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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 94 (349): [I Am a Friend of Tai Shi Bai]
(94th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi didn't even turn around, his gaze fixed forward.
He saw four Phoenix Terrace Maidens walking side by side, their official robes shimmering with Formation Scriptures that combined into a sword formation.
Hundreds of sword shadows followed their movements.
All four were top-tier experts who had condensed their Dao Lotus.
Once the formation was set, its momentum was overwhelming, like a wall of sword qi pressing forward. The street seemed to have been carved by blades and axes.
Li Weiyi let out a sinister, long laugh.
He grabbed a handful of chopsticks from a bamboo tube and chanted the "Lin" character from the Six Jia Secrets Incantation.
"Whoosh!"
The chopsticks were enveloped in Spiritual Light (Lingguang) and scattered outward.
In the next instant, each chopstick sprouted branches and leaves, transforming into humanoid bamboo figures several meters tall, which charged toward Jiang Ning and the four Phoenix Terrace Maidens.
Li Weiyi slapped a Divine Swiftness Talisman onto his body and dashed into an alleyway to his left.
"Whoosh!"
Jiang Ning slashed her sword horizontally, the bright sword qi clearing the path ahead by shattering the bamboo puppets into flying splinters.
Realizing that the old man, now disguised as a young man, was incredibly fast, she immediately activated her Dao Heart Manifestation.
Spiritual Qi erupted from her body, and white feather-like energy enveloped the surrounding streets.
"Whoosh!"
Countless strands of Spiritual Qi, like a white dragon, spiraled and surged forth, instantly catching up to Li Weiyi.
Each strand was as sharp as a blade.
From the Wind Mansion at the back of Li Weiyi's head, a crimson-gold spear shot out, smashing the pursuing white dragon into pieces.
"Clang!"
The piercing sound of a sword rang out.
Jiang Ning, with radiant wings sprouting from her back, thrust her sword forward with lightning-fast speed, causing the surrounding air to boil.
Li Weiyi dared not use his Spiritual Qi; doing so would instantly reveal his true identity.
Instead, he gripped the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear and chanted the "Fight" (Dou) character from the Six Jia Secrets Incantation.
Spirit Light Flame poured forth endlessly from the Spirit Realm, coalescing around him to form a crimson-gold armor over two meters tall, as if possessed by an unparalleled war god.
Channeling the Dou Character Psychic Technique, he transformed his Psychic Power into the most potent combat attack possible.
The Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear clashed with the tip of the Jing Yu Sword.
"Boom!"
A large section of the buildings lining the alley collapsed, sending dust billowing into the air and clearing the view.
Fortunately, Jiang Ning had already driven away the occupants of nearby houses, preventing any casualties.
Jiang Ning was knocked backward, her sword arm scorched by the flames erupting from the spear.
The Spirit Light Flame emanating from the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear was terrifying, far beyond the capabilities of even the first-tier Great Techniques.
Li Weiyi retreated two steps and swiftly fled.
He was astonished.
He hadn't expected Jiang Ning's combat prowess to have grown so formidable.
Two years ago, during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, her Seventh Sea hadn't been fully formed. She still needed to accumulate energy there, unlike Yang Qingxi, Tuoba Butuo, Long Ting, and others who could directly Seed Dao with Dragon Seeds.
Yet, two years later, her cultivation had caught up to those Inheritor-level Heavenly Prides, reaching the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm.
She was clearly surpassing them.
Li Weiyi, wielding the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear and employing the Dou Character Psychic Technique, had believed his strike's power would rival that of a Fifth Heaven Dao Seed Realm Inheritor. Yet, it had only managed to force her back, failing to inflict any significant injury.
Covering two or three miles in a single breath, he was on the verge of escaping the alley.
At the alley's mouth stood a young, handsome figure, dressed in red. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with clear brows and sharp eyes, as if he had been waiting for Li Weiyi for a long time.
"Your Psychic Technique is quite interesting," he said, "Its power is exceptionally rare, and I was initially quite intrigued. But since you've harmed Ningning, you'll spill your blood here today."
Li Weiyi sensed an aura of extreme danger emanating from this man.
The red-robed man's eyes held a smile, showing no intention of attacking with any technique. He exhaled a mouthful of Spiritual Qi.
"Whoosh, whoosh!"
Dozens of flying blades of various shapes materialized within the Spiritual Qi storm.
Instantly, the buildings lining the alleyway collapsed and shattered like tofu, their destructive power astonishing.
The Guardian Formations protecting these structures offered no resistance. Countless screams erupted from within the collapsing houses.
"Forward!"
Li Weiyi's body was enveloped in Golden Crow Flame, flickering violently as he teleported ten meters into the air, evading all attacks.
Jiang Ning, who had been pursuing him, soared into the sky, her ethereal form splitting into countless clones, like a swarm of celestial maidens descending to strike.
The red-robed man was even faster.
In an instant, he appeared directly above Li Weiyi, a faint smile playing on his lips, his expression utterly relaxed.
His palm transformed into a cloud of scripture-infused light that slammed down, completely locking and enveloping Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi, with no further hesitation, activated the Governor's Official Robe he wore beneath his outer garments.
"Feather Immortal, so you have a lover to aid you. I concede defeat. We'll end it here today and settle this another time."
"Whoosh!"
The instant the scripture-infused light descended, space trembled violently. Li Weiyi dissolved into a cloud of purple mist and vanished.
The red-robed man was surprised.
"Interesting! I thought the Lingxiao Realm had fallen into decline. Yet here's a Spiritual Master who's mastered Space Evasion Technique."
He released his Intent, quickly sensing spatial fluctuations in a bustling city district.
Transforming into a crimson streak of light, he pursued the source.
After a long chase, the red-robed man returned to the ruined area empty-handed.
Imperial Court Martial-Mystic Cultivators were scattered among the rubble, rescuing survivors and dragging out corpses.
Jiang Ning stood nearby, gazing at the devastation, lost in thought. While other Martial-Mystic Cultivators couldn't discern the spatial power, she recognized it as emanating from the Governor's Official Robe.
"Could this be a high-ranking Imperial Court expert in disguise?"
Jiang Ning was forced to consider this possibility. To wield the spatial power within the Governor's Official Robe, one had to cultivate the Dragon Awakening Technique to an extremely high level. And the Dragon Awakening Technique was only accessible to core Imperial Court personnel.
The red-robed man apologized: "Ningning, I'm sorry! I didn't intend to harm innocents. When Dao Seed Realm combat erupts in a city, casualties are hard to avoid. I will compensate the deceased."
"That Heretical Sect demon is not only skilled in Space Evasion Technique but also a master of disguise and concealment. After escaping, he vanished instantly into the bustling city. Fearing further civilian casualties, I dared not unleash a Great Technique to force him out. I'll have to deal with him next time."
"Now that I'm prepared, even with Space Evasion Technique, he won't escape again."
"I didn't ask for your help!" Jiang Ning retorted, turning to leave.
She held no fondness for this Heavenly Pride from the Calamity Crossing Temple.
"If you truly cared about the casualties in the Lingxiao Realm, you could have engaged in close combat just now. With your cultivation, he would have been defeated in a single move."
"Noted. I'll be more careful next time," the red-robed man said with a hearty laugh before entering the ruins to rescue survivors, hoping to salvage his image.
Jiang Qumin led Zhuang Yue over and said to Jiang Ning, "That demon from the Heretical Sect planted a mental imprint on her, similar to Puppet Technique. I've already dispelled it, so the effects are minimal."
Zhuang Yue seethed with hatred for Li Weiyi, yet she knew his actions were meant to conceal the truth.
Jiang Ning asked, "Zhuang Yue, do you remember anything else?"
Zhuang Yue wrestled with her conscience, unsure whether to reveal the truth to her mistress.
Finally, she feigned intense thought and shook her head: "My memory seems to have a gap. My head hurts so much... Miss, was I really controlled?"
"Rest well first."
Jiang Ning turned to Jiang Qumin.
"After this battle, that demon will be like a startled bird, likely to avoid further confrontation. Withdraw everyone from the stronghold immediately!"
"I'll go tell them," Zhuang Yue said, hurrying away.
Jiang Ning watched Zhuang Yue's retreating figure, her brow furrowed in thought. An indescribable sense of unease settled over her. In the two years since they had parted, something had clearly changed in the once-inseparable maid.
Back at the coffin shop, Li Weiyi bid farewell to Old Zhou, asking him to deliver another secret letter from the Hidden Sect to Shu Prefecture.
Then, he left the city directly.
At noon, Li Weiyi transformed into Zuo Ning and approached the city gate. He smiled at the guards.
"I am Zuo Ning of Shu Prefecture, a friend of Tai Shi Bai, First-Class of the Taishi Clan. Please announce my arrival."
The thirty Imperial Court experts arranged by the Demon Clan were likely already inside the city, perhaps even at the Cloud Heaven (Yuntian) Immortal Plain by now.
Li Weiyi wasn't putting all his hopes in Zhuang Yue.
Instead, he planned to gather information from Long Xiangcen.
'Into the tiger's den to capture the tiger cub.'
Long Xiangcen didn't even know who Si Kong Jingyuan was, indicating that the Demon Clan faction wasn't familiar with the Twin Rice Sect faction.
Similarly, Li Weiyi, the Twin Rice Sect's Divine Son, knew little about the Demon Clan. Both sides remained wary of each other.
"Boom!"
Before long, a magnificent carriage raced towards the city gate. Pulled by three Pill-Fragrant White Deer, it picked up Li Weiyi and headed towards the Commander-in-Chief's Office.
Inside the carriage, Tai Shi Bai was in high spirits, clasping Li Weiyi's hand.
"Brother Zuo Ning, I sincerely apologize. The banquet at the Thunder Mausoleum City City Lord's Manor must have been a disappointment, which is why you left. That's how things are in Imperial Court circles - small banquets every three days, grand feasts every ten. It's all about social connections, flattery, and empty formalities."
Li Weiyi secretly praised Tai Shi Bai, truly a dragon among men.
Despite his noble birth, he remained humble, not only possessing a great sense of righteousness but also valuing and respecting those beneath him.
Li Weiyi said mournfully, "I didn't leave intentionally. I recognized Brother Taishi as a hero of our time and wanted to join you. But in Thunder Mausoleum City, I encountered Yi Zhouxue and Canye Xue again. My two companions... were killed by those Heretical Sect demons. If I don't avenge them, I, Zuo Ning, swear I won't be human. I barely escaped to South Yan Pass after surviving death nine times!"
"Outrageous! I'll cut those two down eventually."
Tai Shi Bai's righteous indignation quickly turned into hearty laughter.
"I have good news for you: the Heretical Sect forces in South Yan Pass have been completely eradicated. Haha!"
The carriage proceeded directly to the Commander-in-Chief's Office, stopping in the spacious front courtyard. Tai Shi Bai and Li Weiyi dismounted together, their laughter echoing through the air.
Long Xiangcen, her face veiled, stood at the entrance to the front hall. Dressed in a pale yellow ruqun and a water-blue hooded velvet robe, her tail hidden, she greeted them with graceful warmth. "Cousin, you actually brought Zuo Ning back. I thought you were just teasing him."
Li Weiyi bowed deeply, feigning timidity and avoiding her gaze. "Greetings... May I ask how this Immortal Maiden should be addressed?"
"My surname is Long. Haven't we met before?"
Long Xiangcen smiled warmly, her eyes clear and innocent, her eyelashes fluttering like a naive young girl's.
Li Weiyi narrowed his eyes, disbelieving she would reveal their secret.
As expected, Long Xiangcen quickly added, "On the Post Ship! I was hiding behind the curtains at the time. Surely you remember my voice?"
Li Weiyi deliberately feigned realization.
Tai Shi Bai's expression turned serious.
"Brother Zuo Ning has come to seek refuge with me, so he's family now! There's no need to hide anything. My mother is from the Dragon Sect, and my cousin also comes from one of its branches."
"No faction is ever entirely good or entirely evil. My mother and I secretly went to the East Sea to rescue my cousin's family, but only she survived. Alas!"
Li Weiyi offered his condolences: "Immortal Maiden Long, please accept my sympathy."
"You're so sweet! You've made me feel completely better already!" Long Xiangcen's eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, "Cousin, have they caught the heretical sect demon yet? It seemed like a fierce battle this morning, even involving that top-tier Heavenly Pride from beyond our borders!"
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END OF CHAPTER
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