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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 16 (453): [Her Highness the Princess]
(16th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"Whoosh!"
Li Weiyi's power far exceeded his expectations.
The Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear pierced through Fu Wenyan's protective layers of inscribed characters and azure clouds, grazing his scalp and leaving a bloody gash that ran from the crown of his head to the back of his skull, deep enough to expose bone.
With a swift upward thrust, the staff-spear intercepted the floating page of the Earth Book hovering behind Fu Wenyan's back, just before he could escape into the void.
The Earth Book had been positioned behind him, not above.
"Aaaah!"
Fu Wenyan roared, his features twisted in a grotesque snarl, utterly devoid of his usual Confucian composure.
His voice, echoing from within the Purple Mist Light Cluster, seethed, "You may have stolen my Earth Book today, but I'll make you repay it tenfold... with interest!"
Li Weiyi landed on the hill, seizing the dislodged page of the Earth Book and suppressing it with all his might.
Enveloped in fiery golden armor, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He made no attempt to pursue Fu Wenyan.
He had sensed an overwhelmingly terrifying aura surging beneath the earth, hurtling at unimaginable speed toward Fu Wenyan's escape route.
'This escape technique... even a Giant of the Immortal Realm might struggle to match it. Is this the fourth-tier Great Technique of Evasion? Who is she?'
Li Weiyi's eyes darted about in thought.
Ignoring his injuries, he turned back to pursue the Gray Corpse Ape.
With Fu Wenyan incapacitated by the ambush, he had lost control of the Dragon Soul.
The Gray Corpse Ape seized the opportunity to break free and flee eastward.
Though swift, the Gray Corpse Ape was weakened by the Purple Heaven Thunder Seal and the Dragon Soul's attack, far from its peak condition.
"Whoosh! Whoosh..."
Li Weiyi activated the Governor's Official Robe six times in succession, finally catching up and appearing directly above the creature.
He reached into his robe, channeled Spiritual Qi, and secretly activated the Evil Camel Bell.
The Gray Corpse Ape abruptly halted, its bloodshot eyes glaring at Li Weiyi with murderous intent. Two gray clouds of Spiritual Qi materialized on its massive golden palm.
Above, the camel bell chimed.
The sound waves cascaded downward.
Hundreds of strange voices echoed in the Gray Corpse Ape's ears, stirring chaotic thoughts and unease within its mind. Its internal Spiritual Qi began to surge erratically.
"Boom!"
The Evil Camel Bell expanded to the size of a bronze bell, while the Nether Mist coalesced into a dense cloud that plummeted from above.
The bell's resonance attacked the creature's soul's thoughts.
Ripples of spatial energy emanated from the bell's mouth, binding the Gray Corpse Ape's body.
"Boom!"
Li Weiyi stood atop the massive Evil Camel Bell as it crashed to the ground, the impact shaking the earth.
The Gray Corpse Ape was sealed within.
"Seal."
Li Weiyi leaped off the bell and channeled twin pillars of Spiritual Qi with both hands.
The bell rapidly shrank, flying back into his palm.
"Ding-ding."
Suddenly, the Evil Camel Bell trembled.
The bell's chime pierced the air.
Li Weiyi's expression shifted, realizing the Gray Corpse Ape was attacking from within the bell, desperate to escape.
He was pondering how to suppress it when a low, agonizing roar echoed from inside the bell. It was so faint he had to press his ear against the bell to hear it.
"This is the Evil Camel Bell! When it rings, the Soul Spirits of those outside are severely affected - imagine what it's doing to the creature trapped inside!"
Li Weiyi had no time to check on the Gray Corpse Ape. Activating a Divine Swiftness Talisman, he sped toward the White Desert.
As for Yang Qingxi's situation back at Old Yuzhou Prefecture City, he could no longer afford to worry about it.
"Master, are you alright? You're bleeding so much... Yu'er is so scared," Yu'er finally spoke, her voice trembling with tears.
"Don't be afraid, Yu'er. Master is perfectly fine. I only pretended to cough up blood to deceive them," Li Weiyi reassured her, not wanting the little girl to live in constant fear and insecurity.
Yu'er looked surprised, "Really?"
"This tactic is called 'feigning weakness to deceive the enemy'..."
Despite the searing pain in his chest, Li Weiyi forced a confident, relaxed smile.
After rushing over a hundred miles, Li Weiyi suddenly stopped.
In the distance, atop a dark hill, stood a slender, black-clad figure.
She held a sword in one hand and the Prefectural Governor's Official Seal in the other, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.
Li Weiyi sensed the killing intent emanating from the figure.
Knowing that, given his current state and the woman's speed, escape was impossible, he forced herself to remain calm and transmitted a message using Spiritual Qi: "Your Highness, please grant me a way out."
A peculiar glint flashed in the Black-Clad Woman's eyes as she replied telepathically: "Where is my weakness?"
"Below the Immortal Realm, women stronger than Fu Wenyan are exceedingly rare. To surpass him while concealing your identity and suppressing your Spiritual Qi fluctuations... only Princess Dengfeng could accomplish such a feat."
Li Weiyi continued, "Even so, it was merely a guess. My earlier question was purely a test. You needn't silence me; I won't reveal your secret."
Princess Dengfeng had clearly feigned admiration for Fu Wenyan, pretending ignorance of his true identity.
By killing him, she could prevent the Calamity Crossing Temple and Zongsheng Sect from suspecting the East Sea Demon Clan, while simultaneously framing others to achieve her secondary objective.
Evidently, Fu Wenyan's escape skills were formidable. Princess Dengfeng had failed to eliminate him without exposing herself.
Otherwise, she would already be wearing the Governor's Official Robe.
After all, to kill Li Weiyi, who was wearing the Governor's Official Robe, it was safest for her to wear the same robe herself.
Princess Dengfeng no longer concealed her voice as she advanced toward Li Weiyi.
"Hand over that page of the Earth Book and the Gray Corpse Ape, and I'll let you leave."
Li Weiyi retreated step by step, "If we each keep a page of the Earth Book, neither of us will reveal the secret. If I give you the Earth Book, you'll surely kill me. You can't allow anyone to hold leverage over you. Princess, if you come any closer, I'll shout! Are you certain there are no other living or dead spirits lurking in the darkness?"
Princess Dengfeng didn't stop: "Do you really think I fear the Calamity Crossing Temple and the Zongsheng Sect?"
"The Calamity Crossing Temple and the Zongsheng Sect might not venture into the Netherworld to avenge Fu Wenyan, but they'll certainly mobilize for the Earth Book," Li Weiyi said.
"If you dare threaten me today, you'll dare even more tomorrow. Rather than endure constant threats, I'll cut the Gordian knot. Shout if you wish!"
Princess Dengfeng erupted with unparalleled speed, charging forward.
Her black figure nearly vanished, moving too fast to be seen.
Even faster than her movement technique was the Dao Heart Manifestation she unleashed.
The Dao Heart Manifestation enveloped Li Weiyi, isolating him from the outside world and preventing him from revealing her secrets.
Li Weiyi's gaze remained fixed on her, his fingers pressing against the cloak behind him.
"Whoosh!"
A figure as swift as Princess Dengfeng surged from the darkness behind Li Weiyi.
Seven zhang before Li Weiyi, sword clashed against palm.
"Boom!"
Liu Ye stood tall, his right hand clad in a green-scaled gauntlet, meeting Princess Dengfeng's thrusting Battle Sword head-on.
He retreated three steps, and a long spear flew from his Ancestral Field.
"Boom!"
With a backhand sweep, the spear shattered the air, forcing Princess Dengfeng back as she charged again.
Liu Ye stood three steps before Li Weiyi, slamming the spear heavily into the ground, causing the earth to tremble like waves.
"Your Highness," he declared, "without revealing your true identity, you are no match for me."
Li Weiyi's eyes widened in surprise.
He hadn't expected the young Liu-named merchant from the Fallen Spirit Market to be hiding nearby.
Princess Dengfeng was even more astonished.
Despite her cultivation level, she hadn't sensed Liu Ye's presence beforehand.
His concealment techniques were truly astonishing.
She didn't rush to attack again.
"Who are you? Apart from Tang Wanzhou, there's no expert as strong as you below the Immortal Realm in the Lingxiao Realm."
With just this sentence, Li Weiyi realized Princess Dengfeng had a deep understanding of the Lingxiao Realm's affairs.
This was alarming!
It implied the East Sea Demon Clan harbored ambitions toward the Lingxiao Realm.
Liu Ye replied, "Your Highness need not know my identity. If you wish to fight, I'll gladly oblige. But I will save this man today."
"Do you think you have the authority to speak such words on East Sea territory?" Princess Dengfeng countered.
Liu Ye retorted, "Does Your Highness believe I would dare venture into East Sea territory without good reason? The Gray Corpse Ape couldn't even dig up the Phoenix Blood Tree's roots. If Your Highness doesn't hurry back to Old Yuzhou Prefecture City, Prince Mingjiao will win the Phoenix Blood Tree competition!"
Princess Dengfeng stared at Liu Ye for a long moment, "I think I finally understand your origins!"
She retreated two steps and vanished into the night, "Li Weiyi, if this princess truly wanted you dead, he couldn't protect you. Consider this my mercy."
"I'll spare your life as well," Li Weiyi replied.
Liu Ye's taut nerves relaxed slightly as he exhaled a long breath.
"We need to leave this place immediately. She might change her mind at any moment and send an Immortal Realm Giant to kill you."
The two fled hundreds of miles before stopping beside a wide, black river.
Li Weiyi, showing no signs of his severe injuries, sincerely thanked Liu Ye.
"Thank you, Brother Liu, for your righteous intervention."
Liu Ye stood facing the river, "Li Weiyi, Divine Hidden One of the Jiu Li Tribe. Three years ago, you first appeared in Jiu Li City with only Surging Spring Realm cultivation. During the Shangyuan Festival the following year, you participated in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival and helped Zuoqiu Hongting defeat Luansheng Linyou."
"After that, you disappeared into the Underground Immortal Mansion with Tang Wanzhou for a year. When you reappeared, you had become a formidable expert in the Dao Seed Realm. Your cultivation speed is truly astonishing."
"In the Battle of Lingxiao City, you and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect played a crucial role. You are a young hero of exceptional courage and responsibility. Despite the destruction of your Ancestral Field, you have demonstrated extraordinary talent in Psychic Power."
"Since our parting at the Fallen Spirit Market, I've been investigating you. You are even more remarkable than I imagined."
Li Weiyi grew wary: "Brother Liu, your timely appearance and assistance here seem more than just coincidence."
"It's not as complicated as you think."
Liu Ye gazed into the distance, spotting two streaks of light - one ice-blue, the other crimson-red - streaking through the darkness toward them.
"You're too badly injured. Find a place to heal quickly. The situation in Yu State is complicated. The Rice Palace's malevolence and Han Xin are closing in. I'll draw them away."
"If you want to know why I saved you, meet me at the Sea Market on Moon Dragon Island in the East Sea three months from now. If you dare to come."
"Whoosh!"
Liu Ye stepped across the wide, black river, his aura vanishing instantly as he merged seamlessly with the darkness, demonstrating extraordinary concealment skills.
A smile crept across Li Weiyi's face.
He felt a surge of curiosity about this young man named Liu, and a thrill at the dangers and surprises of the cultivation path - a path that filled him with boundless anticipation for the journey ahead.
Turning, he carried Yu'er on his back and headed in the opposite direction.
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END OF CHAPTER
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