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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 35 (472): [The Northern Young Lord and the Southern Divine Hidden One]
(35th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"I knew something was off! Just as I suspected, something's wrong. No powerhouses from the Zuoqiu Clan or the Jiu Li Tribe below the Immortal Realm have arrived. Why would the Jiu Li Divine Hidden One make such a high-profile appearance at the banquet? It's too conspicuous!"
Tuoba Butuo gritted his teeth in fury, storming ahead like he wanted to tear Fake Li Weiyi to shreds.
At the same time, he was deeply worried that the Young Lord had been deceived, his anxiety growing with each step.
'I've never seen such an audacious imposter!'
Li Weiyi asked, "How did he make such a high-profile entrance?"
"Yaoyin, the registered disciple of the Calamity Crossing Temple's Abbot, has been hailed as Holy Maiden Yao by the younger generation of Jiu Li Martial-Mystic Cultivators. With cultivation at the Third Heaven, she defied all expectations by defeating Ku-Di of the Fourth Heaven, her innate talent and combat prowess shaking the world."
"There's also a rumor that Holy Maiden Yao and Bai Yeqing of the Far Western Ashlands are half-siblings. She's now the focus of global attention."
Tuoba Butuo spat vehemently, continuing, "That fake brought Holy Maiden Yao with him, drawing the gaze of every Martial-Mystic Cultivator as they boarded the ship. How's that not high-profile? He's definitely doing this on purpose. What's he planning?"
As an Inheritor, Tuoba Butuo possessed exceptional intelligence.
He immediately realized that Fake Li Weiyi was an unwelcome guest, attending the Commander's Banquet with malicious intent.
Even if the imposter didn't actively cause trouble, the mere mention of "Li Weiyi" and "Yaoyin" would inevitably attract numerous enemies.
"Young Master Tuoba."
"Inheritor!"
The trio - two adults and a child - ascended the warship's upper decks. Young Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Northern Territory bowed respectfully to Tuoba Butuo as they passed.
"Half-siblings? Who would spread such a rumor?" Li Weiyi sensed something sinister, detecting the scent of conspiracy.
Logically, even if Yaoyin and Bai Yeqing were indeed half-siblings, the Western Monster Race and Jiu Li Tribe would have suppressed the truth, not deliberately publicized it.
Who else knew this secret and stood to gain from its exposure?
Li Weiyi worried about the impact on Yaoyin.
Upon reaching the fifth deck, he quickly spotted Fake Li Weiyi and Yaoyin.
He telepathically instructed Tuoba Butuo, "Leave this to me. Don't expose him yet."
"Understood. I'll report to the Young Lord first."
Tuoba Butuo's eyes flashed coldly as he headed toward the sixth deck.
The sixth deck, the highest level of the Heaven's Edge Warship, served as the council chamber for the Immortal Realm Giants from the Lingxiao Realm's major powers.
It was shrouded in layers of Formation light veils.
The fifth deck was reserved for those who had cultivated a Dao Fruit or the top geniuses from various factions.
Every occupant was a prominent figure in the Lingxiao Realm. Most knew each other well, gathering in small groups to exchange confidential telepathic discussions.
The world's situation had grown even more complex and unpredictable, leaving everyone with a sense of impending crisis.
Empty seats dotted the hall, and the guests spoke more than they ate.
Li Weiyi and Yu'er settled at a table about thirty feet from Fake Li Weiyi and Yaoyin, separated by two or three other tables. Their secluded spot was in a passageway beside the cabin, offering a degree of privacy.
The day was bright and clear, with expansive views.
The sea stretched out like a deep blue mirror, offering a panoramic vista of Moon Dragon Island's Sea Market.
The dishes on the table were of exceptional quality, their savory aroma filling the air.
Yu'er's mouth watered, but her mask made eating difficult.
Li Weiyi whispered, "We came here to feast. Eat as much as you want, just keep your face hidden."
"Yes, Master," Yu'er replied.
She reached for a fragrant Crystal Sea Grape, lifted her Smiling Buddha Mask just enough to slip it into her mouth, then quickly readjusted the mask. Her eyes darted around the table, searching for her next target.
Li Weiyi channeled his Spiritual Power into his ears.
Thirty feet away, Fake Li Weiyi and Yaoyin were conversing with smiles.
"I heard my breaking through Dao Image Diagram caused quite a stir among the Calamity Crossing Temple's Heaven's Chosen. Did it cause you any trouble?"
"Pay them no mind! Anyone who has a problem will have to get past me first."
Yaoyin, veiled and wreathed in shimmering mist, was breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin glowed like sculpted jade, and her eyes radiated the spiritual energy of the Great Dao.
Beside her, Fake Li Weiyi, though possessing the genuine Li Weiyi's spirit and bearing - his features handsome and his aura extraordinary - paled in comparison.
He seemed like a mere mortal Martial-Mystic Cultivator standing beside a celestial goddess.
It wasn't just Li Weiyi; everyone present, including those with Pure Immortal Physiques, seemed to lose their luster in her presence.
Fake Li Weiyi sighed: "I know that rumor circulating in Moon Dragon Island's Sea Market must have upset you. You've been cooped up in your room, and what if your cultivation goes awry? In the Daoist tradition, mental state is paramount."
"That's why I risked exposing our location - I had to get you out for some fresh air. We're here for nothing more than a good meal and to sweep away all your worries. A spectacle like this only happens once in a century."
Yaoyin murmured her assent, but a lingering melancholy remained in her eyes.
Her "Pure True Self" mental state had been compromised.
In her current condition, facing Ku-Di again would undoubtedly lead to defeat.
At the end of the day, she was only eighteen, her mental state still unrefined by trials.
"Brother Weiyi, after our parting in the Lingxiao Realm, I never imagined we'd meet again so far away in the East Sea. We've all been searching for you in the Netherworld these past few months, deeply concerned for your safety."
Tai Shi Yu, Tai Shi Bai, Ge Xiantong, Xingyuenu, Song Lin, Song Qingli, and other young powerhouses from the Imperial Court's Jiazi generation gathered around the table where Fake Li Weiyi and Yaoyin sat.
Some were dashing and heroic, others possessed celestial beauty, their laughter ringing out as they treated Li Weiyi as a cherished old friend.
Fake Li Weiyi immediately rose, cupping his hands in greeting: "Thank you all for your concern! Surviving the great calamity in Lingxiao City and being able to gather together again is the greatest joy of my life."
Tai Shi Bai and Ge Xiantong exchanged strange glances, eager to ask Li Weiyi about the Mist Heavenly Sovereign but knowing the occasion was inappropriate, they struggled to restrain themselves.
Tai Shi Yu chuckled: "You're too bold, traveling around with Holy Maiden Yao like this. Aren't you afraid your fiancee from the Zuoqiu Clan will come looking for you?"
"Zuoqiu Hongting isn't some Fallen Spirit Demon - why should I fear her?" Fake Li Weiyi replied with a smile, "But I certainly respect her. I would never let my fiancee lose face."
"I've heard Holy Maiden Yao has many suitors at Calamity Crossing Temple," Tai Shi Bai said gravely, his tone carrying a pointed warning, "Brother Weiyi, though your cultivation is formidable, your jealousy burns like wildfire. Be careful, exceedingly careful."
Fake Li Weiyi laughed openly: "I have no parents, no family, no kin. I've always regarded Yaoyin as my own sister. If others misunderstand or grow envious, that's their problem, not mine. Right, Yaoyin?"
Yaoyin stared at him, unsure how to respond.
Soon, they turned to more pressing matters. Ge Xiantong asked, "Brother Weiyi, what's the truth about the Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi? The rumors are rampant and impossible to verify."
Fake Li Weiyi's expression turned solemn: "I've heard that while the excavation of the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains hasn't officially begun, some daring young cultivators have already ventured there, seeking opportunities."
"Opportunities are already available?" Xingyuenu asked.
Fake Li Weiyi nodded: "The Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi is constantly leaking out, and other Essence Herbs and rare treasures have begun to surface. I heard Luan Sheng Linyou arrived there early, absorbed the dragon qi, and has already broken through to the Seventh Heaven. His cultivation realm is advancing at an astonishing rate."
A collective gasp swept across the deck.
"Luansheng Linyou's grandfather is none other than the Martial-Mystic Dao Heavenly Emperor, Flying Dragon. His bloodline is extraordinary."
Someone said, "It's said that the Great Immortal Realm Expert from Calamity Crossing Temple collected some Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi from that place. After Dragon-blooded Martial-Mystic Cultivators and Aberrant Human Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Dao Seed Realm absorbed it, their cultivation realms soared."
"Everyone must remain rational! Luansheng Linyou dared to go because he was accompanying the Nether Flood Dragon King. The Nether Flood Dragon King was once his grandfather's subordinate and has an unbreakable bond with his father, Qilin Zhuang."
"Exactly. Powerful experts are currently gathering there, making meticulous preparations for the excavation. Any ordinary junior who dares to venture near will be swallowed whole by a stray Flood Dragon Python."
"And this is just from the dragon qi that's leaking out before the excavation even begins! When the excavation truly begins, the Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi will erupt in full force. Won't the cultivation realms of Dragon-blooded Martial-Mystic Cultivators and Aberrant Human Martial-Mystic Cultivators skyrocket?"
"The closer you get to the excavation site, the more dragon qi you can absorb. If you stay on the periphery, you won't even catch a glimpse of it."
"Can they absorb all the dragon qi?"
"Even if they can't absorb it all, they'll use artifacts to collect it, leaving nothing for us."
"Why are we holding this Commander's Banquet today? To unite the power of the entire Lingxiao Realm and seize some gains from the cracks between the Rice Palace, Calamity Crossing Temple, and the Demon Clan."
....
Li Weiyi felt a strange unease.
This fake Li Weiyi was eerily convincing, almost like looking in a mirror.
Watching him laugh and converse so naturally, Li Weiyi felt as if he were staring at his own reflection.
"He's truly remarkable, knowing every detail about the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains excavation site," Li Weiyi chuckled, raising his wine cup and draining it in one gulp.
Luansheng Linyou was at the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains excavation site, while Prince Mingjiao and other young powerhouses of the Demon Clan were at the Sea Market on Moon Dragon Island.
This was because the Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi currently leaking from the site was extremely diluted, offering negligible benefits to demons of Prince Mingjiao's cultivation level.
There was no point in risking their lives.
At this stage, even a minor anomaly at the excavation site could instantly obliterate Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators, leaving them no time to escape or be rescued.
"My name is Chang Jian, and this is my younger sister, Chang Xiaoyu, from Calamity Crossing Temple. May we join you?"
A young man in martial attire approached Li Weiyi and Yu'er's table, his smile warm and his hands clasped in a respectful greeting.
Yet his ramrod-straight posture betrayed an innate arrogance.
He possessed a Pure Immortal Physique.
His hair had a faint purplish sheen, and his features were sharply defined, his brow ridge and nose bridge sculpted as if by a master craftsman.
Beside him stood Chang Xiaoyu, a woman with a strikingly beautiful figure, clad in a cloud-patterned Daoist robe. The air around her carried the faint scent of sandalwood, and a veil obscured her face, concealing her features.
Behind the pair followed six young talents, each radiating an extraordinary aura and brimming with vitality.
One of them fixed Li Weiyi with a sharp, piercing gaze, as if wanting to drive him away.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," Li Weiyi said calmly, completely unfazed, "Are disciples from the Calamity Crossing Temple also attending the Commander's Banquet of the Lingxiao Realm?"
Chang Jian sat down beside Li Weiyi, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
Any other Martial-Mystic Cultivator would have been intimidated by the glares from his entourage, or at least shown some awkwardness.
Chang Jian smiled serenely: "I've long heard that the younger generation of the Lingxiao Realm is a hidden trove of talent, producing many world-shaking prodigies. I came to join the festivities and broaden my horizons."
"Young Master Chang is too kind. The Lingxiao Realm is merely a shallow pond," Li Weiyi replied.
Chang Jian waved his hand dismissively.
"That's far from the truth. Just consider the ten disciples who came to cultivate at the Calamity Crossing Temple - each one is a peerless genius who caused a sensation within the temple. And I've heard they're not even the most remarkable talents in the Lingxiao Realm."
"The truly extraordinary ones are 'The Northern Young Lord and the Southern Divine Hidden One'."
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END OF CHAPTER
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