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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 26 (170): [The Fishing Boat, Half Moon]
(26th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Five Seas Realm who cultivate Sixth-Level Spiritual Qi can achieve a level of Spiritual Qi purity comparable to those who have just entered the Dao Seed Realm.
The Ghost Banner was wide and cold to the touch.
When Jiang Ning injected her Sixth-Level Spiritual Qi into it, it unfurled in the sea breeze, snapping and crackling.
The strange patterns on its surface writhed like a map of the underworld, its lines flowing and shifting.
"Whoosh!"
Nether Mist surged forth like dozens of torrential floods, pitch-black and chilling. It swirled around her as she flew, then rapidly spread across the entire sea.
Mie-Di and Dao-Di exchanged glances, both sensing an extraordinary aura emanating from Jiang Ning.
The banner in her hand didn't seem like something from the mortal realm; even Feather Immortal seemed to have transformed into a Ghost Mother.
With Qi Jin present, they had nothing to fear.
Even Peak Jiang Ning might not be a match for him.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The two men charged forward, their bodies enveloped in the golden light of a tiger and the radiant form of a Buddha. They unleashed their extraordinary Battle Techniques.
The Golden Tiger's claws tore through the Nether Mist, pinpointing Jiang Ning's true location.
The five-zhang-tall Buddha Body pointed a finger, its tip glowing like a burning golden pillar.
Within the Buddha Body, Dao-Di's form appeared cast in gold as he leaped from the sea, his finger and body moving in perfect unison.
"Boom!"
A ten-zhang-tall Ghost General strode out of the Nether Mist with overwhelming dominance. Its armor and war spear had nearly fully materialized, giving them a metallic sheen.
Its head resembled that of a ram, with piercingly bright eyes.
A ball of green fire cloud burned within its abdomen.
With just a single step forward, the resulting shockwave caused ripples to surge through the battle intent projections of Dao-Di and Mie-Di.
The five-zhang-long Golden Tiger and the five-zhang-tall Buddha Body projection, already massive and radiating destructive energy, were instantly dwarfed by the Nethermist Ghost General.
The Ghost General threw a punch, tearing through the battle intent projections of Mie-Di and Dao-Di as if shattering two golden bubbles.
The force of the blow, accompanied by green flames, landed directly on them.
"Pfft!"
Dao-Di's arm shattered, flesh and bone flying outward.
Protected by the Nine Contemplation Zen Beads and the Spiritual Artifact monk's robe, his physical body remained intact, but he was sent flying backward, his body tumbling head over heels across the coastal waters.
"It's Duling Cold Fire... It has Duling Cold Fire within it..."
The Mie-Di was struck by the green flames within the fist wind, his body erupting into flames. Numerous holes appeared in his burning flesh, and like the Dao-Di, he was sent flying backward into the sea, his mouth releasing a bloodcurdling scream.
The Nethermist Ghost General's punch had churned up a wave over two meters high, which surged toward Qi Jin.
As the small boat beneath his feet was pushed to the crest of the wave, Qi Jin shot upward like an arrow piercing the sky, leaping straight into the air. He appeared ten meters above the water's surface, his eyes level with the Nethermist Ghost General's.
Jiang Ning was secretly shocked by the Ghost Banner's terrifying power. Her confidence and resolve transformed into boundless fighting spirit as she charged forward.
The Nethermist Ghost General strode ahead of her, his ten-meter-long war spear held aloft. The spear's shaft resembled a sea-stabilizing pillar, while its blade was as vast as a heavenly blade. When swung, it felt like a million-jin weapon crashing down, its pressure overwhelming.
Qi Jin's gaze remained steady, undeterred by the Nethermist Ghost General's imposing aura. He clasped his hands together, and a surge of Spiritual qi and countless bright sparks of fire erupted, filling the surrounding sky and earth.
"Eternal Illumination Divine Moon Mirror!"
His unique battle intent manifested, resembling a crimson divine moon rising from the sea. Five meters in diameter, it radiated an unparalleled brilliance.
But this wasn't the Divine Moon; it was a mirror capable of reflecting the Nethermist War General's attacks.
Li Weiyi was stunned.
Two moons hung over the sea - one in the sky, the other reflected in the water. Lord Qi's power was immense, undoubtedly at the level of a Successor.
"Shatter...crack..."
Qi Jin's battle intent was shattered by a massive war spear, emitting a crisp sound like a mirror cracking.
The Divine Moon Mirror battle technique intent could replicate an opponent's Battle Techniques and power, returning their own methods against them.
But the Nethermist War General, using the power of the Dao Seed Realm, forcibly broke through it, tearing apart all Law.
A mark appeared on Qi Jin's snow-white neck, and sparks of fire spilled from it.
She touched the mark with her finger, let out a deeply resentful grunt, and turned to flee.
Her feet danced lightly across the waves like a celestial maiden soaring over the sea: "Today's defeat is due to a weapon. Once I reclaim the Divine Moon Mirror, we shall fight again!"
Li Weiyi knew that Jiang Ning had been determined to fight Qi Jin to the death because of Zhuang Yue. He sent a mental message: "Zhuang Yue is still alive. Don't risk your life. You're too weak right now. Killing her doesn't have to be today."
"I must retrieve Zhuang Yue's eyes... Tonight, the Bing Juze will be drenched in blood and gore, all because of me. I cannot afford to miss this battle."
Jiang Ning landed on the Nethermist Ghost General's shoulder, her white feather wings fluttering around her delicate form. She plucked a single feather from the swirling mass and flicked it with her slender fingertip.
The feather landed atop Li Weiyi's head.
"Return to Lu'an (Shore) first. I will find you using this feather. And I need to borrow this flag again!"
Her white feather wings unfurled behind her, tearing through the air as she pursued Qi Jin.
Just before disappearing over the horizon, she glanced back at the man standing on the sea below.
Li Weiyi plucked the feather from his hair. It was soft and delicate, unlike something condensed from Spiritual Qi. It felt like a genuine down feather.
He restored Zouwu to its kitten-sized form and fed it a Precious Medicine. The continuous running across the sea had nearly drained its Spiritual Qi.
Not only Zouwu, but Li Weiyi himself was completely depleted. He relied solely on constant breathing and the Ten Springs to replenish his reserves.
Combat at sea, whether propelling a boat or walking on waves, consumed an enormous amount of energy.
Only top-tier cultivators who had cultivated the Sixth Sea Wind Mansion and Seventh Sea Ancestral Field could sustain such exertion with relative ease.
Li Weiyi's first Qi Sea was ten cubic units, and his second was sixty-three cubic units.
At the same cultivation level, his Qi Sea capacity far surpassed that of Nine Springs Supremes and other outstanding Successors.
However, once they cultivated their Fourth Sea, their Qi Sea capacity would instantly increase tenfold or more.
A typical Nine Springs Supreme's Fourth Sea would have a capacity of at least a thousand cubic units.
The Fifth Sea was even larger.
These were the two main seas!
Because of this vast difference, the power of each stage within the Five Seas Realm varied drastically. It was extremely difficult for Nine Springs Supremes to cross cultivation levels and defeat opponents above their own.
In contrast, the Sixth Sea Wind Mansion and Seventh Sea Ancestral Field were quite small during the Surging Spring Realm, with negligible Spiritual Qi storage capacity.
However, they were living, innate worlds.
Through constant cultivation, they could grow larger and potentially surpass even the two main seas.
Top-tier Heaven's Chosen would dedicate considerable time to cultivating and expanding these seas, some even lingering for years to lay the most solid foundation for their future.
Jiang Ning's confidence in pursuing Qi Jin in her weakened state stemmed not only from the Ghost Banner but also, crucially, from her Ancestral Field, which had already reached over ten thousand cubic units, providing her with ample Spiritual Qi.
Li Weiyi searched the surrounding waters but couldn't find the bodies of Dao-Di and Mie-Di. After being severely wounded and falling into the sea, they never resurfaced.
The Bing Juze was teeming with experts, so Li Weiyi decided to leave and head towards the shore.
Yin Shi San had escaped in the Spiritual jade boat powered by the Hundred-Character Scripture. Once he entered the battlefield area, Yin Jiu and Yin Shi would naturally come to his rescue. Even if Li Weiyi rushed there now, he wouldn't be able to help.
Back on shore, Li Weiyi didn't go to Giant Marsh City. Instead, he sat down on a seaside mountain islet, took the still-unconscious Zhuang Yue out, and prepared to hand her over to Jiang Ning later.
Then, he began to meditate and recover his energy.
All night long, the waves crashed against the mountain below!
As dawn broke, the sky filled with rosy clouds, and the red sun pierced through the winter mist.
Jiang Ning, clad in soft armor, returned from the shimmering sea. Her long hair swayed in the wind, and the air around her was thick with the scent of blood. When she reached the summit of the islet and saw Zhuang Yue sitting beside Li Weiyi, her tired eyes lit up with a gentle, watery glow.
Last night, when Li Weiyi told her Zhuang Yue was still alive, she hadn't believed him completely, thinking it was a kind lie.
Jiang Ning walked over: "I couldn't do it... Zhuang Yue, I'll find you the most brilliant and beautiful eyes in the world!"
"Miss... it's you, it's really you..."
Hearing Jiang Ning's voice, Zhuang Yue was overcome with joy. She quickly stood up and embraced her.
Li Weiyi remained in meditation but opened his eyes.
They whispered for a moment, then walked toward Li Weiyi, one in front and the other following, a master and her attendant.
Jiang Ning stood tall and proud, an indomitable spirit radiating from her. She took out the Ghost Banner and handed it to him: "I understand now why you asked if I was trustworthy. This treasure is truly extraordinary, of incalculable value. Even Immortal Realm giants would be interested."
Li Weiyi stood up and took back the Ghost Banner: "You said you'd pay. Pay up!"
A smile flickered across Jiang Ning's determined face. She shook her head: "Not yet."
"I knew you were just making empty promises," Li Weiyi said.
"I will definitely give it to you."
Jiang Ning stared at him, considering for a moment before saying, "Hiding underwater, the enemy's search area is shrinking. Once thousands of Water Ghost Yin Soldiers join the fray, exposure is only a matter of time. The only way to escape is to split into two groups. Your Senior Brother Chen Chuan's escape toward the battlefield was the only chance for survival. The Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe would save him. By helping me divert the enemy's attention, he gave me a chance to escape as well. Under the circumstances, it was the only strategy."
Chen Chuan was Yin Shi San's alias in the imperial court.
Li Weiyi was surprised. The arrogance and coldness usually present in Jiang Ning seemed to have faded. He chuckled, "Are you explaining yourself to me?"
Jiang Ning replied, "I want to give you an explanation! I don't want some misunderstanding to cost me your friendship."
"Friendship..." Li Weiyi repeated softly.
Zhuang Yue chimed in enthusiastically, "My Miss has never considered any man a friend before. You're the only one so far."
"I don't want to be friends with someone from the imperial court. Let's just talk about money!" Li Weiyi said.
Zhuang Yue clenched her fists in anger, her face puffing up slightly.
Jiang Ning frowned slightly, then nodded: "I understand. But Li Weiyi, do you know that you're actually a hypocrite? Zhuang Yue told me it was you who saved her, bought the Core Lamp, and helped her heal and regrow her skin. Last night, you risked your life to save me, yet you pushed all the credit onto those seven little guys."
"You've been like this since we met."
"You're clearly compassionate and loyal, yet you pretend to be purely self-serving. Why? Does it shame you to be a moral, humane person who can stand tall and also feel compassion for the world?"
"If people in this world are ashamed to be good, afraid of criticism, of baseless suspicion and ridicule, then this world is sick!"
"I have an ideal: to heal this chaotic world and mend twisted hearts. Will you join me on this path?"
Her eyes were filled with anticipation.
Li Weiyi said earnestly, "You've invited me three times, which shows your sincerity. I'll tell you a few truths from my heart."
"Standing in your camp, I can understand all your pursuits and aspirations. But the tide of the world cannot be reversed. What are we, mere youngsters, in the face of this surging flood? Even the Transcendent and the giants can only drift along with the current."
"With your innate talent and background, if you had a century, perhaps you could contend with this tide. But do you have that much time?"
"Of the twenty-eight prefectures in the empire, does the court still control even ten?"
"The empire is crumbling. I advise you to withdraw while you still can... No, never mind. I'm speaking nonsense. The Jiang Clan is already bound to Lingxiao Palace, sharing its fate. There's no escape for you."
"As for saving or killing, good or evil, right or wrong - I have my own scale to weigh such matters. The difference between us is that I know my limits. I'm more aware of what I can and cannot achieve."
Jiang Ning replied, "In your eyes, I'm just a pampered scion of a noble clan, an idealistic fool who doesn't know her limits. But the 'tide of the world' you speak of hinges on the Grand Palace Master's whim. If she were to return to normal and resume her duties, the entire situation would immediately be reversed."
Jiang Ning saw that Li Weiyi was a practical man who wasn't interested in her grand pronouncements.
"Stay with me for half a month," she said.
"...?" Li Weiyi replied.
Jiang Ning continued, "I'm severely injured and need a place to recover. But Zhuang Yue has lost her sight and can't even take care of herself, let alone me."
"Giant Marsh City isn't safe. A Barbarian Bandit chieftain must be stationed there."
"You're probably planning to go to Qiu Prefecture City for next year's Shangyuan Festival Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, right? But right now, the Zuoqiu Clan has mobilized the entire Southern Border's Seven Prefectures and is battling various forces, led by the Far Western Ashlands, from the Bing Juze to the mainland. Going to Qiu Prefecture City now would be extremely dangerous. I suspect the young masters and mistresses of the imperial court, the Eastern Territory, the Western Territory, and the Northern Territory will all be there to join the fun."
"With your current cultivation, it's better to stay with me for half a month than to risk such danger. By then, things should have calmed down, and we can go to Qiu Prefecture City together."
Zhuang Yue said, "I truly can't take care of Miss. I can pay you. Name your price!"
"Are you really that rich? You already owe me a considerable sum."
After a pause, Li Weiyi said, "There's no need to pay me to stay. It wouldn't look good if word got out. Besides, I do need to enter closed-door cultivation for a while. Let's find a secluded place to hide for half a month."
Li Weiyi understood perfectly well that Jiang Ning wanted to keep him around for half a month, perhaps to change his thinking. Or perhaps she simply didn't want him to get involved in the conflict among the Five Seas Realm's top experts, believing he was too fond of adventure and meddling in others' affairs, making the journey extremely dangerous.
.....
Li Weiyi purchased a medium-sized fishing boat-turned-inn, and the three of them settled down by the Bing Juze.
Half a month swiftly passed.
It had snowed all night.
The next morning, Li Weiyi emerged from his cabin and stretched on the bow, taking a deep breath of the crisp, cold air.
Gazing into the distance, the sea was a vast expanse of white, the snow and mist blurring the world into a hazy dreamscape.
The trees and withered grass along the shore were draped in silver, and the snow on the ground was nearly half a foot deep.
"Swish!"
Seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors fluttered out joyfully, dancing like butterflies above the water's surface.
Over the past half month, they had not only fully digested the Millennial Essence Herb but had also consumed a Xihe flower each, their bodies now nearly five inches long.
Their combat strength had grown exponentially, each capable of challenging a Fifth-Stage Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator like Yuwen Chao.
With another dose of a cold-attribute Millennial Essence Herb, they should quickly reach five inches, achieving a true breakthrough in their cultivation.
Behind him, light footsteps approached.
Jiang Ning emerged in simple fishing attire, her long, black hair coiled into a bun, her face bare of makeup. Even wrapped in rags, her ethereal beauty was breathtaking.
Her essence, qi, and spirit had fully recovered, and her cultivation had advanced further.
She walked to Li Weiyi's side, gazing at the snow-swept sea: "I've received word that a Transcendent Being has arrived at Ancestral Realm Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain of the Zuoqiu Clan from the Far Western Ashlands. The Four Extremes Ape King has also reached the Provincial City."
"Transcendent beings from the Eastern, Western, and Northern Territories will be coming to pay their respects to the Immortal Masters of the Du'e (Calamity Crossing) Temple."
"Zuoqiu Ting and the Young Venerable stopped fighting eight days ago and entered the Provincial City together."
"In truth, Qiu Prefecture City is no longer safe since the troublemakers appeared. The clash at Bing Juze was merely a prelude; the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will be the true battleground. The competition for the Immortality Pill, Dragon Seed, and Dragon Bone will likely involve the Young Venerable and his followers."
"If you're simply trying to escape the chaos of Li Prefecture, you could go to the Jiang Family of Fu Prefecture. I'll write a letter for you; they'll treat you as a distinguished guest and provide ample cultivation resources."
Over the past half-month, Li Weiyi's strength had surged, giving him much more confidence.
"Do you think my cultivation is too low to participate in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival? That it would be too dangerous?"
Jiang Ning fell silent for a moment before saying, "Are you going to Fu Prefecture? I truly hope you will."
"Why can't I go to Qiu Prefecture City?" Li Weiyi countered.
"Very well. Since everyone only asks questions and offers no answers, there's no point in continuing this conversation."
Jiang Ning said, "I'm leaving for Qiu Prefecture City today, but... I may have to break my promise. I can't travel with you. Thank you for your companionship these past two weeks. You were right - maintaining distance from those in the imperial court is perhaps the wisest course of action."
She turned and walked towards the shore at the stern of the ship, where Zhuang Yue had already packed their belongings.
Li Weiyi felt as though he had been toyed with, but he quickly realized the truth.
Without turning to see her off, he asked, "Are you also here to stir up trouble? Has the imperial court assigned you a mission?"
As Jiang Ning stepped onto the shore, preparing to leave, she said, "I don't want you to go to Qiu Prefecture City. This isn't a grand gathering. I can only say so much!"
Her footprints faded into the snow as she and Zhuang Yue disappeared into the blizzard.
Li Weiyi was left alone on the ship, the world suddenly feeling desolate and cold.
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END OF CHAPTER
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