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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 66 (93): [The Hidden Ancestor (Yin Zu)]
(66th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Jiu Li Insect Valley was incredibly deep and shrouded year-round in Spiritual Qi clouds and mist, obscuring its full extent. Yet as one walked through it, a sense of vastness filled the air, with towering, precipitous cliffs on either side and structures suspended in the void.
Legend had it that ancient Hidden Ones resided within, but the valley was heavily fortified with Formation Scriptures and talisman runes, making this impossible to verify.
The dense Spiritual Qi and unique subterranean environment had nurtured numerous rare and luminous plants within the valley.
"Whoosh!"
Startled, an Old Ginseng burst from the earth, using its roots as legs to flee. Its entire body radiated a refreshing medicinal fragrance, clearly marking it as a legendary Millennial Essence Medicine.
These Essence Medicines and demon medicines were living fossils of the world, privy to many ancient secrets. Some of them possessed terrifying combat power, capable of rivaling those who have achieved Dao Seed Longevity.
Soon, the valley's cliffs turned golden, resembling a massive gold mine.
Radiant light filled the air, and colorful mist swirled throughout.
Deep within the golden cliffs lay a black ice wall, radiating an oppressive chill.
The ice wall stretched endlessly upward and horizontally, its limits unseen.
The Hidden Lord stopped, his expression solemn beneath his mask.
He bowed deeply toward the black ice wall, then began chanting in a strange language.
His voice, enveloped in Spiritual Qi, pierced through the ice.
Li Weiyi stood silently behind him, feeling the bone-chilling cold of the surroundings.
The sound of dripping water echoed in his ears. Looking over, he saw golden droplets of springwater falling from the golden cliff face to his right, gathering into a palm-sized pool on the ground.
He inhaled the golden mist rising from the pool, and a wave of indescribable comfort washed over his limbs and bones, as if his entire physical form had been cleansed.
"Whoosh-"
From within the black ice wall, streaks of golden light appeared, like countless golden lightning bolts darting through the darkness.
Which illuminated the darkness.
The ice wall transformed into a crystal-clear golden wall, radiating an ancient aura that seemed to shake the very heavens and earth.
Space itself seemed to tremble.
Li Weiyi was stunned.
He could barely stand and, like the Hidden Lord, knelt on one knee, immediately following with a shout: "Greetings, Yin Zu (Hidden Ancestor)!"
A deafening yet melodious insect chorus erupted from within the ice wall.
Faintly visible on the wall were a pair of colossal golden insect wings, their size beyond comprehension. The wings gracefully rose and fell, scattering countless motes of light like rain.
Each wing spanned hundreds of meters, dispelling the surrounding mist and radiating an oppressive aura.
"The news about Leader (Chief) Yuan Zhe..."
Li Weiyi couldn't even lift his head, let alone breathe. He only caught a few words, his heart pounding in shock: "So the Hidden Ancestor is a strange insect. No wonder this place is called the Jiu Li Insect Valley. But for an strange insect to live for a thousand years without dying... that's too exaggerated."
"Whoosh!"
The letter in the Hidden Lord's hand was swept away by a shower of light, flying into the icy wall.
After a long moment, the Leader's secret mark left by Master Guan (Coffin) on the letter appeared on the ice wall.
The Hidden Lord's voice echoed again, speaking to the Hidden Ancestor in a strange language.
Li Weiyi distinctly felt a piercing gaze fall upon him, as if his body were bathed in blinding sunlight. Gradually, the sunlight faded, and the Jiu Li Insect Valley returned to darkness and cold.
"You can rise. The Hidden Ancestor has fallen back into slumber."
The Hidden Lord had already stood up, his eyes a mixture of complexity and awe as he stared at Li Weiyi.
The calm he had finally achieved was once again shattered.
"That aura... it was terrifying! I couldn't breathe at all, as if a towering mountain were pressing down on me," Li Weiyi said, still shaken after standing up.
"That's normal! You've only been cultivating for a few years. How many years has the Hidden Ancestor been cultivating? Once you cultivate battle intent, it will become much better."
The Hidden Lord continued, "The Hidden Ancestor said the handwriting, aura, secret markings, and even the energy fluctuations belonging to the Nine Emperors Banner all match perfectly."
Li Weiyi thought to himself, Master Guan (Coffin) is truly meticulous in his work, befitting the former leader of the Jiu Li Tribe.
The so-called leader was the Patriarch of the entire Jiu Li Tribe.
The Hidden Lord regarded Li Weiyi as a crucial member of the Hidden Sect, his tone filled with sorrow, "The Lingxiao Realm has endured a decade of war. Righteous armies have risen in countless numbers, and every province is littered with corpses. The people live in misery, with seven out of ten homes empty and eight out of ten families left crippled. Ten Thousand Sects and powerful clans like the Sui Sect have raised their banners, their ambitions burning bright. The Eastern Barbarians, Western Rong, Southern Man, and Northern Di tribes are all sharpening their claws, eager to seize control of the realm."
"Even the Demon Kings who have long held sway in the remote wilderness are beginning to stir, cultivating their forces and supporting human armies to conquer cities and territories."
"Adding to this, the Nether Realm of the Dead, which has always sought to devour the Twenty-Eight Provinces of Lingxiao, now sees its opportunity. The world faces internal strife and external threats, with danger approaching from all directions."
"Weiyi, where is the Leader? Why must he wait ten years before returning? The Lingxiao Realm, Li Prefecture, and the Jiu Li Tribe may not survive that long."
Though the Jiu Li Hidden Sect was powerful and deeply rooted, the Hidden Lord knew there were always greater powers beyond their own. He walked on thin ice, constantly fearful, uncertain of where the world's fate would lead.
Only the return of a figure like the Leader Yuan Zhe would truly serve as the anchor in this turbulent sea.
Li Weiyi knew perfectly well why Master Coffin had set a ten-year deadline. He hoped the Hidden Sect and the Jiu Li Tribe would protect him for a decade, providing him with the resources he needed for Cultivation.
After ten years, Master Coffin would naturally be unable to return.
But after ten years, Li Weiyi might have grown to the Leader's level himself. Wouldn't that be another kind of Leader's return?
Li Weiyi forced a wry smile: "When I first met Master, I was just a mortal. How could I have known his secrets? If Master said he'd return in ten years, he certainly will. There's nothing we can do to change that. Chaos breeds heroes. Flood Dragons battling to become Divine Dragons - such a spectacle wouldn't exist in an era of peace and prosperity. I'm actually quite looking forward to it."
"It was my foolish wish!"
The Hidden Lord sighed, his eyes filled with wonder as he gazed at Li Weiyi. He sensed that this young man was indeed extraordinary, unlike any ordinary mortal. He seemed to possess an unyielding fighting spirit.
"Weiyi, with your innate talent, you must forge Golden Vein. Gather some of the Golden Springwater; it should be of great help. Nine would be ideal. Forging nine Golden Veins would surpass most inheritors of the Ten Thousand Sects."
"That's wonderful! Anything that can help me forge Golden Veins is welcomed!"
Li Weiyi's interest was immediately piqued.
He found a ceramic jar on the ground and began filling it with the Golden Springwater from the puddle.
Spirit Tablet Master had told him that once his Mental Power cultivation reached the Square Inch Bright Flame stage, his Blood Earth Space would undergo further changes, possibly aiding him in refining his Golden Vein.
But that was still uncertain.
How could it compare to the tangible Golden Springwater before him?
Hidden Lord watched Li Weiyi drain the puddle completely, not a single drop remaining. His brow furrowed deeply.
'This kid really has no manners at all.'
The two of them began walking out.
Hidden Lord said, "The secret of Leader Yuan Zhe's return in ten years must not be revealed at this stage. Your identity must also be kept secret, so I can't directly make you a Divine Hidden One for now. You'll still need to challenge the three people on the Psychic (Telekinetic) Stone Wall. With your innate talent, breaking through to the Nine Springs stage shouldn't be too difficult."
Li Weiyi had been planning to do just that. He didn't want to be thrust into the spotlight. If news of his abilities leaked, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of countless ancient monsters.
He asked, "What are the benefits of becoming a Divine Hidden One?"
Hidden Lord wanted to tell him that being a Divine Hidden One meant responsibility.
But remembering that Li Weiyi wasn't a commoner, he couldn't directly burden him with the Jiu Li Tribe's responsibilities. He changed his tone: "Becoming a Divine Hidden One is an extraordinary achievement. The resources available to you would far surpass those of ordinary Hidden Ones. For example, the Golden Springwater you're holding - only Divine Hidden Ones are qualified to drink it."
"For example, once a Divine Hidden One emerges, they can mobilize the resources of both the Hidden Sect and the Coffin Sea Pavilion, and command all the Hidden Ones within the Lingxiao Realm. In major events, even those from previous generations of Hidden Ones must obey your orders."
"Furthermore, to cultivate the Divine Hidden One's leadership aura, they are exempt from the Death Spirit Fire upon leaving the Hidden Sect, granting them considerable freedom."
Li Weiyi's eyes grew brighter: "So, if I become a Divine Hidden One, I can leave the Hidden Sect whenever I wish?"
"Naturally," the Hidden Lord replied.
Li Weiyi nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something, "The Six Desires Talisman issue must be resolved within two months. I only have two pills left from Shi Liuyu."
The Hidden Lord gestured for Li Weiyi to produce the pills.
He picked one up, sniffed it, and said, "Shi Liuyu can't be touched for now, but these pills are not difficult to refine. I'll make you a few more later."
Completely resolving the Six Desires Talisman issue would undoubtedly require capturing Shi Liuyu and forcing him to dispel the talismanic runes.
However, doing so would expose many traces of the Hidden Sect, potentially even drawing the Heavenly King of the Earth Wolf King's Army to Li Prefecture.
This was not the outcome the Hidden Lord desired!
Maintaining the Hidden Sect's mystery, even allowing enemies to underestimate them, was the most advantageous strategy.
Li Weiyi, carrying a ceramic jar in one hand, walked out of the Hidden Sect's mountain gate alone.
Besides the Gatekeeper Elder, who was as always meditating in his usual spot, Yin Ershi Si was waiting at the gate.
She hurried over: "How did it go? Did you see the Hidden Ancestor?"
Li Weiyi remained silent, his expression grim.
Yin Ershi Si pondered for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt she couldn't explain.
Still, she maintained her cold demeanor. "I truly didn't know about the trial. But everyone has to go through it. What's there to be so angry about?"
Li Weiyi wasn't petty, but he deliberately spoke with annoyance: "When things were most dangerous, my first thought was your safety. I told you to leave first. But what about you? Couldn't you have at least given me a warning? Do you know how dangerous the Changlin Gang became after you left?"
"Wang Daozhen wanted to kill me, striking me with a palm strike that left me severely wounded. Yang Qingxi threatened my companions, using them to blackmail me. But the most terrifying was Yao Qian. He had uncovered many of my secrets. Who knows what tortures and torments I would have suffered if I had fallen into their hands?"
"Shi Liuyu wanted to throw me into the Wolf Den, leaving me unable to live or die. Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Shishi planned to tie me up and take me to the Earth Wolf..."
Yin Ershi Si imagined the scene, her heart heavy. With absolute certainty, she declared, "I will kill Wang Daozhen... Next time, I'll let you go first!"
Li Weiyi sneered: "Do I need you to kill him for me? His life is mine. What about the Radiant Flame Pills?"
Yin Ershi Si fumbled, producing a pill vial and presenting it with both hands: "Five in total! If you need more, I'll find a way."
Li Weiyi took the vial.
When he opened it, a blinding beam of light erupted from the mouth, illuminating the mountain gate area as bright as day.
He quickly sealed it.
His spirits soaring, he couldn't wait to return to his Cave Dwelling and consume the pills.
Seeing Yin Ershi Si's anxious expression, he feigned indifference: "Consider this your payment for fifty thousand silver coins! But what about the Three-Headed Serpent Blood Soul's power verification? Don't try to cheat me. I have a rough idea of its combat strength."
Yin Ershi Si could sense Li Weiyi's sincerity and no longer dared to deceive him: "In its strongest state, it should reach the fifth level of the Five Seas Realm. But to unleash that level of power with my current cultivation, I must be prepared to sacrifice my life."
"What's its value?" Li Weiyi asked urgently.
Yin Ershi Si replied, "Conservatively estimated at three million silver coins... I'll gather the funds as quickly as possible, but it might take several years..."
She didn't dare say more than ten years, fearing Li Weiyi would snatch the bracelet back.
Li Weiyi held his breath, his heart pounding.
This was far higher than the Spirit Tablet Master had estimated!
He reasoned that since the Spirit Tablet Master didn't belong to this era, it was normal for his assessment of the blood sacrifice spiritual artifact's value to be inaccurate.
"Conservatively, three million silver coins. More realistically, four or five million. Let's say four million silver coins."
Li Weiyi waved his hand and started walking down the mountain: "You should focus on cultivating and break through your current bottleneck as soon as possible. Once your cultivation improves, you should be able to unleash the Three-Headed Serpent Bracelet's full power without sacrificing your life. I'll come collect the debt when I need the money."
Yin Ershi Si noticed not a trace of anger in Li Weiyi's tone, only a hint of concern.
Realizing she'd been tricked, her face turned cold. She quickly caught up to him and whispered, "When are we going to the Spider Cave?"
"Not yet. I'll swallow these Radiant Flame Pills first and see if I can break through quickly."
....
Reaching the Blood River, Li Weiyi stopped and looked at the slender figure still sitting beneath the cliffside stone carving of the Jiu Li Insect Valley.
The stone carving was majestic, imbued with ancient charm.
Yaoyin, in contrast, seemed so fragile, like a tender blade of grass daring to shake a towering mountain.
Li Weiyi asked, "What's her situation?"
"What's really wrong with her?"
"From her tone earlier, it sounded like she doesn't have much time left."
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END OF CHAPTER
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