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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 76 (103): [Dharma Dao Fire Ape]
(76th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The Xihe flower, which grew in the Tanggu Sea, perpetually bloomed, nourished by the light of the Fusang Divine Tree and the Golden Crow. If even this wasn't considered The Extreme Yang energy (Qi), Li Weiyi couldn't imagine what else in the world could qualify.
He once asked his knowledgeable Master Coffin about it.
Master Coffin had read about the Xihe in the ancient texts of the Jiu Li Clan. It was described as a rare and precious ancient herb, but one that contained terrifying fire poison capable of incinerating the bodies of Martial-Mystic Cultivators. Only the most skilled Alchemists, using ancient secret pill formulas, could neutralize the Xihe's fire poison and refine it into Supreme Grade Pills.
This process was incredibly delicate, and ordinary Alchemists dared not attempt it.
This was true for humans!
For the Demon Race, however, the Xihe was a legendary Transformation Divine Medicine, immune to its fire poison and exceedingly rare.
Li Weiyi only considered helping Yaoyin retrieve the Xihe after learning of her Demon Race bloodline.
But with his current psychic (Telekinesis) power cultivation at the "Square Inch Bright Flame" stage, he couldn't breach the spatial barrier between Shaoyang Star and the Tanggu Sea. He needed to break through to the Great Mind Master realm to have any chance.
The gap between the third stage of Mind Master, "Square Inch Bright Flame," and the first stage of Great Mind Master, "Earth Flame," was just one realm, but it represented a major breakthrough that required an immense amount of time to absorb light and nurture the fire.
Normal cultivation might take a year or two, or perhaps even three to five years.
Yaoyin's Ice Soul Cold Qi could flare up at any moment, and she might not have that much time.
To rapidly advance her Psychic Power realm, she had no choice but to purchase Radiant Flame Pills.
Each Radiant Flame Pill costs one hundred thousand Silver Coins.
How many would she need to break through to the next major realm?
"However much it costs," Yaoyin said, "I can transfer all the assets my mother left me. That should raise a considerable sum."
Li Weiyi avoided Yaoyin's clear, captivating blue eyes, which were filled with boundless hope for the future. Regret gnawed at him; he realized he had acted impulsively the night before, giving her hope when he had no certainty of success.
Without hope, she could face any known bleak outcome with composure. But with hope, only to have it shattered, would be truly devastating.
"It's just a preliminary lead," Li Weiyi said, "Let's not discuss this now. Yin Ershi Wu is back!"
The light in Yaoyin's eyes dimmed, but her fingers clenched tightly in her sleeve, her resolve hardening.
Yin Ershi Wu, carrying an identical standard saber as Li Weiyi, exuded an icy aura as he approached the two.
He lowered his voice and reported, "I've gathered the information. That Demon Ape comes from Heavenly Cliff (Tianya) Ridge and is called the Dharma Dao Fire Ape."
"In the past two days, four Nine Springs Supreme from the Jiu Li Clan challenged the Demon Ape. Three were severely injured, and one had his head crushed. The clan suffered not only heavy losses but also utter humiliation, becoming the laughingstock of Martial-Mystic Cultivators across the land. Yet they can't reclaim their honor, as the Jiu Li Clan has only cultivated four Nine Springs Supreme in recent months."
Li Weiyi asked, "Can't Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Five Seas Realm intervene against Malevolent Demons?"
Yin Ershi Wu replied, "First, this Demon Ape isn't a Malevolent Demon; it's a legitimate demon that cultivates human Dao and Laws. Second, it hails from Heavenly Cliff Ridge, a place with terrifyingly powerful backing. Any high-realm human Martial-Mystic Cultivator who dares to attack it will surely face mortal peril."
"There's such a thing as 'legitimate demons'?" Li Weiyi asked, surprised.
Yin Ershi Wu explained, "A thousand years ago, during the Lingxiao Realm era, humans reigned supreme, suppressing all factions across the four realms and dominating the Nether Realm. Many demons began studying human cultivation methods, developing intelligence and wisdom, and following the path of Spring, Qi Sea, and Dao Seed cultivation. After achieving immortality, some could even transform into human form."
"They studied human astronomy, geography, military strategy, economics, weapon crafting, talisman drawing, customs, arts... everything. Though their knowledge was often incomplete and distorted, they considered themselves the true inheritors of demon civilization, distinct from the savage Malevolent Demons who still lived by tooth and claw."
"Heavenly Cliff Ridge is the Southern Territory's foremost demon domain, teeming with demon soldiers and generals like grains of sand. Countless spirits and fiends dwell there, wielding immense power."
"The Four Extremes Ape King, one of the Four Great Demon Kings of the Lingxiao Realm, has lived for sixteen hundred years. A single breath from him can conjure clouds and mists spanning a thousand miles, while a wave of his hand can shatter mountains and split the earth."
"Do you think the Jiu Li Clan, with their Five Seas Realm cultivators, would dare attack the Dharma Dao Fire Ape while backed by such an supreme being capable of reshaping heaven and earth? If anything were to happen to the Dharma Dao Fire Ape in Li Province, the Jiu Li Clan Chiefs wouldn't sleep soundly for a moment."
Li Weiyi clicked his tongue inwardly.
Sixteen hundred years?
That meant this creature had lived from the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties all the way to the 21st century!
What difference was there between this being and the divine beings and demons of mythical legends?
He asked, "If the Four Extremes Ape King and Heavenly Cliff Ridge are so powerful, couldn't they simply crush the Jiu Li Clan?"
At least on the surface, the Jiu Li Clan seemed utterly outmatched by the demon hordes of Heavenly Cliff Ridge.
Yin Ershi Wu replied, "Not necessarily! As long as Yu Yaozi remains alive, the Four Great Demon Kings wouldn't dare intervene personally. Besides, with the Zuoqiu Sect guarding the Southern Territory, the Four Extremes Ape King can't rule with an iron fist."
Yaoyin harbored deep animosity toward the Demon Race.
Gazing toward the arena, she said eagerly, "This Dharma Dao Fire Ape seems to possess a Glazed Pure Immortal Physique. I wonder how many Meridian Veins it has cultivated within its body?"
Yin Ershi Wu replied, "Rumor has it that among the four Nine Springs Supremes from the Jiu Li Clan who challenged it, one had consumed a Rare Medicine to transform into a Pure Immortal Physique. Yet the ape shattered both his legs within a hundred moves."
Yaoyin declared, "If I ever reach the Nine Springs realm, I'll make it understand that there are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people."
"Let's go," Li Weiyi urged, "There's no benefit in getting involved in this."
The icy glint in Yaoyin's eyes faded, her face regaining its serene composure.
Accompanied by two attendants who had used the Transformation Technique to disguise themselves, she headed toward Yaoguan City.
Li Weiyi needed to enter the city to purchase Spring-Breaking Needles.
Yin Ershi Wu walked beside Li Weiyi, whispering, "It's not entirely without benefit. The Dharma Dao Fire Ape has hung an Immortal Haze-tainted Elixir as a reward for defeating it. But to challenge it, you must wager an Otherworldly Coffin."
Li Weiyi chuckled: "Everyone knows Otherworldly Coffins are priceless, capable of containing treasures beyond imagination. And the Jiu Li Clan has no shortage of them. They can profit from the Sui Sect's rewards while also winning prizes themselves... This is quite a lucrative scheme."
Yin Ershi Wu took the Jiu Li Clan's honor and disgrace very seriously. He suggested, "Why don't you set up a large banner declaring that all Sui Sect Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Spring Surge Realm are nothing but paper tigers and clay dogs? Challenge them, charge exorbitant fees, and you'll make a fortune!"
"Forget it," Li Weiyi replied, "Tomorrow is the Mangshan Grand Festival. Important matters take priority. Wouldn't we earn more by gathering rare medicines in Burial Immortal Town?"
Li Weiyi's mind was entirely focused on the Tenth Spring Divine Gate and the Great Mind Master Realm. He had no desire to thrust himself into the limelight, which would be both dangerous and a distraction from his true purpose.
With the gathering of Martial-Mystic Cultivators, vast quantities of cultivation resources were being transported to Yaoguan City.
The Coffin Sea Merchant Guild's Yaoguan branch had seventeen Spring-Breaking Needles in stock. However, the price was far higher than in Jiu Li City a few months prior, with each needle costing two thousand Silver Coins.
"A rip-off! This place is definitely a rip-off!" Li Weiyi turned and left without hesitation.
In Jiu Li City, a Spring-Breaking Needle cost only one thousand Silver Coins.
Li Weiyi glanced at Yin Ershi Wu, silently asking if the Hidden Sect had any special channels to obtain cheaper goods from the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild.
Yin Ershi Wu replied, "I'm just a New Hidden Sect Member, having joined only a year before you. Theoretically, there should be Hidden Ones in high positions within the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild. Once you become a Divine Hidden One, you'll naturally gain access to the complete list of Hidden Ones."
Li Weiyi turned to Yaoyin.
"With the Yao Li Tribe's waist token, we can get a slight discount, but it won't be much," she said.
"Buy them! Buy them all!" Li Weiyi relented, pulling out a bag of Yongquan Coins and handing it to Yaoyin.
No matter what, breaking through to the Tenth Spring was paramount at this stage.
Yaoyin looked surprised: "All seventeen?"
"That might not even be enough!" Li Weiyi sighed, clasping his hands behind his back, and trudged toward the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce.
He suddenly stopped, "Ask how many Radiant Flame Pills they have. I'll buy them all too."
After some haggling, Yaoyin spent thirty thousand Silver Coins to purchase all seventeen Spring-Breaking Needles.
She and Yin Ershi Wu arrived at the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce just as Li Weiyi, his face ashen, emerged.
"The Coffin Sea Merchant Guild currently has three Radiant Flame Pills," Yaoyin reported, "They're offering them at a discounted price of one hundred thirty thousand Silver Coins each. I suspect it's because most of the people gathering in Burial Immortal Town are Martial-Mystic Cultivators, making it difficult to sell Spiritual Master's Medicinal Pills."
"A Chamber of Commerce this big only has three Radiant Flame Pills? That's nothing! And one hundred thirty thousand Silver Coins is considered a discount? That's even more expensive than what Yin Ershi Si charged!"
Li Weiyi recalled the price he'd inquired about at the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce earlier: 140,000 Silver Coins for a single Radiant Flame Pill - even more exorbitant than the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild.
Now, Yin Ershi Si seemed quite reasonable, charging only 100,000 Silver Coins per pill.
'I misunderstood her before!'
Li Weiyi accepted the Spring-Breaking Needle he'd been longing for from Yaoyin's hand, the knot of frustration in his chest loosening considerably.
Yaoyin said, "She's different. She must have obtained the Radiant Flame Pills from the Jiu Li Divine Temple."
Li Weiyi's heart quickened with hope: "Can you get Radiant Flame Pills at a lower price from the Jiu Li Divine Temple?"
"Hard to say," Yaoyin replied, "After all, her maternal grandmother is the matriarch of the Jiu Li Divine Temple. Though I also call her 'Grandmother,' there's always a layer of blood between us."
Yaoyin had lived with Yin Ershi Si's family since childhood, even calling Yin Ershi Si's mother "Mother," but she was never truly her own.
Li Weiyi had plundered a substantial sum from the Changlin Gang, so money wasn't an immediate concern. However, even if he spent it all on Radiant Flame Pills, he could only afford a few. Achieving the Great Spiritual Master realm would require a more long-term plan.
After instructing Yaoyin to clear out the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce's remaining Spring-Breaking Needles, the trio left the city.
"Paintings for sale! Paintings for sale! Top-quality 'Thousand Li Shui River Scroll', absolutely worth every Silver Coin!"
"Brother, take a look at my calligraphy! Impeccably structured, exquisitely composed, and imbued with profound artistic depth!"
An elderly man dressed as a Confucian scholar was selling calligraphy and paintings on the street. The finest pieces were hung high, clearly reflecting his high self-regard.
In this street teeming with Martial-Mystic Cultivators and ferocious beasts, the scene was strikingly incongruous.
After half a day, he hadn't sold a single piece.
Li Weiyi was astonished. Since arriving in this martial and bizarre world, this was the first time he had encountered an old man so devoted to calligraphy and painting, one who even carried himself with the dignified air of a Confucian disciple.
Driven by curiosity, Li Weiyi approached and kindly advised, "Senior, you've come to the wrong place. Selling calligraphy and paintings here is no different than selling fans in winter or fur coats in summer."
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END OF CHAPTER
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