Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 129 (384): [A Soulmate]
(129th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
*********************************
The entire district was sealed off.
Large numbers of City Defense Camp soldiers gathered to prevent any Demon Race powerhouses from silencing witnesses.
Half an hour later, dusk began to fall.
Tai Shi Bai arrived.
He had learned what had happened on his way, his face grim and silent as he strode into the restaurant.
Entering the room, he saw Long Xiangcen lying on the floor in the center, her body covered in wounds.
A complex emotion flickered in his eyes before he turned to Tai Shi Yu standing by the window.
Tai Shi Yu had washed the blood from his body and changed into fresh, luxurious robes, radiating an air of noble arrogance.
"What are you staring at? Your people from Lingxiao City almost got me killed because of her. Letting you live is already a display of brotherly loyalty."
Tai Shi Bai knelt down and pressed a finger against Long Xiangcen's Ancestral Field, breaking the seal.
As Long Xiangcen regained the ability to circulate Spiritual Qi, her complexion gradually improved, no longer as pale and weak as before.
But she couldn't stand.
Tai Shi Yu had broken her legs.
Tears welled in her eyes, making her appear utterly helpless, "Cousin, I'm so sorry... They planted the Death Spirit Fire in me. If I don't obey their orders, I'll burn to death... But I swear, I would never do anything to betray you or harm the Tai Shi Clan... Never... Even if it means dying..."
Tai Shi Yu couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"We've come this far, and you're still playing coy? If you don't tell the truth, you'll die even if Tai Shi Bai, General Commander Tai Shi, and Long Shexin come to save you."
Tai Shi Bai turned to Long Xiangcen: "This matter is known throughout the city. Every government office wants to question you. After tonight, I won't be able to protect your life. You must tell me everything you know immediately. Only by capturing Luan Sheng Lin You as quickly as possible can you redeem yourself and earn a chance at survival."
Tai Shi Yu added, "Who are the other Fallen Spirit powerhouses? Where did they come from? What's their goal? How many are hiding in Lingxiao City? Don't tell me you don't know. If you keep lying and playing the victim, I swear I'll throw you into a brothel to serve customers..."
"Do I look like I don't know?" Tai Shi Bai said sternly, "Get out. Give me half an hour."
"If you haven't given me useful information in half an hour, don't blame me for resorting to unsavory methods."
Tai Shi Yu cursed under his breath and stormed out of the room, descending the stairs.
The last rays of the setting sun faded away.
In the courtyard on the first floor, lanterns flickered to life, illuminating the area.
Imperial Court Martial-Mystic Dao experts stood guard everywhere - beneath the eaves, on the steps...
Li Weiyi and Jiang Ning stood five paces apart, beside two pillars, gazing at the warm, cyan sky of dusk as they communicated through spiritual energy transmission.
Li Weiyi said, "When the black curtain opened, Jiang Ning and Long Xiangcen clashed, witnessed by many. Phoenix Terrace is questioning you. How did you respond?"
"Naturally, I answered truthfully! I wasn't there at the time and knew nothing. Covering for Zuoqiu Hongting would only have created more inconsistencies."
Jiang Ning's face was veiled, her body radiating strands of spiritual light. She stood tall and graceful, her skin glowing even more alluringly in the night, utterly out of place in this turbid world.
She shouldn't be trapped in the imperial court; she belonged among the nine heavens.
She said, "Luan Sheng Lin You and Song Muchen have already been exposed. We can use this opportunity to eliminate all thirty Fallen Spirit powerhouses who have infiltrated the city without implicating you."
"Since you informed me, I've been tormented by this matter. Without clearing these hidden threats, it feels like the entire city is my enemy."
Li Weiyi looked at her ethereal beauty, yet knew her heart was filled with worldly concerns.
He couldn't help but tease, "To be honest, a peerless beauty like Lord Jiang should be revered, enshrined as an Immortal, and kept far from the mundane world, like the Goddess in a temple. It's the fault of everyone in the world for forcing you into this predicament of worrying about the nation and its people."
Jiang Ning frowned slightly, her expression serious: "In your position, you should focus on your duties. Why are you mocking me? My thinking is simple: the world is in chaos, making it hard to breathe. With our cultivation and abilities, we should do whatever we can."
"Fine, I'll follow your lead. But we must wait for Long Xiangcen to confess that she leaked the information," Li Weiyi said.
Jiang Ning remained stern, an air of aloofness about her.
"Zhuang Yue's list contains 212 names. I've eliminated most of them in the past month, leaving 92 suspects with the highest probability. Accurately identifying the 30 traitors from those 92 won't be easy."
"I'm in a better position. I've narrowed the suspects down to 50. We can arrest all of them."
Li Weiyi pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve and discreetly handed it to her.
"Just say you received a secret report a month ago, that Phoenix Terrace had already noticed some clues, and that you've been investigating secretly all along... The credit will be yours."
Jiang Ning accepted the paper.
She felt no need to thank Li Weiyi. Their bond was like that of comrades in arms, working in perfect harmony toward a shared goal.
She desperately wanted to leave right now, her voice urgent: "After what happened today, those people must have gone into hiding. We need to act quickly; we might still catch some."
"No need to rush. The Jiu Li Hidden Sect has been watching them. If they've gone into hiding, get the latest updates from Chen Chuan," Li Weiyi said.
Jiang Ning's many worries eased, her beautiful eyes brightening.
A rare smile that could topple kingdoms graced her lips: "So that's why you summoned so many Hidden Sect masters to Lingxiao City? You mocked me for my concern for the nation and its people, but aren't you the same? You're just refusing to admit it, as always! I'm doing my duty as a ruler. What about you? You're taking on responsibilities that aren't yours?"
Li Weiyi stood tall, his gaze sincere: "The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every man. As you said, we can only do what we can. It might not change anything, but at least we can live with a clear conscience."
"Well said: 'The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every man.' That's the duty all Martial-Mystic Cultivators should embrace."
Jiang Ning turned to him, her gaze lingering on his face: "Two years ago, your words, 'Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise,' infuriated me. You sounded like a complete rebel. But now, I'll give you my full support to break free from the Heretical Sect's control."
"By the way, the Imperial Court is almost certain that the Demonic Sect's headquarters is located in the Underground Immortal Mansion. The Second Palace Master has already left the city to persuade various factions to take the initiative and destroy it before the Yin Corpses sow rice, causing all Twenty-Eight Prefectures to fall and become a Zombie Kingdom overrun by Rice Corpses."
Jiang Ning noticed that Li Weiyi's eyes showed no joy, only deepening concern.
Reading his thoughts, she asked, puzzled, "What are you worried about?"
With the Second Palace Master out of Lingxiao City, the city would be left vulnerable.
Persuading various factions to attack the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall might force the sect to strike prematurely.
The Demon Race had been working to provoke the Twin Rice Sect into action. The secret of the sect's headquarters in the Underground Immortal Mansion was their doing.
Li Weiyi had thought they had at least two more months, but the current situation suggested war could erupt at any moment.
Before the storm, the ants sense the coming rain.
He said, "I've heard that Ghost Cities and Bone Palaces in the Nether Realm of the Dead, along with the Demon Race, are mobilizing massive armies, targeting the Western Territory. Meanwhile, war has broken out in the East Sea. At this critical juncture, can the Imperial Court truly handle a three-front war by attacking the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall?"
Jiang Ning gazed at the sky, where countless stars were emerging, and sighed softly.
"This grand game of the world is a contest among the Transcendents. It's beyond our comprehension or ability to help. All we can influence is the immediate, smaller picture."
"The Transcendents stand atop the mountains, able to see the rise and fall of the peaks, the colors of the trees and grass. In the grand scheme, nothing escapes their view."
"But they can't see the hidden dangers beneath the lush forests. They lack the energy to explore every nook and cranny."
"Disaster is like a spark igniting dry grass. By the time a mountain fire erupts, it's often too late to extinguish it."
"What's even more terrifying is that the fires aren't confined to a single location. They're breaking out across the entire world. In such a scenario, even the Transcendents would be overwhelmed, forced to rush from one crisis to another until they're utterly exhausted and helpless, forced to watch everything burn to ashes."
Li Weiyi understood this perfectly.
He pondered silently, wondering what Qilin Zhuang and Azure Phoenix were doing at this moment.
What hidden battles were the Transcendents and Immortal Realm Great Powers of the world engaged in?
It was clear that the Imperial Court alone stood no chance against the Demon Race.
With the need to defend both the East Sea and the Western Territory, how many Transcendents remained in Lingxiao City?
This was an unsolvable dilemma!
Even if Li Weiyi had revealed the peril facing Lingxiao City and summoned all the Imperial Court's top experts back, the outcome would have only been to save the city while the Eastern and Western Territories fell completely. The only difference would have been a gradual collapse instead of a sudden collapse.
The ultimate outcome was immutable.
Turning the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain into a slaughterhouse for the Demon Race and heretical sects was the Human Race's only chance to turn the tide.
Tai Shi Yu entered the courtyard, his gaze shifting between the two of them.
Sensing something amiss, he chuckled: "The world is abuzz with rumors that Feather Immortal is the Jiu Li Hidden One's soulmate, sharing an extraordinary experience in Li Province and Qiu Prefecture. One wields the Jing Yu Sword to slay enemies, while the other controls seven rare insects to manipulate their foes."
"Li Weiyi, Feather Immortal is known for her aloofness, showing favor to no one. Even a handsome and dashing figure like myself has never earned a single glance of her approval. Yet, this woman of strict professionalism hasn't thrown you into the Phoenix Terrace Prison. Clearly, you hold a special place in her heart."
"Why not call off your engagement to the Zuoqiu Sect? Join the Imperial Court, and I'll ask my father to approach the Jiang Clan on your behalf."
Li Weiyi smiled: "As someone whose Ancestral Field has been ruined, my Martial-Mystic Dao path is blocked. The Jiang Clan likely wouldn't be interested."
"If you want to discuss romance, don't drag me into it," Jiang Ning said, moving to the far side of the courtyard door to give them privacy.
Tai Shi Yu transmitted his voice through spiritual energy: "Was it Tang Wanzhou who attacked?"
Li Weiyi knew he was referring to the assassination attempt earlier that day. He needed to provide a reasonable explanation: "Yes, it was her. But I guarantee her purpose in entering the city isn't to sow chaos in the Imperial Court."
Tai Shi Yu nodded: "I believe you. I've met her once. She's a woman of extraordinary charisma, with a magnanimous heart and a sense of right and wrong and the greater good that few men can match. Well done, Wei Yi. Tang Wanzhou is another unattainable type. The fact that she looks favorably upon you almost makes me envious."
"Don't misunderstand," Li Weiyi said, "Young Lord Tang is entirely focused on the Martial-Mystic Dao."
"Dong! Dong..."
Tai Shi Bai descended the stairs, his brow furrowed. He turned to Tai Shi Yu: "She doesn't know much, but she revealed two things."
"First, thirty Fallen Spirit powerhouses, using the Soul Fusion Secret Technique, have infiltrated Lingxiao City by hiding within the bodies of thirty Dao Seed Realm experts from the Imperial Court. They plan to sow chaos at a critical moment."
Tai Shi Yu's expression changed drastically, his scalp tingling, "Thirty... How could there be so many? And with the Soul Fusion Secret Technique, it's impossible to detect them in a short time."
Tai Shi Bai continued, "Second, the Demon Race army and the Dead Spirit army will attack the Western Territory around the Lantern Festival. This timing aligns with the Imperial Court's predictions."
"She doesn't know the specific deployment details, nor could she, given her cultivation level."
"Brother Yu, can you help me save her life? This time, it was my mistake. I misjudged her character and brought disaster upon the Tai Shi Clan."
Tai Shi Yu found it difficult to refuse the plea, "If we can eliminate the threat quickly - arresting those who should be arrested and killing those who deserve it - that would be a great achievement. Then, when you make your request, the higher-ups might be willing to give the Tai Shi Clan some face. But thirty Undead powerhouses hiding in plain sight? How can we possibly find them? And they've likely already gone deeper underground by now."
Jiang Ning approached, glanced at Li Weiyi, and produced a page of names: "A month ago, I received a secret report and began investigating this matter. We've currently identified fifty suspects, but further verification is needed."
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
*************************************