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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 144 (399): [It Really Wasn't You Who Did It]
(144th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi said, "Does the Demon Kingdom think I targeted Xie Chucai at the Divine Sect's behest? That the sect wanted to expose him?"
"That's just the surface!" An Xianjing retorted, "Why does the Third Palace Master's decree specifically limit action to Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the first stage of the Immortal Realm?"
Li Weiyi hadn't considered this.
An Xianjing continued, "How many Immortal Realm cultivators in the first stage does the Imperial Court have? Could Yao Qian, Song Yulou, or anyone else stand against the Demon Child?"
Li Weiyi gasped, realizing the truth: "Their real target is the Zuoqiu Clan?"
At the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, the Zuoqiu Clan had claimed the most Immortality Pills - twenty in total - offered by the Calamity Crossing Temple.
For the next two years, the temple provided the clan with three Immortality Pills annually to help them attract talented cultivators.
In other words, the Zuoqiu Clan commanded the largest number of Immortality Realm cultivators in the first stage.
Including Zuoqiu Ling, whose combat prowess far exceeded his peers.
"The Demon Kingdom's concession was undoubtedly forced by the immeasurable power of the Great Nine Heavens Cloud Formation," Yao Qingxuan said, "But the Demon Child is one of the Calamity Crossing Temple's most outstanding disciples. How can the Zuoqiu Clan attack him without answering to the temple? How can they betray the temple's support?"
"And how can the Zuoqiu Clan avoid attacking the Demon Child without answering to the world?"
Li Weiyi exclaimed, "No wonder the deadline for dealing with the Demon Child was set at fifteen days! They needed time for the Zuoqiu Clan to mobilize their forces. What a ruthless and calculated scheme!"
Yao Qingxuan continued, "Why did the Third Palace Master agree to this? Because she also wanted to draw the Zuoqiu Clan into Lingxiao City's game, forcing them to aid the Imperial Court against the looming threat. In essence, the Demon Kingdom offered her a price she couldn't refuse."
Li Weiyi frowned: "Is the Demon Kingdom trying to sow discord between the Calamity Crossing Temple and the Zuoqiu Clan? Does the Demon Kingdom truly intend to support Qilin Zhuang in establishing a Demon Kingdom, or does it favor the Twin Rice Cult's vision of a Rice Realm?"
An Xianjing replied, "Both are possible."
Li Weiyi's eyes lit up: "Then why don't we shift the blame onto the Monster Race?"
An Xianjing said calmly, "This is exactly what I wanted to tell you! This entire affair was orchestrated by Luan Sheng Lin You, with Long Xiangcen leaking the secrets - all part of the Monster Race's schemes. Jiang Ning merely exploited your feelings. I will submit this account to the highest echelons of both the Demon Kingdom and the Divine Sect."
"Kill Jiang Ning, and everything can be covered up."
Li Weiyi froze.
An Xianjing continued, "I knew you couldn't bring yourself to do it! Qingxuan, you're his Master. Why don't you help him?"
"Yes!" Yao Qingxuan agreed.
Li Weiyi blocked Yao Qingxuan's path: "Help? What help? I refuse. This is absolutely unacceptable."
"It seems you've truly fallen for her," An Xianjing remarked.
Contrary to Li Weiyi's expectations of unwavering resolve and sternness, An Xianjing simply closed her eyes and dropped the matter of killing Jiang Ning.
The carriage entered Tai'an Ward and arrived at the Zen Blade Sect, a local gang occupying half a li of land with nearly a hundred members.
Master Liang, the sect leader, was a skilled member of the Liang family's collateral branch from the Eastern Territory, his cultivation having reached the eighth heaven of the Dao Seed Realm.
As the carriage came to a halt in the courtyard, dozens of Twin Rice Cult experts emerged and bowed in unison, "Greetings, Palace Master An, Venerable Nan."
An Xianjing and Yao Qingxuan donned veils and stepped down from the carriage, prompting the crowd outside to kneel in reverence.
Li Weiyi stepped out of the carriage and barely had time to steady himself when Si Kong Yanlun, his voice dripping with fury, roared, "Li Weiyi, where's my brother?"
Li Weiyi glanced at him dismissively, "Stop shouting at me. Do you really think I still fear you?"
Si Kong Yanlun bowed deeply, "Palace Master An, Li Weiyi has captured my brother and likely killed him. This man has been exchanging flirtatious glances with several young experts from the Imperial Court in Lingxiao City. He clearly harbors treacherous intentions and must be eliminated."
Li Weiyi retorted coldly, "If I had treacherous intentions, how many Divine Sect members could I have lured out with my Divine Son's Life Token? How many Divine Sect strongholds could I have dismantled? Would I have allowed Yao Qian to act so arrogantly?"
"If I had even a shred of betrayal in my heart, the Sui Sect and Coffin Mountain would have been exposed long ago."
"While the Sui Sect is certainly detestable, I understand their deep ties to the Divine Sect. If they were completely eradicated, the entire network would unravel, severely crippling the Divine Sect's influence in Lingxiao City."
Unbeknownst to Li Weiyi, the month-long delay in An Xianjing and Yao Qingxuan's arrival in Lingxiao City was due to the will of a Transcendent from the Twin Rice Cult.
The Twin Rice Cult's Transcendent, distrusting Li Weiyi, sought to test his loyalty over time, hoping to uncover which side would betray the other.
For the past month, Li Weiyi had shown remarkable restraint, refraining from colluding with the Imperial Court to dismantle the Twin Rice Cult's strongholds.
He even avoided deliberately exposing the Sui Sect's location.
It was precisely this calm in Lingxiao City that allowed Yao Qingxuan to leave the Headquarters.
Li Weiyi's questioning left Si Kong Yanlun speechless.
Yao Qingxuan asked, "Why are you so certain Li Weiyi captured Si Kong Jingyuan?"
Si Kong Yanlun replied, "The news came from the Sui Sect."
Li Weiyi sneered: "I don't even know if your brother is in Lingxiao City. How could I have captured him? I have no influence within the Divine Sect. Would your own people betray you to me?"
Si Kong Yanlun countered, "Luan Sheng Lin You also confirmed it."
Li Weiyi retorted, "Luan Sheng Lin You would kill me if he could. What scheme wouldn't he resort to? You may have talent for cultivation, but your brain is utterly lacking. Be careful not to be manipulated without realizing it."
Si Kong Yanlun, a dignified Divine Son, could hardly endure such humiliation.
"What a master of twisting truth and falsehood, Fourth Divine Son!"
With a thunderous roar, Si Kong Yanlun unleashed a torrent of pent-up rage and old grudges.
He lunged forward, covering several dozen feet in a single stride, his fist radiating a brilliant silver light as he unleashed an energy storm that engulfed the courtyard.
'He hated Li Weiyi with every fiber of his being!'
Not only had Li Weiyi severed his arm, but he had also publicly humiliated him. If he didn't retaliate now, he would become the laughingstock of the Twin Rice Sect.
Li Weiyi stood his ground, a layer of spiritual light coalescing into a shimmering barrier before him, effortlessly neutralizing Si Kong Yanlun's fist.
The spiritual light surged outward, enveloping Li Weiyi's entire body.
Si Kong Yanlun felt his body constricting, his eyes widening in terror.
He knew Li Weiyi's Psychic Cultivation had advanced rapidly, but he never imagined it had reached such an overwhelming level.
"Bang!"
With a flick of his mind, Li Weiyi hurled Si Kong Yanlun through the air, sending him crashing heavily to the ground in a cloud of dust.
Despite his defeat, Si Kong Yanlun lay sprawled on the ground, erupting into maniacal laughter.
"I still doubted whether you had the strength to capture my brother. But now I'm certain - you killed him!"
From among the Twin Rice Cult's assembled experts, a gray-robed figure stepped forward.
His face was gaunt, with high cheekbones and sword-like eyebrows.
This was Huang Xu, the Second Divine Son of the Twin Rice Sect.
Huang Xu bowed respectfully to An Xianjing.
"Junior knows Palace Master An trusts Li Weiyi implicitly. But I have absolute certainty that Si Kong Jingyuan died by Li Weiyi's hand."
A Martial-Mystic Cultivator rushed forward to report, "The Fifth Divine Son has returned!"
The courtyard fell silent, everyone stunned.
Yao Qingxuan glanced worriedly at Li Weiyi, but found him calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.
A moment later, Si Kong Jingyuan appeared before An Xianjing, supported by two Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
He knelt with a thud, wailing pitifully, "Palace Master An, the Sui Sect's wolfish ambitions are an outrage to both gods and men! That old bastard Yang Shenjing is plotting rebellion! Kill them all immediately, and Yao Qian too, or the Divine Sect will face disaster!"
Si Kong Jingyuan was indeed a wretched sight, tortured beyond recognition. His ten fingers and ten toes were bloodied, their bones shattered. Most of the skin on his body had been flayed off, leaving him limping and crippled.
Si Kong Yanlun rushed forward to examine his brother's injuries, asking urgently, "Brother, what happened? What are you saying?"
Si Kong Jingyuan immediately began recounting his ordeal, detailing how he had been captured by the Sui Sect, imprisoned, and tortured during interrogation. He revealed everything he had learned.
For a month, Si Kong Jingyuan had endured relentless torment, his spirit broken and his heart filled with burning resentment.
"The Sui Sect has completely sided with the Second Palace Master," he declared, "They plan to help the Imperial Court eradicate all Divine Sect strongholds before the Shangyuan Festival. If the Sui Sect hadn't received orders tonight to hunt down Li Weiyi across the city, I would never have had the chance to escape."
"Kill them!" Si Kong Jingyuan roared, "We must slaughter these treacherous dogs and turn their corpses into fertilizer!"
Apart from An Xianjing, Yao Qingxuan, and Li Weiyi, everyone present was stunned into silence, their faces pale with shock and panic.
Li Weiyi turned to Huang Xu: "Didn't you claim absolute certainty that Si Kong Jingyuan had died by my hand? Could your confidence have stemmed from the Sui Sect?"
Huang Xu's gaze darkened, struggling to suppress his inner turmoil.
Li Weiyi then addressed Si Kong Jingyuan directly: "Are you certain it was the Sui Sect who captured you?"
"Do you take me for a fool?" Sikong Jingyuan snarled, "As if I wouldn't recognize my enemies!"
Li Weiyi said, "I'm curious about something. What makes you think the Divine Sect is facing a great calamity? That all its strongholds will be wiped out? Have you betrayed the sect? Confess everything!"
Si Kong Jingyuan stammered, "N-no... I would never surrender! Li Weiyi, you're trying to frame me! You're trying to set me up!"
Li Weiyi turned to An Xianjing and Yao Qingxuan: "Si Kong Jingyuan has likely revealed all our secrets. This place is no longer safe. We must evacuate immediately."
"Everyone, disperse and leave the Zen Blade Sect at once. Huang Xu, stay behind to clean up the mess and get the full story."
After issuing these orders, An Xianjing and Yao Qingxuan boarded their carriage and departed first.
The Twin Rice Cult's experts descended into chaos, packing belongings and burning ledgers.
Some immediately fled.
Huang Xu gazed at Si Kong Jingyuan, who knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. A cruel glint flashed in his eyes.
"We're all brothers here. Tell me the truth, and I'll grant you a swift death. Yanlun, do you want a new arm? His arm should be a perfect fit for you."
.....
The carriage sped forward.
An Xianjing repeatedly scrutinized Li Weiyi's eyes: "You really didn't do this?"
Li Weiyi's face paled with horror: "If I had such power, why would I only do half the job? Why would I choose to leave the city with Tai Shiyu tonight? So, Palace Master An never truly trusted me."
"The situation has become even more dangerous! Qingxuan, you and him must leave the city immediately."
As soon as An Xianjing finished speaking, her figure vanished from the carriage with impossible speed.
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END OF CHAPTER
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