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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 78 (222): [Reactions from All Sides]
(78th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The several-mile stretch of riverbank from Five Hearts Bridge to where Yu Zi was slain was lined with the city's most prosperous districts, densely packed with towers, pavilions, and mansions, all ablaze with dazzling lights.
Even before the Formation erupted on Five Hearts Bridge, many Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the surrounding buildings had noticed the commotion, triggering gasps of surprise.
Li Weiyi, Yang Qingxi, and Yu Zi's battle had been lightning-fast, a flurry of attacks and counterattacks that ended in mere moments.
Only a handful of high-realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators had managed to follow the action; the rest had barely seen what happened.
It wasn't until Yu Zi transformed into a Six-Colored Peacock and was cleaved in two by a sword over the broad Li River that the shockwave of the event truly began to spread.
Martial-Mystic Cultivators poured out of the buildings along the riverbank, their voices rising in a clamorous uproar.
"What? That was Yu Zi, the second-ranked Martial-Mystic Cultivator in the Southern Territory First-Tier?"
"It was indeed him. His ranking was even higher than our Zuoqiu Clan's First Inheritor. He was one of the most renowned young talents at this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."
"A Dao Seed Realm Senior revealed his identity!"
"The man and woman who killed him... it's quite strange. Can you believe it? They weren't even from the First-Tier! Tsk, tsk..."
"Isn't that obvious? How could two First-Tier Martial-Mystic Cultivators possibly defeat Yu Zi? It must have been Ge Xiantong who intervened!"
"Actually..."
.....
The names and identities of Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi were quickly spread by a Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator who happened to be nearby and witnessed the entire event.
This news caused an uproar.
Who could believe that a rising star at the Fifth-Stage Five Seas Realm, a Second-Tier Martial-Mystic Cultivator from the Southern Territory, could kill Yu Zi, one of the Calamity Crossing Temple's ten most promising young talents?
When Bai Shu, Shi Shishi, and Tao Yanyan arrived, the riverbanks were already crowded with Martial-Mystic Cultivators from all factions.
Bai Shu had been hiding outside the Sui Sect's stronghold, preparing to rendezvous with Li Weiyi.
When she saw three carriages depart, she sensed something amiss. Unable to find the Jiu Li Tribe's experts, she had no choice but to rush back to South City for reinforcements.
Martial-Mystic Cultivators had already dispatched the Earth Wolf King's Army to seek an audience with the Successor of the Zuoqiu Clan.
The three of them had arrived ahead of the main force.
Bai Shu was still shaken by the near disaster.
"To think those carriages held such terrifying figures as Yu Zi, Chen Wenwu, and the Left and Right Attendants," she muttered to herself, "Thank goodness I didn't rashly attack."
As the surrounding Martial-Mystic Cultivators recounted the events, the three quickly pieced together the truth.
Tao Yanyan's face was a mask of shock, as if she were hearing a foreign language: "How did they do it? This... this is completely impossible!"
"Brother Weiyi always works miracles. It's a pity Bai Shu escaped, otherwise Yang Qingxi wouldn't have had a chance to become famous. Oh no, this is bad!"
Shi Shishi's expression changed as something dawned on him.
Tao Yanyan realized it too, immediately pulling out her invitation and searching for the location of nearby Dragon Seed Tickets.
She said gravely, "Li Weiyi must be severely injured. Chen Wenwu and the Left and Right Attendants didn't even have time to collect Yu Zi's body. They probably chased after Bai Shu. We have to find them quickly!"
Shi Shishi said, "That's not what I'm worried about! Think about it. Once this incident comes to light, Brother Weiyi and Yang Qingxi's past will be dug up. With the demon wind of Yu Zi's murder blowing, Stream Flow's old stories will surely be dredged up. The world loves to spread and embellish rumors, and they'll focus on the latter. Oh no... Brother Weiyi's reputation!"
"Stop worrying about that! Saving lives is the priority!"
Tao Yanyan pinpointed the location of a Dragon Seed Ticket and, along with the two men, set off in pursuit.
....
Beside the Li River.
Through the wind and snow, a carriage raced south.
"Whoosh!"
Chen Wenwu, like a wisp of mist, caught up.
His handsome, upright figure landed in front of the carriage, using a wall of Spiritual Qi mist to halt its progress.
Holding the Sword of Peace, he cautiously advanced step by step.
He dared not let his guard down, fearing to repeat Yuzi's mistake and fall into the trap set by the adulterous pair, Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi.
The Left and Right Attendants also arrived, flanking the carriage from behind.
Chen Wenwu released his Spiritual Qi to scan the interior.
His expression froze, and he quickly stepped forward, flipping the coachman to the ground.
"My lord... spare me..."
The carriage window slid open.
A terrified scream erupted from within. It was a family of three - not Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi at all.
After searching, he found Yang Qingxi's Dragon Seed Ticket hidden beneath the carriage.
At any other time, Chen Wenwu would have been ecstatic. But now, holding the ticket, his heart burned with fury. He felt as if he had been trampled and humiliated.
What's the use of having a Dragon Seed Ticket now?
When Yu Zi is dead!
The only way for the three of them to survive is to capture Li Weiyi and Yang Qingxi.
Otherwise... they face either death or a fate worse than death.
The Left and Right Attendants, now transformed into Ember Spirits, glared with fiery eyes, their murderous intent palpable as they prepared to tear the three people in the carriage to shreds.
Just then.
A Daoist-robed woman from the Calamity Crossing Temple arrived late, gracefully landing on a snow-covered treetop. She declared, "If you harm any innocent civilians, this Immortal Envoy will take your lives. Each Martial-Mystic Cultivator holding an invitation will receive only one warning."
No one had anticipated such a sudden and drastic turn of events.
The battle had ended before the Calamity Crossing Temple's twelve patrolling Immortal Envoys could even arrive.
The Left and Right Attendants restrained themselves.
Chen Wenwu quickly regained his composure and analyzed, "Those two are severely injured and must conceal their tracks and auras. They can't have gone far. Mobilize all our forces to intercept them on their way back to South City."
....
"What? Yu Zi is dead?"
Upon receiving Bai Shu's distress call, Zuoqiu Ting immediately set out, arriving near Five Hearts Bridge.
A scout from the Zuoqiu Clan reported the details.
After hearing the scout's detailed account, Zuoqiu Ting was stunned.
He had clashed with Yu Zi more than once and knew the man's true strength. His combat prowess was so formidable that even two Successors working together might not have been able to defeat him.
Killing Yu Zi would have been an even greater challenge.
Following the scout, Zuoqiu Ting saw the massive carcass of the Six-Colored Peacock floating on the water.
Using his Intent to sense the sword qi on the wounds, he concluded, "He's become even stronger. How could his Cultivation progress so rapidly?"
"Immediately dispatch all Fifth-Stage Five Seas Realm experts from the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe to intercept Li Weiyi and stop the pursuit from the Far Western Ashlands."
He then added, "Before the Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Far Western Ashlands arrive, retrieve the carcass and deliver it to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion. Present it to Ge Xiantong and Jiang Ning to congratulate the Imperial Court's Martial-Mystic Cultivators on slaying Yu Zi."
.....
Tang Wanqiu sat in the main hall, her expression grim. She was reflecting on today's defeat, searching for the root of the problem. She realized she had been too eager for glory, overestimating her own abilities and underestimating the cunning of the number one expert in the world.
The hall's flickering lamps cast shadows that danced and shifted, mirroring her turbulent emotions.
Tang Chen, the second Successor of the Snowsword Tang Court, strode in.
"Have Cang Li and the others already returned to South City?" Tang Wanqiu asked.
"Wanqiu, something terrible has happened!" Tang Chen said, his voice grave and shocked, "Li Weiyi killed Yu Zi..."
A sharp light flashed in Tang Wanqiu's eyes as she looked up: "What did you say?"
"Yu Zi is dead. Li Weiyi beheaded him with a single sword strike. This is absolutely true. They say that the killing blow manifested five different battle intents simultaneously, hovering in mid-air and transforming into five divine figures - just like the legendary heroes of ancient tales. Even the Ancient Celestial Emperor in her youth couldn't have achieved such a feat."
"I was just seeing Cang Li and the others off when someone rushed in with the news. The Jiu Li Tribe members have all rushed over there! It's unbelievable - it happened right near Five Hearts Bridge..."
"Five Hearts Bridge."
Tang Wanqiu possessed perfect recall.
She had already memorized the map of Qiu Prefecture City. After hearing Tang Chen's detailed account, she quickly accepted the unbelievable truth.
"No matter how he did it, the fact remains: his reputation at the Calamity Crossing Temple is now on par with Luansheng Linyou, Ge Xiantong, and Zuoqiu Hong."
Tang Chen's eyes darkened: "Yu Zi was the first of the Ten Great Masters to fall, and he was killed by someone two realms below him. I believe that if Li Weiyi survives, he has a good chance of being recognized as a Hidden Dragon. The Jiu Li Tribe is incapable of conquering the world, but the Zuoqiu Clan is rising with the tide."
Without Tang Chen needing to explain further, Tang Wanqiu understood the gravity of the situation.
This matter affected not only the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival but also the balance of power across the land.
If the Calamity Crossing Temple firmly supported the Zuoqiu Clan, the Zuoqiu Clan would soon become the Snow Sword Tang Court's greatest rival.
In that case, Tang Wanqiu's defeat at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival would be absolute.
Tang Wanqiu said, "I understand! Since Li Weiyi is severely injured, the Far Western Ashlands and other factions will undoubtedly hunt him down relentlessly, determined to prevent this Hidden Dragon from returning to South City or joining forces with Jiu Li Tribe experts. For now, let's avoid playing the villain. The Jiu Li Tribe still has value to us."
"Here's what we'll do: have Wanyan Xiaose seek out Li Weiyi. We must appear to be trying to save him."
...
West City.
Luansheng Linyou emerged from seclusion after recovering from his injuries. Standing in the corridor, his long silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, his expression calm as he listened to the Left Attendant's trembling report on bended knee.
"I Understand! In just seven days, his cultivation has reached a new level."
Luansheng Linyou's eyes remained utterly impassive: "Mobilize all forces from the San Chen Palace, Night City, and Guan Shan. Find him and kill him. If you three can't even handle a severely wounded man, never return!"
The Left Attendant kowtowed heavily to the ground before retreating.
"Ming Niansheng, summon all experts above the Third Realm of the Five Seas Realm from the Demon Clan, Ember Spirit, Que Clan, and Quanrong. Tonight, we will attack the Zhu Clan."
Ming Niansheng was taken aback: "Attack the Zhu Clan tonight? Shouldn't we avenge Yu Zi first? I think we should seize this chaotic situation to catch the Jiu Li Tribe off guard and eliminate them first."
Luansheng Linyou said, "When everyone thinks we're here tonight for revenge, that's precisely the perfect opportunity to take down the Zhu Clan."
Qi Jin, still wearing Zhuang Yue's human skin, praised, "Young Venerable, this feint is brilliant! Mobilizing all the Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the San Chen Palace, Night City, and Guan Shan for a grand citywide manhunt is just a smokescreen. It's sure to mislead the Zhu Clan's greatest ally, the Zuoqiu Clan, into misjudging our true intentions. They'll divert their forces to search for Li Weiyi and protect the Jiu Li Tribe."
"After all, the Jiu Li Tribe is their true ally, while the Zhu Clan was merely a temporary partner during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."
"Who could have predicted that we could suppress our rage and, despite suffering such heavy losses, seize this perfect opportunity to unify the Western Territory?"
Luansheng Linyou turned to her: "Qi Jin, after Yu Zi's death, you must raise the banner and hold the line. Tonight, I entrust you with the headquarters and Immortality Pill tickets of the Ashen Region!"
"I won't fail you," Qi Jin replied.
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END OF CHAPTER
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