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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 59 (203): [The Second Palace Master Arrives]
(59th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Zhuang Yue said, "Exactly! I told him not to come to Qiu Prefecture City, but he insisted. The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival hasn't even officially started, and he's already nearly died twice in the Bing Juze."
"You're actually so concerned about my safety? You even know about both near-death experiences?" Li Weiyi chuckled.
Zhuang Yue turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge him.
Li Weiyi sighed deeply and explained, "It has nothing to do with the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. I was born with a fire constitution, and water brings me misfortune. But once midnight passes tonight and the new year begins, my luck might change."
Of course, this was all nonsense!
Yet, from his scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean to his near-death experiences in the Sui River and Zhuang Yue's account of his two close death experience in the Bing Juze, Li Weiyi couldn't help but wonder if he was truly being suppressed by water.
He even considered that in the future, he should be wary of anyone with water-related names, like Yang Qingxi.
Zhuang Yue burst into laughter, giggling uncontrollably.
Jiang Ning felt utterly helpless and considered resorting to extreme measures.
Li Weiyi asked, "What I don't understand is how Feather Immortal knew I'd be walking down this street at this time, heading for the Profound Heaven Stone Wall. How could she have blocked me so precisely?"
"You Jiu Li Hidden Sect," Jiang Ning said, "has someone of mine within its ranks."
For Jiang Ning, it wasn't difficult to guess that Yin Shi San was a Hidden One from the Jiu Li Hidden Sect. It was practically an open secret.
Outside the carriage, the elderly driver spoke in a youthful voice: "Envoy, you can't harm me! My loyalty lies first with the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, and only secondarily with the Imperial Court."
The Elder was, of course, Yin Shi San in disguise.
Jiang Ning suddenly said, "The Second Palace Master has arrived in Qiu Prefecture City."
"What?" Li Weiyi exclaimed, his face paling.
The Second Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace was known as the second most powerful person in the world, second only to Yu Yaozi. In the present day, the Second Palace Master was practically indistinguishable from the number one.
After all, Yu Yaozi hadn't made a public appearance in ages, and the Second Palace Master held sway over almost all Imperial Court affairs.
Jiang Ning said, "I've told you everything I needed to. I've even revealed things I shouldn't have. Li Weiyi, I'm giving you two choices."
"First, stay in this carriage. If I attack, you won't escape. I'll seal you, and Yin Shi San will immediately take you out of the city. Whether you go to Li Prefecture or Fu Prefecture, it will be safer than staying in Qiu Prefecture City."
Seeing that she wasn't joking, Li Weiyi immediately became wary, circulating his Spiritual Qi continuously: "I choose the second path!"
Jiang Ning said with even greater seriousness, "The second path! This carriage will travel all the way to the foot of the Profound Heaven Stone Wall, where Martial-Mystic Cultivators from across the land will gather, and countless elders will be watching. When we disembark together, what do you think the world will say?"
Li Weiyi felt a headache coming on: "Riding in the same carriage as the Feather Immortal will make me a thorn in the side of countless Martial-Mystic Cultivators. At this critical juncture of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, I'll likely meet a gruesome end. To force me into submission, you're willing to put yourself in danger... Why go through all this? What grudge do you hold against me?"
Jiang Ning had already considered everything carefully: "It won't necessarily be a self-inflicted wound. You can join the Imperial Court. The Second Palace Master has always admired exceptional talents."
"Is there no third option?" Li Weiyi asked.
Jiang Ning replied, "No."
"You're being utterly ungrateful! My Miss is trying to help you, to save you," Zhuang Yue said.
Li Weiyi clasped his hands in a perfunctory bow, his voice weak: "I'm grateful for the Feather Immortal's kindness. To repay this debt, you've gone to great lengths."
Jiang Ning frowned slightly, but her expression immediately softened.
She said calmly, "You have another fifteen minutes to consider. Once we get closer to the Profound Heaven Stone Wall, the streets will become crowded, and we'll have no choice left."
Li Weiyi certainly didn't want to leave, especially not to be dragged into the Imperial Court by Jiang Ning.
The Imperial Court was almost entirely staffed by eunuch officials. Moreover, the Phoenix Terrace Envoys had a bizarre rule forbidding them from sharing a room with men, making it clear that this was no place of virtue.
More importantly, the Imperial Court was already surrounded on all sides. Who knew how long it could hold out?
As this thought crossed his mind, a flash of insight struck Li Weiyi. Everything suddenly clicked into place, and his body relaxed. He smiled and said, "I think I understand now!"
"Understand what?" Jiang Ning asked, puzzled.
Li Weiyi replied, "The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival is about to begin. You risked so much to meet me, so you must have a compelling reason. If we don't meet tonight, perhaps it will be too late tomorrow?"
"Go on," Jiang Ning urged.
Li Weiyi continued, "Everyone knows that the Calamity Crossing Temple is hosting the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival in Qiu Prefecture City to boost the Zuoqiu Clan's reputation. The Imperial Court's young Martial-Mystic Cultivators have flocked here, not to support the Zuoqiu Clan, but to crush them."
"I venture a bold guess," Li Weiyi said, his voice calm but his eyes sharp, "that once midnight passes and the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival officially begins tonight, the Imperial Court's young generation of Martial-Mystic Cultivators will launch an attack on the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe. And it will be a swift, merciless attack, like a whirlwind sweeping through withered leaves. By dawn tomorrow, the streets may be littered with corpses, rivers of blood flowing through the city."
Seeing that Jiang Ning didn't immediately refute him, Li Weiyi knew his guess was correct. His scalp prickled, and cold sweat drenched his back.
He finally understood the true weight of Jiang Ning's earlier words, "The Second Palace Master has arrived." It meant the Imperial Court had no fear of the Zuoqiu Clan turning hostile; the young generation of Martial-Mystic Cultivators could act without restraint.
"Is this the Second Palace Master's order, or Immortal Ge Xiantong's strategy?" Li Weiyi asked.
Jiang Ning didn't answer.
She sighed softly, "You truly have only two paths left now! Shall I help you choose one?"
"No," Li Weiyi said, her voice firm, "I have a third path. If the Imperial Court's young generation chooses to bloodbath the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe tonight, it will be a grave mistake. Every Imperial Court Martial-Mystic Cultivator participating in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will be doomed to eternal damnation."
Each word struck Jiang Ning's mind like a hammer blow.
"Are you trying to tell me this is Zuoqiu Clan territory, and that they have far more Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators than any other faction, so we're outmatched? You're dead wrong!"
"In the Five Seas Realm, the human wave tactic works! Even against me, and even against top-tier experts like the East Dragon, West Pig, South Tiger, and North Sword, it can still overwhelm them. They can be drowned in a sea of bodies."
"But for figures like Immortal Ge Xiantong and Luansheng Linyou, no matter how many Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators they face, they can cut through them like paper. The human wave tactic is useless against them."
Li Weiyi had never seen Immortal Ge Xiantong or Luansheng Linyou in combat, so he didn't know their true strength. But he trusted Jiang Ning's judgment.
"Even Immortal Ge Xiantong will be injured eventually," he said, "Do you really think Cang Li and Zuoqiu Ting, at their level, couldn't wound him if they fought with everything they had?"
"The moment Immortal Ge Xiantong is injured, Luansheng Linyou will strike."
"Jiang Ning, you're making a fatal mistake by focusing on one leaf and missing the forest! You think Calamity Crossing Temple choosing the Zuoqiu Clan will make them the target of everyone's ire."
"But the real target has always been you - the Imperial Court."
"Your imposing appearances are indeed intimidating, and Immortal Ge Xiantong is even hailed as the number one cultivator under heaven. But if the number one cultivator were to be injured, if that formidable exterior were to show a wound, it would immediately attract countless predators, drawing attacks from all factions."
"Then, what would you use to defend against Luansheng Linyou?"
Though Jiang Ning wore a veil, her eyes remained calm. Yet the tumultuous emotions within her surged like waves, subtly rippling her full, supple chest, revealing that her heart was far from tranquil.
Zhuang Yue found Li Weiyi's words utterly convincing. Her expression shifted dramatically, and she couldn't help but open her mouth to speak.
Li Weiyi pressed his advantage, adding, "If I were in your position, I wouldn't attack the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe tonight. Instead, I'd secretly contact them, either forming a temporary alliance or setting a trap to eliminate Luansheng Linyou, the greatest threat. Once the situation is under control and our enemies are vanquished, we can settle our own score."
Jiang Ning scoffed, "Are you joking? The Imperial Court forming an alliance with the Zuoqiu Clan? Zuoqiu Ting would never trust us."
"Not an alliance, but a covert alliance," Li Weiyi countered, "Shouldn't you consider this in the context of the broader political landscape? This is just the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival! Do you know what it means to use deception in warfare?"
"The less people believe something, the more likely it is to be a trap to slaughter Luansheng Linyou."
"The Zuoqiu Clan holds power in the School of Diplomacy. Zuoqiu Ting understands better than you how to form alliances, break them, and create advantageous situations."
"Return and tell Immortal Ge Xiantong that in the struggle for the world, results matter most, not the process. Even the fiercest enemies can become temporary allies in the face of crisis. If he remains arrogant and stubborn, someone will eventually bury him."
"For Luansheng Linyou, his flesh should be the most delicious."
Zhuang Yue's eyes shimmered, then she muttered softly, "I think you're even more arrogant than anyone else!"
Jiang Ning processed Li Weiyi's words. The Imperial Court undoubtedly had many arrangements and backup plans, giving them confidence, but they couldn't possibly defeat the entire city's Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
Li Weiyi knew his third path now had a chance of success. The next step depended on Jiang Ning's decision after careful consideration.
After a long moment, Jiang Ning said, "I have to admit, you might be right. But it's too difficult to implement. Allies you can't trust can sometimes be more dangerous than enemies."
Li Weiyi's hanging heart finally settled, a smile playing on his lips. He glanced at the Governor's Official Robe on her and asked the question that had been on his mind since they entered the carriage: "How is your cultivation of the Dragon Awakening Technique progressing? Can you now wield the Dragon Soul Power within the Governor's Official Robe?"
"How did you know I was cultivating the Dragon Awakening Technique? Did Zuoqiu Ting tell you? Are you spying on my strength for her?" Jiang Ning asked with a smile, her eyes slightly cold.
Li Weiyi protested vehemently: "I only asked because I noticed your cultivation seemed to have improved again, your aura radiating a powerful pressure. Now, can you release me? If you don't, more people will gather!"
Jiang Ning's Seventh Sea Ancestral Field had yet to reach full cultivation, still in the expansion and energy-gathering phase.
Naturally, her cultivation continued to advance.
"To be honest, I really don't want to let you go!" she said, "Such talent... it's a pity you can't be used by the Imperial Court."
In truth, she wanted to add: "You must be eliminated."
Suddenly, an idea struck Li Weiyi. He chuckled and said, "Feather Immortal, you don't think I can't break your move, do you? Do you know what kind of reputation Yang Qingxi has now? You wouldn't want to follow in her footsteps, would you?"
Jiang Ning frowned deeply, wanting to kick him out of the carriage. She snapped, "I've never seen anyone so eager to die! Since you chose to stay, hide yourself well. Don't let some Zuoqiu or Ting use you and push you into the spotlight. Get out!"
"Thank you for sparing me, Feather Immortal."
As soon as Li Weiyi stepped out, his smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
What decision the Imperial Court would make tonight remained uncertain.
After all, Jiang Ning wasn't the one with the power to decide.
Li Weiyi walked slowly forward.
The streets grew increasingly crowded, the flow of people becoming a solid mass.
Looking up, he saw that at the end of Qiankun Street, the brightly lit buildings suddenly disappeared, as if reaching the edge of civilization.
In their place, a majestic ancient mountain shrouded in mist and clouds rose abruptly. Its steep slopes stretched far into the distance, covered with cliffs and waterfalls.
The entire horizon was filled by the world-renowned Ancestral Mountain, Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain. Its imposing presence weighed down on all who gazed upon it.
Legend had it that the mountain contained another mountain within, connecting to an unknown realm.
On the Half-Sky Cliff, a thousand meters above the ground, dense Spiritual Qi condensed into clouds, obscuring the mountain's peak.
The clouds swirled and shifted, concealing the mysterious spectacle that lay beyond.
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END OF CHAPTER
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