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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 34 (471): [Li Weiyi and Yao Yin's Assassination]
(34th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Another half-month passed.
Finally, movement stirred outside the room.
Li Weiyi immediately withdrew from the Blood Mud Space, opened the wooden door, and found Yao Qingxuan standing outside, her face veiled.
"Something's happened!" she said.
Blinding sunlight streamed through the doorway, forcing Li Weiyi to squint.
The warm air carried the salty breeze from the sea.
Li Weiyi knew Yao Qingxuan wouldn't interrupt his seclusion unless it was urgent.
His heart tightened with apprehension.
"What is it? What happened?"
"This morning, Li Weiyi and Yaoyin were attacked while visiting the Sea Market," Yao Qingxuan said.
"Who? Li Weiyi?"
Li Weiyi froze for a moment, then quickly understood.
Yaoyin was always guarded by powerful experts from the Jiu Li Clan and the Calamity Crossing Temple. Ordinary Transformation Techniques wouldn't fool them.
It was likely his fiancee causing trouble again.
Li Weiyi's brow furrowed: "Was the fake Li Weiyi injured?"
"Why are you worried about him? Aren't you concerned Yaoyin might have been deceived?" Yao Qingxuan's demeanor had changed noticeably recently, her voice now tinged with emotion.
Unlike before, when she remained cold and impassive even in the face of catastrophe.
It was clear that having someone she cared about had pulled her back into the mortal realm, making it difficult to remain detached.
"The fake Li Weiyi is likely Zuoqiu Hongting," Li Weiyi said.
"That's what the Hidden Lord initially believed as well," Yao Qingxuan replied, "But after the assassination attempt, the fake Li Weiyi displayed extraordinary mastery of Psychic Power, with Spiritual Light of the fire attribute, and even captured the assassin."
Yao Qingxuan continued, "Therefore, the Hidden Lord sent Yin Shiyi to confirm whether you had prematurely emerged from your seclusion."
Li Weiyi knew Zuoqiu Hongting had cultivated Psychic Power.
After all, her ancient lamp artifact was stored in the Spirit Realm between his eyebrows.
Yet she had never revealed her Psychic Power cultivation, not even during the most critical moments of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.
For a moment, Li Weiyi began to doubt himself, a hidden worry stirring in his heart.
The Great Dao of the world was vast and boundless, encompassing countless Daoist Methods. It wouldn't be surprising if another expert had mastered the Transformation Technique.
'If someone is truly impersonating me, swindling money and seducing women, this is intolerable!'
Li Weiyi urgently asked, "Where are they now? Who was the assassin?"
"After being captured, the assassin detonated the Death Spirit Fire within their body, dying instantly - a true Martyr," Yao Qingxuan explained as she led Li Weiyi to the front courtyard.
She gestured toward Yin Shiyi, who stood in the shade of a tree: "Ask him for the details."
Yin Shiyi glanced over, scrutinizing Li Weiyi from head to toe, then rubbed his eyes.
"Am I seeing things? Divine Hidden One, weren't you with Yaoyin at the Commander's Banquet?"
"Commander's Banquet?"
....
A Soul Beast Carriage departed from the Hidden Gate Stronghold.
Yin Shiyi sat outside the carriage, Soul Whip in hand, driving toward the Horizon's Edge Ship of the Snow Sword Tang Court anchored at the seaside.
Inside the carriage, Li Weiyi transformed his appearance and donned a black martial robe, listening to Yin Shiyi recount the fake Li Weiyi's appearance and combat techniques.
Yu'er also sat inside the carriage, Li Weiyi having promised never to abandon her again.
"He knows you intimately - your tone of voice, your gaze, your habits, even your past. What's more, he's mastered Immobilization Talismans, and his Psychic Radiance is eerily similar to yours," Yin Shiyi said.
Li Weiyi's expression turned puzzled.
This felt like an inside job!
If the fake Li Weiyi truly understood him so well, his disguise would be flawless. Had he attended the Commander's Banquet, even Tang Wanzhou might have been deceived.
"First, let's go to the Zuoqiu Sect," Li Weiyi said.
After cultivating within the Time Cocoon for a month and a half, only seven or eight days had passed in the outside world.
At the Zuoqiu Sect's courtyard where Martial-Mystic Cultivators gathered, Yin Shiyi contacted Qi Xiao and brought him into Li Weiyi's carriage.
Qi Xiao showed little surprise: "I've heard about the assassination attempt. Which fool dared to target you?"
He clearly didn't realize the target had been the fake Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi couldn't answer his question.
"Where's Zuoqiu Hongting?" he asked.
Qi Xiao chuckled: "Lord Hongting's movements are as elusive as ever. Like a divine dragon, she reveals neither head nor tail. Even Great Powers of the Immortal Realm struggle to find her - just like you."
"I heard the Young Lord of Snow Sword Tang Court is hosting a Commander's Banquet today, gathering the powerhouses of all major forces in the Lingxiao Realm to discuss and strategize for the competition over opportunities during the excavation of the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains. Is the Zuoqiu Sect not participating?" Li Weiyi asked.
Qi Xiao replied meaningfully, "It's not that we don't want to participate - we simply can't."
"What do you mean?" Li Weiyi asked, curious.
Qi Xiao smiled bitterly: "After the battle of Lingxiao City, the Mist Celestial's whereabouts remain unknown. The older generation is pessimistic; Flying Phoenix and Demon Lord Yu Baxian won't let her live. Now, it seems even the Rice Palace intends to finish her off."
"Beyond these visible enemies, countless unseen foes will never allow the Mist Celestial to return. According to the Heaven's Chosen from Calamity Crossing Temple, the entire southern Yingzhou has been shaken."
"Furthermore, it's rumored that the Mist Celestial's divine power and slaughterous rampage stemmed from obtaining two Other Shore Heavenly Pills from the Grand Palace Mistress. It's highly likely she perished over a decade ago."
"So, right now, the Lingxiao Realm is essentially a battleground between the Snow Sword Tang Court and the Zuoqiu Sect for the position of Life Realm Lord."
"The Snow Sword Tang Court, acting as the supreme ruler of the world, has issued invitations and is hosting a Commander's Banquet. The fact that the Zuoqiu Sect hasn't disrupted it already shows they're prioritizing the greater good."
Qi Xiao lowered his voice again: "The Calamity Crossing Temple has been supporting the Zuoqiu Sect, pouring in massive resources and manpower. Now, if the Zuoqiu Sect were to submit to the Snow Sword Tang Court, the temple would be the first to object. Can you really regurgitate something you've already swallowed?"
"The best-case scenario now is for the north and south to maintain their standoff, avoid conflict, cease internal strife, and patiently await news from the Mist Celestial."
Li Weiyi said, "I doubt the Calamity Crossing Temple would allow such a thing. Having invested so much, they'll demand a return - and it must be a success. Otherwise, their influence in southern Yingzhou will suffer."
"Exactly. For this opportunity, the Zuoqiu Sect's Martial-Mystic Cultivators - including the Jiu Li Clan - can cooperate with the Calamity Crossing Temple, so there's no need to worry. Let the Snow Sword Tang Court make their fuss; we just need to stay out of trouble."
Qi Xiao's gaze fell on Yu'er beside him.
He smiled: "This child is so exquisitely beautiful, like a porcelain doll. Absolutely adorable! Tell Uncle Qi, what's your name?"
"Yu'er," Li Weiyi called out.
Yu'er, dressed in a boy's blue cloth robe and headscarf, sat beside Li Weiyi, her bright eyes and radiant smile shining with youthful vitality.
Qi Xiao pulled out a handful of Yongquan Coins: "Call me Uncle Qi, and these are all yours! You can buy lots of delicious treats."
Li Weiyi startled and immediately shoved Qi Xiao off the carriage: "Get lost! And don't spread word of my visit to Moon Dragon Island Sea Market. If you hear anything about Zuoqiu Hongting, notify me immediately."
"Rumble, rumble."
The carriage lurched forward.
Qi Xiao stood dumbfounded by the roadside, utterly bewildered.
He had only wanted to give the little girl a small greeting gift.
What had he done to offend anyone?
He didn't realize that Li Weiyi saw himself as saving Qi Xiao.
"Yu'er," Li Weiyi cautioned, "remember this: never let strangers trick you with money! You're still young and can't tell good people from bad."
Yu'er nodded vigorously: "Was that man a bad person?"
"Not exactly. He seemed quite nice," Li Weiyi replied.
Yu'er's small face furrowed with confusion.
"Then why didn't Master let me call him Uncle Qi?"
"Never mention 'Uncle Qi' again!" Li Weiyi warned, "If you call him 'Little Qi,' he'll be thrilled for days."
The Horizon's Edge Ship was leased by the Snow Sword Tang Court from the East Sea Garrison.
Duke Huo Di of the East Sea personally oversaw its construction, intending it to be used in a campaign to crush the Three Island Barbarians and eradicate the maritime threat.
It was a colossal vessel, a behemoth anchored in the deep waters several miles from the shore. Its deck towered thirty zhang above the sea, and the ship's tower rose in tiered layers, resembling a distant pagoda and a mountain up close.
A warship of this scale could carry ten thousand soldiers.
Over the past millennium, the East Sea Garrison had built only eight such vessels, capable of navigating the deep sea and withstanding storms and Demon Beasts.
This also demonstrated the close ties between the Imperial Court factions and the Snow Sword Tang Court.
Li Weiyi retrieved the Smiling Buddha mask and placed it on Yu'er's face, instructing Yin Shiyi to stop at the shore.
The two figures, one large and one small, then strode across the water toward the ship.
Countless vessels of all sizes surrounded the Horizon's Edge Ship.
In addition to the major powers from the Seven Southern Provinces, Dao Seed Realm experts from across the Lingxiao Realm had gathered for this unprecedented event, a spectacle rarely seen in a century.
Many legendary figures who had made their names a century ago were present.
"Liang Zheng, First Commander of Liang Prefecture in the Eastern Territory, leads twenty-seven heroes of the Liang Clan to the banquet, awaiting the Young Lord's command."
"Zhu Qishier Chongtian, the Western Territory's foremost expert below the Immortal Realm, arrives at the banquet, ready to serve under the Young Lord's command."
"Senior Qishier Chongtian is still alive? He must be nearly 140 years old by now."
"The average lifespan of a Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator is two Sixty-Year Cycles, 120 years. But reaching 120 doesn't guarantee death. Senior Qishier Chongtian consumed a life-extending precious medicine, granting him an additional thirty years of life."
The Transcendents of the Zhu Sect, who considered their bloodline extraordinary, would sire offspring whenever their interest was piqued, sending them to roam the world.
Zhu Yibai was their hundredth descendant.
Zhu Qishier Chongtian was their seventy-second descendant.
As an Inheritor, Zhu Qishier Chongtian had displayed remarkable prowess in his youth, defeating all his peers.
However, after reaching the Ninth Heaven, he remained stuck, unable to achieve a Breakthrough despite consuming Immortality Pills.
His arrival naturally caused a stir.
Even with his Blood Qi waning after nearly a century trapped at the Ninth Heaven, his strength remained formidable.
"Lei Wu, First Commander of the Thundercloud Sect, Lu Cangsheng, the foremost figure of the younger generation, and the ten Great Elders have come to pay their respects."
"Chen Shidao, First Commander of Nether Province..."
"First Commander of Shuzhou..."
....
Li Weiyi, holding Yu'er's hand, leaped onto the ship, landing lightly on the deck.
He retrieved the token Tang Wanzhou had given him earlier and handed it to Tuoba Butuo, who was greeting guests from various factions.
Tuoba Butuo startled at the sight of the Young Lord's token.
Li Weiyi pocketed the token and transmitted a silent message: "It's me! Where's the fake Li Weiyi?"
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END OF CHAPTER
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