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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 50 (77): [Ninth Hidden One (Yin Jiu)]
(50th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"Become a Hidden One directly?"
Hearing this, Li Weiyi couldn't help but glance at the cliffside inscription above.
It was said to contain the combat technique intent of the legendary Jiu Li God - a technique every Martial-Mystic Cultivator in the world yearned to comprehend.
'These Scriptures...'
'It looks remarkably similar to the Bird-Track Scriptures used to carve "Chixian (Red County) Ancient Road" on the stone pillar in the Soul Sea.'
However, Li Weiyi knew little about ancient scriptures so he couldn't decipher it.
All the young men and women present gazed at the cliffside with fervent eyes.
After bowing, they stared intently at the four ancient characters, carefully studying every stroke and groove, hoping they were divinely gifted enough to quickly grasp something from the scriptures.
Once Martial-Mystic Cultivators reaches the Five Seas Realm, their most urgent task is to cultivate their own Combat Technique Intent.
Without it, they could only flee for their lives when facing the psychic (Telekinesis) attacks of Great Mind Masters.
The presence and strength of one's Combat Technique Intent in the Five Seas Realm were second only in importance to one's cultivation level.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One stood silently to the side, unfazed.
Two years ago, she was just like them.
After waiting for half an hour, she finally spoke: "Everyone, stop fixating on this. Since ancient times, only Azure King has ever managed to comprehend the Jiu Li God's combat technique intent from these four characters."
"Once you enter the valley, your time will be incredibly precious. Every day will be a race against death, so don't waste a single moment here."
"I'm telling you this now, but most of you probably won't listen. Everyone thinks they're the chosen one. But you'll regret it later - regret wasting your time."
Li Weiyi asked, "I've heard that the Combat Technique Intent of Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators is derived from the Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony techniques. Do these four characters on the cliff face correspond to any specific techniques we can practice?"
"No!" Twenty-Fourth Hidden One replied, "But the valley contains nine fundamental martial arts left behind by the Nine Kings themselves. They are more primal, precise, and detailed than anything you learned at the Clan Academy, imbued with Heavenly Dao Divine Essence. Naturally, they also make it easier to achieve Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony."
The Nine Kings were the nine founding ancestors of the Nine Great Tribes, all sons of the Jiu Li God.
Everyone present exchanged glances, their eyes filled with joy.
"Does the Hidden Sect possess Azure King's fundamental martial art techniques?" Yao Yin asked.
Since Azure King had once grasped the Combat Technique Intent of the Jiu Li God, cultivating his fundamental martial art techniques might be the best shortcut.
Hidden Twenty-Four said, "The Fundamental Martial Art Techniques left behind by Azure King are the Thirty-Six Axes of the Heavenly Demon, but they aren't suitable for everyone. You've spent years, even decades, cultivating other techniques within your tribes. Switching to a new martial art technique now would be like crippling yourselves."
"Remember, your lives are already limited to a month or a few months at most."
"Do you truly believe you can master the Thirty-Six Axes of the Heavenly Demon within a month or a few months?"
A Tiger-like Aberrant youth at the Eight Springs Opening stage burst with joy: "I've been practicing axe techniques since childhood. The first nine moves of the Thirty-Six Axes of the Heavenly Demon are taught in every clan academy. I've already mastered them to perfection. My first technique, 'Heaven-Earth-Severing Technique,' is nearly at the level of Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony."
Many present couldn't help but envy him.
Such a foundation in axe techniques was unmatched.
Li Qing scoffed: "You haven't even achieved Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony yet, and you're already bragging? Throughout history, countless geniuses and heroes have entered the Hidden Sect, but no one else has ever grasped the Combat Technique Intent of the Jiu Li God."
The Tiger-like Aberrant youth's eyes flashed with cold light, his fighting spirit blazing.
"Then let's see who emerges victorious a year from now."
The Lord Yin had silently departed the moment they began contemplating the four characters on the cliff face.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One led the group through the misty river valley, passing through a forest of unknown trees that emitted a purple glow, until they reached the base of a massive stone wall.
The wall shimmered like a crystalline vein of red jade. Upon closer inspection, one could see Spiritual Light flowing within it, with scriptures rising and falling like waves.
The dense fog obscured the wall's height, but the ground below was remarkably flat and spacious, resembling a vast training ground.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One said, "There are actually two paths to bypass the Life and Death Trial and the Hidden One competition, and directly become a Hidden One."
"The stone wall before you is a Psychic (Telekinesis) Power mural."
"Every Martial-Mystic Cultivator who enters the Hidden Sect and reaches the Nine Springs Ancestral Field imprints their battle technique image here. Additionally, the Hidden Sect purchases images of top-tier combat techniques from other Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Lingxiao Realm and imprints them as well."
"All you need to do is defeat the images of three people within this mural to become the Hidden One of this Sixty-Year Cycle."
"Including myself, every Hidden One will become your Hidden Servant, unconditionally obeying your commands."
The surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar.
"This is far simpler than comprehending the Combat Technique Intent of the Jiu Li God! You only need to defeat three people, not chase after a legendary deity."
Yao Yin immediately asked, "Can I challenge now?"
As a Pure Immortal Physique, she was brimming with confidence.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One shook her head.
"You must be at least a Nine Springs Martial-Mystic Cultivator to qualify."
Yao Yin fell silent. Reaching the Nine Springs level within a year was utterly impossible. It seemed she had no choice but to become Twenty-Sixth Hidden One.
"Doesn't that mean I'm the only one here who qualifies? How can I not test the waters for everyone first?"
Li Qing stepped forward confidently, his gaze fixed on the stone wall ahead like a blazing torch.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One, as if expecting this, said calmly, "Place your palm against the wall and infuse it with spiritual Qi. The first person's combat Technique image will naturally materialize to fight you."
Li Qing followed her instructions.
"Whoosh!"
Spiritual Light, spiritual Qi, and ancient scriptures rapidly converged within the red jade ore wall, coalescing into a vivid mural.
The mural depicted a plain-looking boy of thirteen or fourteen, but his eyes held a depth that belied his age. He wielded a massive axe that seemed disproportionate to his slender frame.
The youth stepped out of the mural, a half-illusory, half-substantial glowing entity.
"Are you ready?"
"Let's begin!"
Li Qing drew his spiritual artifact longsword, unwilling to underestimate his opponent.
The Nine Springs within him erupted in full force, spiritual Qi seeping from his pores to envelop his entire body, instantly pushing him to his peak state.
"Whoosh!"
He struck first, his sword like a shooting star, impossibly fast.
"So fast! His speed surpasses Xue Zheng's by a considerable margin," Li Weiyi observed intently, trying to gauge Li Qing's true strength.
He had to admit that a Nine Springs Supreme was indeed formidable - even stronger than Xue Zheng, who possessed a Pure Immortal Physique.
"Clang!"
Li Qing's full-power thrust was casually deflected by the Spiritual Light Youth's axe.
"Impossible!"
Shock filled Li Qing's eyes. He couldn't believe his opponent was only at the Nine Springs level.
After knocking Li Qing's spiritual artifact longsword aside, the Spirit Light Youth raised his axe high and swung it down with the force of a world-splitting blow.
The resulting shockwave was overwhelming, utterly domineering.
Everyone watching was forced to retreat in awe.
Li Qing's expression changed drastically.
The pressure was immense. He ignored everything else and immediately channeled the spiritual Qi from his Ancestral Field, unleashing his most powerful Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony-level sword strike.
With a single slash, he unleashed the full power of his sword!
The Wind Palace was a small Qi Sea, so those who opened Eight Springs were called the "Small Five Seas Realm."
In contrast, the Ancestral Field's size rivaled the first Qi Sea of many Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
Li Qing's sword strike gathered a massive amount of Spiritual Qi from his Ancestral Field, making it his true trump card. It could slaughter Eight Springs Opening or Seven Springs Opening cultivators with ease.
"Is the spiritual Qi in the Ancestral Field really this dense?"
Without using his powerful spiritual artifacts, Li Weiyi, with his current Seven Springs Opening cultivation, estimated his chances of victory against Li Qing at no more than fifty percent.
This was terrifyingly strong.
Just two cultivation realms lower, and he was already struggling to win.
The main reason was that both the Fengfu (Wind Palace) and the Zutian (Ancestral Field) could store spiritual Qi like a Qi Sea, allowing Li Qing to unleash devastatingly powerful attacks.
Li Weiyi currently lacked such a trump card.
"Bang!"
All the spiritual Qi and sword qi Li Qing unleashed were shattered by the Spiritual Light Youth's axe.
Axe and sword clashed.
Li Qing felt as if he'd been punched in the chest. His face turned deathly pale, and he stumbled backward repeatedly, blood gushing from his tiger's mouth. His longsword had already flown out of his grasp.
The Spiritual Light Youth pressed his advantage, swinging his axe for a second strike.
"Quickly admit defeat now," Twenty-Fourth Hidden One said.
Li Qing, as if granted a reprieve, immediately shouted, "I concede!"
The massive, razor-sharp axe hovered above his head.
The Spiritual Light emanating from its surface clearly illuminated the fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Whoosh!"
The giant axe vanished.
The Spiritual Light Youth dissipated like smoke.
Li Qing trembled from head to toe, exhaling a long breath. His pale complexion remained unchanged for a long time.
He asked, "Who was he? Is he a Pure Immortal Physique?"
Li Qing couldn't believe that an Aberrant Humanoid Martial-Mystic Cultivator from the Nine Springs could possess such formidable strength, let alone a mere mortal.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One replied, "That was Ninth Hidden One! He entered the Hidden Sect at a age of eight after opening his Fourth Spring. At eleven, he opened his Eighth Spring, and after two years of arduous cultivation, he opened his Ninth Spring at thirteen. The one you faced was his younger self at thirteen years old."
"He's not a Pure Immortal Physique. He's just a mortal."
All of Li Qing's confidence and pride crumbled. He forced a bitter smile.
"To be defeated by a thirteen-year-old..."
"Among mortal Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Nine Springs, you're already quite strong," Twenty-Fourth Hidden One said, "You withstood Ninth Hidden One's axe and only suffered minor injuries. Ninth Hidden One represents the peak combat prowess of all Hidden Ones in this Sixty-Year Cycle during their Nine Springs stage."
The severely disheartened youths and maidens present were instantly relieved, feeling somewhat better.
Some eight- and nine-year-old children suddenly gained confidence.
If Ninth Hidden One could become the final victor that year, so could they. The younger one started cultivating in the Hidden Sect, the more benefits they would receive, and the stronger they would become in the future.
Li Weiyi asked, "We need to challenge three people to become Hidden Ones directly. Besides Ninth Hidden One (Yin Jiu), the number one Hidden One in the Nine Springs, who are the other two?"
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One replied, "The second is the Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique with Hundreds Silver Veins."
"The third is the Lingxiao Jia Shou from the Nine Springs realm."
"Besides this path, there's another, but it's not relevant to you. Only Hidden Ones from the Five Seas Realm can compete for it."
Upon hearing this, everyone present immediately abandoned their hopes of directly becoming Hidden Ones.
For mortals and Aberrant Humanoids to defeat a Pure Immortal Physique at the same realm was a pipe dream.
Even so, Yao Yin, as a Pure Immortal Physique, still had a chance.
But to defeat the Lingxiao Jia Shou from the Nine Springs realm... Could it be that the Hidden Ones of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect were aiming for the title of world's strongest?
The Lingxiao Jia Shou (First Commander) wasn't just any First Commander - not like the Jiuli First Commander, the Lizhou First Commander, or the Southern Border First Commander. This title represented the undisputed number one Martial-Mystic Cultivator under sixty years old in the Realm.
Yaoyin asked, "Does 'Hundreds Silver Veins' mean having over a hundred Mark Veins within one's body, all of which must be elevated to Silver Veins or higher?"
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One replied, "Precisely."
"That's the standard for Inheritors from the Ancient Myriad Sects!" Yao Yin exclaimed.
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One said proudly, "The Jiu Li Clan is the only Ancient Clan in the Lingxiao Realm. Even though it has declined in the outside world, the Hidden Sect must hold its Hidden Ones to the standards of an Ancient Myriad Clan."
"Hidden Ones should be even stronger than Inheritors!"
The color of a Martial Artist's Mark Veins, from lowest to highest, is White, Red, Silver, and Gold.
Nearly all Martial-Mystic Cultivators begin with White Veins.
However, the Seven Springs Opening Stage is a turning point.
Some choose to break through directly to the Five Seas Realm, pursuing higher realms.
Some Martial-Mystic Cultivators choose to pause, settling down to refine and strengthen their foundation.
The more red Veins they refine, the greater their chance of breaking through to the Eighth Spring Wind Palace (Fengfu).
To attempt the Nine Springs Ancestral Field, one must refine as many Silver Veins as possible.
Li Qing smiled: "I understand now! I see the gap between Yin Jiu (Ninth Hidden One) and me! I refined twenty-seven Silver Veins to break through the Ninth Spring, and now I only have forty-six Silver Veins in my body. I must refine all ninety of my Veins into Silver Veins to stand a chance against him."
Li Weiyi silently calculated: "I have eighty-four Veins in my body now, and they seem to be Silver Veins already. No wonder it's so difficult for me to defeat Li Qing. He has more Veins than I do, and over half of them are Silver Veins."
Li Weiyi suspected that his ability to defeat other Martial-Mystic Cultivators across cultivation realms was related to the grade and quantity of his Veins.
Yao Yin smiled wryly. "A Pure Immortal Physique is indeed a favorite of the heavens, a one-in-a-million cultivation genius. But only a Pure Immortal Physique with Hundred Silver Veins is a true Pure Immortal Physique."
"You could say that."
Twenty-Fourth Hidden One continued, "Besides constitution and Veins, other factors influence combat strength at the same cultivation level. These include techniques, physical strength, Breathing Techniques, spiritual power utilization, Psychic (Telekinesis) Power stacking, spiritual artifacts... all of these can make you stronger. So, don't be discouraged by differences in natural talent or constitution. A Pure Immortal Physique isn't invincible."
"Li Qing, if you had mastered a Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony-level movement technique, you would have easily dodged Yin Jiu's second axe strike. The more Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony techniques you master, the stronger your combat strength will be at the same cultivation level."
After speaking, Twenty-Fourth Hidden One led the group to their living quarters.
"Since you aren't Hidden Ones yet, you can't enter the Hidden Sect. You'll have to stay in the cave dwellings carved out along the river valley."
"Four-Spring Openers will reside on the first floor. Five-Spring Openers on the second floor. Six-Spring Openers on the third floor."
"The first month is a protection period. Anyone who dares to kill a fellow Martial-Mystic Cultivator from this batch will be executed without mercy!"
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END OF CHAPTER
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