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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 68 (95): [Two Months Later]
(68th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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As summer faded into autumn, two months had already passed.
Yin Shi San sat upright on a four-meter-long Spiritual Artifact jade boat, his body steady and unaffected by the turbulent currents. He navigated the intricate and complex underground Blood River, entering the vast river valley where the Jiu Li Insect Valley lay.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a round, soft face, fair skin, and a small tuft of beard on his chin.
Reaching the towering cliff face carved with the words "Jiu Li Insect Valley," the jade boat docked on the right bank of the Blood River.
As a Five Seas Realm expert and one of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect's Messengers responsible for gathering information outside, Yin Shi San was one of the few Hidden Ones who knew the route from the underground river into the Jiu Li Insect Valley.
As for Yin Ershi San, Yin Ershi Si, and Yin Ershi Wu - the young disciples - they hadn't even earned the right to formally graduate and still needed to cultivate and grow within the Hidden Sect.
After disembarking, Yin Shi San extended his palm toward the void.
"Whoosh!"
The four-meter-long Spiritual Artifact jade boat soared into the air, transforming into a four-inch-long exquisite miniature boat that landed in his palm.
A knowing smile spread across his face.
This Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact treasure was truly invaluable.
In the water, it could travel eighteen hundred miles a day, leaving ordinary Fierce Insects far behind.
The underground river, a special transportation network that everyone else feared, was now his domain.
"The imperial court truly has the best treasures. No wonder everyone wants to rule the world."
After tucking the Spiritual Artifact jade boat into his pocket, Yin Shi San heard the sounds of combat echoing in the distance.
The sounds were coming from the direction of the Psychic (Telekinetic) Stone Wall.
Someone is challenging the three people on the Psychic (Telekinetic) Stone Wall?
Intrigued, Yin Shi San hurried through the purple tree forest and arrived at the edge of the plaza beneath the Psychic Stone Wall.
"Senior Brother Yin Shi San!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother Yin Shi San!"
....
Yin Ershi San, Yin Ershi Si, and Yin Ershi Wu had been watching the battle for some time.
They all bowed respectfully to Yin Shi San.
Among the three of them, such formalities weren't necessary. Their strength wasn't vastly different, and it was uncertain who might become stronger in the future.
However, Yin Shi San entered the Hidden Sect over a decade earlier and had already reached an incredibly profound level of cultivation.
"Ershi Wu, why are you still so skinny? I thought you were challenging the Psychic Stone Wall. How's it going? Have you turned all your Meridian Veins silver yet?" Yin Shi San pinched Yin Ershi Wu's chest playfully, then turned his gaze to the center of the square, where a man and his shadow were locked in combat. His eyes instantly narrowed in concentration.
Yin Ershi Wu winced at the pain but endured it, replying, "Almost there! But even if all my Meridian Veins turn silver, I still wouldn't last twenty moves against Yin Jiu... The difference between ninety-one Meridian Veins and a hundred is simply too vast."
"Yin Jiu has already lost? Who is this kid? He's already challenging Yang Shenjing, who has a Hundred Silver Meridians Pure Immortal Physique."
Yin Shi San's astonishment grew with each passing moment. His eyes widened so much they nearly popped out of his head.
After all, to trade blows evenly with someone possessing a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Immortal Physique was a feat that marked him as a true heir inheritor.
Yin Ershi Wu sighed with deep emotion.
"This year's newcomer has only been in the Hidden Sect for four months, yet his combat strength has been growing rapidly every month, as if he's never hit a bottleneck."
Besides the four Hidden Ones, Yaoyin, clad in a white cloud-silk robe, stood at the edge of the square like a celestial maiden in a painting, quietly observing the battlefield.
Her delicate face wore a more serious expression than anyone else's.
Several Elders from the older generation of Hidden Ones also appeared, standing in the Medicinal Cuisine Hall to watch the battle from afar.
Yin Shi San stared at Li Weiyi for a long moment, then suddenly realized something.
"So it's him! He's joined the Hidden Sect. Interesting... very interesting!"
"Senior Brother Shi San knows him?" Yin Ershi Si asked.
"He's become quite famous in Li Prefecture these past few months. Especially after he wiped out the Changlin Gang two months ago. It was like he'd pierced the heavens. The Yang Clan's bounty on his head has been doubled and redoubled. The Xue Clan has even sent word that their elders will personally hunt him down to avenge Xue Zheng. It's fortunate he's hidden in the Hidden Sect, or even the Cangli Tribe might not have been able to protect him."
Yin Shi San continued, rattling off details like a seasoned storyteller: "Some say he's a Nine Springs Supreme."
"Others claim his combat prowess rivals the Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Immortal Physique, that he's a seed of the Jiu Li Tribe's heritage, destined to be cultivated as the second successor after Cang Li. I used to think those rumors were exaggerated... but now..."
"Oh, and there's also talk that he and the Cangli Tribe's Fourth Miss were deeply in love, but Yang Yun interfered, leading to his feud with the Yang Clan. It's the classic tale of a poor boy and a rich girl, always filled with obstacles and increasingly powerful rivals."
Hearing this, Yaoyin couldn't help but glance at Yin Shi San.
Yin Ershi Si frowned: "What kind of absurd rumors are these? I know Li Ling. Neither she nor Li Weiyi seems like the type to fall easily in love."
"But I'm a Messenger of the Hidden Sect. My information is never baseless. The Governor's Manor specifically investigated him. He already met the Li Clan's Clan Head and Matriarch in Yaoguan and earned the Cangli First Leader's deep favor. Cang Li even issued a challenge to all young Martial-Mystic Cultivators at the time, causing quite a stir," Yin Shi San chuckled.
Yin Ershi Si fell silent, lost in thought.
Among the Jiu Li Tribe, the Li clan was the largest.
But only the direct lineage of the Cangli Tribe could truly be called the "Li Clan," as they were descendants of King Cang, the eldest son of the God of the Jiu Li and the nominal head of the Jiu Li God's descendants.
"Truly impressive. He's practically on par with Yang Shenjing. No wonder the Cangli Tribe wants him as a son-in-law," Yin Shi San remarked.
Yin Ershi Si sneered. "Someone with such exceptional innate talent would never become a son-in-law. The Cangli Tribe is too arrogant. Li Ling is merely a Half-Immortal Physique. What right does she have?"
"Boom! Boom..."
Li Weiyi's entire body overflowed with Spiritual Qi, shrouded like mist. He continuously swung his Yellow Dragon Sword, parrying the long spear wielded by Yang Shenjing.
Over the past two months, he had forged fifty-five Golden Meridian Veins, significantly enhancing his physical strength.
However, the time spent forging these Golden Meridian Veins had delayed his breakthrough to the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field.
The greatest disadvantage of not having broken through to the Ancestral Field was that his body only had the Wind Mansion to store the Spiritual Qi needed to unleash a single Martial Dao Ultimate Technique.
In contrast, a Nine Springs Paragon who had opened their Ancestral Field could mobilize their Ancestral Field spiritual energy to unleash dozens, even hundreds, of attacks exceeding their cultivation level.
For instance, Yin Jiu, by mobilizing his Ancestral Field spiritual energy, had seen his combat power surge, allowing him to trade blows with Yang Shenjing.
Only after his Ancestral Field spiritual energy was exhausted did he immediately fall.
With the enhancement of the Golden Meridian Veins, the flow of Spiritual Power within Li Weiyi's body became faster and smoother.
Coupled with his increased physical strength, he could finally withstand Yang Shenjing's attacks while the latter was in his Ancestral Field spiritual energy-fueled state.
Previously, he couldn't even block a single strike.
"How formidable is Yang Shenjing? He's already unleashed twenty-seven strikes. Is his Ancestral Field spiritual energy truly so abundant?"
Li Weiyi endured until the thirty-first strike, finally sensing Yang Shenjing's Ancestral Field spiritual energy beginning to wane.
Yang Shenjing's combat power rapidly declined to its normal state. Seizing the opportunity, Li Weiyi launched a decisive counterattack, unleashing a barrage of Heavenly Dao Harmony techniques that filled the sky.
After seven moves.
"Boom!"
Li Weiyi's sword split Yang Shenjing in two, transforming him into two balls of spiritual light and spiritual energy that flew into the Psychic Stone Wall.
Li Weiyi stood alone in the square, exhaling deeply.
He glanced at the bloodstain on his tiger's mouth and thought, "With Eighth Spring cultivation, it's still too difficult to withstand the battle-burst state of a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Immortal Physique mobilizing Ancestral Field spiritual energy. I must break through to the Ninth Spring to defeat him in one or two moves."
"A single realm difference is like heaven and earth."
Yin Shi San stared at Li Weiyi, who was sitting cross-legged, meditating and recovering.
He gradually digested his shock, replaced by a multitude of doubts. "If I saw correctly just now... he never mobilized his Ancestral Field spiritual energy? He defeated a Hundred Meridians Pure Silver Immortal Physique with his normal combat strength?"
The other three Hidden Ones wore strange expressions. They knew some inside information and seriously suspected Li Weiyi hadn't even broken through to the Ninth Spring yet.
But how could that be possible?
There was no such record in history!
The Hidden Ones Elders watching the battle relaxed their expressions, smiles spreading across their faces as they looked extremely pleased.
Yin Shi San approached to pay his respects.
"Little Shi San, why did you rush back from the Underground River? Is something urgent?" the Gatekeeper Elder asked.
Yin Shi San said, "Major events have been happening these past few months, especially the upheaval in Burial Immortal Town, which has drawn the attention of Cultivators across the land. I entered the Underground River from there and rushed back specifically to meet the Hidden Lord."
The Gatekeeper Elder, who compiled external information and relayed important news to the Hidden Lord, asked, "Has anything new happened in Burial Immortal Town?"
Yin Shi San nodded. "The Immortal Haze Space within Burial Immortal Town underwent a massive expansion a few days ago, and extraordinary treasures have been constantly emerging. Even the Four Extremes Ape King appeared six days ago, covering the entire sky with demonic energy for hundreds of miles."
The Hidden Ones Elders present were visibly moved.
The Four Extremes Ape King, who resided in Heavenly Cliff Ridge, was the most terrifying Malevolent Demon in the Southern Territory.
Every time he celebrated his birthday, the various factions from the seven prefectures of the Southern Territory had to send gifts.
Failure to do so was considered disrespectful and could bring catastrophic consequences.
Even the Three Great Barbarian Bandits—Guan Shan's "Xu Fodu," the Earth Wolf King's Army's "Shi Na'er," and Night City's "Yuwen Yan"—had to pay their respects.
If such a being were to come to Li Prefecture, every major faction there would surely tremble.
The Gatekeeper Elder asked, "Has the Zuoqiu Clan made any moves?"
In the Southern Territory, the Zuoqiu Clan held the ultimate authority.
The Ancient Sects' prestige was so high that even Demon Kings had to yield to them. If the Jiu Li Tribe hadn't declined, they would naturally possess the same power.
Yin Shi San said, "The Zuoqiu Clan's heir has arrived in Burial Immortal Town and has already clashed with the heirs of the Cang Li and Dragon Sect lineages. The outcome remains unknown."
"Furthermore, the Phoenix Terrace Envoy secretly arrived in Li Prefecture half a month ago. They have since visited the Clan Chiefs of the Nine Great Tribes, carrying an Imperial Decree from a Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace. It's clear they've come to pressure the Jiu Li Tribe into sending troops to suppress the Barbarians and to gather resources and provisions for the imperial army."
The Gatekeeper Elder snorted coldly.
"They're treating the Jiu Li Tribe like a grain silo and treasury, with everyone eager to take a bite."
"The Phoenix Terrace Envoy represents the imperial court, after all. Lingxiao Palace still stands, and Yu Yaozi remains the world's foremost expert. No one can afford to offend them."
Yin Shi San added, "This Phoenix Terrace Envoy is said to be extremely young and has already challenged the Dragon Sect heir, vowing to slay him in Li Prefecture."
The Gatekeeper Elder sighed deeply.
Lingxiao Palace and Dragon Sect—the Jiu Li Tribe couldn't afford to offend either.
Whoever died in Li Prefecture would bring disaster.
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END OF CHAPTER
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