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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 12 (267): [Zuoqiu Cangwu]
(12th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Six months ago, Zuoqiu Cangwu reached the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, successfully succeeding Zuoqiu Ling as the only person capable of holding up the Zuoqiu Clan during the Immortal Martial Edict.
At fifty-five years old, he appeared to be only in his early thirties. The Thousand-Character Armor he wore had never been removed in the past five years.
Before becoming Clan Head, he had spent thirty years in the Secret Realm Division, where he learned that danger lurked everywhere. Aside from his armor and the blade in his hand, no one could be entirely trusted.
When he heard that Li Weiyi had come to visit, Zuoqiu Cangwu immediately set aside his urgent military affairs: "Quickly, bring him in!"
The one who led Li Weiyi into the Council Hall was Zuoqiu Cangwu's daughter, Zuoqiu Qingying.
In her early thirties, she was already a Spiritual Master, her Psychic Power talent unparalleled among the younger generation of the Zuoqiu Clan. She looked to be only around twenty, appearing incredibly young.
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[T/N: In The Primordial Law, the terms "Psychic," "Telekinesis," and "Mental" all refer to the same type of power. Since this is a cultivation novel, I may use these terms interchangeably - or even introduce new ones later on. I'm leaving this note to prevent any confusion while reading. Additionally, I'll be using various names for other concepts such as Martial-Mystic Techniques, Secret Realms, Holy Realms, or places (which will appear in both Pinyin and English).]
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Zuoqiu Cangwu stood up, smiling: "Weiyi, you look completely recovered! We've all been worried for the past six months. Before our Zuoqiu Changshengling (probably refers to the Dao Ancestor of the Zuoqiu Clan) went to Heavenly Cliff Ridge to fight the Demon Clan, he repeatedly urged me to take care of you. So, what are your plans now?"
Li Weiyi bowed: "Thank you for your concern, Clan Head. Weiyi has fully recovered. I've come today to request an audience with the Ancestor. If not for his intervention half a year ago, I might have already turned to dust."
At the Hidden Lord's request, the Confucian-Dao Ancestor had put on quite a show half a year ago.
The Six Desires Talisman on Li Weiyi's body was dispelled with a casual wave of the Ancestor's hand.
For the Jiu Li Tribe, a feat that required the combined efforts of the Nine Great Priests was effortlessly accomplished by the Transcendent.
Zuoqiu Cangwu's expression turned serious, then he forced a wry smile: "As Hong Ting's husband, you are naturally a core member of the Zuoqiu Clan. There's no harm in telling you. The Ancestor is likely not on Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain right now, but rather on a certain battlefield. What matter brings you here? Is it urgent?"
"Not particularly urgent! I simply wish to request a fragment of the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone. I'm prepared to purchase it."
Li Weiyi didn't hold much hope.
After over a thousand years, even if there had once been dozens of fragments, they were likely long exhausted.
Zuoqiu Cangwu looked puzzled, turning to Zuoqiu Qingying: "Does the clan treasury have any of this resource?"
Zuoqiu Qingying pondered: "I seem to recall it. It's said to be an extremely precious cultivation treasure for Spiritual Masters."
"Go to the clan treasury immediately and search for it. If it's there, retrieve it at once," Zuoqiu Cangwu said. Then, turning to Li Weiyi, he smiled, "You're right to pursue the path of a Spiritual Master. Rebuild your confidence, and with those seven Emperor Grade Strange Insects, you'll still become one of the greatest figures in the world."
After Zuoqiu Qingying left, Li Weiyi bowed again to express his gratitude.
Zuoqiu Cangwu pulled Li Weiyi down to sit beside him: "Like Hong Ting, just call me Thirteenth Uncle. As for me... well, how do I even begin?"
"Thirteenth Uncle, please, say what's on your mind," Li Weiyi urged.
Zuoqiu Cangwu dropped his awkward smile and adopted a serious expression: "Right now, the two most pressing matters for the Zuoqiu Clan are undoubtedly the war with the Demon Clan factions and the strange phenomenon at the Underground Immortal Cave on the border between Qiu Prefecture and Fu Prefecture."
"On the three major battlefields in the Southern Territory - Guan Shan, Heavenly Cliff Ridge, and Night City - we've been reporting victory after victory. Their complete annihilation is imminent."
"But the mystery of the Underground Immortal Cave has spread from the depths to the surface. Half a month ago, I went to investigate. On the Northern Qiu Plains, ancient burial mounds and tombstones have erupted from the earth, spreading across a thousand miles like bamboo shoots growing wildly."
"I've heard that in just two weeks, they've advanced another dozen miles toward Qiu Prefecture City."
"By next year, these ancient burial mounds and tombstones, remnants of a bygone era, are expected to reach the outskirts of Qiu Prefecture City and cover the banks of the Bing Juze Lake."
Li Weiyi had heard of the incident and found it utterly unbelievable.
Half a year ago, the Transcendent War had exposed the entrance to an Underground Immortal Cave at the border between Qiu Prefecture and Fu Prefecture. Countless Martial-Mystic Cultivators, including Immortal Realm Giants, had rushed to investigate.
The anomaly began four months ago. It was said that an Immortal Realm Giant from the Southern Territory had triggered a forbidden taboo within the cave, unleashing a catastrophe of epic proportions.
Following a massive earthquake, the earth across thousands of miles of Fu Prefecture, where countless deceased had been buried for millions of years, began to sprout tombstones and burial mounds.
The phenomenon then spread to Qiu Prefecture, causing widespread panic.
After the anomaly, Immortal Realm Giants could no longer enter the Underground Immortal Cave!
Zuoqiu Cangwu said, "This is clearly beyond our ability to resolve. We must wait for the Transcendent ones to intervene. What we can do is thoroughly investigate the interior of the Underground Immortal Cave to reduce the risks for them."
"The greatest dangers within the Underground Immortal Cave are the Dead Spirits and the swarms of Fierce Insects."
"Currently, Commander-Grade Strange Insects and Insect Tamers are severely depleted and desperately needed."
Li Weiyi asked, "Thirteenth Uncle, do you want me to join the expedition to the Underground Immortal Cave?"
Zuoqiu Cangwu shook his head, smiling: "I wouldn't dare put you in such danger. If anything were to happen, Hong Ting would never let me live it down. I was thinking... of borrowing insects!"
Li Weiyi fell silent.
In this world, "borrowing" was never as simple as it sounded.
Zuoqiu Cangwu didn't press Li Weiyi, allowing him time to consider.
Zuoqiu Qingying returned and transmitted a message to Zuoqiu Cangwu using Mental Power.
Zuoqiu Cangwu frowned, his voice turning cold: "Did you tell Elder Qi that this was my decision?"
Zuoqiu Qingying glanced at Li Weiyi and stopped using Mental Power: "Elder Qi said that everyone must follow the Zuoqiu Clan's rules. Without rules, anyone could embezzle family wealth, so he must guard the treasury's gates tightly."
"There's only one fragment of the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone left. It might have great value in the future. If you want to buy it, it'll cost at least two million Yongquan Coins."
Zuoqiu Cangwu was startled: "Why doesn't he just rob me? I've cultivated for decades, fought countless battles, and explored countless secret realms. Even if I sold everything I own, it wouldn't be enough to buy that tiny, worthless stone. Weiyi, leave this to your Thirteenth Uncle. I'll go talk to him personally tomorrow."
"Then thank you, Thirteenth Uncle. Weiyi will take his leave now."
Li Weiyi rose and left.
Zuoqiu Cangwu, still seated in his chair, suddenly became deeply contemplative. He muttered to himself, "Was I too hasty? But it's been half a year already!"
Zuoqiu Qingying asked, "He didn't agree?"
Zuoqiu Cangwu nodded: "After all, they're seven Lord-Marquis (Emperor) Grade Strange Insects. If I were in his place, I wouldn't let them go easily either."
Zuoqiu Qingying snorted coldly: "He clearly wants to become a Spiritual Master, but six months ago, he was only a Great Spiritual Master in the Earthfire Realm. It's obvious he's destined to fail at reaching the Spiritual Master level. The second path is also a dead end."
"For the past six months, the entire Zuoqiu Clan has been struggling, either fighting on the Demon Clan Battlefield or risking their lives exploring underground Immortal Caves. Yet he sits on Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain, enjoying a life of quiet contentment as if it's his due. I think he's truly become useless!"
"Seven Lord-Marquis (Emperor) Grade Strange Insects following him is like throwing pearls before swine."
"Father, you must help me seize them. With those seven Lord-Marquis (Emperor) Grade Strange Insects, your daughter will one day stand equal to the Transcendent."
Zuoqiu Cangwu pondered for a moment.
"He's also the Divine Hidden One of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect. We can't rush this. Here's what we'll do: you'll befriend him. Make sure everyone knows that you've been by his side, helping and caring for him during his lowest point."
"That way, when he... commits suicide again and hands over the seven Strange Insects to you, it will seem perfectly reasonable. Zuoqiu Ling, Zuoqiu Hongting, and even the Jiu Li Tribe won't be able to find fault with it!"
"How many fragments of the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone are left?"
Zuoqiu Qingying replied, "In truth, the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone was used up a thousand years ago. We deliberately set an impossible price for him to pay. Now, we can slowly manipulate him."
Li Weiyi slowly descended Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain from the Fourth Heaven, preparing to meet Yin Er.
When he reached the Second Heaven, Seven Phoenix flew back and landed on his shoulder. They shifted from their invisible state to the size of a speck of dust, then grew to nine inches long.
This was their innate Dao Technique!
By shrinking their body and entering stealth mode, they became nearly undetectable to Martial-Mystic Cultivators below the Immortal Realm, as long as they didn't get too close.
Seven Phoenix recounted the conversation between Zuoqiu Cangwu and Zuoqiu Qingying to Li Weiyi.
The little creature was furious, its eyes bulging and its beak chattering rapidly as it spoke.
Li Weiyi stopped and gazed at the boundless night sky, sighing deeply: "Seven Lord-Marquis (Emperor) Grade Strange Insects... their allure is indeed too great. Even the Clan Head of the Zuoqiu Clan has been tempted to evil. It seems Taoli (Peach and Plum) Mountain is no longer a safe place for me!"
.....
In North City, on the wide Li River.
A three-story pleasure boat adorned with bone lamps drifted silently south.
Inside, Li Weiyi and Yin Er sat in a cabin on the second deck, protected by a Formation Art.
Yin Er was short and lean, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. He managed the Jiu Li Hidden Sect's worldly affairs and was currently stationed in Qiu Prefecture City.
This was their third meeting in the past six months.
It was July, and the weather was sweltering.
The riverbanks buzzed with activity, a constant stream of carriages and pedestrians.
Yin Er, ever astute at reading people, drank alone and chuckled: "What's wrong? You seem a bit down."
"Nothing... Give me a drink too."
Li Weiyi gazed out the window and sighed.
Yin Er was slightly surprised; this was the first time Li Weiyi had ever asked for alcohol, having previously avoided it entirely.
Li Weiyi accepted the glass Hidden Two offered and asked, "Second Brother, what level of cultivation are you at?"
"Me? My talent is mediocre. I'm at the Second Heaven (Second level) of the Dao Seed Realm. Immortal Realm is out of the reach for me, so I'm in charge of worldly affairs!" Hidden Two said with a laugh.
Li Weiyi countered, "Even Zuoqiu Cangwu, a top figure in the Dao Seed Realm, is still managing worldly affairs."
"He has no choice. The Zuoqiu Clan's worldly affairs require a top expert to support them. Face and hidden foundation are different things," Hidden Two replied.
Li Weiyi took another drink, his expression hardening slightly: "How's the investigation into Qi Xiao's matter going?"
"Yin Wu is handling it. We're making progress."
Suddenly, the sound of water breaking and someone boarding the deck reached them.
Hidden Two chuckled: "Speak of the devil! He's here. You can talk to him yourself..."
Hidden Two had chosen to meet on the river precisely because the water could wash away any trace of their meeting. Yin Wu's identity was too sensitive to risk exposure.
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END OF CHAPTER
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