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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 55 (199): [Cihang]
(55th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The two stood only twenty meters apart, each straight on a piece of driftwood bobbing with the waves.
With the cultivation of a Successor-level figure, they could cover that distance in an instant.
Even a single sword strike could easily span the gap, instantly killing the opponent.
Zhu Yuzhao had chosen to stop at this distance, clearly confident of killing Li Weiyi with a single move, with no chance of escape.
It was precisely because everything was under control that he had the leisure to exchange a few words.
Li Weiyi felt Zhu Yuzhao's battle intent wrapping around him like chains. It was as if no matter which direction he fled, he would be immediately pulled back.
The young Martial-Mystic Cultivators on the shore, unaware of the danger, eagerly awaited Li Weiyi to reveal some Martial-Mystic secrets.
Li Weiyi knew his predicament all too well.
The moment he mobilized his Spiritual Qi, Zhu Yuzhao's Jade Sword had already partially left its scabbard, its threat unmistakable.
"Buying time is good," he thought, "Perhaps I can find a better chance to escape."
With this in mind, Li Weiyi forced himself to remain calm and composed, recalling Master Guan's words to answer their questions: "The power of a Martial-Mystic technique depends on two factors: Qi and Dao."
"Dao refers to Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony, or battle intent - the degree to which a technique aligns with the profound and mysterious laws of the universe."
"With our cultivation at the Five Seas Realm, we can only grasp the superficial aspects of this technique. This Li would be too ashamed to show off before others, only inviting ridicule."
"Speaking of 'Qi,' I'm referring to both Spiritual Qi and Physical Qi. The stronger one's Qi, the more powerful their techniques become. They might not even need to achieve Heavenly Dao and Law Harmony; a casual wave of their hand could shatter mountains and split the earth."
Zhu Yuzhao's eyes shone with genuine curiosity, his expression earnest: "That's precisely what I'm curious about! You're only at Third-Level Spiritual Qi, yet among the challengers, at least ten have cultivated Fourth-Level Spiritual Qi. Your Cihang Enlightenment Finger, without even releasing battle intent, defeated them all. Could it be that this technique has reached an extraordinary level in its understanding of the Dao?"
Seeing his humble and studious demeanor, who could guess that Li Weiyi's life hung in his hands?
The Martial-Mystic Cultivators on the shore, including top figures like Zuoqiu Lancheng and Qi Xiao, all listened intently. Even they believed that Li Weiyi's mastery of Martial-Mystic Techniques surpassed their own, though their cultivation had progressed further.
Li Weiyi chuckled: "It's actually quite simple. Most Martial-Mystic Technique Manuals should explain this, but people tend to focus on cultivation realms and Spiritual Qi strength, overlooking these details."
"As everyone knows, the Meridian Vein patterns that emerge within each Martial-Mystic Cultivator's body are unique, just like fingerprints. You'll never find two people with identical Meridian Vein patterns."
"Moreover, the Meridian Vein's trajectory within a Martial-Mystic Cultivator's body subtly shifts depending on their environment and mood."
"When choosing a Martial-Mystic Technique, the first consideration should be its compatibility with your Meridian Vein's trajectory. Next, you must learn how to circulate your Spiritual Qi and subtly alter your Meridian Vein's trajectory to enhance the power of your techniques..."
The shore erupted in commotion.
"Is this common knowledge? Why hasn't our Lu Clan ever taught us such Martial-Mystic Technique principles?"
"Your Lu Clan is just a powerful clan of a million members. How can you compare to the Ten Thousand Sects?"
"Young Master Li, as the son-in-law of the Zuoqiu Clan, must have access to their most profound private scriptures."
"Listen carefully. It's rare for someone to be so open-hearted in sharing Martial-Mystic Technique insights that we'd never encounter otherwise. My trip to Qiu Prefecture has been incredibly rewarding. I'll go into seclusion as soon as I return."
"I was too hasty before, only focused on cultivating Qi and reaching higher realms. Now I realize how much I've been lacking."
Qi Xiao's expression grew solemn as he reflected on his own shortcomings. He finally understood why his Nine Springs Pure Immortal Physique hadn't allowed him to break into the Second-Stage. It turned out there were so many intricacies to consider regarding the Meridian Veins - something he'd never paid attention to before.
Perhaps the Successors' overwhelming combat prowess was directly linked to these subtle intricacies.
As a Successor himself, Zuoqiu Lancheng was currently overwhelmed.
The concepts Li Weiyi was explaining were entirely new to him.
He silently thought that perhaps the First Inheritor, Immortal Ge Xiantong, and others of their caliber possessed such profound understanding of Martial-Mystic Techniques.
He was clearly inferior, and today had been a truly enlightening experience!
After the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, he must retreat to the Scripture Pavilion for a period of seclusion to address his shortcomings.
He continued to listen and learn.
A figure disguised as a man walked among the Martial-Mystic Cultivators along the white stone sea embankment.
Tall and slender, she wore a bamboo hat and veil, carried a long sword, and hurried forward with her head bowed, also listening intently.
Li Weiyi's teachings, derived from Master Guan, a former Transcendent, truly seemed to believe these principles were common knowledge.
But he didn't realize that knowing something was one thing, while cultivating and applying it was another matter entirely.
The teachings of Master Guan were completely absent from ordinary Sects and powerful Clans. While the Ten Thousand Sects might possess similar knowledge, the precise cultivation methods were sealed away, withheld from young Martial-Mystic Cultivators until they reached a certain level of cultivation.
This was because experience had shown that young Martial-Mystic Cultivators who encountered such intricate Martial-Mystic Techniques were prone to stray from the path.
Not only would their cultivation suffer, but they would also waste valuable time.
As Li Weiyi had explained, when executing Martial-Mystic techniques, one must use a special method of channeling Qi and alter the flow of Meridian Veins.
In the heat of battle, trying to think about so many things at once would often cost one their life.
Except, of course, for the most extraordinary Martial-Mystic prodigies.
Master Guan had been forced to delve into such profound and minute details by Li Weiyi's relentless questioning.
Otherwise, Li Weiyi would constantly ask about things like the number of Meridian Veins he had in his youth or the size of his Qi Sea, which would have driven him mad with frustration.
Master Guan simply wanted to see just how far Li Weiyi could go.
Just as everyone was waiting for Li Weiyi to continue, and Zhu Yuzhao had fallen into deep thought, Li Weiyi seized this rare opportunity to abruptly stop speaking.
"Boom!"
Spiritual Qi erupted within him, shattering the battle intent that had ensnared him.
He unleashed the Clear Void Cicada Chase Step.
"He's a Ember Spirit!"
With the fewest possible words, he informed Zuoqiu Lancheng of the danger he faced.
In this life-or-death moment, there was no time for holding back.
Li Weiyi pushed his movement technique to its limit, his feet treading on azure smoke and mist, moving as swiftly as the wind chasing the moon.
He fled to the right across the sea.
Even though he had poured everything into gaining an advantage, just a breath later, the wind-breaking sound of pursuit was already roaring in his ears.
'Too fast!'
"Where's your sword? I came here for it."
Zhu Yuzhao clenched his five fingers into an empty claw, instantly conjuring a ten-meter-long fiery claw print above the sea. His fingers resembled pillars of fire, his palm a cloud of flame, enveloping Li Weiyi.
"So it really is Cang Jin... Excellent!"
Li Weiyi knew that Cang Jin wouldn't kill him before obtaining the Yellow Dragon Sword, a fundamental difference from that madwoman, Qi Jin.
As long as his opponent intended to capture him alive, there was a chance of survival today.
Li Weiyi spun around, channeling his Spiritual Qi furiously into his right arm, his five fingers forming a finger-blade.
Two fingers, radiating unprecedented brilliance, bloomed like a starburst over the sea.
"Whoosh!"
Li Weiyi's fifth battle intent coalesced, starkly different from the previous four. Unlike the ancient immortals of myth, this was a young woman radiating Immortal Haze. A crimson dot on her brow resembled the rising sun, her long hair flowed like a celestial river, and her gaze was serene and eternal.
Like the previous four techniques, this one resonated with a fundamental law of the Dao, summoning a Dao image that transformed into his battle intent.
Just as the battle intent of the Jiu Li God's and the Thunder God represented "Intent Transcending Divinity," this new battle intent embodied "Cihang Enlightenment."
"Cihang Enlightenment!"
As he pointed, the Goddess Spirit Battle Technique Intent behind him also pointed, and the beam of light collided with the fiery claw print, creating a violent energy ripple.
"Boom!"
The sea surface exploded, sending Li Weiyi flying back nearly ten yards. Blood trickled from his lips, but despite his injuries, he had successfully escaped Zhu Yuzhao's grasp.
"Intent Manifestation, excellent finger technique!"
Zhu Yuzhao maintained his polite and composed demeanor. His form flickered like teleportation, escaping the chaotic region of Spiritual Qi energy and appearing instantly above Li Weiyi's head. He swung his three-foot jade sword, sheath and all, down in a sweeping arc.
"Awooo! Awooo..."
Long howls erupted from beneath the water's surface beneath Li Weiyi's feet.
The water churned violently.
A five-yard-long Nine-Headed Demonic Dragon Battle Technique Intent burst from the depths, its nine flood dragon heads monstrously huge, eighteen eyes blazing with light.
Yin Shi Yi stood atop the central dragon head, his hands clad in Fire Scale Dragon Claw Gauntlets. With a claw strike toward the sky, his momentum was like a rainbow, unleashing a fiery claw seal as powerful as Zhu Yuzhao's earlier attack.
"Bang!"
The two opposing forces collided.
Zhu Yuzhao soared into the sky, then descended backward, quickly regaining his balance.
Yin Shi Yi landed back on the water's surface, sending ripples outward as he retreated backward.
"You arrived just in time," Li Weiyi praised, his heart still pounding.
Yin Shi Yi didn't show any modesty: "How could I not be brilliant? When you emphasized that he came all the way from the Western Territory and then revealed forbidden Martial-Mystic Technique knowledge, I knew something was amiss!"
Knowing Cang Jin might target him, Li Weiyi had naturally taken extra precautions. Yin Shi Yi had been hiding underwater near the arena.
Coincidentally, he had just fused the Jiu Li God's Nine-Headed Demonic Dragon Battle Technique Intent, which he could better comprehend and refine underwater.
In other words, as long as he could withstand Cang Jin for a move or two, Yin Shi Yi could arrive in time.
Fierce, thunderous combat erupted on the shore.
Just as Li Weiyi had revealed Zhu Yuzhao's true identity, Zuoqiu Lancheng had risen from his seat, and paper money-shaped snow had begun to fall like a blizzard.
"Zuoqiu Lancheng, where do you think you're going?"
Ming Niansheng let out a booming laugh, then shot out of the paper money snow like a cannonball, hurtling straight toward him.
"Boom!"
The two Successor-level experts clashed instantly, their forms soaring into the sky and plunging into the sea in rapid succession.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Four more figures with powerful auras burst from the crowd, leaping over the sea wall and making a beeline for the five iron chests containing the Yongquan Coins.
The four figures were all clad in monk robes - three men and one woman - each a peak expert in the Five Seas Realm. One of them was even ranked among the Southern Territory First-Tier.
"The Four Truths of Coffin Mountain."
Qi Xiao stood atop one of the iron chests, his gaze sharp. Knowing he couldn't defeat them all even if he fought to the death, he immediately released his Spiritual Qi to activate the defensive Formation.
Mie-Di laughed cruelly: "You've earned too much ill-gotten wealth, drawing the wrath of heaven and man. This humble monk has come to punish evil and promote good."
Dao-Di, who had been left with only one arm after being defeated by Jiang Ning, formed a mudra with his left hand and intoned melodiously, "Today, we seek wealth, not lives, only for..."
"Alms!" Ji-Di roared at the top of his lungs.
Mie-Di sneered: "Qi Xiao, if you're wise, open the Formation yourself. We'll spare your life today."
"Compassion is paramount," Ji-Di added.
Qi Xiao was no fool. He knew Buddha's Salvation Bandits wouldn't show mercy.
He snorted coldly: "You Coffin Mountain monks have allied yourselves with the Far Western Ashlands. You're destined to be rejected by the Southern Territory. Just wait and see who dies first. You think you can just steal our money? Do you really think we're unprepared? If you're so capable, try breaking through this Formation."
Qi Xiao was confident. The Formation protecting the Yongquan Coins had been set up by a Great Spiritual Master.
Seeing a master appear at sea to rescue Li Weiyi, he had completely relaxed, knowing he had time to stall them.
"So, this Formation is your only defense?"
Mie-Di chuckled and retrieved a jade box from his Boundary Pouch, then undid the sealing runes on its surface.
When he opened it, a purple radiance filled the air, and wisps of lightning crackled out.
"Thunder Ice Technique."
Qi Wangshu and Zuoqiu Baiyuan, standing within the defensive formation, paled.
Both felt a sense of impending doom.
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END OF CHAPTER
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