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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 122 (377): [The Young Elder]
(122nd of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi said, "When I issued the Divine Hidden Sect Token, I never expected it would summon the Elders as well. The enemy is incredibly powerful, and what we're about to do in Lingxiao City will cost many lives. We could lose half our forces, or even be wiped out entirely. I cannot guarantee your safety."
"The Hidden Sect cannot be completely destroyed in the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain. Therefore, those with important missions, families, or who aren't prepared to die in Lingxiao City should withdraw now. I only need half of you to stay."
"Those who leave, don't feel ashamed. You must continue to support the Hidden Sect and bear its responsibilities."
"You have one quarter of an hour to consider."
Even Elder Zhuo and the Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder were unaware of the details.
Seeing Li Weiyi's grave tone, they were deeply moved.
A Hidden Elder wearing a mask spoke, "As Hidden Ones, we long ago cast aside our fear of death. But before we commit, we must know who the enemy is, why we fight, and whether it's worth dying for."
"Precisely," another Hidden Elder agreed.
"Divine Hidden One, please enlighten us."
Li Weiyi's gaze sharpened: "I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you. Only those who choose to stay will learn the truth."
A long silence followed.
Seeing no one leave, Li Weiyi turned to the Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder, "Supreme Elder, you know them better. You choose half of them to leave."
The Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder chuckled hoarsely: "The truly unmovable Hidden Ones never came to Lingxiao City. Let those who refuse to leave stay. The Hidden Sect has seeds; even if they're shattered, they can be rebuilt."
"The Divine Hidden Sect Token isn't issued lightly. We made all the necessary preparations before coming here," the Gatekeeper Elder said.
He was the Twelfth Elder.
Li Weiyi understood their determination and said no more, immediately getting down to business.
"Those of you who have reached the Dao Seed Realm should be well aware of the perilous situation facing the world today."
"Since Qilin Zhuang's return, the Far Western Ashlands, Dragon Sect, Eastern Barbarians, and Western Rong have united under his banner. Demon Clan forces like Heavenly Cliff Ridge, Yin Mountain, and the Mountain Lord's Calamity have all been brought under his control."
"Meanwhile, the major Human Clan powers in the Lingxiao Realm, after a decade of warfare, have irreconcilable conflicts and resentments. With no clear leader, they act independently, inevitably leading to their piecemeal defeat."
"Two years ago, the Transcendent War left both sides severely weakened."
"Now that the Transcendent's injuries are gradually healing, Qilin Zhuang has realized that relying solely on brute force to crush the humans of the Lingxiao Realm will only unite us more than ever. For him, forming alliances and employing Battle Techniques has become crucial."
Li Weiyi then shared all the information he had gathered with the assembly.
A wave of shock swept through the council hall. Everyone was stunned, feeling as though dark clouds had gathered overhead, threatening to shatter the heavens.
Li Weiyi continued, "The Hidden Lord disappeared because of this matter. I survived by chance, so I must take responsibility."
"Let me be clear: I trust every Hidden One. That's why I'm sharing this secret with you all. If anyone leaks this information, whether intentionally or under duress, they will face the wrath of the heavens."
Zhu Lao said, "Before you leave, each of you must come to me to receive the Death Spirit Fire."
The Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder asked, "Is the Twin Rice Sect truly that powerful? Once Corpse Cultivation Rice is activated, the entire Living Realm will instantly transform into a Ghost Domain."
Yin Wu replied, "Even the Demon Clan's top echelon can hold their own against the Human Clan's elite. Now that they've enlisted the Nether Realm of the Dead and the Heretical Sect to aid them, Lingxiao City is doomed. Once Lingxiao City falls, the remaining powers in the world will crumble like sand. How can they possibly resist? They're certain to collapse."
A young Hidden One wearing a mask spoke, "It's more complicated than that! I've been undercover in the Li Clan, and I've noticed some strange phenomena recently. Combined with the appearance of the Demon Child, I suspect that the Li Clan's Transcendent has secretly returned from the Demon Kingdom."
A Hidden Elder added, "I'm responsible for patrolling the Southern Territory's borders. I've discovered several Ghost Cities and Skeletal Manors in the Nether Realm of the Dead, recently mobilizing a massive army of undead. Their target is the Western Territory."
A Hidden Elder embedded within the Imperial Court, with a melodious voice, said, "The Imperial Court has received this information as well. Many Immortal Realm Giants from Lingxiao City have secretly rushed to the Western Territory. I estimate that the Transcendent will follow suit in a few days. If this is a diversionary tactic by our enemies, Lingxiao City is in grave danger!"
Another Hidden Elder remarked, "The Imperial Court is already reeling from the Ghost Infant Incident, the Ninefold Dao Image Diagram, the Liang Prefecture Transcendent's attack, and the Eastern Sea Barbarians. They've lost their footing. How can they possibly withstand the Heretical Sect's thousand-year plot?"
"I'm even more worried about the Sui Sect. They've infiltrated the Imperial Court. If they strike at a critical moment, the consequences are unimaginable."
"The Demon Clan has only managed to sneak in thirty undead powerhouses, and that's already been enough for us to track. Imagine the devastation the Twin Rice Sect's thousand-year plot could unleash!"
....
The crowd buzzed with discussion, each person sharing their intelligence and opinions, searching for a way to break the deadlock.
In the past century, the Jiu Li Tribe had gradually declined, and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect had adopted a defensive stance.
The Hidden Ones primarily infiltrated the major powers of the Southern Territory and the Imperial Court.
The more critical the power was to the Jiu Li Tribe's survival, the higher the talent of the Hidden Ones who infiltrated it, aiming to reach high positions and obtain crucial intelligence.
For example, the Twin Rice Sect was infiltrated by Yao Qingxuan, the Earth Wolf King's Army by Yin Wu (Hidden Five), and the Sui Sect by Hidden One.
Night City, Guan Shan, the Zuoqiu Clan, the Jiang Clan, and Lingxiao City were also key targets for the Hidden Sect's operations.
The Hidden Elder who had infiltrated the Imperial Court turned to Li Weiyi.
"If Lingxiao City falls, all humans will be affected. Like lips and teeth, no one can escape. This matter is beyond our ability to resolve. I have a way to contact a Transcendent within the Imperial Court. We need a Transcendent on our side."
Li Weiyi asked, "Are you so certain that the Transcendent behind you is completely trustworthy?"
"If she has ulterior motives, no matter how much we do, Lingxiao City will still fall. Divine Hidden One, can we speak privately?"
Li Weiyi nodded lightly, intrigued by the Hidden Elder who had infiltrated the Imperial Court. He knew this person would be invaluable in the coming days.
"Study this list carefully and memorize it. Over the next month, your priority is to identify the thirty Dead Spirit experts who have infiltrated the Imperial Court."
The two emerged from the hall.
The Hidden Elder, who had been secretly serving the Imperial Court, removed her mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face with a Pure Immortal Physique.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, remarkably young, with a faint silver-white star-and-moon mark on her brow.
"Disciple of the Third Palace Master, Xingyuenu, greets the Divine Hidden One," she said.
"Such a young Elder?" Li Weiyi was slightly surprised.
He had heard of her name; she had once fought Xie Chucai and lost in seven moves.
Xingyuenu put her mask back on: "In the last Jiazi, I ranked sixtieth. I'm forty-two this year, having entered the Hidden Sect only a year earlier than Divine Hidden One. Within the sect, they call me Young Elder."
"I know what the Divine Hidden One is worried about! Half of the defensive formations of Lingxiao City and the Four Great Passes are controlled by the Third Palace Master. If she were compromised, the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain would have fallen long ago."
Li Weiyi countered, "Have you considered this? If the Demon Clan and the Twin Rice Sect didn't possess a method to bypass the defensive formations left by the Mist Heavenly Emperor, why would they dare to attack the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain?"
"The Tai Shi Clan and the Qilin Terrace, which the Third Palace Master controls, must be their primary targets for infiltration."
"Lately, Liang Province City has been under a Transcendent attack by the Demon Clan, tying down Duke Tai Shi. The Deputy Commander responsible for city defenses and Formation at South Yan Pass was killed, forcing Tai Shi Qingcang to take charge. Meanwhile, the Grand Temple of Eternal Harmony is grappling with a Ghost Infant Incident, leaving Tai Shi Qingshi utterly overwhelmed."
"With the Taishi Clan's three top experts all occupied, why is Qilin Terrace remaining so calm?"
Xingyuenu was moved: "Do you think Qilin Terrace faces an even greater crisis? Perhaps the Third Palace Master's cultivation is simply too high, making her invulnerable, and they dare not make a move."
Li Weiyi shook his head: "This is a life-or-death struggle, a battle no one can afford to lose. I don't believe the Third Palace Master is truly invulnerable. What do you think her weakness is?"
Xingyuenu pondered for a moment, a thought dawning on her, but she hesitated to speak.
Li Weiyi pressed, "How many male consorts does the Third Palace Master have?"
An extremely awkward question.
Xingyuenu glanced at him, then turned her gaze to the snow-covered mountains shrouded in night Mist.
"I don't know! But for the past three centuries, it's said she takes one every Jiazi. Do you think the Third Palace Master would make a mistake in this area? Impossible. She's the master, not the one being mastered."
Li Weiyi said, "I'm simply thinking from the perspective of the Twin Rice Sect's strongest. If I were the Ancestor of Rice, how would I obtain the layout diagram of the Third Palace Master's defensive Formation?"
"The Third Palace Master's cultivation is too high, and this is her only weakness. I'll stop at nothing to exploit it."
"This afternoon, I visited the West Sea Royal Manor and learned something from Song Lin. Song Yulou's parents both died in the battle at Cangyuan."
Xingyuenu's eyes widened in shock: "You suspect the Song Family Patriarch?"
"I'm not suspecting him. The Song Family Patriarch is a man of great charisma, with exceptional innate talent, humility, and flawlessness." Li Weiyi's tone shifted, "The top geniuses I've encountered are all arrogant and proud. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being the Third Palace Master's male consort - in fact, countless people dream of it. But Song Yulou has the King of the Western Sea backing him, a distinguished family background, and he's not like Yao Qian and the others. The West Sea Royal Manor can offer him everything the Third Palace Master can. He doesn't seem like the type to be consumed by beauty. If the Third Palace Master were just widowed, rather than changing consorts every Jiazi, I could even accept it, let alone him. But that's not the case. This Jiazi is one thing, but what about the next? Will he share the Third Palace Master with another man?"
"Does the West Sea Royal Manor truly consider this an honor? What is he really seeking? True love?"
Xingyuenu wavered, swayed by Li Weiyi's words: "But... he's the top cultivator of the fourth generation in the West Sea Royal Manor. Is it really just because of the grudge over the Western Sea Slave's defeat at Cangyuan?"
"Perhaps that grudge was just a crack the Twin Rice Sect exploited to break him."
Li Weiyi smiled, "Of course, this is all baseless speculation on my part. I might be completely off the track."
"No... I think you might be getting close to the truth."
Xingyuenu's expression grew grave, "Just today, Song Yulou became the Junior Minister of the Qilin Terrace. Now that he's reached the Immortal Realm, the Third Palace Master will undoubtedly entrust him with more matters, and his trust in him far surpasses what we disciples can ever hope for. The more I think about it, the more unsettling it becomes."
"If it truly is him... then perhaps Qingli appearing in Pale Moon Square as the Ghost Mother was also his doing."
"Divine Hidden One, I'm starting to waver. Perhaps we really shouldn't inform the Third Palace Master so easily."
"Let's investigate first, together. Keep a close eye on the Qilin Terrace and any unusual developments there." Li Weiyi turned and entered the hall, where more crucial matters awaited his attention.
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END OF CHAPTER
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