Li Yan in the Spiritual Valley
At that moment, Li Yan stood in the midst of a vast spiritual valley field. He straightened his back, one hand resting firmly on the handle of a hoe while the other wiped the sweat from his brow. Even for a cultivator of his physique, having already reached the Nascent Qi stage, clearing two ridges of stubborn weeds left him utterly exhausted.
This assignment had been given to him just a few days earlier. When he'd met with Third Senior Brother, the conversation was brief: the senior had simply taken a hoe from a little room and tossed it toward him without any further explanation. Li Yan had thought nothing of it—after all, wasn't it just some farming work? It was, in fact, something he'd been doing since childhood. He considered himself quite proficient at such tasks. Yet, once he set foot in the field, he was taken aback.
After picking up the hoe and gathering the necessary directions from the local designated spot, Li Yan listened to Third Senior Brother's cool, matter-of-fact answers. Without a moment to waste, he boarded his flying spiritual instrument and soared across the skies toward the spiritual valley field.
Before him stretched a field of several hundred mu of spiritual valley land, where each plant shimmered with a golden-green radiance. To Li Yan, it looked as if he were facing a half–waist–deep sea of glittering, undulating waves. In these plants, he felt an intense surge of spiritual energy pulsating with life; the soft breeze made the "waves" ripple gently, and from a distance, the myriad golden-green dots swayed as if dancing, evoking a sense of boundless space and vibrant life.
His mission was clear: within a single day, clear the weeds from ten mu of the field. Failure to do so would result in a deduction of one low-level spiritual stone. Li Yan felt no qualms. After admiring the idyllic scenery for a brief moment, he shed his long robe and rolled up his sleeves, stepping into the furrows between the ridges where the thick, unruly weeds grew. He inhaled deeply, planted his feet firmly, and swung the hoe, expecting a satisfying impact. Instead, all he heard was a soft "clang" that left his hands momentarily numb. When he looked down, the ground bore only a shallow mark from his swing, and the dense, unmoved clump of weeds remained unscathed. Li Yan's eyes widened in disbelief. Retrieving his hoe once more, he girded all his strength and struck again—and yet, even with a mightier swing that uttered a louder "clang," the blade left behind nothing more than another shallow furrow, hardly deeper than before.
Before Li Yan could stoop to investigate the stubbornness of the soil he was working on, a voice rang out behind him:
"Junior Brother, you won't get far like that. Is this your very first time?"
Startled, Li Yan turned back and saw, from about several dozen zhang away in another section of the valley, a man standing in his own furrow, laboring away at weeding. The other cultivator had not released his spiritual sense earlier, so he hadn't noticed Li Yan's presence until now—likely alerted by the tremendous sound of Li Yan's repeated swings.
Quickly bowing, Li Yan responded respectfully, "Please forgive me for my inexperience, Senior Brother. Truly, it is my first time on this task. May I ask what your name is?"
The man was of average build, appearing to be in his thirties, with a neatly trimmed beard and an air of refinement. Li Yan sensed from his demeanor—and did not need to extend his spiritual sense further—that the man, too, was a Foundation-level cultivator. Had the man extended his spiritual sense, he might have greeted Li Yan with an affectionate "Nephew," for Li Yan's level was now well known. Instead, the man simply said, "I am Zhang Kui of the Four Elephants Peak. And who might you be?"
"Ah, I am Li Yan—a disciple of Xiao Zhufeng," Li Yan replied with a small smile.
"Hmm? Li Yan… Li Yan? I recall that you were the disciple who joined Xiao Zhufeng only a few years ago. I had heard about you in passing while chatting with Da Qiao," the man mused for a moment, then chuckled warmly.
Li Yan smiled politely, thinking to himself, "Hearing that from Senior Brother Seven already makes it no surprise."
Zhang Kui then asked in a tone suggesting he knew more than he let on, "So… did you not receive proper instructions from Yun, or have you come on your own?"
Li Yan hesitated. He couldn't readily mention that Third Senior Brother had merely tossed him the hoe and that even the specific location of the field was something he'd discovered only after inquiring. Instead, he scratched his head sheepishly.
Zhang Kui seemed to understand what he meant. "Heh, I know exactly what you mean. Let me explain—it's not like the ordinary farming tool you might expect from a countryside family. The hoe in your hand is actually a primary-level spiritual instrument. To cultivate the field properly, you must channel spiritual energy into it. The weeds in the spiritual valley are particularly susceptible to the power of golden spiritual energy—the next most effective being fire spiritual energy. Using water, wood, or earth spiritual energy, on the contrary, not only fails to remove the weeds but actually encourages their roots to grow in a crazed manner. That, essentially, is the trick."
Having explained, Zhang Kui patted Li Yan lightly and then bent down to continue his own work.
Li Yan quickly bowed in grateful acknowledgment. He was thankful for the guidance, knowing that even a little kindness could lighten the burden of his hardship. The memory of a brief hint given when he accepted the task—the recommendation for using gold or fire spiritual energy—now made perfect sense.
With a determined exhale, Li Yan allowed the teachings of the Guishui True Scripture to swirl within him. Immediately, he visualized the formation of golden spiritual energy, and in the very next moment, he channeled that energy into his spiritual hoe. The hoe's surface glowed briefly with a subtle golden radiance as it absorbed his power, and then Li Yan swung it again. This time, the impact produced a clear, crisp "chi" sound. The soil split and heaved upward, the earth turning over smoothly just as Zhang Kui had described.
Buoyed by his success, Li Yan threw himself into his work. Yet—after working through nearly half an hour—he finally stopped. Standing up, drenched in sweat and with his face turning pale, he realized his internal reservoir of spiritual energy had nearly been depleted. Normally, with his level of mastery as a seventh-level Nascent Qi cultivator, even clearing a hundred acres of normal farmland would scarcely affect him. But the spiritual valley was disconcertingly different. The ground was unusually hard, and the unruly weeds had roots extending nearly three feet deep. Insufficiently channeled spiritual energy simply couldn't uproot them; infusing too much energy, on the other hand, was wasted as it evaporated into the field. Thus, having tilled two ridges, Li Yan found his internal spiritual energy nearly exhausted. Looking over the vast remaining fields, a heavy sigh escaped him. "It seems I've wasted another spiritual stone," he thought bitterly. After all, for him to recover through meditation would take more than a dozen hours—far too long to hope for completing the mission in a single day.
In the Passage of Hard-Earned Days
Days merged into weeks as Li Yan's routine slowly yielded results—though always with a net loss. Two months later, as evening fell and the orange light of dusk draped the valley, Li Yan surveyed the ten mu of land he had managed to clear. The ridges, now pristine and free of weeds, glimmered with renewed vibrancy. A small smile tugged at his lips, evidence of progress amid hardship.
In these months, Li Yan's spiritual stone reserves had dwindled considerably. Although he had also taken on assignments for watering the Mo Wang bamboo and received his monthly allotment of spiritual stones, his net balance still showed a debt of 26 spiritual stones owed to the duty hall. However, he also knew that in the coming days the situation might soon improve.
Despite the loss of so many spiritual stones, Li Yan had gained an immeasurable wealth of knowledge. Through his trials in the field, he learned the proper use of his spiritual energy. He discovered how to rapidly shift among the five elemental forms, and he refined the pace at which his spiritual energy recovered. His ability to purify his energy had also improved—a benefit he counted as priceless. So much so that during one particular recovery session after a long day of weeding, he found that his cultivation had leaped forward unexpectedly—he had reached the late stage of the seventh level of Nascent Qi. This advancement occurred so naturally, so without prior warning, that it filled him with overwhelming delight.
Thus, Li Yan's days passed in a steady, if strenuous, cadence. Every day, he labored in the spiritual garden and devoted himself to cultivation, busy as a diligent little bee collecting nectar from a vast, blossoming flower field.
One morning, after rising early and quickly washing himself, Li Yan unlocked the formation door of his courtyard with determined efficiency. He was about to set off for the duty hall. The pressure was mounting: he still owed 26 spiritual stones, and if he delayed any further, the relentless interest imposed by the sect might add another stone to his burden. The urgency churned in his chest.
Stepping out, he prepared to launch his flying spiritual instrument when his eyes caught something unexpected—a flash of bright light above the bamboo forest. Suspended in the sky, he saw a giant scroll drifting down gracefully.
Before he could ponder its origin, a soft, warm voice reached his ears: "Little Junior Brother, please wait a moment—I have come by chance."
Startled yet intrigued, Li Yan turned around. He saw, not far away and in a position that one might only expect in the rarest of circumstances, his Senior Brother approaching. Li Yan's heart skipped a beat; it was unusual for Senior Brother to appear at such an early hour. Quickly, he bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior Brother! If there is anything you wish to communicate, please send it through the token—I will come over immediately. There is no need for you to make the extra journey."
Li Wu Yi, ever composed, had already gathered his personal magical tools and strode steadily toward him. "Hehe, I thought it best to discuss this matter in person," he said. "Besides, I have not spent all my time confined to the main hall."
Li Yan's curiosity burned. If his Senior Brother had made the effort to come personally, it must be no trivial matter. With a renewed sense of anticipation, Li Yan reopened the courtyard door, and the two walked into the inner courtyard where, eventually, they sat together upon a cool stone bench.
Taking out his tea set, Li Yan carefully prepared two cups. Though he was not known for any refined tastes—usually, a bit of plain water would suffice—today the tea was special; the tea leaves had been provided by Zhang Kui from the spiritual garden. As Li Wu Yi took a sip, the flavor freshened his entire being, and for a moment, a thoughtful smile played upon his lips. Then his expression grew serious.
"Little Junior Brother," he began, his tone measured and grave, "I have come with an important matter to discuss with you. Recently, our Master and Matron have been in deep seclusion, absorbed in their inner cultivation. The affairs of the Peak, therefore, have fallen under my care. Yesterday, I received a direct order from the Gate Master. I traveled to Old Lord Peak to listen to the senior elders' instructions regarding next year's secret realm harvesting. A few days ago, experts—true Golden Core masters—from the Tai Xuan Sect, Pure Land Sect, and the Ten-Step Courtyard came to our sect to discuss this matter. They proposed that once next year's secret realm gathering concludes, they wish to open up another small space within the secret realm—one known as the Life and Death Wheel—to host a grand competition. This Life and Death Wheel existed many millennia ago. In the days following the secret realm harvesting during the Golden Core period, the Life and Death Wheel was activated as a trial. Later, it was closed when Foundation cultivators began to enter the secret realm for harvesting. The reasons for its closure are known only to our Master and his confidants."
Li Wu Yi paused for effect before continuing. "The Life and Death Wheel is said to be a blood-soaked artifact created by ancient immortal cultivators. It takes the form of a colossal sphere, and from its outer surface, twenty passageways extend inward from different directions, all evoking a convergence upon the sphere's center. Each passageway must be navigated by one high-level cultivator accompanied by 36 cultivators lower than him. Initially, each passage is a mere 10 li in length. However, as the cultivators advance relentlessly toward the center, the passage gradually extends farther. Its inner structure is a bewildering maze—a series of twenty twisting, undulating paths reminiscent of ribbons dancing in an invisible wind. Strikingly, those traversing these paths do not feel the swaying motion that their surroundings might suggest, and it is this very stillness amidst chaos that endows the artifact with its ominous name, the Life and Death Wheel."
He continued, "During this perilous journey, a critical moment will occur when two of these passageways meet. No one can predict which two will intersect. At the moment of intersection, the extensions of both paths will stop. Immediately, the 74 cultivators on those intersecting paths will come face-to-face; then, a fierce, life-and-death battle will commence. It is only after one side is cut down to 37 or fewer that the two passages will merge to form one continuous route, allowing the survivors to continue their advance toward the center of that sphere."
Li Wu Yi's gaze deepened as he looked at Li Yan, who sat quietly deep in thought. "Little Junior Brother, do you have any questions about this?" he asked softly.
After a long, pensive silence, Li Yan finally spoke, "Senior Brother, I suppose that this brutal contest forces both sides to engage in combat because there is simply no alternative. Otherwise, the groups might just wait idly until the process is over—if, say, failure to reach the center meant the entire team would perish, or if two passages intersected and unleashed a tremendous threat."
Li Wu Yi nodded in approval and smiled gently. "Exactly—you are perceptive, Little Junior Brother. Even if you did not deduce every detail, you have grasped the key point: the Life and Death Wheel is a contest of speed. Ultimately, it is the first three teams to reach the sphere's center who will be allowed entry into the inner core. The inner core itself is divided into four layers. Every contestant can reach the first layer. Then, according to the order of arrival, teams are teleported into different intermediate layers, where rewards of varying and increasing abundance await. These rewards far exceed what one might earn from merely gathering outside. However, keep in mind that the treasures obtained cannot be kept entirely by each individual—each person may select one treasure, or choose instead to exchange that treasure for an equivalent sum in spiritual stones with the sect. The rest must be submitted to the sect. Though this may sound harsh, consider that these treasures are won at the cost of our very lives. Every single treasure may be something you never see again in your lifetime—a rarity beyond measure. They are unimaginably precious, for our sect has poured vast resources into our cultivation, and opening the secret realm itself requires enormous expenditure. Therefore, most of the rewards must belong to the sect."
Li Yan listened intently, nodding slowly as the weight of the information settled upon him. He had long anticipated that if he ever considered participating in the secret realm gathering, he must not harbor any resentment against the sect. "Senior Brother, I understand," he said quietly. "Should I choose to join, I will do so without any hard feelings, knowing that such sacrifices are necessary for true advancement."
Li Wu Yi sipped his tea one final time and then said, "Very well, Little Junior Brother. Remember, once every one of you reaches that first layer, there will be no immediate death—but you will receive no rewards either. Eventually, you will be evacuated along with the other three teams. In other words, those left behind on the narrow paths will face death. That death—witnessing your comrades fall one by one, until only you remain—will be beyond what anyone could bear, perhaps even driving some mad enough to attack their own—an outcome you must all try to avoid."
He paused and added gravely, "That is why the Life and Death Wheel is not a game of leisure; it is a test of speed and resolve. When the twenty passages are filled by a total of 740 cultivators, the sphere will automatically contract, funneling everyone toward its center. As it contracts, vast swathes of dark shadow appear along its edges—like a terrible curse descending from the heavens. Any piece of our being—be it an artifact or simply our flesh—that comes into contact with these shadows is instantaneously reduced to ashes. So when two passages intersect, both sides must battle desperately to extend their route before those ominous shadows envelop them, or else face an immediate and merciless death."
For long moments, the two sat in silence as the gravity of the matter sank in. Outside, the fading light of dusk mingled with the gentle rustle of leaves, and within Li Yan's heart a mixture of trepidation and determination began to take root. He knew that if he ever wished to partake in the secret realm gathering and face the Life and Death Wheel, the sacrifices would be enormous—but so too would the rewards be.
After their long conversation, Senior Brother Li Wu Yi patted Li Yan on the shoulder, offering a brief, reassuring smile before rising to take his leave. Li Yan remained seated for a few more moments, deep in thought, before finally standing. As the quiet evening deepened and the shadows lengthened, Li Yan stepped outside once again, feeling the full impact of the knowledge imparted to him.
Thus, Li Yan resumed his daily labors with renewed determination. Even as he continued his rigorous work in the spiritual valley—clearing weeds under the relentless sun, watering the shimmering Mo Wang bamboo in the cool light of dawn—his mind now harbored a vision of a future that went far beyond the immediate hardship. Every swing of his golden-energized hoe was not simply the act of removing stubborn weeds, but a deliberate step on the path of his cultivation. Each bead of sweat that trickled down his face was a silent testament to his dedication, a single drop in the river that carried him ever forward toward his destiny.
Day by day, amidst the endless cycle of work and recovery, Li Yan's life began to transform. Although he had to part with numerous spiritual stones along the way—and although the recurring