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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 32 (469): [The Three Great Powers of the Hidden Sect]
(32nd of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Sensing the presence of Water Beaver Immortal and Crown Prince Ba on the passing barge, Li Weiyi immediately excused himself and departed, detecting an extraordinary aura emanating from the cabin behind him.
"Consider it carefully," the Hippopotamus Demon said, waving goodbye, "There are only ten spots available, first come, first served."
After Li Weiyi left, the Hippopotamus Demon turned to Water Beaver Immortal and Crown Prince Ba, whose barge was now passing by.
"All the Essence Herbs you entrusted to me has been distributed to various stalls for sale. Moreover, everyone is selling now, flooding the market, so prices won't stay high for long!"
"Should we lower the price for the opportunity slots? Twenty million Yongquan Coins is too steep; it's scaring away potential buyers."
Water Beaver Immortal immediately gestured for silence, shaking his head vigorously at the Hippopotamus Demon.
From the cabin behind them, a melodious female voice called out, "What do you mean by 'opportunity slots'?"
...
"What a bizarre sensation! Even the Earth Tome within my Divine Gate is resonating."
Li Weiyi quickly distanced himself from the Sea Market, constantly seeking opportunities to alter his appearance.
He suspected that Princess Dengfeng's true form was likely within the ship's cabin.
'I wonder if she sensed anything?'
With this thought, Li Weiyi immediately withdrew the Earth Tome into his Blood Mud Space.
He arrived at a mansion on the southern outskirts of the Sea Market's residential district.
Only after spotting the Hidden Sect's emblem carved above the gate did Li Weiyi knock.
Yao Qingxuan ushered Li Weiyi into the mansion, which was protected by a Defensive Formation.
Lush, broad-leaved plants thrived within, and a gentle stream flowed beneath small bridges connecting six or seven wooden pavilions, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility.
The entire Moon Dragon Island Sea Market, including the ships in the harbor, was teeming with people. Yet within these walls, an eerie stillness prevailed.
"This mansion is one of Elder Qin's properties," Yao Qingxuan explained, "It currently serves as a temporary gathering place for the Hidden Ones."
"Elder Qin owns properties all over the Life Realm? Impressive!" Li Weiyi mused inwardly, wondering if the Sentinel Spirit Army had some special means of generating wealth.
The Diligent Garden in Qiu Prefecture City had also been one of Elder Qin's properties.
'The old man risks his life for the Sentinel Spirit Army, and the properties just keep piling up.'
Normal Martial-Mystic Cultivators typically prioritize cultivating resources first.
Only those with inexhaustible wealth would consider acquiring such material possessions.
"Master!"
Yu'er rushed over and hugged Li Weiyi around the waist, her eyes slightly red-rimmed.
The little girl had been worried sick all night, torn between hope and despair. Seeing Li Weiyi return safe and sound, she was overjoyed.
"Yu'er, have you been crying?" Li Weiyi gently stroked her cheek.
She shook her head vigorously: "Yu'er didn't cry, but Master, you can't leave me like that again! I was so worried."
"Alright."
Li Weiyi turned to Ku-Di, who was approaching.
Ku-Di bowed deeply: "I'm sorry. I never imagined I would become a burden. Li Weiyi, I will repay today's kindness and settle our past grievances."
Li Weiyi waved dismissively.
He hadn't saved her for her sake, but out of his own guilt.
Remembering something, he asked, "Miss Ku, do you know the identity of the Jiu Li Clan leader who submitted to Coffin Mountain?"
Ku-Di replied, "During my time at Coffin Mountain, the only Jiu Li Clan leader I met was Li Songjian of the Cangli Tribe. He was Xu Fodu's man."
"That's all I needed to know. You should rest now." Li Weiyi said.
Ku-Di sensed that Li Weiyi and Yao Qingxuan had important matters to discuss and tactfully withdrew.
Yao Qingxuan stood beneath the moonlight, her figure and its shadow forming two beautiful, distinct paintings.
"Li Songjian died in the Huang River. Tracing this matter further will be as difficult as climbing to the heavens."
"I killed him," Li Weiyi said.
A flicker of surprise crossed Yao Qingxuan's eyes.
Li Weiyi, cradling Yu'er, sat on a stone bench and soothed her.
"I want to see the Hidden Lord."
"He's worried about your safety and chased after you into the deep sea. By now, he should be returning," Yao Qingxuan replied.
"Was it wise to bring Ku-Di here?" Li Weiyi asked.
"Do you think she can still return to the Twin Rice Sect?" Yao Qingxuan asked, her voice heavy with concern as she stood with her back to Li Weiyi, "Years ago, I faked my death to join the Twin Rice Sect. In truth, I had no choice but to die. Hall Master An took pity on me and sheltered me."
"Because the Twin Rice Sect knew I had to die and that I couldn't return to the Jiu Li Clan, they trusted me completely."
"I owe Hall Master An a great debt. So, you don't need to worry about Ku-Di. I'll arrange a way out for her and provide the necessary protection."
Intrigued by her past, Li Weiyi couldn't resist asking, "Why did you have to die back then?"
"You don't need to know," Yao Qingxuan's tone turned cold.
Li Weiyi continued, "Earlier at the Sea Market, I met a peerless young expert from the Western Monster Race named Bai Yeqing. He's said to be the son of the White Phoenix, an Innate Dao Spirit..."
"So what if he's an Innate Dao Spirit?" Yao Qingxuan said, "His cultivation foundation only reached the level of a Young Celestial Emperor in the Dao Seed Realm. He might not even surpass you and Yaoyin. Whether he can maintain that level in the Immortal Realm remains to be seen. Without the Ancient Sect's True Disciple status and their full resources, he'll likely fall behind."
Yao Qingxuan added, "Besides, a true Innate Dao Spirit would have already shattered the Nine Springs and opened the Five Seas at birth."
Sensing the emotion in her tone, Li Weiyi dared not probe further and fell silent.
After a long silence, Yao Qingxuan asked, "Li Weiyi, how soon can you break through? With your current cultivation, you're still behind the Inheritor of the Ninth Heaven."
"What's wrong?" Li Weiyi asked.
"You're a Divine Hidden (ne," Yao Qingxuan said, "You need to protect Yaoyin. She's Hidden Twenty-Six."
"The Calamity Crossing Temple is full of experts," Li Weiyi replied, "She's the Temple Master's Registered Disciple. Why would she need my protection?"
"The Calamity Crossing Temple's strength rivals the Rice Palace, but they currently lack dominance below the Immortal Realm, putting them in a weaker position," the Hidden Lord's voice echoed through the corridor as he strode over, asking with concern, "How badly are you injured?"
The Hidden Lord wore a Nightwalker's Garment and a metal mask.
Li Weiyi shrugged: "Just a minor injury. Nothing to worry about."
"Impressive," Hidden Lord said, "You held your own against Qiongji Daozi. But you were too reckless. Why did you have to learn from her of all people? You're a Divine Hidden One. Divine Hidden One prioritize caution and reason above all else."
Hidden Lord shot Yao Qingxuan a cold glance. If he had known she would use the Peachwood Staff for such a purpose, he would have stopped her immediately.
"No wonder you were absent during the battle at Lingxiao City," Yao Qingxuan retorted, "Hiding in the Nether Realm - certainly safe and prudent."
"Hiding on purpose?" Hidden Lord snapped, "Do you even realize how severely I was injured? Do you know how formidable Yang Shenjing is? I'm lucky to be alive!"
"Gentlemen, is this really worth arguing over?" Li Weiyi interjected, fearing their ideological clash would escalate.
He quickly steered the conversation back to business, "I still need to borrow the Peachwood Staff. Also, I require golden essence bone marrow - preferably of the Transcendent grade."
The closer the Golden Bone approached completion, the more difficult it became to cultivate.
As a Divine Hidden One with his current cultivation level, Li Weiyi now stood on equal footing with Yao Qingxuan and Hidden Lord.
He could be considered one of the three Great Powers of the Hidden Sect, second only to the Ancient Hidden Ones.
During their earlier confrontation at sea, Hidden Lord had already noticed Li Weiyi's remarkably strengthened physique.
Curious, he asked, "What level of physical cultivation have you reached?"
"Fifty percent of the Immortal Body's strength," Li Weiyi replied.
"No wonder you could withstand a Third-Layer Great Technique from Qiongji Daozi without suffering serious injury," the Hidden Lord exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration, "The great deeds you and the Jiu Li Hidden Sect accomplished in Lingxiao City have already spread throughout the world. The Jiu Li Clan now holds its head high in the Lingxiao Realm. Just mentioning the Jiu Li Hidden Sect earns you a thumbs-up from anyone!"
"After the battle, the Jiu Li Clan received a portion of Transcendent Flesh, and you're certainly entitled to some golden essence bone marrow. I happen to have some with me - I was originally planning to use it myself, but you can have it first. If it's not enough, this Sovereign will get more."
Li Weiyi accepted a jade bottle of Transcendent Golden Essence Bone Marrow from the Hidden Lord.
The jade bottle felt scalding hot to the touch.
When he opened the lid, a scorching energy surged out, almost like molten lava.
This golden essence bone marrow was many times more potent than the kind extracted from Immortal Bones that had lost much of their secret energy.
Suppressing his inner joy, Li Weiyi continued, "I heard that all the major powers reaped great rewards from the attack on the Southeast Nether Realm, especially Millennium Essence Herbs."
The Hidden Lord, overjoyed at the news of Li Weiyi's survival, quickly replied, "Don't worry. Knowing you need to feed those seven rare insects, we've reserved a substantial supply of Millennium Essence Herbs for you. I personally requested them from the Clan Chiefs of the Nine Great Tribes - it's your rightful reward. From now on, the Jiu Li Clan will provide... uh... a portion of the resources for feeding your insects!"
"The elders of the Nine Great Tribes and the Jiu Li Divine Temple are eager to meet you. Many clan experts are still searching for you in the Nether Realm."
"Wei Yi, the Jiu Li Clan is your home now. You'll have access to the same resources as Cang Li and Yaoyin, and even more will be provided for you."
Li Weiyi chuckled wryly: "Hidden Lord, are you afraid I'll run away?"
Having learned shocking truths from Master Coffin and some Hidden Ones, the Hidden Lord genuinely feared Li Weiyi might flee.
Li Weiyi always repaid kindness tenfold. He retrieved a Governor's Robe and Official Seal from his Cosmic Pouch.
"The upcoming competition for opportunities will likely be dangerous. I've been saving this set for you, old man."
The Hidden Lord, fully aware of the Governor's Robe and Official Seal's value, felt his eyes redden.
"Cang Li has never given me such a precious gift. Wei Yi, Li Ling is growing up too..."
"Hidden Lord, I'm engaged. I have a fiancee. And I'm also married. You must warn the Hidden Ones to keep the marriage a secret," Li Weiyi said.
"Hmm! It would indeed be difficult to explain to the Zuoqiu Sect."
The Hidden Lord sighed inwardly.
He had heard about the matter but hadn't considered Zen Hai Guanwu's involvement.
Mainly, he dared not entertain such a preposterous notion.
Li Weiyi said, "I heard someone at Calamity Crossing Temple is selling True Spiritual Pills. Could you contact Yaoyin, Cang Li, or Hidden Nine to investigate? If I break through another realm, I'll have a much greater advantage in the upcoming competition for opportunities."
The Hidden Lord's heart stirred: "Are you confident you can advance your Psychic Power to the next level soon?"
With the Time Cocoon, Li Weiyi was certain.
He nodded.
"If you break through another realm, Qiongji Daozi won't stand a chance against you. Your self-preservation capabilities will increase dramatically." The Hidden Lord's enthusiasm surged.
He instructed Li Weiyi to focus on cultivation, promising to handle all resource matters personally.
Currently, the Immortal Realm experts from the major powers in the Lingxiao Realm were convening, their greatest headache being the lack of a capable leader below the Immortal Realm to carry the banner.
After much hesitation, Li Weiyi finally decided to reveal what he knew in Yao Qingxuan's presence.
"Hidden Lord, I killed Li Songjian. Before he died, he said the great figure who betrayed the Jiu Li Clan was the Clan Chief of the Yao Li Tribe, subdued by the Coffin Mountain's Forbidden One when he was still alive."
The Hidden Lord's expression shifted abruptly, his gaze snapping to Yao Qingxuan.
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END OF CHAPTER
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