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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 52 (196): [Who Is the Strongest?]
(52nd of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The moment the finger-force beam shot out, a ripple of Qi energy spread outward from Li Weiyi's fingertip.
"Boom!"
Lu Wensheng finally unleashed his Thunder Annihilation Formation, eighteen bolts of lightning colliding head-on with the incoming finger-force.
In an instant, energy surged skyward, and bolts of lightning even leaped off the stage, spreading across the distant streets.
When everything settled, Li Weiyi was kneeling on the stage, one knee on the ground, palm supporting his body. He gasped for breath, his body charred and disheveled.
In stark contrast, Lu Wensheng's robes remained pristine. His Thunder Annihilation Formation had withstood the beam, still enveloping him at its center. The disparity in their conditions was clear, but...
He was standing off the stage!
He had been knocked down during the clash.
Li Weiyi slowly rose to his feet, glaring down at Lu Wensheng below. He feigned ease and dominance: "Ten moves. You're the first to last ten moves against me, and the first to force me to use my strongest trump card. But you've still lost!"
Qi Wangshu and Zuoqiu Baiyuan finally caught their breath, gasping for air before shouting, "Lu Wensheng of the Thundercloud Sect defeated in ten moves!"
"Boom!"
The Martial-Mystic Cultivators watching erupted in a frenzy, utterly stunned by the outcome.
From start to finish, Lu Wensheng had dominated the fight. His Spiritual Qi layer was higher, his Thunder Method more refined, and his physique stronger.
Yet he had lost in just ten moves.
"No!"
"It's not a defeat, just being knocked off the stage."
How could Thunderclap Sect disciples admit defeat?
One of them spoke up: "Senior Brother Lu hasn't lost! Everyone can see who's superior."
"Rules are rules. Is the Thundercloud Sect unable to accept defeat?" Zuoqiu Baiyuan said.
Qi Xiao, of course, seized the opportunity to help the Zuoqiu Sect suppress the Thundercloud Sect.
He said calmly, "After ten moves, Li Weiyi stood on the stage while Lu Wensheng was off it. The outcome is clear for all to see. With so many witnesses, how can they deny it?"
"Xiao Shu, tally up the Yongquan Coins Young Master Lu owes Li Weiyi. If he can't pay or refuses, the Thundercloud Sect will lose face throughout the Southern Territory!"
Li Weiyi shouted, "Round it down for Brother Lu!"
"Then it's 260,000 Yongquan Coins," Qi Wangshu said.
Ten catties of Immortal Soil, worth a million Yongquan Coins, required Zuoqiu Ting to consult the Clan Head before making a decision.
This showed the significance of 260,000 Yongquan Coins.
The Thunderclap Sect disciples' expressions darkened.
One of the younger disciples, a pretty girl of sixteen or seventeen, looked at Lu Wensheng's grim face with concern.
"Senior Brother Lu, you didn't lose fairly! He just used the rules to win. He's a scoundrel!"
Lu Wensheng's eyes sharpened as he raised his head again: "I want another match!"
Zuoqiu Baiyuan sneered: "Lu Wensheng, you've completely lost all dignity. Look at Young Master Li's condition - do you really think he can fight again?"
The final move had revealed to Qi Xiao that Li Weiyi was still holding back, and the worry in his heart had finally eased: "As the referee, I must remind Young Master Lu that you need to pay the Yongquan Coin before you can challenge again."
"That's right, pay up first," Qi Wangshu agreed.
A Thunderclap Sect disciple retorted, "This is nothing but robbery! You deliberately lured him into this trap, hoping to swindle him out of a fortune!"
Zuoqiu Baiyuan countered, "Young Master Li is a man of noble character who values his reputation. He only wanted to make friends through martial combats and never set up a gambling den. The five hundred Yongquan Coins were merely a challenge fee - even if Lu Wensheng had lost, it wouldn't have broken the bank. It was Lu Wensheng who was being overly aggressive, seizing the opportunity to humiliate the Zuoqiu Sect. Now that he's lost, he's blaming us instead."
The two sides erupted into a heated exchange, trading insults and growing red-faced with anger.
Lu Wensheng, of course, couldn't produce the 260,000 Yongquan Coins. Feeling utterly humiliated, he turned and left in silence.
"Senior Brother Lu!"
The Thunderclap Sect disciples rushed after him.
"Myriad Sects, Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique... is that all?" Zuoqiu Baiyuan, unafraid of offending the Thunderclap Sect, mocked him relentlessly, hoping to provoke Lu Wensheng into an even more embarrassing display.
But his plan failed.
Li Weiyi, displaying remarkable grace and magnanimity, said, "Brother Baiyuan, let it go. Spare the man when you can."
Lu Wensheng, who had retreated far away, heard this and took a deep breath, barely suppressing the Thunder and Lightning about to erupt within him.
Qi Wangshu asked, "Aren't you going to chase him? Are you really just going to let him go like that?"
"No need to rush. He might come back tomorrow!" Qi Xiao replied.
"Brother Weiyi, are we stopping here for today?" Zuoqiu Baiyuan asked.
Li Weiyi saw several Martial-Mystic Cultivators below the stage eager to challenge him.
He shook his head: "No! A man's word is his bond. I said two hours, so we'll fight for the full two hours. I... can still hold on!"
Zuoqiu Baiyuan picked up the list of challengers who had paid their fees: "Next up: Heavenly Cliff Ridge, Red Fox Maiden!"
A Demon Race Martial-Mystic Cultivator with a red fox head and tail flashed onto the stage like a phantom. She had already transformed into a human body, wearing a woman's robe.
Her arms and hands were free of fox fur, revealing fair, slender skin.
Five moves later.
The Red Fox Maiden let out a miserable cry as Li Weiyi struck her with a single finger, severely injuring her.
Li Weiyi stood with his hands clasped behind his back and commented, "Pathetic! Your breathing is chaotic during combat, and your Spiritual Qi flows without any order. Your Martial-Mystic skills are utterly abysmal. Who's the strongest in the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm at Heavenly Cliff Ridge?"
The Red Fox Maiden was completely cowed by Li Weiyi's reprimand, realizing he was right. She meekly replied, "Wood Ape Ling Qing."
Li Weiyi said, "Bring her here tomorrow. If we're going to fight, it has to be the strongest. Give her fifty Surging Spring Coins now, and another fifty if Wood Ape Ling Qing comes tomorrow."
.....
Standing on the Formation Floating Island of the Immortal Forest, one could clearly see the bustling intersection below, packed with people.
Beside the intersection, a newly erected arena stood out prominently.
Inside a white jade pavilion on the southern side of the island, Zuoqiu Ting, transformed into his Long Ting form, sat in the main seat of the dimly lit hall.
Behind him, a jade wall displayed a map of the Twenty-Eight Provinces of Lingxiao.
Beyond the provinces, the Far Western Ashlands and the Nether Realm of the Dead were partially sketched in.
Zuoqiu Ting's eyes gleamed brightly in the darkness as he laid out the stakes: "At this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, the Young Venerable, representing the Far Western Ashlands, and the Imperial Court are the two strongest forces."
"I won't even mention those Ember Spirits! Your Western Territory's Quanrong and Que Rong Major Powers are undoubtedly under his command. Now, the Coffin Mountain, Night City, and San Chen Palace of the Southern Territory have joined forces with him, while Heavenly Cliff Ridge is waiting to be bought."
"The Young Venerable's first target will undoubtedly be the Zhu Sect. Now with Zhu Huan is dead; you're next."
"The Zhu Sect can't win," Zhu Yibai replied from across the table. He wore a formal suit of armor radiating Blood Qi, yet his appearance was strikingly handsome.
Unlike the rugged features typical of a seasoned warrior, his lips were red, his teeth white, and his skin as fair as jade.
Zhu Yibai toyed with two jade beads, one black and one white, in his hand: "The Imperial Court's strength isn't much weaker than that of the Far Western Ashlands. Ge Xiantong is no less formidable than the Young Venerable. The Imperial Court's primary target will undoubtedly be the Zuoqiu Sect, and the Zuoqiu Sect stands no chance against them."
"Therefore, our two families must secretly form an alliance. That's the only way the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival can succeed," Zuoqiu Ting said.
Zhu Yibai's lips curled into a smile: "The Zuoqiu Sect is the host. I don't believe you would dare hold the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival without a guaranteed victory. Zuoqiu Ting, if you want to cooperate, you must show sincerity. I want to know the Zuoqiu Sect's trump card."
Zuoqiu Ting gazed at the map on the wall, lost in thought for a moment: "You must understand one thing: the Zhu Sect has no choice. Cooperation with the Zuoqiu Sect is your only path to survival."
Zhu Yibai's eyes narrowed: "You're exaggerating."
Zuoqiu Ting continued, "Against an enemy like the Young Venerable, only the Zuoqiu Sect of the Southern Territory, the Snow Sword Tang Court of the Northern Territory, the Dragon Sect and Thundercloud Sect of the Eastern Territory, and the Imperial Court, which is hostile to all Rebel Armies, are worthy of a seat at the table."
"Beneath the Young Venerable and the Imperial Court, the Snow Sword Tang Court, which controls the five prefectures of the Northern Territory, is undoubtedly the strongest. Second comes the Zuoqiu Sect, supported by the Jiu Li Clan."
"The Zhu Sect, the Dragon Sect, and the Thundercloud Sect are vying for fifth place."
"The Zhu Sect and the Thundercloud Sect joining forces would only be enough for self-preservation at best. As for the Dragon Sect... it's laughable. They ruined the Zhu Sect's promising situation."
"The Snow Sword Tang Court is powerful, but they don't need the Zhu Sect. If the Zhu Sect actively seeks an alliance, how could they achieve equal status or true camaraderie? They'd only be used."
"The best option is to sit back and watch the tigers fight."
Zhu Yibai fell silent.
The only sound in the hall was the clicking of the black-and-white jade beads he was turning in his hand.
After a long moment, he rose without a word and left.
The door opened.
The hall was once again bright.
The previous dimness had been caused by Zuoqiu Ting absorbing all the light from the space.
Zuoqiu Lancheng, the second Inheritor of the Zuoqiu Sect, hurried in after Zhu Yibai had left: "How did it go?"
"It wasn't Zhu Yibai himself, just a stand-in. But this stand-in is strong, with cultivation nearly equal to an Inheritor's." Zuoqiu Ting stood by the wall, his gaze fixed on the map.
Zuoqiu Lancheng frowned, snorting coldly: "Is Zhu Yibai being overly cautious, or simply insincere?"
"It's understandable that someone honed on the battlefield would be extremely cautious," Zuoqiu Ting said, "Facing such a dangerous figure as the Young Venerable, he must be under immense pressure."
Zuoqiu Lancheng added, "By the way, Lu Wensheng also lost. It took exactly ten moves."
Zuoqiu Ting wasn't surprised in the slightest.
He turned his gaze from the map and walked outside, chuckling: "Lu Wensheng would never admit defeat. Didn't he challenge him to a second match?"
"He wanted to," Zuoqiu Lancheng replied, then recounted the details of the gambling match.
Zuoqiu Ting was stunned.
He had assumed Li Weiyi wouldn't make a fortune until later, but he had already earned so much on the first day. He could only imagine what the scene would be like in the days to come.
Even Zuoqiu Lancheng was envious, his eyes burning with jealousy: "For us, harvesting a single Millennium Essence Herb requires risking our lives. Yet he casually earned enough to buy two or three of them... Still, collecting the debt will be difficult. Lu Wensheng probably can't afford to pay."
Zuoqiu Ting stood by the railing, a smile playing on his lips as he gazed down at the streets shrouded in Cloud Mist below: "Debts must be repaid. It's only natural. This debt can't be evaded. Looks like I'm about to make a fortune myself..."
....
"Xue Kongtong of Shuzhou in the Southern Territory defeated in four moves!" Qi Wangshu announced triumphantly.
After Li Weiyi offered his Martial-Mystic Insights, he asked, "Who's the strongest cultivator at the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm in Shuzhou? Bring him here tomorrow. I'll pay a hundred Yongquan Coins."
.....
"Zhu Qingyan of Xin Prefecture in the Northern Territory narrowly lost in seven moves."
Li Weiyi's voice followed closely: "Zhu Qingyan, gather the strongest cultivators at the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas Realm from all seven prefectures in the Northern Territory. I want to spar with them."
Zhu Qingyan saw that Li Weiyi, despite his seemingly weak and exhausted appearance, was actually brimming with vitality and possessed unfathomable Martial-Mystic mastery.
She realized he had been acting all along, and resentment and hatred surged within her: "Young Master Li, you are indeed extraordinary. I, Zhu Qingyan, admit defeat. But the Northern Territory is teeming with experts. Surely someone will be able to defeat you."
"Excellent. I was worried the Northern Territory might be barren."
Li Weiyi stopped pretending.
His aura became transcendent, like a Martial-Mystic Sage.
His sharp gaze swept across the spectators.
"That's all for today. I haven't had a satisfying fight. Only Lu Wensheng put up a decent challenge. Tomorrow! Everyone, come back tomorrow. I'll weigh the dragon and phoenix cultivators at the Fourth Stage from all twenty-eight provinces of Lingxiao in a single balance."
His arrogance was breathtaking, but his strength was undeniable. He had remained undefeated in dozens of matches, earning him the title of a legend within his realm.
"Young Master Li," "Challenge Fees," "Defeating All Foes in Ten Moves," "Lu Wensheng's Massive Debt," "Weighing the Dragon and Phoenix Cultivators of Twenty-Eight Provinces in a Single Balance"... these topics quickly spread through every street and alley.
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END OF CHAPTER
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