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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 93 (348): [Loyalty and Righteousness Have Always Been Difficult to Balance]
(93rd of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi immediately retracted his Heavenly Eye, daring not to linger, lest the masters within the courtyard sense his presence.
After careful consideration, a smile played on his lips.
From Yao Qian's perspective, Li Weiyi must be planning a furious revenge against the Twin Rice Sect to vent his hatred over Zhou Bida's death.
So, Yao Qian had cleverly turned this to his advantage, setting up a deadly trap.
It was easy to imagine that the Twin Rice Sect's remaining two strongholds and dozen or so businesses in Southern Yan Pass were likely ambushed.
As for how the Imperial Court had learned about these strongholds and businesses, Li Weiyi had plenty of room to maneuver.
He could easily claim the information came from Prefect Elder Jiang Xin. This would allow him to earn merit and atone for his "accidental killing" of Zhou Bida.
At the same time, he could pin the blame for the Twin Rice Sect's complete annihilation in Southern Yan Pass on Li Weiyi, while also dragging Yao Qingxuan into the mess with the Twin Rice Sect.
Another two birds with one stone.
But...
This was precisely the outcome Li Weiyi had been hoping for.
Now, it all depended on which side the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall would believe.
Regardless, with Yao Qian's help, Li Weiyi's goal of destroying the Twin Rice Sect's entire Southern Yan Pass operation and framing the Sui Sect had been achieved.
How could Li Weiyi not be pleased?
Now, he had to figure out how to rescue Seventh Phoenix.
From the outside, the Twin Rice Sect's stronghold appeared peaceful, with only the lanterns under the eaves swaying gently in the breeze.
"They can't possibly know which stronghold or industry I'll attack. They can't have so many high-level experts gathered at every location."
Li Weiyi's mind raced. He transformed into a wisp of blue smoke and vanished, planning a feint to draw the enemy away.
Half an hour later, a Twin Rice Sect industry in the Northern City of the Third-Tier City Domain came under Li Weiyi's attack.
The Imperial Martial-Mystic Cultivators ambushing inside, including five Dao Seed Realm experts and Spiritual Masters, along with dozens of Five Seas Realm cultivators, proved unable to withstand the attack.
One eunuch official managed to escape and raced toward the stronghold where Zhuang Yue and her forces were ambushed, only seven or eight miles away.
Li Weiyi, having slipped away, caught up to the eunuch official, knocked him unconscious with a palm strike, and dragged him into the shadows.
Moments later, Li Weiyi donned the eunuch official's blue-green official robe, transformed into his likeness, and emerged from the shadows, his face covered in blood.
He stumbled toward the Imperial Court's main ambush site, shouting frantically, "He's appeared! The evil fiend has appeared... The evil fiend has appeared in Northern City!"
In the courtyard of the Twin Rice Sect's stronghold, Jiang Ning sat on a rosewood chair, her cloud-like hair cascading down her back.
She wore a white official robe, its chest embroidered with a crimson wild goose soaring through the clouds. A veil concealed her face, and a Rosy Mist of Spiritual Qi swirled around her.
As a Pure Immortal Physique, she made the other Phoenix Terrace female officials present seem dull and lifeless in comparison.
Her bright, black Immortal eyes lifted slightly as she asked, "What time is it now?"
"The sixth quarter of the Yin hour! It seems the Demon Man of the Heretical Sect won't strike tonight."
Jiang Qumin, an Elder of the Jiang Clan, stood three paces away in the snow. She held a massive pearl in her hands, her Psychic Power threads radiating throughout the stronghold, constructing a phantom landscape.
Guided by Yao Qian, the Phoenix Terrace's analysis concluded that the recent string of events stemmed from internal strife within the Heretical Sect, a power struggle between two factions.
One was led by Prefect Elder Jiang Xin, the other by Zhou Bida's contact.
Both the Phoenix Terrace and the General's Mansion had been manipulated by the Heretical Sect.
If they could seize this opportunity to eliminate both factions in one fell swoop, the Phoenix Terrace would emerge as the ultimate victor, more than atoning for its past mistakes.
Zhuang Yue sneered, sword in hand: "The Heretical Sect is nothing but a den of selfish schemers. They'll turn on each other for power and profit. Like the snipe and the clam, they'll fight until the fisherman reaps the reward. After this battle, Southern Yan Pass will be completely purged, and Phoenix Terrace will emerge victorious. No, not quite. There's still that foolhardy Demon Man to deal with. He probably doesn't realize that Phoenix Terrace, the Jiang Clan, and the General's Mansion have secretly deployed a massive force to lay an inescapable trap for him."
The Imperial Court officials present remained silent.
They knew that the struggle for power and profit wasn't confined to the Heretical Sect. It raged even fiercer, bloodier, and more sinister within the Imperial Court itself.
Just then.
From outside the courtyard, Li Weiyi, disguised as a eunuch official, shouted, "The villain has appeared in Northern City!"
The courtyard within the stronghold erupted with the sound of rushing wind.
Several figures, including Zhuang Yue, shot out like arrows.
Li Weiyi seemed utterly exhausted, his body unsteady. His face was deathly pale, and he nearly collapsed in front of Zhuang Yue, but she caught him just in time.
"What happened? Where did the Demon Man appear?" Zhuang Yue demanded.
Li Weiyi gasped for breath, stammering, "Northern City... Xuansheng Street... grain and oil shop... quick... that villain is too strong... we're no match for him..."
"Swish! Swish!"
One after another, top-tier experts surged out from the stronghold, leaping across rooftops toward Northern City.
Zhuang Yue was about to return to her courtyard to report when a voice echoed in her ear: "Follow the main street east. There's a noodle stall on the side of the road. I need your help. Don't tell anyone."
She spun around, but the Eunuch Official had already led a large contingent toward Northern City.
'That voice just now...'
Suppressing her shock, Zhuang Yue regained her composure.
She was no longer the naive girl she had been two years ago. Countless trials had forced her to grow, albeit slowly.
At the sixth quarter of the Mao hour, dawn was breaking.
By the third quarter of the Mao hour, the city gates, closed for three days, had already opened.
Streams of people from all corners of the world poured into the city.
The streets gradually filled with pedestrians and bustling traffic.
Zhuang Yue gazed from afar at the roadside noodle stall bathed in warm light. A young man in a gray robe sat at a table with his back to her, eating noodles with chopsticks.
Another bowl sat steaming across from him.
After another quick glance around, Zhuang Yue hurried over and sat down across from the young man, glaring at him intently.
Li Weiyi looked up, revealing an unfamiliar face, and smiled at her, "Eat quickly. We'll talk business after."
Zhuang Yue, visibly nervous, lowered her voice, "Have you been causing trouble these past few days? What exactly are you trying to do? Meeting me like this will get me killed!"
"If you knew you'd be killed, why did you come?" Li Weiyi asked.
Zhuang Yue lost her temper, "Have you joined a Heretical Sect?"
Li Weiyi continued eating, then after a long pause, asked, "Have the Imperial Martial-Mystic Cultivators withdrawn from that stronghold?"
"I won't betray the Imperial Court or Miss. Don't even think about getting information from me," Zhuang Yue said angrily.
'So it really was her.'
Li Weiyi sighed inwardly, then turned to Zhuang Yue and smiled.
"Do you know why I contacted you instead of Jiang Ning? Because I trust you more. We've shared life-or-death experiences before."
Zhuang Yue's snow-white face, framed by her Pure Immortal Physique, flushed crimson instantly, "But I really can't help you. You know I can't keep secrets. The city gates are open now. You should leave immediately, and I promise I won't expose you."
Li Weiyi said, "Seventh Phoenix is trapped in the Illusion Realm of that stronghold. Help me bring her out."
Zhuang Yue breathed a sigh of relief, "Just that?"
Li Weiyi continued, "Also, help me investigate the Imperial Court's list of Dao Seed Realm experts who disappeared in the Underground Immortal Mansion. The Feather Office of the Attendant Hall must have a record."
If all thirty Dao Seed Realm experts Luan Sheng Lin You had taken from the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall infiltrated Lingxiao City, they would become a major unpredictable factor in this world-shaking battle that would determine the fate of the world.
These were thirty undead powerhouses!
With Zhou Bida dead, Li Weiyi decided to take up this heavy responsibility.
Even if he couldn't prevent Lingx6 City's destruction, he would make the Demon Race, the Nether Realm of the Dead, and the Twin Rice Sect pay the highest possible price in this cataclysmic war. He would ensure they were too weakened to sweep across the world in victory.
He would create an opportunity for Human Race forces like the Zuoqiu Sect, the Snow Sword Tang Court, the Zhu Secr, and the Thundercloud Sect to crush them.
Secretly eliminating the forces the Demon Race and Twin Rice Sect had planted in Lingxiao City was crucial.
This was why Li Weiyi had summoned all Hidden Ones at the Dao Seed Realm and above to Lingxiao City - a battle they absolutely had to fight.
"No, I can't betray the Imperial Court," Zhuang Yue said, loyal to the court.
She felt that agreeing to Li Weiyi's request would be tantamount to colluding with a Heretical Sect, and she couldn't overcome that mental barrier.
Li Weiyi replied, "You owe me your life, and you owe me a lot of money."
Hearing Li Weiyi speak so coldly, abandoning their past friendship, Zhuang Yue felt a deep ache in her heart. It felt as though they were about to sever ties completely.
With a bitter expression, she said, "The information you've gathered is completely inaccurate! The Imperial Court is divided into numerous factions. The three Palace Masters and seven Transcendents each command a vast number of Dao Seed Realm experts. For instance, the Brocade-Clad Divine Guard under the Blood Robe Grand Steward, or the two great mountains in the military - the West Sea King and the Eastern Sea Duke - their experts exploring the Underground Immortal Mansion wouldn't even report to the Attendant Hall."
"And the forces under the various prefectures are even more fluid and flexible."
Li Weiyi frowned slightly: "Gather as detailed a list as possible. I'll personally verify it later."
Zhuang Yue asked, "What exactly are you planning?"
"Can't you do it? If you can't, tell Chen Chuan to handle it," Li Weiyi said.
Chen Chuan was Yin Shi San.
Zhuang Yue gnashed her teeth: "Is this how you ask for a favor? Can't I even know your purpose?"
"Your mind isn't sharp enough. Knowing too much will only ruin things," Li Weiyi said.
"What did you say?" Zhuang Yue demanded.
Li Weiyi quickly corrected himself, "When a person has too many flaws, they become flawless. Who would believe Zhuang Yue would betray the Imperial Court?"
An event as significant as attacking Lingxiao City would shake the world if word got out.
Even if the Demon Race wasn't fully prepared, they would strike immediately, denying the Imperial Court time to purge internal spies and mobilize troops.
The Twin Rice Sect would then be forced to join the fray.
Just like the battle at Qiu Prefecture City, Qilin Zhuang acted with ruthless decisiveness.
Li Weiyi could have leaked the news in the morning, and the battle might have erupted by noon.
Currently, the Imperial Court only sensed a looming danger, never imagining the Demon Race would directly attack Lingxiao City.
The surface of the water remained calm, but beneath the surface, a fierce undercurrent raged.
Whoever won the hidden battle of covert preparations before the war would gain a significant advantage once the fighting began.
This was Li Weiyi's first concern.
His second concern was that no one knew who within the Imperial Court had already been controlled by the Demon Race and the Twin Rice Sect.
Jiang Xin's existence was unlikely to be an isolated case.
Before Zhuang Yue could even react, Li Weiyi asked, "What exactly happened three days ago during the battle between Immortal Realm Great Powers outside Southern Yan Pass?"
Zhuang Yue shook her head frantically: "I don't know! I know nothing! All I know is that the Sui Sect Leader hasn't returned to the city yet. That's all I know! You've truly ruined me!"
Li Weiyi glanced sideways, sensing several sharp gazes fixed on them. Knowing that powerful experts had surrounded them, he remained calm and comforted Zhuang Yue.
"Loyalty and righteousness have always been difficult to reconcile. I understand your inner turmoil, Zhuang Yue, but aren't we supposed to be friends who share hardship? Let's just leave it at that... Remember what you promised me. Keep your eyes on me!"
Zhuang Yue looked up blankly, and their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
A mental imprint entered Zhuang Yue's body.
Instantly, she became dazed.
Under Li Weiyi's control, Zhuang Yue picked up her chopsticks and began eating.
He spoke in an aged voice, "Feather Immortal truly lives up to her reputation as the Second Palace Master's disciple. My little trick couldn't fool her. Hahaha!"
Thirty feet behind him, Jiang Ning materialized as if from thin air, holding the Startling Feather Sword. The immense aura radiating from her body sent nearby onlookers fleeing in terror.
The city's residents were well aware of the destructive power of battles between top-tier experts.
The street was instantly cleared.
Silence descended like a dead city.
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END OF CHAPTER
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