Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 87 (342): [Counterattack]
(87th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
***********************************
Li Weiyi, with his keen senses, raised his head slightly and sensed the Dao Heart Manifestation of an Immortal Realm Great Power enveloping the entire city, its Spiritual Qi and Willpower permeating every corner.
He immediately slowed his pace and changed direction, abandoning his plan to head for the city gate.
At that moment, he had no idea who had unleashed the Dao Heart Manifestation, nor was he familiar enough with Yao Qian's power fluctuations to recognize them.
On the wide streets, panic gripped the populace as carriages and horses raced through the city.
Shopkeepers and merchants emerged from their stores, gathering at their doorways to watch the waves of battle emanating from the distance.
"The city gates are closed! The second layer of the City-Protecting Formation has been activated. Could a powerful Demon have infiltrated the city?"
"It seems something major has happened in the Fourth-Tier City Domain. Even Immortal Realm Great Powers are involved. Let's hope the fighting doesn't spread here."
"I heard all the experts from the Attendant Hall at Southern Yan Pass just mobilized. And a major figure from Lingxiao City has personally rushed here. These are truly troubled times. Is even the Immortal Plain no longer safe?"
"Boom!"
Far beyond Southern Yan Pass, a muffled explosion echoed.
The ground trembled slightly.
The clash of spiritual artifacts briefly eclipsed the sun's brilliance.
Li Weiyi stopped, gazing beyond the city walls. His chest felt tight, suspecting something had happened to the Hidden Lord.
His mind raced with chaotic thoughts, his thoughts a blank slate.
He quickly entered a noodle shop at the crossroads.
He could sense Willpower brushing past him from time to time.
The sensation was subtle, like ripples spreading across a calm lake.
Ordinary Martial-Mystic Cultivators wouldn't even notice it.
"Shopkeeper... a bowl of soup noodles!"
Li Weiyi stared at the white mist rising from the stove beside him, forcing himself to calm his violently racing heart.
He practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique.
Gradually, he entered an unprecedented state of calm, purging all confusion, fear, shock, and resentment, falling into deep thought.
Even if the sky were to collapse, he couldn't panic.
Southern Yan Pass was densely populated.
As long as he concealed his Qi and didn't lose his composure, he would be safe for the time being.
Wait.
He needed to know what had truly happened.
He channeled his spiritual power into his ears, extending his hearing beyond the noodle shop, through walls and across streets, to gather useful information.
As time passed, more and more news spread through the streets, reaching his ears.
"Young Master, hurry home! The Junior Minister of the Attendant Hall personally led the attack on Vice Commander Zhou's prefecture, capturing a major figure from the Heretical Sect. Southern Yan Pass is extremely unsafe right now."
"Vice Commander Zhou, in collusion with the Heretical Sect, has committed suicide to avoid punishment."
"Rumor has it an Immortal Realm Great Power from the Twin Rice Sect met with him and fled the city, but was intercepted."
"With the Sui Sect Leader personally intervening, even an Immortal Realm Great Power would be forced to surrender. He's one of the most formidable figures below the Transcendents."
The events at the Zhou Manor caused a major uproar.
Moreover, Yao Qian had directly used his Dao Heart Manifestation to envelop the entire city, ensuring that everyone knew what had happened.
"The Junior Minister of the Attendant Hall... that's Yao Qian. It seems his Willpower was searching the entire city just now," Li Weiyi said, his gaze hardening.
He stared at the steaming noodle soup the shopkeeper had just set before him, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
A bone-chilling cold gripped his heart.
Rumors of all kinds were flying through the city gates.
Yao Qian and Yang Shenjing had both taken action, their Spiritual Qi fluctuations recognized by many Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
There was no room for doubt.
Li Weiyi took a sip of the hot soup and picked up his chopsticks, his mind racing.
"Yang Shenjing's involvement explains everything!"
"Only the Sui Sect truly understands the Jiu Li Clan. Yang Shenjing likely never trusted Yao Qingxuan."
"Zhou Bida was a member of the Jiu Li Clan. Yang Shenjing probably knew this secret long ago. He used Zhou Bida to set up today's trap, aiming to capture Yao Qingxuan and the Hidden Lord in one fell swoop."
"At the same time, this incident allows them to publicly distance themselves from the Twin Rice Sect, earning even greater trust within the Imperial Court. Even if rumors of connections between the Sui Sect and the Twin Rice Sect surface in the future, they can use this event to convincingly prove their innocence, provided there's no concrete evidence. It's a perfect two-birds-with-one-stone strategy!"
Through Yang Qingchan's death, Li Weiyi could see Yao Qian and Yang Shenjing's ruthless methods.
They would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Such individuals were truly terrifying.
After finishing half a bowl of noodles, Li Weiyi couldn't taste a single thing. His heart ached, having just promised Zhou Bida that the Hidden Sect would never abandon any Hidden Ones or their families. Yet, within half an hour, they were separated by life and death.
Facing Yang Shenjing, the Hidden Lord's chances of survival were slim.
Moreover, since Yang Shenjing had already attacked Yao Qingxuan at the Main Hall, the latter was unlikely to escape unscathed.
Outside, soldiers raced through the streets, their horses' hooves and armor clashing in a constant din.
The city gates were sealed.
A massive manhunt was inevitable.
Li Weiyi wondered if Yao Qian had extracted any useful information from Zhou Bida.
Surrounded by an Immortal Realm Great Power, the Attendant Hall, and the entire Southern Yan Pass army, being found and captured was only a matter of time.
Anyone else in Li Weiyi's position would have been overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.
But after finishing the entire bowl of noodles, a surge of killing intent and fighting spirit coursed through him.
So what if they were Immortal Realm cultivators?
So what if he faced the entire Imperial Court?
He decided to cast aside all restraint and fight Yao Qian to the death at Southern Yan Pass.
Zuoqiu Hongting had once said that mastering the Transformation Technique to the point where it was indistinguishable from reality was more valuable than an Immortal Realm Great Power.
Li Weiyi's Transformation Technique, passed down directly from his Spirit Tablet Master, was even more flawless than Zuoqiu Hongting's.
As a mortal, Li Weiyi had fewer weaknesses in his disguise.
This battle would be fought with the Transformation Technique!
He wanted to see whether the Transformation Technique or the Immortal Realm was stronger.
At noon, the sun blazed overhead.
After settling the bill, he left the restaurant.
The streets were becoming deserted, and the danger was increasing. It was becoming harder to blend in.
But Yao Qian's Dao Heart Manifestation and willpower had already receded, indicating a significant drain on his Spiritual Qi and mental energy.
Even for a Martial-Mystic Cultivator who had just entered the Immortal Realm, finding a hidden person in a city of over a million people was like trying to climb to the heavens.
In a deserted alley, Li Weiyi changed into more luxurious robes and altered his appearance once more.
He headed straight for Guanyue Pavilion, the Twin Rice Sect's largest stronghold in Southern Yan Pass.
He had to take this risk.
If Zhou Bida was already dead, his family would lose their value and become extremely vulnerable.
Li Weiyi refused to let this happen, as he had promised to save them.
To save them, he had to race against time.
He must rescue them before nightfall...
The Fifth-Tier City Domain of Southern Yan Pass houses nearly a hundred thousand people in each tier.
The city sprawls across a vast area, its streets and alleys densely packed.
More than just a fortified pass, it serves as a crucial transportation hub between the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain and the Twenty-Eight Provinces of Lingxiao, with countless merchants passing through from north and south.
Soldiers and their families are primarily concentrated in the First-Tier and Fourth-Tier City Domains.
The Third-Tier City Domain is the most prosperous, boasting four main streets and a network of shops and markets. It's the primary gathering place for merchants from all walks of life, lacking the solemn atmosphere of military control.
Guanyue Pavilion is a sprawling garden complex covering hundreds of acres. Its towering four-story gatehouse features upturned eaves and ornate decorations. The main gate stands open, and the establishment is already in operation.
However, during the day, the pavilion is eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling, boisterous scene that unfolds at night.
As Li Weiyi entered, two young women of exceptional beauty approached to greet him.
He waved them away, his eyes burning with intense focus.
Using his sharp senses, he located a manager with a high level of Martial-Mystic Dao cultivation and presented his Divine Son Life Token.
The manager, a cultivator at the Fifth Layer of the Five Seas Realm, was visibly startled upon seeing the token.
He immediately bowed respectfully and then led Li Weiyi through a series of connected corridors and gardens to the backyard, where a Formation had been set up.
Upon entering the backyard, Li Weiyi released his Psychic Power, sensing multiple powerful auras.
'This is indeed a major stronghold,' he thought, 'It's gathered quite a few formidable individuals.'
"Greetings, Divine Son."
The head of Guanyue Pavilion's branch, Xu Xiangu, appeared to be in her forties.
Dressed in a pale blue palace gown, she resembled a benevolent noblewoman.
Li Weiyi remained silent as he entered the hall and, with a show of force, activated his Heavenly Eye, fixing her with a piercing gaze.
"You're at the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm. Your status must be considerable. Are you in charge of all matters at Southern Yan Pass?"
"This old woman merely assists the Prefect Elder! His position is special, and many matters are inconvenient for him to handle directly."
Xu Xiangu realized this Divine Son was no ordinary individual. The vertical eye on his forehead had sent a chill down her spine.
She placed the white mink she had been cradling on the ground and subtly signaled the steward who had brought Li Weiyi here.
The steward, head bowed in understanding, took two steps back, preparing to leave.
Such a minor movement couldn't escape Li Weiyi's notice.
"Whoosh!"
Consumed by murderous intent, Li Weiyi flicked his finger, sending a finger force streaking through the air.
"Pfft!"
The steward's head was pierced, blood splattered, and he collapsed dead.
Xu Xiangu froze in shock.
Li Weiyi casually waved his hand, conjuring a net woven from Spirit Light to ensnare the white mink and draw it toward him.
"Until I give permission, no living creature will leave this place. That includes you!"
Xu Xiangu glanced at the steward's corpse, suppressing her horror, "The Prefect Elder will surely take issue with your casual killing, Divine Son."
"Don't try to intimidate me with others."
Li Weiyi stroked the little sable, fully releasing his Psychic Field.
His tone was calm, "Forget a mere manager. Even if I killed you, what could the Prefect Elder do? Answer my questions truthfully. If you dare to deceive me, that's your fate."
Xu Xiangu was stunned by Li Weiyi's aura.
This Divine Son had arrived with overwhelming killing intent, his presence utterly dominant.
"Do you know about the Zhou Manor's actions?" Li Weiyi stared at her.
Xu Xiangu looked bewildered, "What does what happened at the Zhou Manor have to do with us? Could the rumors be true? Is Vice Commander Zhou really meeting with a high-ranking figure from the Divine Sect today?"
Li Weiyi summoned the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear from the Wind Mansion and struck the ground.
"Boom!"
Crimson-gold flames of Spirit Light and Martial Qi surged forth, knocking Xu Xiangu off balance and forcing her to stumble back two steps.
"I don't have much patience today. This is your last chance. Where are Zhou Bida's family being held?"
Li Weiyi didn't believe she didn't know. With her cultivation and control over the Twin Rice Sect's largest stronghold in Southern Yan Pass, how could she not know the Twin Rice Sect was trying to turn Zhou Bida?
'Trying to cover up the truth only makes it more obvious!'
Xu Xiangu finally lost her composure.
A flash of icy coldness flickered in her eyes as she suddenly unleashed her Dao Heart Manifestation with explosive force, shattering Li Weiyi's Psychic Field.
Then, her long sleeves swept through the air like clouds.
Spiritual artifact needles shot out from Xu Xiangu's sleeve like ten thousand cold stars, blanketing Li Weiyi.
Xu Xiangu, unwilling to engage in a prolonged battle, activated her body cultivation technique and Dao technique, moving like a phantom as she charged outward, intending to gather reinforcements.
This Divine Son must be the one Prefect Elder had mentioned.
"Boom!"
A radiant image of the Fusang Divine Tree rose from Li Weiyi's body, blocking all the incoming spiritual artifact needles. They froze in mid-air, then melted into droplets.
Li Weiyi sat calmly in his chair, casually swinging the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear. The scarlet droplets suspended in the air shot forward, striking Xu Xiangu with deadly accuracy.
A low, pained cry echoed through the air.
Xu Xiangu crashed to the ground with a thud, her body covered in burn marks.
Terrified and desperate, she tried to rise and flee again.
"Swish!"
The sharp, bright spearhead pointed at her forehead, radiating a fiery heat.
Li Weiyi stood straight, holding the spear: "A mere Fourth Heaven Inferior Root Dao Seed Realm cultivator dares to act so insolently before This Divine Son? Do you think you can escape?"
"I was wrong... this old woman was wrong... Please, Divine Son, spare me. But I truly don't know where Vice Commander Zhou's family is imprisoned. It's a closely guarded secret, known only to Prefect Elder."
Xu Xiangu was pinned down by the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear, unable to move.
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
********************************