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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 97 (125): [The Giant-Headed Figure]
(97th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The severely weathered stone tablet stood among lush ancient trees on the opposite bank of the great river. Most of its surface had been excavated, as it had previously been buried underground.
The four blurry characters carved on the tablet - "Thirty-Three Li" - were not from this world's scriptures.
A Spiritual Mind Master who had lived for over a hundred years had deciphered them.
Li Weiyi wore a black Nightwalker's Garment over a steel-cloth battle suit and a talisman robe, with Corpse Garment Soft Armor underneath.
With four layers of protection, his original figure was completely concealed, making him appear rather bulky.
He used the Transformation Technique to alter his facial muscles, then lowered his head and walked past the group of top young masters from the Southern Territory, fearing recognition from Yang Qingxi, Shi Shishi, and others who had seen him before.
The Silver Horned Deer Carriage stood by the riverbank, its curtains hanging open on both sides. Yang Qingxi sat inside, smiling.
"Only sending five Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators into the mountain? It seems Young Master Zuoqiu's goal is clear: the Immortal Soil."
Zuoqiu Ting fanned himself: "We came in haste and didn't bring enough manpower."
"If Young Master Zuoqiu had only asked, the Sui Sect would have been more than willing to lend their support. Why bother borrowing from the Jiu Li Clan?" Yang Qingxi said.
Zuoqiu Ting asked with a teasing tone, "Is it still possible to borrow from Miss Qingxi now?"
Yang Qingxi smiled charmingly without answering.
The Wuxin Golden Ape, with its four arms, showed no flattery or respect toward Zuoqiu Ting: "Immortal Soil is a treasure! Even Spiritual Soil near it can accelerate Medicine growth tenfold. But it's not easy to dig up. In the past few days, hundreds of Spring Surge Realm Demon Cultivators from Heavenly Cliff Ridge have died, and we've only managed to unearth half a pound of Immortal Soil and a hundred pounds of Spiritual Soil."
"I've heard Immortal Soil is the main ingredient in the Immortal Pill. Young Master Zuoqiu, as an Inheritor of the Ancient Myriad Sects, you must know some insider information, right?" Yang Qingxi asked.
Shi Shishi perked up his ears.
The Immortal Pill - the legendary supreme treasure of the world, with only ten pills appearing every sixty-year cycle. Even just smelling it could drive the mighty First Commanders to fight like dogs for it.
Zuoqiu Ting looked at Yang Qingxi, understanding her thoughts, and smiled.
"With the peerless talent of the humble gentleman Yao Qian, he has a high chance of reaching the Immortal Realm even without the Immortal Pill."
.....
After crossing the river, Li Weiyi and Shang Zhi brought up the rear of the five-person party.
Shang Zhi, having left the Azure Python - a creature with Five Seas Realm cultivation - behind, was in a state of high excitement, brimming with anticipation for the journey.
"Brother Sima, there's no need to be so tense. Even many Spring Surge Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators have returned safely with rich harvests. As Five Seas Realm experts, surely we can't be inferior to them?"
Li Weiyi observed the entry formations of the major powers into Thirty-Three Li Mountain.
"Before today, there's never been such a large influx of Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators into this mountain. Man-made disasters are often more dangerous."
Shang Zhi nodded: "We must indeed be wary of the Four Great Sects."
"The leader of the Sui Sect's group is Xue Qi. He just turned twenty this year and is already in the Second Realm of the Five Seas Realm. He's the most talented young member of the Xue Clan, truly remarkable. I witnessed him firsthand in Yaoguan City when he fought an elder with Third Realm cultivation. Without using his Transformation Battle Technique Intent, the elder struggled to defeat him."
Li Weiyi couldn't help but glance at Xue Qi again, impressed by his ability to contend with someone beyond his cultivation realm.
Xue Qi, riding a Surging Spring Realm bull-beast and clad in Fallen Spirit Skin, led a large contingent of men into the Rosy Mist of the mountain forest.
He carried a white Yin Banner and wore a spiritual artifact battle saber at his waist, radiating a leader's aura.
The Sui Sect, a local power, could quickly mobilize a large number of Spring Surge Realm death warriors.
Shang Zhi, a Nine Springs Supreme, had a discerning eye: "The leaders from the Tianyi Sect and the Coffin Sea Pavilion are only so-so in strength. But Chen Song of the San Chen Palace is said to be one of the Chen Clan's three Nine Springs Supreme of the younger generation. After consuming the Immortal Haze-tainted Herb, he broke through his second Qi Sea and entered the second stage of the Five Seas Realm."
Over the past six months, the continuous emergence of Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs in Burial Immortal Town had significantly increased the number of Nine Springs Supremes and Pure Immortal Physiques among the major powers, diluting their prestige.
Chen Song had cultivated his Ancestral Field before this. He was also clad in Fallen Spirit Skin, which bore the face of a disheveled old man with piercing eyes.
Zuoqiu Baiming, riding a sturdy steed at the forefront, held a blue Yin Banner shrunk to just over two meters long. Hearing the conversation behind him, he said, "You're working for the Zuoqiu Sect now. Why fear the Four Great Sects? Can't you Jiu Li Clan Martial-Mystic Cultivators show some ambition? The Four Great Sects were once nothing more than your household servants and slaves."
"Besides, Xue Qi, with his Eight Springs Pure Immortal Physique, and Chen Song, a Mortal Nine Springs Supreme, wouldn't dare to oppose me."
Tian Che, carrying his spear, chuckled: "Senior Brother Bai Ming is a Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique who has broken through the Five Seas Realm - they can't compare."
"Just focus on serving the Zuoqiu Sect," Zuoqiu Lanlan said, "Leave the safety concerns to us."
Shang Zhi forced a wry smile, feeling that the Jiu Li Clan's Martial-Mystic Cultivators had indeed lost their edge over the years.
Li Weiyi's perspective differed from Shang Zhi's. He found the Zuoqiu Sect's confidence excessive.
In a place like Thirty-Three Li Mountain, who would care about your status? Who would fight you one-on-one?
In Zuoqiu Baiming, he saw the duality of these Sect disciples. Superior birth could nurture a Zuoqiu Ting - a confident, wise, and forthright prodigy. But it could also breed overconfident Martial-Mystic Cultivators, arrogant and conceited.
As they spoke, the group of five entered the Immortal Mist Clouds, their footsteps crunching on the thick layer of fallen leaves as they ascended the mountain.
The other teams had already vanished.
The forest was eerily silent, broken only by their footsteps and breathing.
"We only have three days. We must descend before the Cloud Mist dissipates. We won't waste time searching for the Golden Spring and Immortal Haze-tainted Herb in this lower area. We'll head straight to the mountain region above Nine Mile Mountain to excavate Immortal Soil. Move quickly, and stay close!"
Zuoqiu Baiming spurred his horse forward.
The other three, all Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators, easily kept pace.
Li Weiyi discreetly swallowed a Radiant Flame Pill. Though he was ostensibly focused on the Immortal Soil, his true interest lay in the Golden Spring.
Throughout the journey, he secretly activated his Heavenly Eye to search for it.
Upon reaching Four Mile Mountain, they encountered the corpses of five Spring Surge Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
Their deaths were gruesome. Some had their hearts ripped out by an unknown creature, leaving gaping chest wounds and ghastly white corpses that sent shivers down their spines.
Another was missing half its body, as if devoured in a single bite, with irregular bite marks around the waist.
Thirty-Three Li Mountain was already shrouded in mystery, rumored to be a Burial of Immortals. The sight before them sent a chill down their spines, filling them with a primal fear of the unknown.
"This doesn't look like human work!" Zuoqiu Lanlan, who appeared to be in her early twenties, her Pure Immortal Physique face radiating mature beauty, wore an expression of unease. It was a stark contrast to her earlier composure at the foot of the mountain.
Li Weiyi, bold as ever, walked over and examined the corpses for a while before starting to search them.
He found no money pouches.
But from the leader's corpse, he retrieved three Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs and an iron bottle.
Clearly, the leader had been responsible for collecting the team's spoils.
When he twisted open the iron bottle, a golden light surged out, carrying a refreshing fragrance.
Li Weiyi's eyes lit up.
He quickly recapped the bottle and tucked it into his chest.
Tian Che, Zuoqiu Lanlan, and Shang Zhi were filled with regret. If they had known the rewards would be so great, they would have rushed to search the corpses first.
Even Zuoqiu Baiming couldn't help but be tempted.
"We're a team," he said, "After we leave the mountains, we should divide all the spoils equally, except for the Immortal Soil, to avoid any conflicts over distribution."
'Why didn't you say that before we found the treasure?'
Li Weiyi frowned but didn't object.
He took out the three Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs and handed them to Zuoqiu Lanlan.
"I have a great use for the Golden Spring. I won't take any of these Herbs!"
The eyes beneath Zuoqiu Baiming's Fallen Spirit Skin gleamed with satisfaction.
'This is the allure of power and absolute strength.'
His every word was an order that everyone had to obey.
But Li Weiyi's next words instantly wiped the smile from Zuoqiu Baiming's eyes.
"Senior Brother Bai Ming truly deserves his reputation as a Heavenly Pride of the Sect. I'm truly impressed. If I were leading this expedition, and if I possessed your formidable cultivation, I certainly wouldn't distribute the Rare Medicine equally. I'd take at least half for myself," Li Weiyi said.
Shang Zhi nodded in agreement: "I might even take the lion's share! Sometimes, you have to admit that character truly exists."
Zuoqiu Baiming felt a pang of regret, cursing his misjudgment. It was too late to change his stance now, "Lan Lan, gather all the Rare Herbs first. We'll divide it after we descend the mountain," he said.
"Who's there?"
Tian Che raised his spiritual artifact spear and shouted into the mist.
Everyone followed his gaze, their expressions changing as they quickly circulated their spiritual power. They repositioned themselves, tightening their defensive formation.
Twenty meters away, a bizarre black figure stood in the mist. It resembled a human, but its head was disproportionately large, taking up a third of its body's length. Its features were indistinct, but they could see long hair flowing from its head and felt its gaze upon them.
Zuoqiu Baiming snorted coldly, condensing a flying knife of spiritual Qi in his palm and sending it whistling through the air.
The giant-headed human shadow vanished without a trace.
"What kind of monster is this? Could it have killed those Spring Surge Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators?" Zuoqiu Lanlan glanced around nervously, her mind racing.
Zuoqiu Baiming said, "With the Spirit-Suppressing Banner and Heavenflame Blade in my possession, I can handle anything, living or Dead spirit. But... we should get out of this Ghostly Place as soon as possible."
They continued their ascent.
There was no path, and the slope grew steeper. The five of them struggled through the thorns and dense undergrowth.
Li Weiyi and Shang Zhi led the way, clearing a path.
Zuoqiu Baiming had long abandoned his horse, wielding the High-Grade Spiritual Artifact Heavenflame Blade as he brought up the rear.
The Zuoqiu Sect had entrusted him with all their top-tier warriors and Battle Treasures, arming him to the teeth.
The journey remained relatively uneventful, the giant-headed shadow making no further appearances.
In less than three hours, they reached the base of a waterfall on Nine Mile Mountain.
Zuoqiu Baiming ordered them to stop and surveyed their surroundings.
"Now that we're on Nine Mile Mountain, we have a chance to find Immortal Soil. Spread out and search, but don't stray too far. When you hear my whistle, return here immediately."
"What does Immortal Soil even look like?" Shang Zhi asked.
Zuoqiu Baiming said, "Search the forest for the trails of the Immortal Mist Clouds. Following those trails will lead you to the Immortal Soil. It's hard to describe exactly what it looks like, but when you see it, you'll know it's Immortal Soil - definitely not Spiritual Soil or Mineral Mud."
"Also... any Immortal Soil you dig up, hand it over to me first. I'll keep track of the amounts."
Zuoqiu Baiming was the first to charge into the forest, eager to dig up as much Immortal Soil as possible to prove himself to Zuoqiu Ting.
Tian Che and Zuoqiu Lanlan headed in another direction.
Shang Zhi asked, "Brother Sima, want to team up?"
Li Weiyi shook his head and sat down on a massive boulder: "Don't you guys ever get tired? I'm going to rest for a bit. We have three days - no need to rush."
"Haha, alright. But don't get jealous if I find some Immortal Soil later. One or two units of Immortal Soil are worth 300,000 silver - opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime."
Shang Zhi shouldered his blade and disappeared into the mist.
Li Weiyi still held a deep reverence for Thirty-Three Li Mountain.
Zuoqiu Baiming definitely knew something.
First, he said they would divide the Rare Herbs after descending the mountain, then he insisted on collecting all the Immortal Soil first. His words implied that not all of them might survive the journey.
Li Weiyi stayed behind alone, not to rest, but to focus on the hundred-meter-tall, pale golden cliff face where the waterfall cascaded.
Pale golden stones littered the ground below the cliff.
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END OF CHAPTER
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