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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 59 (86): [Coffin Sea (Guan Hai) Pavilion]
(59th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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After descending the stone bridge, the two followed a stone staircase for several hundred steps, emerging into a dim and cavernous underground warehouse.
Though the light was dim, they could still see mountains of iron chests and Otherworldly Coffins piled high, so numerous that it would take ten days and nights to count them all.
A frail figure materialized silently behind Li Weiyi, holding a lamp and croaking, "Little Ershi Si, is this the new recruit for this year?"
Li Weiyi quickly sidestepped, turning to face the figure behind him, his heart pounding.
'How could appear without a sound or a trace of energy? Is he human or a ghost?'
The figure was incredibly aged, hunched over with sparse hair.
In the darkness of the underground warehouse, he resembled a ghost from the underworld.
What he held wasn't a lamp, but a ball of flame clutched in his hand.
"He's not Yin Ershi Liu, but he was personally chosen by the Yin Jun for a special trial," Yin Ershi Si said respectfully, bowing to the Elder.
Turning to Li Weiyi, she explained, "This is the Hidden Sect's Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder, who guards the entrance from Jiu Li City to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect."
Within the Hidden Sect, Hidden Ones from the previous sixty-year cycle were known as Elders.
Supreme Elders, however, were Hidden Ones from the cycle before that.
In other words, the Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder before them was originally Forty-Fifth Hidden One (Yin Sishi Wu) from the cycle before the last - a venerable old man well over a hundred years old.
His cultivation level, given his duty of guarding such a crucial location, was beyond imagination.
Li Weiyi immediately clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
The Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder raised the flame in his hand, leaned closer, squinted, and carefully examined Li Weiyi. He chuckled, "Indeed, quite interesting. You two should change first!"
He shuffled away with a hunched back and unsteady gait.
The surroundings grew dim.
Yin Ershi Si tossed a set of purple-black robes to Li Weiyi, then unfastened her belt and began to undress... of course, she was still wearing her inner garments, only changing her outer robe.
Li Weiyi caught the purple-black martial robe and examined it closely. Seeing the silver coffin seal embroidered on the sleeve, he was moved.
"This is the standard martial robe for disciples of the Coffin Sea Pavilion!"
Yin Ershi Si replied, "That's right. This is the third level of the Coffin Sea Pavilion's underground treasure vault, a forbidden area only the Pavilion Master is allowed to enter. What we're wearing are the standard martial robes for disciples of the Foreign Affairs Hall."
"So we're directly beneath the core Dao Domain of Jiu Li City?" Li Weiyi confirmed again, still somewhat incredulous.
Yin Ershi Si said, "The Jiu Li Insect Valley itself lies deep beneath Jiu Li City, directly beneath the Dao Domain. Otherwise, why do you think the Hidden Sect's Spiritual Qi is so dense, so conducive to cultivation, and so fertile for Precious Medicine? Of course, ancient formations act as layers of barriers, preventing anyone from breaking through."
"The greatest concealment lies in the city - truly remarkable. I should have realized it sooner!"
Li Weiyi forced a wry smile and muttered to himself, "If the Jiu Li Insect Valley is completely enveloped in Spiritual Qi, forming a Dao Domain, then there must be an exceptionally large Heavenly Law Earth Spring nearby. With such a massive Heavenly Law Earth Spring, where else could one hide without being discovered but Jiu Li City?"
After changing into the martial robes of the Coffin Sea Pavilion's Foreign Affairs Hall disciples, the two of them cast the Disguise A Technique to alter their appearances and figures.
Meanwhile, they had two prepared bundles ready.
When opened, the bundles revealed low-grade Spiritual Artifact-level night-traveling cloaks. When activated, these cloaks provided a degree of defense and invisibility, making them ideal for covert missions.
There was also a bottle of powder. According to Yin Ershi Si, this powder could temporarily neutralize a tracker's sense of smell.
"Your Yellow Dragon Sword will reveal your identity as the perpetrator. Do you need to carry another Spiritual Artifact?" Yin Ershi Si asked.
"Of course," Li Weiyi replied.
"Given our current rank, we can only request one low-grade Spiritual Artifact, which must be returned after the mission. If lost, you'll have to pay compensation," Yin Ershi Si explained.
"It's not a free gift?"
"Do you truly believe the Hidden Sect's resources are limitless?"
Li Weiyi waved his hand dismissively: "Forget it. I think it's more fitting for me to avenge my grievances with the Changlin Gang as Li Weiyi. No one would suspect the Hidden Sect, and it would make more sense. The real question is, how strong are Xu Changlin and Tang Yan? I have no idea about their strength or the power of the Five Seas Realm."
If those in the Five Seas Realm could lift the Five Seas Pillars with their bare hands, and their Spiritual Power refinement surpassed the Surging Spring Realm, with abundant Spiritual Qi in their Qi Seas, Li Weiyi thought it might be best to return home now and smash the Hidden Sect with Master Coffin's letter.
Yin Ershi Si scoffed, "Both of them are Seven Springs Opening Five Seas Realm cultivators, and they've only opened their first Qi Sea. Even with my strength, having broken through to the Five Seas Realm just two months ago, I could handle them with one hand!"
"I've only opened the Eighth Spring," Li Weiyi said.
Yin Ershi Si's arrogant demeanor vanished instantly. She said coldly, "Don't worry. They're just two weaklings ruined by wine and women. With me backing you up, you can fight without restraint."
Li Weiyi wouldn't dare entrust his life to Yin Ershi Si. He secretly considered which trump cards he could reveal and then brought them with him.
After all, when he fought Yang Shenjing, he had only used the Yellow Dragon Sword.
This wasn't his true combat strength.
"What's in these iron chests?" Li Weiyi asked curiously, eager to open them but deterred by the Formation Scriptures.
"This isn't just the Coffin Sea Pavilion's most important treasure vault," Yin Ershi Si explained, "It's also the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild's storage warehouse for its rarest goods. The auction house's headlining items are almost always kept here. Additionally, many of the Hidden Sect's resources and treasures are stored here."
The Coffin Sea Pavilion was a sect established by the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild.
Fourteen years ago, the Jiu Li Tribe suffered a crushing defeat. Four sections of the Jiu Li City Dao Domain were seized, and four major sects were established: the Sui Sect, the San Chen Palace, the Tianyi Sect, and the Coffin Sea (Guan Hai) Pavilion.
In present Li Prefecture, the Jiu Li Dao Academy and the Sui Sect are the two of the dominant powers, with the San Chen Palace close behind. The Tianyi Sect and the Coffin Sea Pavilion, founded only fourteen years ago, lagged far behind in strength and foundation.
Li Weiyi asked, "What exactly is the relationship between the Coffin Sea Pavilion and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect?"
Yin Ershi Si replied, "In truth, the Sui Sect, the San Chen Palace, the Tianyi Sect, and the Coffin Sea Pavilion were originally servants and retainers sent out by the Jiu Li Tribe to sell Otherworldly Coffins."
"The Sui Sect's founding ancestors were responsible for water transport, using the Shui River to carry Otherworldly Coffins to the various provinces of the Lingxiao Realm."
"The San Chen Palace Ancestor was responsible for land transport across the three main routes: the Northern Straight Road, the Western Prefecture Road, and the Eastern Forest Road, delivering goods to the Northern Territory, Western Territory, and Eastern Territory."
"The Tianyi Sect and Coffin Sea Pavilion Ancestors handled sales, forming what are now the Tianyi Merchant Guild and the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild."
"Backed by the Jiu Li Tribe, one of the ancient clans with millions of members, every major power in the Lingxiao Realm naturally had to show them respect. Under the banner of the Jiu Li Tribe, their influence gradually grew. They established gangs, recruited Martial-Mystic Cultivators, trained death squads, and expanded aggressively."
"With transport routes secured, ambition took root. Their business naturally expanded beyond Otherworldly Coffins. They dealt in salt, iron, minerals, cloth, brothels, gambling dens, restaurants, and human trafficking. After a thousand years of operation, they gradually amassed wealth, leeching off the Jiu Li Tribe like parasites, using their name to intimidate others. The sapling grew into a towering tree, spawning several million-member clans."
"The Jiu Li Tribe, having lost their most powerful Spiritual Artifact and unable to agree on a universally respected leader, lay dreaming on the natural treasure trove of Otherworldly Coffins. Consumed by greed for more coffins, wealth, and power, the Nine Clans descended into constant infighting. The Dao Academy and Divine Temple, which should have been maintaining order, became the epicenters of this internal conflict, losing their ability to govern."
"Against this backdrop, the Nine Clans instead courted and cultivated their servants and slaves, pouring vast resources into them, believing they would serve as their enforcers against other clans."
"They remained completely blind to their servants' wolfish ambitions. These servants and slaves, under the leadership of Nine Tribes, gradually grew in power and influence, reveling in their success."
"Fourteen years ago, these servants and slaves saw through the Jiu Li Tribe's weakness and cast off their pretense. This led directly to the six-month-long martial conflict and the Battle of Mount Mangshan."
"Only after suffering such humiliation did the Jiu Li Tribe's high-ranking officials finally wake up and realized that they were no longer the mighty ancient clan of millions of people. The Nine Clan Leaders then sat down to negotiate in peace, ending their internal strife. It seemed that all their conflicts could be resolved through compromise. But could fourteen years of effort truly undo centuries of decline?"
Li Weiyi sneered "It's the same everywhere. Without an external threat and with abundant internal resources, endless infighting is inevitable. Only when faced with an external enemy can they unite. But why didn't the Hidden Sect intervene? Why did they allow their former servants and slaves to betray their masters and even seize control of the Dao Domain?"
"How can they learn shame and strive for improvement if they aren't humiliated? Knowing someone has their back will only make them more reckless, decadent, and arrogant. Besides..."
Yin Ershi Si glanced at the treasure vault before her and continued, "Who said the Hidden Sect hasn't intervened?"
Li Weiyi asked, "Have the Hidden Sect long controlled the upper echelons of the Coffin Sea Pavilion? Or perhaps there are Hidden Sect members within the Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, and Tianyi Sect?"
"I'm just a Hidden One who arrived two years before you. How would I know such secrets?" Yin Ershi Si didn't want to elaborate further.
The Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder materialized ghostlike behind Li Weiyi, his voice raspy as he said, "All Hidden Ones sent on missions outside the Sect must be branded with the Death Spirit Fire."
Yin Ershi Si clearly knew the rule. She closed her eyes and calmly accepted the flame that spilled from the Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder's fingertip, which entered her brow.
Li Weiyi, remembering Li Qing's gruesome death, was horrified and naturally resisted.
Yin Ershi Si explained, "The Death Spirit Fire only erupts if you're captured and a Mind Master attempts to invade your consciousness. In that situation, do you really think they'd spare your life? Don't worry, the Death Spirit Fire will be extracted once the mission is complete."
Li Weiyi asked, "Then... if I voluntarily reveal the secrets I know, will the Death Spirit Fire erupt?"
"No."
Yin Ershi Si immediately added, "But you will be hunted by the entire Hidden Sect. And all who know the truth will be eliminated. Of course, if you are captured and don't want to suffer the torment of mental power intrusion, you can trigger the Death Spirit Fire yourself. There's no other way. The Hidden Sect must ensure its own safety."
Li Weiyi couldn't find a reason to argue, so he nodded.
After planting the Death Spirit Fire, Li Weiyi and Yin Ershi Si followed the stone steps upward, passing through three levels of the treasure vault before finally reaching the surface.
Disguised as disciples of the Coffin Sea Pavilion's Foreign Affairs Hall, they helped transport goods from the first-level warehouse.
They joined the Tianyi Merchant Guild's caravan as it left the Dao Domain and entered the bustling streets of Jiu Li City.
The clamor of the city washed over them.
During the journey, they quietly slipped off the carriage and merged into the ceaseless flow of people.
The sun was scorching.
But finally feeling the warmth of the sun again and seeing the blue sky and white clouds, Li Weiyi felt an indescribable sense of liberation.
"After two months of medicinal cuisine, I've been craving real food! Come on, let's go eat a proper meal. My treat!"
Yin Ershi Si was surprised. She hadn't expected this guy to be so generous. After months of bland medicinal cuisine, she was naturally looking forward to a proper meal.
But when Li Weiyi led her to the dining spot, she froze. She carefully examined the humble noodle stall by the roadside, searching for something extraordinary, perhaps her eyes were simply failing her?
It wasn't impossible that the pot held hidden depths, and the owner would spiritually conjure a feast of colorful, fragrant, and delicious human delicacies at any moment.
Li Weiyi had already taken a seat and called out, "Owner, two bowls of soup noodles, extra meat!"
"Come on, sit down, don't just stand there stiffly."
Yin Ershi Si's expression darkened.
"If it's just two bowls of soup noodles, you could have spared me the anticipation."
"How could it be just two bowls of soup noodles?" Li Weiyi countered.
"And meat, right?" Yin Ershi Si said, "This joke isn't funny."
Li Weiyi took out the Three-Headed Serpent Bracelet and placed it on the table: "This is the real treat!"
Yin Ershi Si, having seen the world, immediately recognized the bracelet's extraordinary quality. She quickly picked it up, meticulously examining every detail, her eyes growing increasingly fervent.
She whispered, "This is a Blood Refinement Artifact! It should contain a powerful Blood Soul sealed within. Judging by the craftsmanship, it's no ordinary low-grade Spiritual Artifact."
"Sharp eyes, worthy of someone in the Five Seas Realm."
Li Weiyi dropped a bombshell: "This is a high-grade Spiritual Artifact!"
Even with Yin Ershi Si's composure, her hands trembled, and the bracelet nearly slipped from her grasp.
A high-grade Spiritual Artifact was a treasure only the most elite figures in the Five Seas Realm were worthy of possessing.
Moreover, this high-grade Spiritual Artifact contained a sealed Blood Soul within...
Li Weiyi seemed oblivious to her shock, his gaze fixed on the pot where the ingredients had begun to simmer. He murmured, "Help me sell it. Your Hidden Sect controls the Coffin Sea Pavilion, so sell it secretly through the Coffin Sea Merchant Guild. Then buy me some Light (Radiant) Flame Pills. I need to break through my Psychic (Telekinesis or Mental) Power and ignite the Fang Cun (Square Inch) Bright Flame as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would take decades to forge the Golden Vein. I can't wait that long."
Yin Ershi Si couldn't bear it any longer. She wanted to curse him: "Are you insane? The Blood Soul sealed inside that high-grade Spiritual Artifact is at least at the third stage of the Five Seas Realm. You're selling it just to buy Radiant Flame Pills? Fine, sell it to me."
Seeing Li Weiyi's wide-eyed, surprised gaze, she quickly retracted the Three-Headed Serpent Bracelet.
Then, Li Weiyi asked a question that struck her soul: "Can you afford it?"
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END OF CHAPTER
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