Five Immortal Sects
Chapter 134: Li Yan’s Deduction (Two)

There were many recorded accounts in the ancient texts regarding five-element mixed spiritual roots. Generally, one with such roots could at most cultivate up to the fourth or fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage in their lifetime. To break through the bottleneck of the sixth level often required a massive accumulation of rare heavenly and earthly treasures.

If what Li Yan said was true, and the Qi Condensation cultivators the three sects had sent in this time were all five-element mixed spiritual root cultivators trained up to the peak level, then just how many precious resources would that have consumed? And how long would it have taken to raise them?

Even for colossal powers like the Four Great Sects, it would likely take at least several decades and the expenditure of about twenty percent of the sect’s total resources to cultivate such a number of mixed-root Qi Condensation cultivators.

Twenty percent of their resources might not sound like much, but for the Four Great Sects, that amount would be enough to forcibly nurture an entire first-tier sect from scratch. Clearly, this was a declaration of undying enmity toward their Wraith Sect.

Upon hearing Li Yan’s explanation, all the cultivators present couldn’t help but feel their hearts quake. Yet if they knew that Li Yan himself also possessed mixed spiritual roots, they wouldn't know what to think.

However, those who were aware of the truth such as Gong Chenying, Wu Shixi, and Yu Yiyong believed that Li Yan’s physique had already been transformed by the Fractured Poison Body.

“In that case, there’s no need for these green gourds. We can simply gather a few disciples who each wield one of the five element spiritual powers to jointly maintain the balance within the blue prism crystals. Or better yet, have those mixed-root Qi Condensation cultivators manage it directly. Wouldn’t that work just as well?”

A cultivator from Boundless Peak spoke up after some thought. Upon hearing this, many others nodded in agreement. Profound Spiritual Roots and Sacred Spiritual Roots were rare, but Earth and Mysterious Spiritual Roots weren’t so uncommon.

Most cultivators in the realm of cultivation possessed three or four elemental roots. As long as two or three were selected, it was entirely possible to collectively cover the five elements. What’s more, since the opposing side had a large number of five-element mixed-root Qi Condensation cultivators, even a single one could theoretically balance the five elements within a blue prism crystal.

“I don’t have concrete information on this matter, but I believe the issue lies in the need for multiple people to act in perfect unison. To achieve that level of coordination would require an unimaginable degree of mutual understanding, akin to one mind directing many limbs.

Even if such a level of synchronization could be achieved, since the five elemental spiritual energies wouldn’t all originate from the same cultivator, their compatibility would likely be flawed, which may in turn fail to meet the balance requirements inside the prism crystals.

As for a single mixed-root cultivator managing the balance, you all just attempted it yourselves, do you truly think one person alone could accomplish it?”

Li Yan calmly shared his thoughts.

After hearing his reasoning, the others fell silent. Indeed, maintaining five-element equilibrium through multiple people was extremely difficult to achieve.

And recalling the earlier incident where a cultivator had nearly been reduced to a withered husk after injecting spiritual power for only a few moments, it became all the more evident: a single Qi Condensation cultivator could never hope to maintain balance within a blue prism crystal.

Li Yan paused again, a flicker of confusion appearing in his eyes, as though something still eluded him.

Now, what most filled the hearts of these cultivators was a sense of shock toward Li Yan. With each revelation, he peeled back the layers of mystery like unraveling threads of silk, laying the truth bare before them. His meticulous thinking and coherent logic left them in awe.

There were many among them with keen intellects, but to sort through matters with such clarity as Li Yan had, few dared to claim they could do the same.

Even confident individuals such as Wu Shixi, Ding Yiwei, and Mei Caichu now found themselves silently sighing. Even if given another chance, they likely wouldn’t have thought to examine the spiritual roots of the enemy Qi Condensation cultivators.

Had Li Yan known what they were thinking, he wouldn’t have been overly proud. While he was indeed cautious to the finest detail, he didn’t consider himself far superior to these outstanding peers.

The reason for his performance lay primarily in the Guishui True Scripture. This secret realm had given him an inexplicable sensation, one that prompted continuous speculation on his part.

The trace of confusion in Li Yan’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by lucidity. He composed himself and continued:

“The green gourds were clearly meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators. But as we previously deduced, two Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot appear within the same sphere. So what’s the point of this setup?

After examining a few Qi Condensation cultivators from the two sects, I discovered that the timing of their poisoning was nearly identical, some even occurred at the exact same moment. I suspect that the primary purpose behind the three sects’ costly cultivation of these five-element mixed-root cultivators… is that they can appear together within a single sphere.”

By the time Li Yan reached the end of his statement, his expression had turned grave. He had just spoken the very conclusion everyone most dreaded to hear.

“In this way, the Foundation Establishment cultivators serve three roles:

First, they fulfill the requirement that each team must have a high-level cultivator to initiate the Life and Death Wheel trial;

Second, they act as the conduit to merge the thirty-six additional Qi Condensation disciples with their team, allowing them to massacre us with overwhelming numbers;

Third, in the worst-case scenario should one Foundation Establishment cultivator from their side fall within a sphere, the second one could launch a surprise re-entry. At that point, whether in strength or stamina, we would stand no chance against them.”

“But what if the third party they encounter also turns out to be one of their own? Can they just keep merging endlessly like that?”

Just as Li Yan finished speaking, Gong Chenying’s voice rang out once more. Her words, however, were colder than this snow-covered world itself.

Li Yan’s gaze turned slightly vacant. He looked up at the falling snow blanketing the sky and shook his head without responding.

For a moment, the howling wind grew even more bitter, stirring a sorrowful mood in every heart. If the enemy truly could keep merging like this then beyond this point, death would be the only outcome.

“I suspect that they cannot merge indefinitely. Although the rules here contain loopholes, it’s possible this was a hidden mechanism intentionally left behind by the creator of the Life and Death Wheel, perhaps as a contingency.”

After a brief pause, Li Yan withdrew his gaze and, after thinking for a moment, offered this explanation. But even he could not speak with certainty.

Li Yan truly had no way of knowing how many times the enemy could merge their teams. Yet based on the things he had seen within the blue prism crystal’s core, he vaguely sensed that this so-called cheating method was something the cultivator who forged this space had deliberately permitted.

If it was a deliberate allowance, then it would naturally be a controlled imbalance, never a complete one. Otherwise, it would defeat the entire purpose of the trial.

However, the fact that his divine sense could penetrate the blue prism crystal’s core was something he couldn’t reveal. It likely involved the Guishui True Scripture, and he would need to find an opportunity to secretly test it further before confirming anything.

“Then how would the Foundation Establishment cultivator outside the sphere know if their companion inside has died?”

Gong Chenying pressed on with her questioning, this one was critical.

In every team, the Foundation Establishment cultivator was the linchpin. Li Yan had deduced that they entered one after the other, but he hadn’t yet explained how they could remain in communication. This had great implications for their defensive strategy going forward.

“This question can be explained. Sixth Senior Sister, did you happen to notice something? The blue prism crystal carried by the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Grand Profound Sect had a white-colored core, while the one you handed me from the Ten-Step Court had a dark cyan core!”

Back when he retrieved that blue prism crystal from the skeletal remains of the Grand Profound cultivator, Li Yan had been puzzled for quite a while.

The Wraith Sect cultivators were momentarily confused by this seemingly disjointed comment. But almost immediately, many among them showed a flash of understanding in their eyes and began murmuring among themselves.

Upon hearing Li Yan’s remark, Gong Chenying nodded, she didn’t even press further.

She remembered it clearly. When the Ten-Step Court had selected their tunnel outside the Life and Death Wheel, the core color of their blue prism crystal was white. She had even glanced at Wang Lang in particular at the time.

Li Yan’s meaning was clear: there were still hidden secrets within the blue prism crystals. Through some unknown method, it was likely possible to determine the position or aura of one’s counterpart. Otherwise, why would both parties go through the trouble of swapping crystals?

Thinking of this, she suddenly recalled the slightly dazed expression her young junior had shown when she passed him the blue prism crystal earlier within the sphere.

This little junior truly was remarkable. Something so obvious, she herself had overlooked completely.

In truth, Gong Chenying was being too hard on herself. Faced with such sudden events, anyone’s composure would falter.

Unless one had deliberately paid attention to the blue prism crystal, it would’ve been easy to miss the subtle difference in the core color and to realize that the crystal had appeared in the hands of someone it should not have.

At this point in the discussion, everyone gradually quieted down, turning their eyes collectively toward Gong Chenying, because the allotted time was nearly up.

Whether or not this Martial Uncle Li’s deductions were true and many aspects remained unproven, there was no other path to take for now.

Gong Chenying cast a deep gaze over the crowd. In their eyes she saw doubt, hesitation, indifference and also, calm acceptance.

She knew that Li Yan’s deductions couldn’t convince everyone. Even she believed in only half of it and that was solely due to her junior brother’s clarity of thought.

There were still many questions Li Yan could not explain, and that fueled her skepticism of the other half. That was her nature, she would listen to others’ advice but final decisions always came from within.

“Half is enough. Life? From the moment we stepped onto the path of cultivation, it’s always been a struggle.”

Standing tall amidst the snow, Gong Chenying swept her gaze across each face before her. Finally, her eyes settled on Li Yan.

She looked at the two blue prism crystals in Li Yan’s hand, and at the three green gourds lying on the snow-covered ground, gradually being buried until only their outlines remained. Her eyes suddenly sharpened, she had made her decision.

“Give me your blue prism crystals and green gourds.”

Gong Chenying turned toward Li Yan and requested them. None of the other cultivators found this strange. After all, such critical items ought to be in the hands of the team leader.

Li Yan showed no dissatisfaction. With a wave of his hand, the two blue prism crystals and the three green gourds rose from the ground and flew toward Gong Chenying. At the same time, Li Yan’s lips moved faintly.

As the five items whistled through the air, Gong Chenying’s expression remained calm but suddenly, a voice rang out within her mind.

“Sixth Senior Sister, I’ve found a way to get through this trial!”

(Chapter End)