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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 52 (307): [Escape from Death]
(52nd of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Qiongji Daozi stood tall on the back of a golden eagle, his azure robes billowing like clouds.
His handsome features were refined and gentle, and his gaze swept across the scene.
All three hundred Patrol Guards immediately suppressed their Spiritual Qi, dismounted their steeds, and knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, First Senior Brother!"
Yi Zhouxue, Sikong Jinyuan, and Sikong Yanlun quickly bowed in respect.
The First Divine Son was not only a Divine Son but also the First Commander of the Divine Sect, the leader of the younger generation of disciples. His authority and prestige were so great that even most Elders had to obey his commands.
Qiongji Daozi sighed: "One of you represents the Patrol Guards of the Heavenly Principles (Tianli) Hall, responsible for order and discipline, for uncovering spies and traitors. The other represents the Withered Flourish (Kurong) Hall, the Divine Sect's enforcers. Over such a minor matter, you've already started fighting?"
Yi Zhouxue, Sikong Jingyuan, and Sikong Yanlun all knew that Qiongji Daozi was the second disciple of the Hall Master of the Spirit Valley (Linggu) Hall and had a special relationship with Venerable Nan.
They assumed he had come to protect Li Weiyi, and their hearts trembled with unease.
They dared not speak.
Qiongji Daozi looked at the blood-soaked ground, his gaze settling on Wang Shu's corpse.
"While I admire Venerable Nan's talent and brilliance and consider her my role model, I will never show favoritism. Wrong is wrong! Anyone who breaks the rules must pay the price."
"The Law is rooted in human sentiment, and reason in the human heart. You each cling to your own version of events, yet both have valid points. Should we hand this matter over to the Patrol Guard or the Withered Flourish (Kurong) Hall?"
"Let's handle it this way!"
"Yi Zhouxue, your Junior Brother was killed. As his Senior Brother, avenging him is your sacred duty. Sikong Jingyuan, Sikong Yanlun, I'm entrusting Yang Qingxi to you. You must thoroughly investigate this matter."
Yi Zhouxue, Sikong Jingyuan, and Sikong Yanlun were stunned, then inwardly delighted.
They couldn't help but marvel at the First Divine Son's brilliance. With a few deft words, he had effortlessly resolved the conflict, ensuring both sides gained something and saved face.
"Eldest Senior Brother, your wisdom is truly divine!" the three chorused.
Li Weiyi stared at the First Divine Son, who had repeatedly promised Yao Qingxuan to help and protect him. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
When Yao Qingxuan left, she had even told Li Weiyi to seek his help if he ever faced an insurmountable danger.
Li Weiyi had never considered asking Qiongji Daozi for help, but he never imagined the man would turn against him, seeking his death.
Why?
What had he done to offend him?
Qiongji Daozi noticed Li Weiyi's gaze and met his eyes, a surge of Spiritual power radiating from his gaze.
"Li Weiyi, do you know your crime?"
His Spiritual Power was too strong, far more terrifying than Yi Zhouxue's Dao Heart Manifestation. It struck directly at Li Weiyi's spirit and Soul Spirit.
An ordinary Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator would have been forced to kneel instantly.
Li Weiyi was only at the Five Seas Realm, and hadn't yet cultivated a Soul Spirit.
One had to reach the Dao Seed Realm, construct a Soul Bridge, and integrate a portion of their Soul Spirit into their Dao Seed to complete Seed Dao, before slowly nourishing and strengthening their Soul Spirit.
"Whoosh-"
In the Spirit Realm, three Spiritual Power Stars spun rapidly, releasing layers of Spiritual Light shields to block the Spiritual Power emanating from Qiongji Daozi's gaze.
Li Weiyi struggled to endure, his eyes remaining sharp and bright. He didn't bother explaining, as it would have been pointless.
He said, "I became Venerable Nan's Eldest Disciple only three days ago. If I die in three days, can Venerable Nan afford to lose face? Yi Zhouxue, do you dare to kill me? If Venerable Nan wants you dead, will your Master protect you? You'll just be the next Wang Shu!"
Yi Zhouxue gripped his spear, battle intent and killing intent swirling around him. But Li Weiyi's words sent a chill through his heart.
He hesitated.
'Could it be that I, too, am just a pawn of my Master?' he wondered.
Sikong Jingyuan chuckled: "Yi Zhouxue, you fear Venerable Nan, but we brothers aren't afraid. Breaking the rules and committing a crime deserves the death penalty. If the Divine Sect doesn't uphold the Law equally, how can it ever rule the world?"
With the Hall Master parents of the Withered Flourish Hall backing them, Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun were far bolder than Yi Zhouxue.
"You don't think my only support is Master, do you?"
Li Weiyi produced the Azure Jade Formation Talisman An Xianjing had given him, holding it between two fingers.
"I can control the entire Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace's Formation because of this talisman, bestowed by the Hall Master. Haven't you wondered why someone like the Hall Master values me so much? If you act rashly without understanding the reason, aren't you truly courting death?"
Privately, the Azure Jade Formation Talisman was worthless. No one would fear Li Weiyi because of it; they would simply kill him to silence him.
But in public, it was as good as a decree from the Hall Master herself.
Elder Xu gasped: "No wonder you mastered the first layer of the Sixfold Burning Karma Technique so quickly! The Hall Master must have taught you long ago."
Qiongji Daozi, being discerning, recognized the Azure Jade Formation Talisman as indeed belonging to his Master.
He fell into deep thought.
Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun had calmed down considerably. Having just returned from the Nether Realm of the Dead, they were unaware of Li Weiyi's true origins.
They could easily dismiss Venerable Nan's disciple. But someone personally granted a formation talisman by the Hall Master of the Spirit Valley (Linggu) Hall demanded caution.
In other words, Li Weiyi's right to freely enter and exit the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace was at the Hall Master's behest.
Could it be that Venerable Nan's acceptance of Li Weiyi as a disciple was also the Hall Master's will?
Most importantly, even if they seized all of Li Weiyi's treasures, they would eventually have to return them to the Hall Master.
They couldn't keep them.
Seeing that he had cowed the crowd, Li Weiyi whispered to Yang Qingxi, "Let's go!"
Once they returned to the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace, the formation art there would be enough to fend off their pursuers.
If that failed, they could retreat into the formation protecting the Golden Rice.
The three of them retreated cautiously, weaving through the Patrol Guards with their hearts pounding. If their enemies took a desperate gamble and attacked without regard for the consequences, they would be utterly annihilated.
Zhu Tianshu stood outside the Heavenly Principles (Tianli) Hall, deep in thought.
Li Weiyi's earlier shout had put him in a very passive position. Logically, as a Master, avenging his disciple should be beyond reproach.
But why hadn't he intervened to save his disciple in the first place?
Zhu Tianshu wasn't afraid of criticism; what he feared was An Xianjing seizing this opportunity.
For now, Zhu Tianshu could only continue pretending to be searching for Tang Wanzhou, remaining ignorant of the situation in the Mortal Realm Layer.
"What a cunning young whelp. It seems we can't let him live. If he grows stronger, Yao Qingxuan will only become more formidable, like a tiger with wings?"
Zhu Tianshu's Intent, spanning dozens of miles, transmitted a voice to Yi Zhouxue: "The Law doesn't punish the masses. Have the Patrol Guards suppress them. After they're killed, Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun will undoubtedly try to take a share. If we can drag those two into this, the waters will become muddied!"
Yi Zhouxue understood his Master's meaning. His lips moved, and his voice merged with strands of Spiritual Qi, transmitting a message to the three hundred Patrol Guards.
Li Weiyi and his companions hadn't yet escaped the Patrol Guards' battle formation when they intercepted Yi Zhouxue's message with their Spiritual Power.
Their hearts sank, and they shouted, "Run!"
"Boom!"
Li Weiyi's Spiritual Power transformed into a vast wave of Spiritual Light shockwaves, sending over a dozen Patrol Guards flying backward.
They had to escape the battle formation as quickly as possible.
Ahead, ten spears thrust forward in unison, forming a miniature Formation. The combined power of the ten Patrol Guards twisted together, coalescing into a colossal phantom of a God of War that slammed its fist toward Li Weiyi.
The smallest battle formation for the Patrol Guards was a ten-man formation.
There were also twenty-man formations, thirty-man formations, and hundred-man formations...
The more people in a formation, the more powerful it became.
Li Weiyi naturally wasn't afraid of a mere ten-man formation. He used his Spiritual Power whip to shatter the phantom of a God of War.
He didn't dare linger.
He activated Yellow Dragon Ascending to Heaven, breaking free from the Patrol Guards' formation area and appearing several dozen feet above its edge.
At this moment, a hundred-man formation successfully took shape. A hundred-yard-diameter Formation Plate spun above their heads. From the center of the formation, a seventh-grade Hundred-Character Artifact-level great seal soared forth, its full power unleashed.
"Boom!"
The great seal crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
The soil around the crater showed signs of melting, and all vegetation within a thirty-yard radius turned to ash.
Li Weiyi used his movement technique to dodge the initial impact, but the seal's shockwave sent him flying. He tumbled across the ground several times before continuing his escape toward the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace.
As long as Yi Zhouxue didn't join the pursuit, these Patrol Guards, with their limited speed and few experts, posed no real threat. Li Weiyi was confident he could escape back to the palace.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A massive wave of Patrol Guards, riding Dead Soul Spirit Beasts, surged after Li Weiyi like a tide.
Qiongji Daozi, perched atop the Two-Headed Golden-Winged Eagle, had remained silent since Li Weiyi produced the Azure Jade Formation Talisman.
He knew he had miscalculated today, and getting involved further would make it impossible to explain himself to his Master.
He fell into deep reflection, wondering why he had made such a mistake.
....
The Tianxia (Heavenly Heart) Temple was the most prominent Daoist temple in Fu Prefecture, boasting a thriving incense trade and a large number of disciples.
It was the third month of spring, with lush green leaves adorning the branches and melodious bird songs filling the air.
Yao Qingxuan, veiled and with a red beauty mark between her eyebrows, sat on a meditation cushion.
She exuded an aura of solemn dignity and mysterious beauty as she listened to reports from her people stationed at headquarters, relaying information about Spirit Ridge (Lingji) Mountain.
Every fifteen minutes, new intelligence reached the surface.
"The Yang Clan hasn't shown themselves?" she asked softly.
The Elder kneeling outside the door shook his head: "No."
"They're holding their cards close! Then we can ignore the Yang Clan. We never factored them into our plans anyway."
Yao Qingxuan had predicted that Li Weiyi would inevitably go to the Fourth Divine Son's Residence to rescue someone.
She also knew Qiongji Daozi's jealous nature.
The more she showed concern for Li Weiyi and praised him, the less likely Qiongji Daozi would be to protect him.
Therefore, she had deliberately left headquarters, allowing events to unfold as she had foreseen.
Li Weiyi's unique status and the numerous treasures he possessed had made him a target within the Divine Sect.
Some people wanted him dead.
Others wanted the Strange Insect and the Ghost Banner.
If they didn't seize this opportunity to resolve these issues in advance, Li Weiyi would inevitably meet an untimely end.
To solve this problem, Palace Master An would have to intervene.
Beyond her expectations, Li Weiyi actually struck three days later, killing Wang Zhi and Wang Shu.
His strength far exceeded her predictions, and the incident caused a much greater uproar.
Even more shocking was that Qiongji Daozi not only failed to come to Li Weiyi's aid but even tried to take advantage of the situation to kill him.
If he had maintained his integrity and unwavering righteousness, Yao Qingxuan might have held him in higher regard.
But when Li Weiyi produced the Azure Jade Formation Talisman, the First Divine Son actually retreated!
Yao Qingxuan said, "Li Weiyi is too audacious. He dares to kill a Divine Son. He needs to suffer some consequences. Tell Shan Ze not to intervene unless Li Weiyi's life is in danger. Also, send Palace Master An a report on what happened at Headquarters!"
.....
Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun followed behind the Patrol Guard, watching Li Weiyi and the two Yang sisters draw closer to the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace.
Sikong Yanlun was deeply resentful: "We've already made enemies of them today. Letting them go now will only invite future retaliation."
Sikong Jingyuan remained calm. "Even Yi Zhouxue hasn't dared to act rashly, and the First Divine Son has remained silent. This proves the Azure Jade Formation Talisman Li Weiyi holds is genuine. Our actions earlier were merely official duties as Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the Withered Flourish (Kurong) Hall. That doesn't constitute a fatal offense. Acting against them now would leave us with no room for maneuver."
Sikong Yanlun sighed: "What a pity. It was such a perfect opportunity."
"A direct attack wouldn't have been a good opportunity," Sikong Jingyuan countered.
Sikong Yanlun asked, "What do you mean?"
"They won't stay at Headquarters cultivating forever. They'll eventually have to leave to carry out missions. Striking in secret would avoid many complications."
Sikong Jingyuan added, "First, we need to investigate. Find out who this Li Weiyi truly is, his relationship with Palace Master An, and why he's in possession of so many treasures."
Cutting through the enemy lines, leaving a trail of Patrol Guard corpses in their wake, Li Weiyi, Yang Qingxi, and Yang Qingchan charged into the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace's formation barrier.
Li Weiyi gasped like a bellows, his entire body drenched in blood. The Blood Handprint Demon Armor had been shattered, its scriptures scattered and blood mist dissipated. Several spear wounds pierced his flesh.
Yet he didn't collapse to rest. Instead, he channeled his Spiritual Power, pouring every ounce of his strength into activating the Southern Purity (Nanqing) Palace's grand formation.
At that moment, Li Weiyi finally let out a triumphant laugh: "Yi Zhouxue, you were fooled by me! The greatest mistake in this world is doing something halfway and then hesitating. Not only does you fail to achieve your goal, but you also create enemies."
He directed those words at the First Divine Son as well.
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END OF CHAPTER
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