Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 37 (474): [The Ten Prefectures Trade]
(37th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
*******************************
"Breaking through to the Seventh Heaven isn't easy. Even Luan Sheng Linyou, with the Dragon Clan's bloodline advantage and the Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi, only just managed to achieve a breakthrough."
"To severely injure Chang Sheng with a single palm strike relies on speed. In close combat, whoever seizes the initiative gains an absolute advantage, allowing them to achieve combat results far exceeding their normal capabilities."
Zuoqiu Hongting spoke calmly, her tone modest.
Li Weiyi retorted, "You're dodging the real question again! You know what I truly want to ask about: your Psychic Power cultivation realm."
Zuoqiu Hongting gazed at him, sighing softly, "Some secrets can only be revealed at the moment of certain death, or the consequences would be catastrophic. You yourself harbor a similar great secret; you should understand my predicament. Why are you pressuring me?"
Li Weiyi's mind jolted. He suddenly realized that the Ancient Lamp between Zuoqiu Hongting's brows was likely far more than just a damaged Supreme Spiritual Artifact.
The lamp possessed spiritual intelligence, capable of discerning Jiang Ning's secrets and seeing his own.
Indeed, those who could rival the Martial-Mystic Dao Heavenly Emperor in their youth all harbored profound secrets.
Huoxin and Zhenxin unleashed their Dao Heart Manifestations, channeling their Psychic Power to overwhelm every Martial-Mystic Cultivator aboard the Heaven's Edge Warship.
Crimson and icy blue radiance coalesced into two dazzling, multicolored clouds above the sea, their brilliance illuminating the horizon.
The Martial-Mystic Cultivators on the first and second decks glared fiercely, but their cultivation was too weak. Crushed by the invaders' Psychic Power, their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Those on the third and fourth decks either manifested their Dao Heart Manifestations or summoned spiritual artifact battle weapons, poised to strike the moment Tang Wanzhou gave the order.
Huoxin and Zhenxin exchanged knowing smiles, confident that the Immortal Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Lingxiao Realm wouldn't dare attack them.
Their arrogance knew no bounds.
Below them, on the sea's surface, Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Rice Palace and Lingxiao Twin Rice Sect materialized, either riding ships or treading the waves, converging on the Heaven's Edge Warship.
These were all top-tier powerhouses, their bodies wreathed in swirling Spiritual Qi.
This was no mere provocation; it was a calculated encirclement and intimidation.
If they failed to break this deadlock today, if they failed to respond with unwavering resolve, the entire Lingxiao Realm's Martial-Mystic Cultivators would be branded as weak and easily bullied.
Today, the Rice Palace had surrounded them without paying a price.
So, the East Sea Demon Clan will lay siege tomorrow.
The Western Monster Race will follow suit the day after.
Sixth deck of the warship.
Tang Wanzhou stood ramrod straight behind the Formation's shimmering veil, clad in a deep black robe, one hand clasped behind her back.
She gazed down at Huoxin and Zhenxin far below: "As expected, they've come. Tang Wanqiu, go deal with them."
"Me?" Tang Wanqiu froze, thinking she was joking.
Either Huoxin or Zhenxin could be considered invincible below the Immortal Realm within the Lingxiao Realm.
In Tang Wanqiu's eyes, only Tang Zhan in the entire world could rival them.
Huoxin stood at the ship's railing, his Spiritual Artifact robe fluttering in the wind, and called out again, "The Rice Palace is the sacred cultivation ground for billions of Ricefolk across the world. The Rice Realm of Canghai Sea is renowned throughout the world. Our arrival in the East Sea carries no intention of oppressing the weak."
"The two True Disciples sincerely wish to make a deal with the Young Lord. Within all of Lingxiao, only the Young Lord is qualified to negotiate with them."
"We hope the Young Lord's arrogance doesn't lead him to scorn the Rice Palace. Such disrespect would put the True Disciples and the Rice Palace in a difficult position."
"The Rice Palace is a Great Sect of the world. If we suffer such humiliation, we will surely repay it," Zhenxin added.
"The Snow Sword Tang Court harbors no contempt."
On the warship's deck, Tang Wanqiu swiftly emerged from the shimmering Formation barrier.
With a graceful leap, she landed lightly on the edge of the second-level deck, gazing down at the two figures below.
She clasped her hands in a respectful bow, her smile radiant: "I am Tang Wanqiu, the current Inheritor of the Snow Sword Tang Court. I believe I am qualified to negotiate with you both. May I ask what transaction you propose?"
"Tang Wanqiu possesses such audacity? How intriguing," Zuoqiu Hongting chuckled.
Li Weiyi glanced up at the sixth-level deck, secretly surmising that Tang Wanqiu had been forced into this precarious situation by Tang Wanzhou.
It was undeniably a brilliant move.
Giants of the Immortal Realm from the Lingxiao Realm would never dare to harm Huoxin and Zhenxin.
Yet, with Huoxin and Zhenxin aboard the Heaven's Edge Warship, they wouldn't dare to attack Tang Wanqiu either.
Moreover, as the Inheritor, Tang Wanqiu indeed had the right to speak with them, leaving no room for objection. This was a classic case of turning their own tactics against them.
Huoxin narrowed his eyes, his pupils burning with fiery intensity as his overwhelming psychic power surged forward.
Tang Wanqiu maintained her serene smile, her body shimmering with a radiant glow.
The gap in Cultivation Realm between her and Huoxin was indeed vast. But Huoxin's attempt to crush her with mere Intent was utterly futile.
As a Top Inheritor, or rather, a Top Chief-Level Genius, Tang Wanqiu's battle intent stood firm like the Northern Snow Mountain, capable of withstanding such pressure.
Zhenxin narrowed his eyes: "As expected of a Top Chief-Level Genius qualified to cultivate at the Calamity Crossing Temple. This generation of the Lingxiao Realm truly marks a golden age. Tang Wanqiu, can you make decisions on behalf of both the Snow Sword Tang Court and the Lingxiao Realm?"
Tang Wanqiu's back was already drenched in sweat, but she smiled faintly.
"I can still make decisions regarding matters below the Immortal Realm within the Snow Sword Tang Court. As for major affairs concerning the Lingxiao Realm, those will naturally be discussed and decided by everyone present."
On the fifth deck of the warship, Li Weiyi said to Zuoqiu Hongting, "I don't care what level your Psychic Power has reached. Just help me kill someone as Li Weiyi. What do you say?"
Zuoqiu Hongting didn't ask who the target was?
"What's the reward?"
"You exposed my secret visit to the Moon Dragon Island Sea Market and deceived Yaoyin. You still want a reward?" Li Weiyi retorted.
Zuoqiu Hongting sighed softly: "Alright, let's drop this matter and not dwell on it any further. Yaoyin, the Divine Hidden One have said he won't pursue it!"
Yaoyin's gaze remained withdrawn, completely ignoring the two. Had Huoxin and Zhenxin not blocked her path, she would have left long ago.
"I must learn the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Transforming Manual," she insisted, "Otherwise, we can't move past this."
"You want to learn it too?" Li Weiyi shook his head, his refusal absolute.
Teaching Zuoqiu Hongting alone had already caused enough chaos. Adding another student would only invite future trouble.
No wonder the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Transforming Mansion had been lost to the Zuoqiu Clan after the Spirit Tablet Master's disappearance.
It seemed the master had never taught it to anyone - a testament to his prudence.
Zuoqiu Hongting asked, "Who do you intend to kill?"
"Huoxin," Li Weiyi replied.
Zuoqiu Hongting stared at him intently: "Are you serious? Even finding someone in the Lingxiao Realm capable of contending with him is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Killing him? Not even an Immortal Realm cultivator could guarantee success."
Defeating someone and killing them were worlds apart.
.....
Zhenxin revealed the deal Rice Palace sought to make with Snow Sword Tang Court.
Rice Palace wanted the major powers of the Lingxiao Realm to withdraw their troops from the Southeastern Nether Realm.
In exchange, Rice Palace would protect the Lingxiao Realm's Martial-Mystic Cultivators during the excavation of the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains.
The Southeastern Nether Realm, formerly the thirty-one prefectures under Lord Lan's command, was now divided: Rice Palace and the Lingxiao Twin Rice Sect occupied ten prefectures, the Lingxiao Human Clan held another ten, and the remaining eleven had fallen to the East Sea Demon Clan.
"We must never agree to this!" Tai Shi Yu shouted, "If the Lingxiao Realm withdraws its troops, surrendering the Ten Prefectures, we'll be raising a tiger cub to bite us later. This will bring disaster upon us in the future!"
Huoxin chuckled: "Those Ten Prefectures are shrouded in the Netherworld's darkness. What good are they to you? Why not trade them to Rice Palace and let us establish the East Sea Rice Realm? Then, the East Sea Rice Realm and the Lingxiao Realm can join forces to fight the Dead Spirits in the Netherworld. Wouldn't that be a win-win for everyone?"
Zhenxin countered, "Don't underestimate the significance of this opportunity. Trading ten prefectures of wasteland for a chance to elevate the Living Realm is an absolute bargain."
"How can we allow others to snore beside our bed?"
"The Ricefolk's ambition remains undying."
"We must never relinquish the Ten Prefectures. This is our buffer zone against the Ricefolk's influence. Without this buffer, war will inevitably erupt within the Living Realm itself."
The Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the major powers of the Lingxiao Realm were stirred to action.
Zhenxin remained remarkably patient, his gaze fixed on Tang Wanqiu before shifting to the Formation's luminous veil above.
He seemed to see through the barrier, addressing Tang Wanzhou on the other side: "The Ten Prefectures are almost entirely controlled by the Zuoqiu Clan, the Jiu Li Tribe, and the Thundercloud Sect. The Snow Sword Tang Court, being too distant, has suffered significant losses. The Young Lord's agreement would bring only benefits, with no drawbacks whatsoever."
"The East Sea Rice Realm can assist the Snow Sword Tang Court by containing the Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiu Li Tribe in the south."
The Southeastern Nether Realm, after all, bordered both the Eastern and Southern Territories.
The Human Clan forces from these territories could swiftly arrive and seize control.
Zhenxin continued, "If the Rice Palace truly desires the Ten Prefectures, you cannot possibly hold them. Why not secure some benefits in advance? Why insist on bloodshed?"
The enemy had finally revealed their true intentions.
"Whoosh!"
"Clang!"
....
Many First Commander and veteran powerhouses from the Lingxiao Realm summoned their Battle Swords and spears from their Ancestral Fields.
Facing a threat, bowing one's head would only lead to kneeling, then prostrating, and ultimately being trampled underfoot.
The only way to stand firm was to strike back, to make the enemy feel pain.
Zhenxin remained unfazed, dismissing the Martial-Mystic Cultivator before him.
"The Rice Palace isn't your enemy in this opportunity to excavate the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains. The Western Monster Race is. They will seize this chance to retaliate. Only by securing the Rice Palace's protection can you avoid being hunted."
"I hope the decision-makers of the Lingxiao Realm are rational enough to understand the situation and make the right choice."
Zuoqiu Hongting whispered, "The Ricefolk's ambitions extend far beyond the Ten Prefectures of the Nether Realm. Huoxin is a Top Chief-Level Genius with an invulnerable Physical Body and no discernible weaknesses. Most importantly, we don't know his trump cards. Striking blindly without knowing both ourselves and the enemy is a grave mistake."
A murderous intent stirred within her.
The Rice Palace had even schemed against the Zuoqiu Clan. If Snow Sword Tang Court acted rashly and agreed on behalf of the Lingxiao Realm, the Ricefolk would gain a pretext to demand and invade the Ten Prefectures of the Nether Realm.
Li Weiyi said, "Precisely because we don't know his true strength, we must act today. A public battle will force him to reveal his trump cards. Even if his trump cards are formidable, the Immortal Realm Giants of the Lingxiao Realm will shield us."
Zuoqiu Hongting instantly understood Li Weiyi's plan. By attacking now, with the Lingxiao Realm backing them, they could seize the opportunity to gauge Huoxin's true strength before attempting a proper assassination.
Zuoqiu Hongting asked her final question, "Why are you so determined to kill him?"
"In Old Yu Prefecture, he hunted me down and nearly brought me to my death," Li Weiyi replied.
Zuoqiu Hongting found it strange that she believed him: "I see. That's a good enough reason."
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
*************************************