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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 107 (135): [Yin Er, Yin Shi San]
(107th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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At the mountain camp, a great river surged past, its currents swift and turbulent.
Zuoqiu Ting closed his folding fan, as still as a clay statue, seated within his tent. For the second time, he listened to Zuoqiu Baiming and Zuoqiu Lanlan recount their experience in the mountains, leaving out no detail.
Two Elders, both nearing a century in age, stood behind him on either side, their eyes occasionally flashing with murderous intent.
In the Southern Territory, someone had dared to defy the Zuoqiu Sect, and with such ruthless brutality, aiming to wipe them out completely.
Judging the whole from a part, this wasn't merely a dispute over Immortal Soil; it showed that the disciples of Heavenly Cliff Ridge, Coffin Mountain, Sui Sect, and San Chen Palace held no respect for the Zuoqiu Sect, the absolute rulers of the Southern Territory.
Without respect, acts of rebellion would only increase, just like the current situation with the Lingxiao Palace.
The white-bearded Elder standing behind Zuoqiu Ting's left side sneered: "The actions from Heavenly Cliff Ridge and Coffin Mountain are understandable. After all, the Four Extremes Ape King and the Forbidden One are truly formidable, so their disciples naturally have a strong foundation."
"But what are the Sui Sect and San Chen Palace?"
"Young Master, this matter demands a clear explanation, or they'll likely assume the Southern Territory has changed hands."
Zuoqiu Baiming reached for his still agonizing broken leg, his expression filled with resentment. He said in a low voice, "The Sui Sect is too arrogant. They don't even show respect for the Zuoqiu Sect. Even a junior from the Xue Clan shows no respect for us. We've been too lenient these past years. They've come to see the Zuoqiu Sect as the Jiu Li Clan, thinking the Ancient Myriad Sects are mere clay statues."
Zuoqiu Lanlan's eyes were red-rimmed.
"Brother Che was devoured directly by Di Ran. Coffin Mountain's ruthlessness surpasses even that of the Sui Sect."
Zuoqiu Baiming said, "Many Southern Territory powers have joined forces. We can no longer afford to be complacent. If we don't break them up, once they take Li Province, they'll inevitably turn their sights on us next."
Zuoqiu Ting's expression remained calm, his thoughts drifting to Thirty-Three Li Mountain.
"According to your account, you were with Sima Qin when you were knocked unconscious?"
Zuoqiu Lanlan's face, previously etched with sorrow and resentment, flushed crimson instantly.
She dared not meet his gaze.
"Yes."
Zuoqiu Baiming continued, "It must have been the Sui Sect and Heavenly Cliff Ridge who ambushed us. I only regret that my Fallen Spirit Skin was shattered. Otherwise, even if I'd lost a leg, I wouldn't have fallen victim to such a sneak attack."
Zuoqiu Ting said, "But you were safely escorted down the mountain, and none of your Immortal Soil or rare medicine was lost."
Zuoqiu Lanlan said, "Sima Qin must have saved us. His... his combat strength is probably on par with Senior Brother Bai Ming's. Moreover, he cultivates seven rare insects. For the Sui Sect and Heavenly Cliff Ridge to provoke him is simply courting death. Given time, he'll undoubtedly become a prominent figure in the Southern Territory's younger generation of Martial-Mystic practitioners."
Zuoqiu Ting looked at Zuoqiu Lanlan in surprise, sensing they were hiding something.
He chuckled, "Is he really that strong? Sister Lanlan rarely praises a young man so highly."
Zuoqiu Lanlan spared no praise: "His cultivation and combat prowess are secondary. It's his extraordinary charisma and rare moral character that set him apart. Otherwise, how could we have survived descending the mountain? Senior Brother Bai Ming, isn't that right?"
Zuoqiu Baiming had no idea what had happened after he fainted, not even sure if he'd been knocked out by the seven rare insects.
Who knew if the two of them had already been up to something illicit on the mountain?
He said, "Young Master, the Immortal Mist Clouds have dispersed, but Sima Qin hasn't descended. I suspect he left through another route, and he's likely pocketed the vast quantities of Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs and Golden Spring he seized from the Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the San Chen Palace and Coffin Mountain."
Zuoqiu Baiming didn't know that the Sui Sect and Heavenly Cliff Ridge had also been ambushed, their entire forces wiped out.
Zuoqiu Lanlan said, "Sima Qin might have encountered danger."
Zuoqiu Baiming sneered: "If he'd escorted us down, why didn't he return to camp with us? It's clear he wanted to keep the treasures for himself."
....
Zuoqiu Ting didn't want to listen to the arguments of the two of them any longer. He rose and walked out of the tent, gazing at the lush, towering Thirty-Three Li Mountain.
The air was fresh, thick with the energy of the Law.
The Immortal Mist Clouds had already retreated to the mountain peak.
If any Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators were still lingering in the mountain, they would have undoubtedly spontaneously combusted by now.
He walked toward the stone stele at the mountain entrance.
There, hundreds of figures, carriages, and Strange Beasts had gathered.
In this Immortal Realm Space, almost all the Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs in the explorable areas had been harvested, leaving only the eerie, majestic Thirty-Three Li Mountain as a source.
Naturally, everyone had converged here.
Who wouldn't want to undergo a Pure Immortal Physique Transformation?
Who wouldn't want to quickly break through their cultivation, join the ranks of the younger generation's elite, and watch the world's winds and clouds shift from a position of power?
As for the unexplored depths of the Immortal Realm Space, Dao Seed Realm elders had been perishing one after another. The latest news was that even a Immortal Realm giant had fallen within, making the danger terrifying. Many were already considering retreat.
In front of the massive, wall-like stone stele, the younger generation Martial-Mystic Cultivators from various Major Powers were engaged in heated debate, as if some major incident had occurred.
The leaders of the Four Great Sects, Heavenly Cliff Ridge, and Coffin Mountain all wore grim expressions.
Unable to wait any longer for Xue Qi, Chen Song, and Di Ran to return, they had dispatched Spring Surge Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators into the mountain to search.
The search party returned carrying a large number of corpses.
The corpses lay stripped of all treasures and wealth. It was clear this was the work of human malice, not some mountain mystery.
"Who could have done this? If I find out, I'll boil them, fry them, eat their flesh, and sleep on their skin!" Mie Di's fury burned uncontrollably.
He could only vent his rage with such threats while secretly observing the crowd.
"Such targeted strikes... Could it be the work of the Jiu Li Clan?" Shi Shishi's mind flashed with the image of Sima Qin, but he doubted the man's cultivation was sufficient to orchestrate such a large-scale operation.
Could it be the legendary Jiu Li Hidden Sect that had struck?
"The Shishi Dharma King is sharp, pinpointing the key point with a single sentence. This was a coordinated attack aimed at the Four Great Sects, and Heavenly Cliff Ridge has also been caught in the crossfire."
Chen Wenwu added, "A vast quantity of spiritual artifacts, Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs, and Golden Spring have been stolen. Most likely, these will soon flood the market. If we investigate, we're bound to trace the source. The San Chen Palace will have its revenge!"
The San Chen Palace had lost two of its three Nine Springs Supreme from the younger generation. The loss was truly devastating.
Now, only Chen Wenwu remained.
Zuoqiu Ting silently observed the corpses laid out on the ground, a growing smile spreading across his face.
He thought to himself, "Li Weiyi, what a wicked Li Weiyi"
"How many treasures did he steal?"
"He used my Zuoqiu Sect's Talisman Robe to enter the mountain, made a fortune beyond measure, and then fled with his loot."
"But can he really escape justice?"
...
"Is the Hidden Lord here?"
Li Weiyi scanned the low, rolling hills before him. The unobstructed view stretched for dozens of miles without a trace of human life.
There was no sign of the Hidden Lord's presence.
"Whoosh!"
On a small hill only a few dozen meters high, a crack suddenly appeared, and an invisible curtain of mist parted.
The Hidden Lord's tall, imposing figure materialized. He wore a metal mask and a black robe, radiating an aura of authority even from afar.
"Wei Yi," he called out, "how has your cooperation with the Zuoqiu Sect been? Have you managed to unearth any Immortal Soil for them?"
Li Weiyi examined the curtain of mist, noticing the formation glyphs woven into it.
He quickly ascended the hill and reported, "We've unearthed nearly a pound of Immortal Soil, along with a large quantity of Spiritual Soil. Zuoqiu Baiming has already taken it down the mountain."
"A pound is a bit less than I'd hoped, but establishing a connection with the Zuoqiu Sect is the most important thing. You'll have many opportunities to collaborate with them in the future."
"Speaking of which, it was me who personally invited the Zuoqiu Sect's Founding Ancestor to Li Province," the Hidden Lord said.
Yin Ershi Si and Yin Ershi San followed Li Weiyi up the hill, their expressions natural, careful not to reveal the truth about his unauthorized departure and self-enrichment.
Li Weiyi felt a slight tremor of unease.
"Isn't the Hidden Sect supposed to remain hidden? Why not have Cang Li, the Inheritor, handle the cooperation? And when you invited the Zuoqiu Sect's Founding Ancestor, didn't that expose the Hidden Sect's existence?"
The Hidden Lord, who never smiled in front of other Hidden Ones, chuckled: "For a thousand years, as the two transcendent powers of the Southern Territory, the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiu Li Clan have been probing each other. The most intense probing has always been done by the Hidden Sects."
"You don't think the Zuoqiu Sect doesn't have its own Hidden Sect? For the Million of Sects, Ancient Myriad Clans, and Various Factions, the existence of Hidden Sects is an open secret."
"The Hidden Sects of the Jiu Li Clan and the Zuoqiu Sect compete and secretly battle each other. But they also cooperate to eliminate any other Southern Territory powers that might grow into Ancient Myriad Sects or Factions."
"This dirty work is always done by the two Hidden Sects. They won't allow a third Ancient Myriad Power to emerge in the Southern Territory."
"Furthermore, to secure the Zuoqiu Sect's support, the Jiu Li Clan - especially the Hidden Sect - must demonstrate the strength expected of a Ancient Myriad Clan and offer a sufficiently high price."
Li Weiyi sensed something extraordinary in the Hidden Lord's words. His expression turned grave.
"Has the situation become so dire that we must seek the Zuoqiu Sect's help to survive this crisis?"
The Hidden Lord's gaze deepened.
"Heavenly Cliff Ridge's involvement was unexpected. No one anticipated the Demon Race would dare interfere in the struggle for dominance. Of course, even now, we don't necessarily need the Zuoqiu Sect's help. But if there's an easier way to solve the problem, why endure the hardship alone?"
"Wei Yi, if you're going to be a Divine Hidden One, you must understand one principle. As a Leader, you can't just focus on how to defeat your enemies at all costs. You must also consider how to minimize casualties among your own forces while achieving victory."
"The Hidden Ones follows you, so you must take care of them."
"The Seven Southern Provinces are a battleground of competing powers: Barbarian Bandits, Sects, Powerful Clans, Sects, Demon Races, Gangs... The strong are everywhere. To survive, you must seek allies wherever possible. We need allies, and the Zuoqiu Sect needs them too."
Beside the Hidden Lord stood two figures in black robes, who had been observing Li Weiyi.
"How should I address these two?" Li Weiyi turned his gaze toward them.
One of the figures, with fair skin and a soft, round face that made him look to be in his early twenties, stepped forward.
He showed no disrespect despite Li Weiyi's relatively shallow cultivation, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said with a smile, "Yin Shi San"
"Yin Er."
The other man was shorter, with a gaunt face and deep, brooding eyes. His aura was heavy, making him appear to be in his thirties or forties.
Both were clad in High-Grade Spiritual Artifact Nightwalker's Garments.
The only difference was that a corner of a blue brocade official robe could be seen beneath Yin Shi San's garment, hinting at his extraordinary status.
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END OF CHAPTER
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