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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 17 (161): [A Catastrophic Disaster]
(17th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"To scold Chen Xun, Sheng Qingyan, and Huo Qiankun as if they were house servants... It's utterly preposterous. Not even the Coffin Mountain Four Di or the Heartless Golden Ape would dare to show such arrogance," Yin Shiyi said.
Li Weiyi recalled the sparks that had erupted from the skin of the two attendants when Zuoqiu Ting had struck them.
"They're likely Ember Spirits, merely concealed beneath human skin."
Yin Jiu's gaze turned grave: "That makes sense. Only the Ember Spirits of the Far Western Ashlands possess such terrifying energy. Rumor has it that when the young Heavenly Prides of the major powers retreated from the edge of the Nether Realm of the Dead in Li Province, they encountered Ember Spirits, suffering heavy casualties."
Yin Shi seized on this crucial point: "If Ember Spirits can hide within human bodies, how many have already infiltrated the young Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the major powers after ambushing them? What are they planning?"
Li Weiyi remembered what Zen Hai Guanwu had said: "The Far Western Ashlands are not a simple matter. Their true strength can only be glimpsed by Immortal Realm giants. Their ambitions extend far beyond mere squabbles among the younger generation. With the Sui Sect, San Chen Palace, and Tianyi Sect entangled with them, we must proceed with extreme caution!"
Yin Jiu and Yin Shi nodded slightly, sensing the danger and pressure.
"This is the box I seized from them. Chen Xun and the others seem to value it greatly."
Li Weiyi retrieved the black metal box from the Evil Camel Bell and placed it in the center of the room.
The box was tall and bound with chains.
"Whoosh!"
Yin Shiyi dropped from the rafters, his snake tail supporting his body. He reached out with both hands to touch the box, his eyes gleaming: "Why does it feels like there's something alive inside?"
The moment he touched it, runes began to appear on the box's surface.
"Let me break the runes."
Yin Shi flicked her sleeve, sending Yin Shiyi flying. A powerful Psychic Power spirit fire erupted from her snow-white forehead, engulfing her entire body in dazzling flames.
When her fingers touched the runes, they instantly burned into wisps of blue smoke.
"This is the final stage of a Great Spiritual Master's cultivation: Calamity Flame!"
Li Weiyi was astonished.
Not only was Yin Shi's Martial Dao cultivation unfathomable, her mastery of Psychic Power was equally astounding.
A Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique combined with a Calamity Flame of the Great Spiritual Master made for a formidable combination.
"Bang!"
After breaking all the runes, Yin Shi channeled sword qi from her fingertips, severing the chains binding the iron box.
"I'll open it!"
Li Weiyi stepped forward.
Yin Shi retreated, letting him take the opportunity to open the chest, since he had retrieved it.
Li Weiyi cracked open the iron chest lid and peered inside. His already grave expression instantly froze into an icy mask, his mind momentarily blank.
"Thud!"
Li Weiyi slammed the chest shut with a resounding clang, startling Yin Shiyi, who had been drifting closer to peek inside.
The lid nearly caught his head.
Li Weiyi struggled to compose himself, turning to Yin Jiu and Yin Shiyi: "Could you two step outside for a moment?"
Yin Shi, with his powerful Psychic Power, had already sensed the contents: "I'll stay."
"I can handle this alone," Li Weiyi insisted.
Yin Jiu rose silently, axe in hand, and led the way out. Yin Shiyi was pulled along with him.
Yin Shi fetched a set of robes and handed them to Li Weiyi.
She left the room and closed the door behind her.
Li Weiyi took a deep breath and reopened the metal chest.
Inside lay a bloodied, skinless body, curled like a mass of rotten flesh. The head was bald, the scalp completely peeled away.
The metal box was soaked in blood.
Her ears were matted with blood, her eyeballs gouged out, leaving her blind and deaf.
Yet she was still alive.
Sensing the box being opened, she recoiled in terror and panic, desperately curling up.
But her raw flesh, stripped of skin, burned with excruciating pain as it rubbed against itself.
Li Weiyi gripped the edges of the metal box so tightly his hands were nearly deformed.
He used his Psychic Power to gently reassure her: "Zhuang Yue, it's me... Sima Qin... no, Li Weiyi. I'm Li Weiyi. Don't be afraid... don't be afraid..."
Zhuang Yue, curled up in the box, fell momentarily silent. Slowly, she raised her head and began to sob.
No matter how high her cultivation, she was still just a young woman, vulnerable at heart.
Even seeing a stranger in such a horrific state would have moved Li Weiyi. He wasn't particularly close to Zhuang Yue, but how could he not feel pity and compassion for a girl who had once smiled at him?
Li Weiyi released strands of Spirit Light, weaving them around her like a second skin.
The light radiated a cool, soothing warmth, easing her pain.
"Tell me, what happened?" Li Weiyi asked gently, draping Yin Shi's clothes over her, infused with Spirit Light.
After Zhuang Yue recounted everything, Li Weiyi used Psychic Power to hypnotize her, allowing her to fall into a peaceful sleep.
Opening the door, Li Weiyi stepped out to meet the gazes of the three Hidden Ones waiting outside: "She's one of Phoenix Terrace Envoy - Jiang Ning's people. She was captured by a master from the Ember Spirits, who peeled off her skin, most likely to impersonate her and target Jiang Ning."
Yin Shi, being a woman, was deeply empathetic: "That's too cruel! Ten times crueler than stripping a woman naked. The loss of spiritual dignity combined with physical agony..."
Yin Jiu said, "For the Ember Spirits, this isn't considered cruel. It's like humans skinning animals for their flesh and blood."
"Perhaps many of the young masters who came to Qiu Prefecture have already had their skin peeled off and their inner essence replaced," Yin Shiyi said, his voice trembling.
Li Weiyi continued, "The ambush battle erupted at dawn yesterday. Jiang Ning, Yin Shi San, and Zhuang Yue were surrounded by the Ember Spirits, Night City, Coffin Mountain, and Chen Wenwu's forces."
"Zhuang Yue was separated from them and captured."
"She said that before her skin was stripped, she overheard a conversation. Jiang Ning must have activated the Hundred-Character Scripture's Spiritual Artifact Jade Boat and escaped with Yin Shi San. However, with her cultivation level, she could only fly the Jade Boat about five hundred Li before her Spiritual Qi would be exhausted."
"In my opinion, I won't interfere in the affairs between the imperial court and the Rebel Armies. But Senior Brother Shi San is a member of our Jiu Li Hidden Sect. His life and death are my responsibility."
"What do the three of you think?"
Yin Jiu pondered for a long moment before speaking: "You shouldn't get involved in this. Quickly leave with Li Ling for the Prefecture City. It's much safer there. As for Yin Shi San, the three of us will find a way to rescue him!"
Yin Shi added, "I'll send someone to scout ahead and assess the current situation. Li Weiyi, rest assured. Although we Hidden Ones are the only survivors of our batch, we will never be cold-blooded toward our Hidden Sect Disciples."
After Yin Shi left, Yin Jiu quickly departed as well.
Yin Shiyi said, "That's just how those two are. They're powerful and extremely opinionated. If you want to command them, I'd say you'll have to wait at least three more years. Your cultivation speed is simply too fast!"
"Right, what are you planning to do about that woman? Help her reclaim her skin, or get her medical attention immediately? Or perhaps drink the blood of the Ancient Immortal Giant Beast? Becoming an Aberrant Humanoid would be quite interesting, though the missing eyeballs make things complicated... Regrowing skin is much easier..."
"Keep an eye on her for me."
Li Weiyi deeply understood the enemy's ruthlessness. He returned to Cloud Pavilion, intending to keep Li Ling by his side. In case of danger, he could immediately bring her into the Blood Mud Space.
As he arrived outside Cloud Pavilion, before even stepping inside, he saw a figure standing in the shadow of a lantern, holding a fan. It seemed they had been waiting for a while.
Li Weiyi's expression shifted as he walked toward them.
Zuoqiu Ting still wore Long Ting's face, but the disguise had become even more convincing.
His face was grim, burdened with heavy thoughts: "You've caused a disaster, Wei Yi. Do you know what kind of formidable enemy you've provoked?"
Li Weiyi's mood was sour: "The Inheritor of the prestigious Zuoqiu Sect came all this way just to scare me?"
"Scare you?" Zuoqiu Ting's brow furrowed with an unyielding worry, "You deliberately used the Azure Yin Banner in the Heavenly Pavilion, didn't you? You wanted to draw me out. Tell me, how many treasures did you find in Thirty-Three Li Mountain?"
Li Weiyi hesitated: "A Senior Dead Spirit once told me that the Zuoqiu Sect's teachings are impeccable, and its Inheritor must be of upright character."
Zuoqiu Ting momentarily set aside his concerns, his eyes filled with hope, "Was it the senior who taught you the Heavenly Eye? Where is she now?"
"In the Nether Realm of the Dead. I spent some time training with the old senior there," Li Weiyi replied, reciting the story he and his Spirit Tablet Master had agreed upon.
Zuoqiu Ting's gaze dimmed, but he didn't seem surprised.
Li Weiyi continued, "In Thirty-Three Li Mountain, I truly feared you might turn on me for the secret of the Heavenly Eye, so I fled."
"Then why did you deliberately draw me out now?" Zuoqiu Ting asked.
"Because I'm participating in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival in two months. My identity will be exposed sooner or later."
Li Weiyi continued, "Moreover, I trust Senior Dead Spirit and the integrity of the Zuoqiu Sect's Inheritor."
"You should have trusted me long ago!" Zuoqiu Ting's anger flared, "How much Immortal Soil did you dig up?"
The Zuoqiu Sect placed great importance on Immortal Soil. This was why their esteemed Inheritor had deigned to meet Li Weiyi in person.
Li Weiyi wouldn't reveal his leverage so quickly: "I want a thousand-year-old essence herb, preferably with ice properties."
"Just for a single essence herb?" Zuoqiu Ting asked.
Essence Herbs were too conspicuous. Even with Yao Qian's abilities, buying one had still caused a commotion. Li Weiyi knew his limits and wouldn't risk such exposure.
Trading with the Zuoqiu Sect was far safer.
Regardless, his immediate priority was to cultivate the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors to the Fifth Layer of the Five Seas Realm.
Li Weiyi craved power above all else.
He added, "I also need a pill furnace and all the herbs listed here."
He handed Zuoqiu Ting the herb list.
Zuoqiu Ting scanned the list: "Are you planning to refine a pill to rapidly boost your Spiritual Qi?"
Li Weiyi was startled: "How did you know?"
Zen Hai Guanwu had already given him the recipe for the Qi Ascension Pill.
The list of ingredients he had given Zuoqiu Ting had been altered, with several other precious herbs added.
The amounts of each herb were also listed as ten or twenty pounds, not following the original recipe.
Zuoqiu Ting said coldly, "There are only a few main ingredients for Medicinal Pills that enhance Spiritual Qi. Don't think the Jiu Li Hidden Sect is the only one with such a recipe."
"All the major Sects have similar recipes, but the effects and grades of the resulting pills vary. Instead of buying so many ingredients and potentially ruining the process, you might be better off buying directly from the Zuoqiu Sect."
Li Weiyi clearly trusted the recipe Zen Hai Guanwu had provided more, believing its grade and effects were far superior to anything the Zuoqiu Sect could offer.
He asked, "How did you know I was from the Jiu Li Hidden Sect?"
"I've seen your Hidden Lord once when I was following the Founding Ancestor. Even if you didn't reveal yourself, I could have found you. You can't escape our sect." Zuoqiu Ting rolled his eyes.
"What other conditions do you have? Just state them all at once."
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END OF CHAPTER
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