Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 9 (264): [Farewell]
(9th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
**********************************
The turmoil at the engagement banquet shook Qiu Prefecture City like an earthquake, leaving the city on edge for days afterward.
The top geniuses who had shone at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival all remained indoors, fearing a similar assassination attempt.
Rumors flew everywhere, causing widespread panic.
"They say it was one of the Imperial Court's Brocade-Clad Divine Guard's top members, trying to provoke conflict between the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiu Li Clan."
"This happened at the Zuoqiu ancestral residence, and the assassin escaped? What's the difference between this and Zhu Huan's death? The Zuoqiu Sect might really be hiding something."
"But I heard it was the Snow Sword Tang Court. They've allied with the Demon Race, planning to divide Lingxiao into north and south. They originally intended to kill Zuoqiu Hongting too, but their plan failed."
"All of you are spreading rumors. The most reliable information is that the assassin was a top expert from the Far Western Ashlands faction, most likely either Xu Fodu or Yuwen Yan."
For days, the Zuoqiu Sect's top experts had been ruthlessly purging the Far Western Ashlands faction hidden within the city, leaving a trail of severed heads in their wake.
As a result, various factions suspected the Demon Race was behind the incident.
After the upheaval, many Major Powers dispatched teams to Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain to visit Li Weiyi. Only a few young talents with close ties to the Zuoqiu Sect managed to see him.
After descending the mountain, these young talents shook their heads somberly.
"He survived, thanks to the personal intervention of the Zuoqiu Family's Confucian Dao Ancestor. But his Ancestral Field is completely destroyed... At best, he can only become an Inferior Foundation Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator in the future."
One person lamented, "He shone so brightly at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, surpassing an entire realm and rivaling the Long Dian. He even managed to hold his own against Luan Sheng Lin You when fighting alongside the severely injured Zuoqiu Hongting. One can only imagine how he would have dominated those Young Celestial Emperors at the same level. To fall from such heights at the peak of his life... Can his heart bear the weight?"
"No one could bear it!"
"Someone who reached such heights must have an unparalleled passion for the Martial-Mystic Dao, valuing it more than their own life. To be denied the pursuit of the Martial-Mystic Dao is to lose one's very soul."
"The most terrifying thing in the world is the idle chatter of the masses. They can lift a man to the heavens when he's in his prime, and trample him to death when he's down on his luck."
"Yesterday, I heard young disciples of the Zuoqiu Sect openly mocking and ridiculing Li Weiyi. They said he should have just died outright. Now, half-dead like this, he's become a burden for the Zuoqiu Sect. Breaking off the engagement would draw criticism, but keeping it would make him a drag on the Young Celestial Emperor."
On the fifth day, a talented young man who had visited Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain brought back news: "Li Weiyi is no longer as cheerful as he was a few days ago. He seems to have overheard some idle gossip and has become withdrawn. A sword mark has appeared on his neck, stitched up but still visible despite the concealment."
"The Zuoqiu Sect has already dealt with those young disciples, stripping them of their cultivation and sending them to guard the Ancestral Tomb."
"The harsher the punishment, the more likely it is that the rumors are true."
"Li Weiyi is finished. He's still too young, his heart not resilient enough."
"How could someone rise from nothing to prominence in just a year, like a sudden windfall, possibly have such a steadfast heart? It must have been some extraordinary stroke of luck a year ago!"
The amusing tale of the "Fallen Genius" gradually faded from public interest.
After repeated retellings, the story lost its novelty, and the world was filled with too many other significant events.
On the eighth day after the upheaval, an even more momentous announcement swept across the realm:
The Transcendent Battle had concluded!
Several Human Race Transcendents had fallen, and the survivors were severely wounded, leaving the Lingxiao Realm teetering on the brink of collapse. After consultations, the Transcendents jointly issued an internal Martial ban for all Human Race Immortals.
This decree prohibited Immortals from major powers from engaging in internal conflict and encouraged them to unite against forces under the Demon Race's banner.
The ban would remain in effect until the Transcendents recovered from their injuries and emerged from seclusion.
When Li Weiyi learned of the decree from the Hidden Lord, he couldn't help but wonder, "Will it hold?"
"No, it won't," the Hidden Lord replied, "But this decree will temper the conflicts between major powers, bringing them to a level everyone can tolerate. It's essentially a return to the unspoken rule that existed before the outbreak of war."
"Human affairs must be resolved by humans, and Immortals should not interfere."
"Once Immortals intervene, conflicts escalate endlessly, ultimately dragging all the already weakened Transcendents into the fray."
"Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators are called the overlords of the mortal realm because of an unspoken rule that has existed in the Lingxiao Realm for a thousand years. Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators play a crucial role in the struggle for dominance in worldly affairs."
Li Weiyi nodded: "I imagine that if they had a choice, Immortal Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators would prefer to avoid being entangled in such mundane matters, leaving them to the next generation. The pursuit of Immortal Realm is far more captivating than the pursuit of worldly gains."
The Hidden Lord asked, "Do you know why the Transcendents haven't simply banned all conflicts among Human Martial-Mystic Cultivators?"
"Eleven years of war have accumulated too much hatred. The fact that they've managed to guide everyone to unite against the Demon Race is already a compromise. A complete martial ban would only render the Transcendents' laws as laughable as waste paper," Li Weiyi replied.
The Hidden Lord nodded slightly: "With this decree issued, I must retreat into the shadows. The Jiu Li Clan's publicly recognized top Dao Seed Realm expert is Yao Xingyue, Yin Ershi Si's father."
"The true top Dao Seed Realm expert of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect is Yin Yi. The Hidden People Registry contains information on how to find him."
"Oh, right, the Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master is back. He was going to check on your injuries, but I used your recent suicide attempt as an excuse, saying you were too fragile to handle the shock. It worked."
"The Founding Ancestor of the Zuoqiu Family's Confucian Dao will subtly criticize you to him. I imagine the Immortal Master will be deeply disappointed in you."
"The Immortal Master is also severely injured and won't focus on you. He should return to the Calamity Crossing Temple soon. Once he leaves, you can stop putting on this pathetic act!"
The suicide drama was staged solely to deter the Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master. Otherwise, if the Immortal Master had taken Li Weiyi to the Calamity Crossing Temple for treatment, there would have been no way to refuse.
Hidden Lord said, "Due to lost or chaotic invitation cards and tickets from the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, we can no longer accurately tally them. The Immortal Master has decided to select the most talented and outstanding Martial-Mystic Cultivators from various Major Powers to bring back to the Calamity Crossing Temple for training. He will reshape their Meridian Veins, Wind Mansions, and Ancestral Fields to forge the strongest foundation."
"Currently, there are ten spots. Nine have already been filled: Li Weiyi, Zuoqiu Hongting, Ge Xiantong, Cang Li, Tang Wanqiu, Zhu Yibai, Lu Cangsheng, Jiang Ning, and Yin Jiu."
According to the rules of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, only Martial-Mystic Cultivators who collected all Dragon Bone Tickets or Dragon Seed Tickets from a single region - East, South, West, or North.- were eligible for a special reward. In reality, no one had ever achieved this.
Now that the Immortality Pill, Dragon Seed, and Dragon Bone were lost, the Calamity Crossing Temple could only compensate in this way.
Li Weiyi said, "Give my spot to Yaoyin. With her talent, she's sure to catch the eye of the Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master."
"I'm afraid that won't be easy. The Jiu Li Clan already has Cang Li and Yin Jiu inside. They're there legitimately, and no one can find fault with it," Hidden Lord said.
Li Weiyi took out a stack of invitation cards and handed them over: "Use these to negotiate!"
Clearly worried about delays, the Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master finalized the ten spots and prepared to depart the very next day.
Before leaving, Zuoqiu Hongting came to visit Li Weiyi to say goodbye.
Thinking Li Weiyi was unaware of their upcoming journey to the Calamity Crossing Temple for cultivation, she tried to avoid upsetting him by concealing the truth.
"I'm going on a long journey," she said, "It could last three years, or as little as one. Rest well at Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain while I'm gone. I'll be back soon."
Li Weiyi struggled to sit up in bed, his face pale.
He forced a smile: "To the Calamity Crossing Temple?"
Zuoqiu Hongting replied, "Yes!"
"Don't be so cautious. I'm not that fragile. Going to the Calamity Crossing Temple to rebuild my foundation is a good idea. It'll make my future path steadier and take me further..." Li Weiyi's eyes dimmed as he spoke, and he fell silent.
Zuoqiu Hongting didn't know how to comfort him. Instead, she used her Transformation Technique to change into Li Weiyi's likeness, sitting beside him like a twin brother. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed, "You young rascal, stop looking like the sky's about to fall. Have you forgotten you can still cultivate Psychic Power? You're an extraordinary Insect Tamer. When Psychic Power reaches its peak, it's no less powerful than the Martial-Mystic Dao."
"Haha, that's right! I still have Psychic Power! Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm really fine. I'm not that fragile," Li Weiyi said.
Hearing Li Weiyi emphasize "I'm not that fragile" twice, Zuoqiu Hongting felt a pang of sadness for him.
She forced a smile and said, "I have good news for you. Great Beauty Jiang came to see me and said some rather strange things. She seemed to think I might look down on you and urged me to let you go soon. She said she'd take you to Fu Prefecture. How does that sound? Happy? It seems she really does have a soft spot for you!"
Li Weiyi was naturally pleased that Jiang Ning cared so much about him, but he sighed, "She's just pitying me! Pity is fleeting, but true affection must withstand the test of time. You won't be the only one going to the Calamity Crossing Temple. You'll meet many extraordinary people there, and your heart will soar higher... I'm tired now. You can leave."
Li Weiyi's sudden change in mood prompted him to abruptly dismiss her.
Zuoqiu Hongting stepped out of the room and looked at Li Ling outside.
She sighed, "Take care of him. Don't let him hear any more of those hateful words. Anyone who spreads rumors again, just cut out their tongues."
That evening, the Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master led the ten Heaven's Chosen, selected from among the most promising youths, onto a strange bird that vanished into the sunset's colorful glow.
With Li Ling's support, Li Weiyi walked out of the room to gaze at the distant horizon, where only a tiny bird-shaped speck of light remained. He thought to himself, "Brother Zuoqiu, I truly had no choice. I'll apologize properly when you return."
Yaoyin took Li Weiyi's place at the Calamity Crossing Temple.
Since receiving the Jiu Li Gods' Battle Technique Intent, the Ice Soul Cold Qi in her body had never flared up again. Therefore, Li Weiyi decided not to take her to meet Zen Hai Guanwu for the time being.
.....
Time flew by, and half a year passed.
Thick fog rose over the Tanggu Sea.
Xihe drifted across the entire sea, radiating a brilliant light like a thousand divine lamps.
In the distance, the Fusang Divine Tree stood tall, its gnarled trunk reaching toward the heavens, its leaves resembling ten thousand moons suspended in the cosmos.
A thirty-meter-long Jade Boat floated on the surface of the sea.
Li Weiyi sat at the bow, breathing deeply and drawing upon the power of the Fusang Divine Tree to refine the Spiritual Qi within his Wind Mansion.
Two months earlier, after completing the Qi refinement of the Fourth and Fifth Seas, he had begun cultivating the Sixth Sea, the Wind Mansion.
The Wind Mansion was a living, innate world.
When Martial-Mystic Cultivators first opened their Wind Mansions in the Spring Surge Realm, many were only the size of a fist.
After two months of cultivation, with the aid of the Dao Lotus, Li Weiyi's Wind Mansion had expanded to ten thousand cubic meters.
The method of expansion was to continuously accumulate Qi, inflating the Wind Mansion like a balloon.
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
**********************************