underestimate yourself. I've come here 'specially' to accompany you on your trip and 'incidentally' to help you with your cultivation issues."

Zhou Li paused slightly upon hearing this, unsure whether Yang Yang's words were true or a response to his earlier statement.

After teasing Zhou Li for a while, Yang Yang's playful expression faded slightly, and she said seriously, "To be honest, Senior Brother, my Situ family does indeed have a method related to Xuan Yin Qi, which originates from an ancient stone tablet that we call the Yin Yang Tablet. Most of the Situ family's cultivation techniques are based on this."

She then showed a hint of difficulty: "However, the Yin-Yang Manual is a closely guarded secret of our clan, only for the core members to study. Outsiders have absolutely no chance of accessing it. The clan rules are strict, and even I cannot privately pass on any related techniques or insights."

Zhou Li's heart sank, but his expression remained calm: "In that case, I have been presumptuous."

"However, since we're friends," Yangyang changed the subject, "there just happens to be an opportunity that might help you get an exception, it just depends on whether you're willing to help."

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

Suddenly, Yangyang asked, "As the foremost sect on the Eastern Continent, Changtian Sect stretches for tens of thousands of miles. Senior Brother, do you know how many subordinate sects it has?"

Upon hearing Yangyang mention the lower sects, Zhou Li was somewhat surprised and said, "I didn't know, there must be at least a hundred, right?"

Yangyang covered her mouth and smiled upon hearing this: "My good teacher knows that there are nearly ten thousand disciples in the sect."

Zhou Li gasped upon hearing this: "There are so many..."

"And that doesn't even include the small families and sects that depend on the lower sects!" Yangyang continued to explain, "Among them are sects and clans, or those that rely on the Changtian Sect for survival. They pay tribute every year in exchange for resources and protection, and at the same time, they are responsible for protecting the relatives and families of the sect's disciples who are still alive from being bullied."

"Among these many lower sects, there is one exception, which we call 'vassal sects'."

Zhou Li pressed further, "What makes these vassal states any different?"

Looking to the bottomless, dark rift beside him, the shifting, eerie light created a sense of absurd spatial distortion.

"There are all kinds of spatial rifts in this cultivation world. Most of the rifts lead to nothingness, while some rifts lead to a small world. Some of these small worlds are vast, with beautiful mountains and rivers, and there are also many cultivators cultivating within them."

At this point, Zhou Li had already guessed: "The vassal states you mentioned must be the forces you've cultivated in these small realms?"

Yangyang nodded: "Senior brother guessed right. Most of these vassal sects are local forces that have been supported, but there are also foreign forces that have migrated into the small world from elsewhere."

"These small realms often have extremely limited cultivation resources, and their cultivation methods are crude and rudimentary. The sects pass on their lineages and bestow upon these forces pills, while also requiring them to collect local cultivation resources and submit them as tribute."

After a moment's thought, Zhou Li nodded and said, "By exchanging the Daoist alchemical materials that the vassal sect lacks for the cultivation resources of the minor world, the disciples of the vassal sect can have a promising path to the Great Dao, and the sect can also benefit from it. This is a win-win situation."

"If everyone thought like Senior Brother, that would be wonderful," Yang Yang's fair forehead furrowed slightly. "Many disciples of the sect are quite dissatisfied with this move, always feeling that the sect has benefited. They dare not resist openly, but they always try to cause trouble in secret."

"The Netherworld is a small realm under the jurisdiction of our Situ family," Yangyang explained. "The Liu family, as a vassal of the sect, holds the 'Netherworld' designation and has established a cultivation kingdom there. They are mainly responsible for using the three Netherworld Caves within the territory to refine 'Mysterious Netherworld Pills' for the sect."

She paused, a hint of worry in her eyes: "But in recent years, a few of the Xuanming Pills submitted by the Liu family have impure and mixed energy, containing a trace of bloodthirsty power. The clan has warned them many times, but the Liu family always pays lip service to it."

"Shouldn't the clan have countermeasures against this?" Zhou Li asked.

"The problem is that this wisp is extremely light and impure. If it is not swallowed, it is no different from ordinary pills, making it difficult to trace its origin. The clan is too lazy to care. Besides, if the Liu family is truly innocent, even if they wanted to investigate, they would have no way to do so."

Yangyang's lips curled up: "Just now, a good opportunity has arisen for us to enter the Netherworld Realm and thoroughly investigate this matter."