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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 1 (438): [The Greatest Traitor of the Jiuli Clan]
(1st of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Huo Dingnan's cultivation was too high. Given Li Weiyi's current level, sealing his Nine Springs and Dao Fruit was nearly impossible.
"Pfft!"
A spear thrust down, killing him instantly.
His Dao Fruit was naturally claimed.
The mansion was vast, covering hundreds of acres, yet few living beings remained - mostly Dead Spirit servants.
Earlier, when Li Weiyi unleashed the third layer of Sixfold Samsara Burning Karma Technique, the flames he released engulfed the mansion's structures, overwhelming the formations and setting everything ablaze.
"Boom!"
With a palm strike, Li Weiyi shattered the stone door of a cellar protected by a formation and leaped inside.
He had expected to find treasures or resources, but instead discovered vast stores of dried meat, water, wine jars, dried fruits, and grains.
Even the most powerful Martial-Mystic Cultivators still needed food and water.
Of course, those at the Dao Seed Realm consumed Spiritual Grain and Strange Beast meat, and drank Spiritual Spring water.
In the Nether Realm of the Dead, edible resources were scarce, and drinkable water was even rarer.
Even Spiritual Qi was thin, tainted with darkness and decay, making prolonged direct absorption impossible.
Cultivators relied on the spiritual power surging from the Nine Springs or stockpiled Blood Crystals to absorb their Spiritual Qi.
Li Weiyi retrieved a Cosmic Pouch and collected the highest quality food, Spiritual Spring water, and fine wines.
"This is strange," he mused, "If the Twin Rice Sect sails from the Huang River, their supplies should have been stored in Huangjiang Border City. Why would they stockpile such vast quantities of food here?"
Li Weiyi recalled the numerous carriages and Soul Steeds he had seen outside the mansion earlier, deepening his suspicions.
Searching through a study in the cellar, he discovered a Bone Bird Message on the desk:
"Thirty thousand miles deep into the East Sea, the Mirage Mist Tower has appeared. Phoenix Tree and Dragon City glows with a thousand miles of drifting fireflies. - Xiao Zhou, Elder of Qing Province!"
This message had clearly been sent recently from the East Sea by Xiao Zhou, one of the seven great Elders of the Twin Rice Sect's Eastern Territory.
However, Elder Xiao Zhou was evidently unaware of the Twin Rice Sect's downfall.
What intrigued Li Weiyi's was: how had Elder Xiao Zhou reached such a remote location, thirty thousand miles into the East Sea?
The East Sea teemed with Demon Beasts, making even a few thousand miles of sea travel incredibly dangerous.
Finding little of value in the room, Li Weiyi quickly returned to the surface.
The flames engulfing the mansion had been extinguished.
Yang Qingchan sat on a stone bench, idly playing with the Bronze Nether Lamp she had seized from Yao Qingfeng.
Around her, the mansion's Dead Spirit servants knelt prostrate on the ground.
Yang Qingxi's interrogation methods were remarkably effective. She had already extracted the information Li Weiyi sought from Li Songjian.
"According to him, he's the Clan Chief of the Yao Li Tribe," Yang Qingxi reported, "The Forbidden One from Coffin Mountain personally subdued him and implanted the Death Spirit Fire."
Li Weiyi remained silent, his gaze fixed on Li Songjian.
Li Songjian lay there, his tendons severed, unable to rise.
Sensing Li Weiyi's intense scrutiny, he quickly pleaded, "Divine Hidden One, I would never dare deceive you. We had no choice. The Jiu Li Clan lacks Transcendents yet controls too many resources. How could we not be targeted?"
"How could we possibly fight Coffin Mountain? Forget the Forbidden One - Xu Fodu and An Xianjing alone are formidable foes."
"If we refused to compromise or submit, not only we would die, but our families and clansmen as well."
Li Weiyi's mind raced with another question: Did Yao Qingxuan know about this?
'Never mind,' he thought, 'The Jiu Li Clan's internal problems are theirs to resolve.'
Li Weiyi's sense of belonging to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect stemmed from Master Coffin's meticulous guidance.
The Coffin Master had even entrusted him with treasures like the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, rather than reserving them for Cang Li or Li Ling.
Time and again, the Seven Little Ones had helped him weather crises, standing shoulder to shoulder against adversity.
Under Master Coffin's arrangement, Li Weiyi joined the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, gaining access to cultivation resources and the guidance and protection of the Hidden Lord, Yao Qingxuan, Old Zhuo, and Elder Qin.
He also forged close friendships with Yin Wu, Yin Jiu, Yin Shiyi, Yin Ershi Si, and other Hidden Ones, who became like family to him.
But the Jiu Li Clan...
Li Weiyi had no desire to become deeply involved in their internal affairs, caring only for the safety of Senior Sister Cai, Gao Huan, and others.
Showing little emotion, Li Weiyi said calmly, "Li Songjian, spare me the lofty rhetoric. I know what kind of person you are. Someone truly forced into submission, even if they outwardly comply, would constantly be plotting to protect their clan's safety and interests, ready to rise up and turn the tide in times of crisis. Which of those qualities do you possess?"
Yang Qingxi, her veil shimmering, stood tall and graceful, her voice soft and gentle.
"What do you plan to do with them?"
"Send them back to the Jiu Li Clan for judgment by the Jiu Li Divine Temple," Li Weiyi replied, "We should be able to uncover more internal traitors and finally resolve decades-old cases."
A frosty glint appeared in Yang Qingxi's eyes.
"My suggestion is to kill them all and eliminate any future threats."
Li Weiyi was mildly surprised.
She continued, "After the battle in the Lingxiao Realm, the Jiu Li Clan will undoubtedly conduct a massive purge. The number of clansmen associated with the Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, Tianyi Sect, Coffin Mountain, and Twin Rice Sect combined will be enormous - far too many to execute."
"Li Songjian is the eldest son of the Cangli Tribe's Clan Chief. If he delivers the speech he just gave, the Jiu Li Clan might impose lenient punishments."
"Are you certain he won't seek revenge once he escapes this predicament?"
Li Songjian's scalp tingled with fear, his heart freezing with dread.
He roared, "Yang Qingxi, what have I ever done to wrong you? Why are you trying to destroy me like this...? Divine Hidden One, Songjian has already admitted his mistakes and would never dare seek revenge. I only wish to spend the rest of my days atoning for my past transgressions... Don't listen to Yang Qingxi! I hold compromising information about her - she's been having an affair with Yao Qian for ages. Don't be fooled by her innocent facade! She's trying to silence me permanently!"
"Qingxi, I'm your aunt! We're family," Yang Lin pleaded.
Li Weiyi understood perfectly that Yang Qingxi's true motive for suggesting this was to eliminate witnesses.
Otherwise, if word of her actions today spread through the four men's accounts, neither the Sui Sect nor the Twin Rice Sect would ever accept her again.
Though ruthless, her reasoning was sound.
Even without eyewitness testimony, Li Weiyi believed the Jiu Li Hidden Sect would take his word as a Divine Hidden One seriously and investigate the Yao Li Tribe's Clan Chief.
"Then you handle it!"
Li Weiyi took Yu'er's hand and walked away.
Sitting on a stone bench, he began organizing the various resources and treasures from the Five-Person Realm Pouch.
"I'll take care of this," Yang Qingchan said, putting away the Nether Lantern.
Her graceful figure leaped into the air, gliding toward the four figures lying on the ground.
The four were either Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators or Spiritual Masters with powerful soul spirits - rare delicacies for her.
In the Nether Realm of the Dead, fierce souls devoured each other to evolve into Ghost Generals.
Only upon reaching that level could they access the Fallen Spirit Cultivation Method, which still primarily relied on consumption.
The Dead Spirit within Yang Qingchan had been subdued and refined into a Soul Seed by a powerhouse from the Twin Rice Sect's Heavenly Principles (Tianli) Hall within the Nether Realm.
If her physical body's strength could be enhanced, her combat prowess would rival that of an Eighth Heaven Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator, making her a formidable Yin Ghost Commander.
Li Songjian and Huo Dingnan possessed substantial resources. Their Cosmic Pouches contained significant quantities of Millennium Essence Herba and Blood Crystals, along with strange Nether Realm artifacts Li Weiyi had never seen before.
Li Weiyi pulled out a palm-sized bronze compass.
Activating it with Spiritual Qi, the needle spun wildly.
"This is a Yin Qi Compass! In areas with sufficiently dense Yin Qi, it will automatically emit a radiant glow, allowing us to avoid dangerous zones."
Yang Qingxi approached gracefully, her hair adorned with golden hairpins.
She had removed her veil, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.
After a moment's thought, she said, "Li Songjian was referring to Qingchan! You know I have no interest in Yao Qian."
As a Heaven's Chosen Daughter of Inheritor-level status, she possessed a natural air of aloofness.
"Miss Yang is being rather deliberate," Li Weiyi remarked with a faint smile.
Yang Qingxi glanced at Yu'er, who stood beside Li Weiyi, her gaze fixed on her.
"Don't you think we're well-suited for each other? Don't you feel a natural connection between us? I won't repeat this a third time."
Li Weiyi met her gaze, recognizing this as Miss Yang's final attempt to sway him.
After today's parting, they might never have another chance to meet.
In the distance, Yang Lin shrieked hoarsely, "Yang Qingxi, your grandfather will never forgive you... You and your bastard lover will suffer a miserable death..."
"Adulterers! Adulterers! Ah..." Yao Qingfeng cursed in a hoarse voice.
.....
Li Weiyi quickly covered Yu'er's ears, releasing a Psychic Field to block out the sound.
He glanced at Yang Qingchan in the distance, who was devouring living souls, and sighed inwardly.
From the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival to the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall and now the Nether Realm of the Dead, every time he worked with Yang Qingxi, they were inevitably cursed by their enemies.
The insults grew increasingly vile.
He was certain the problem wasn't him; Yang Qingxi's methods were simply too ruthless.
Besides, Shi Liuyu was the true culprit.
Yang Qingxi, sensing Li Weiyi's thoughts, stopped pressing the matter.
"The Second Divine Son of the Divine Sect, Kong Xu, is in charge of the evacuation. Li Songjian and Huo Dingnan are merely his assistants. He could arrive here from Huangjiang Border City at any moment, so we must leave immediately."
The Second Divine Son was actually two people: Kongxu and Huangxu, both formidable figures who had condensed Dao Fruits.
Either of them surpassed Huo Dingnan in strength.
Li Weiyi asked, "What are your plans now?"
Yang Qingxi stared at him for a moment, swallowed the words she wanted to say, and changed her tone.
"Qingchan mentioned you're buying Phoenix Blood Tree Leaves to cultivate the Immortal Body? Do you have the courage to venture into Old Yu Prefecture City?"
Li Weiyi noticed Yang Qingxi's cultivation had reached the Fifth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm.
While her innate talent wasn't exceptional among Inheritors, her cultivation had already caught up with the top Dragon Seed Dao practitioners, matching the realms of Lu Cangsheng and others.
Her strength lay in her relentless determination and courage, qualities many Inheritors lacked.
Though she appeared serene and graceful, her heart danced on the edge of a blade.
She dared to take risks others avoided.
She dared to kill those others feared to kill.
Yang Qingxi continued, "The Nether Realm southeast of the Lingxiao Realm is ruled by Lord Lan, a tyrant who has lived for millennia. Legend says Lord Lan is the corpse of a Martial-Mystic Dao Ancient Heavenly Emperor, imbued with sentience and possessing unimaginable cultivation and combat prowess."
"But even the heavens have their limits. Lord Lan fell in the Western Territory, slain by the Mist Emperor. In the past month alone, eight Dead Spirit Transcendents and countless Monarch-Marquis Grade Dead Spirits have reportedly perished. The Army of the Dead has suffered its most devastating blow in a thousand years."
"Your Highness, you are wise enough to understand what this means."
Li Weiyi's eyes narrowed: "The Southeast Nether Realm is about to descend into chaos! If the Human Race's armies were strong enough to assemble their forces in Coffin Prefecture and Qing Province, it might scare the most powerful Dead Spirits into fleeing deeper into the Nether Realm."
Yang Qingxi nodded: "That's inevitable! Right now, the Twin Rice Sect, the Dead Spirits, and cultivators from beyond our borders are all fleeing toward Coffin Prefecture, Qing Province, and the East Sea."
"This is their only path to survival."
"What's the situation in the west?"
"I heard the Mist Emperor went to the Far Western Ashlands and hasn't been heard from since," Li Weiyi asked anxiously.
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END OF CHAPTER
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