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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 51 (488): [The Four Chapters of Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning]
(51st of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The Hidden Ones, Elders, Supreme Elders, and Ancient Hidden Ones of the Hidden Sect were not all gathered at their stronghold to avoid being wiped out in a single strike.
Li Weiyi followed the Hidden Lord to meet Elder Qin and two retired Ancient Hidden Lords.
One was Li Songgu's teacher, the Hidden Lord from two Jiazi cycles ago, now 132 years old.
The other was far more ancient, nearing 400 years old.
Both had long since abandoned worldly affairs, focusing solely on cultivation, traversing the world, and exploring Secret Realms.
The seven Immortal Shackles stood before them like insurmountable chasms.
Each was as difficult to overcome as ascending to heaven, and only by crossing them could one gain a Jiazi cycle (60 years) of lifespan.
Only by overcoming all seven could one reach the other shore and transcend the mortal realm.
For a millennium, no one from the Jiu Li Tribe or the Jiu Li Hidden Sect had reached that level.
Leaving the residences of the two Ancient Hidden Lords, Li Weiyi walked along a mist-cleared path.
The Hidden Lord smiled and asked, "How do you feel?"
"Their cultivation is unfathomable," Li Weiyi replied, his eyes filled with longing.
"You've only been cultivating for a short time. You'll catch up eventually."
The Hidden Lord continued, "The lifespan of a Martial-Mystic Cultivator in the Dao Seed Realm is two Jiazi (120 years), one hundred and twenty years. Cultivation in the Immortal Realm involves breaking the seven Immortal Shackles within one's body, achieving a qualitative leap in the level of life. Each broken shackle grants an additional Jiazi of lifespan."
"If one can break all seven shackles within their limited lifespan and reach the Seventh Realm, they will gain nine Jiazi of lifespan, living for five hundred and forty years. This is the life limit of an Immortal!"
"To advance further, to break through to the Transcendent Realm and live for over a thousand years, is as difficult as ascending to heaven."
"The Inheritors and Young Heavenly Emperor you see now are all extraordinary, possessing exceptional talent and intelligence. Yet ultimately, they will all be stuck somewhere within the seven realms of Immortal."
"In the entire Lingxiao Realm, over the past millennium, fewer than five individuals have successfully broken through to the Transcendent Realm, excluding those from the Twin Rice Sect. The Twin Rice Sect benefited from the heaven-defying fortune of the Underground Immortal Mansion, inheriting the legacy of the Ancient Bhagavata Sect and ascending as an entire sect. The Transcendent experts cultivated by this single sect surpass the combined power of the entire Lingxiao Realm. Such an opportunity is unprecedented in history."
Li Weiyi nodded in deep agreement.
He had no access to other resources, but the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone from the Underground Immortal Mansion alone allowed Psychic Masters to cultivate at a speed unattainable by those outside.
This glimpse revealed the full extent of the disparity.
Yang Shenjing, Xu Fodu, An Xianjing - each a Great Immortal Realm Cultivators with a resounding reputation.
In the Surging Spring Realm, Yang Shenjing had barely reached the Hundred Meridians, just meeting the threshold to become an Inheritor.
Li Weiyi had once clashed with him on the Psychic Stone Wall of the Hidden Sect.
Yet Yang Shenjing had lived for centuries, becoming one of the most promising candidates to ascend to the Transcendent Realm.
While the Divine Hidden Ones and Inheritors from the Ancient Myriad Sects in each Jiazi cycle possessed superior foundations, few had achieved Yang Shenjing's level of cultivation.
This suggested that the Ancient Bhagavata Sect must have left behind resources or secret techniques capable of helping Martial-Mystic Cultivators break free from the Immortal Shackles.
Intrigued, Li Weiyi resolved to question An Xianjing thoroughly at their next meeting.
The Hidden Lord continued, "The Transcendent beings who currently support the Lingxiao Realm, sheltering the world from wind and rain, almost all achieved their breakthroughs a millennium ago. This holds true for both the Ancient Myriad Sects and the Imperial Court. Do you know why?"
Li Weiyi replied, "The Lingxiao Realm has lost ninety percent of its territory to the Nether Realm of the Dead. Resources are scarce, the population has plummeted, and naturally, the number of cultivation prodigies has dwindled."
The Hidden Lord paused thoughtfully.
"Have you considered the opposite perspective?"
"Perhaps the Lingxiao Realm was simply far stronger a millennium ago. Of the experts who survived from the ancient Three Hundred Provinces, who among them was ordinary?"
"The Lingxiao Realm's current Transcendent elites are all remnants of the Mist Heavenly Sovereign's era, accumulated over centuries."
"It's precisely because of this deep foundation that we've been able to withstand the Western Monster Race, the Nether Realm of the Dead, the Demon Kingdom, and the Twin Rice Sect. Which other Living Realm of comparable size could have withstood such a fourfold attack?"
Li Weiyi's eyes widened in realization.
"Does that mean the Lingxiao Realm isn't weak among Living Realms?"
The Hidden Lord smiled: "That's exactly what I wanted you to understand. Though the Rice Palace, Calamity Crossing Temple, and Demon Clan are formidable, as long as we fight within the established rules, we have nothing to fear. If the Transcendent elites of the Lingxiao Realm unite and cease their internal strife, we need fear no one but the Martial-Mystic Dao Heavenly Emperors."
"Now you should understand the Mist Heavenly Sovereign's awe-inspiring power when she slaughtered over a dozen Transcendent beings in a single day. As long as she lived, the Calamity Crossing Temple and Rice Palace in the East Sea had no choice but to abide by the rules. We were never inferior to them."
"However, there are two great tragedies."
"The first is the Grand Palace Master's likely demise, orchestrated by the Second Palace Master. If she were still alive, if she retained the wisdom and insight she displayed over the past millennium, the Lingxiao Realm would truly fear nothing! We would be invulnerable to internal strife and external threats like Qilin Zhuang and the Demon Kingdom Crown Prince."
"The second regret is that, for the past millennium, including the present era, the Lingxiao Realm has suffered a decline. The number of experts in the Immortal Realm and below simply cannot compare to the Ancient Sects, Kingdoms, and Demon Clans outside. After all, the population disparity is undeniable, and the resources of the Twenty-Eight Prefectures remain finite."
A warm, rosy glow painted the horizon above the sea.
After a night of relentless travel, dawn gradually broke.
Li Weiyi arrived at Yao Qingxuan's residence, knocked on the door, and entered.
Yao Qingxuan sat by the window, a scripture in her hands. The lamplight illuminated her head, casting a luminous halo around each strand of hair. Her cheeks were as fair as snow, her gaze serene and undisturbed, as if untouched by the recent turmoil.
Her thoughts ran deep, her character unyielding. Having weathered countless trials and tribulations, she was a far from the Yaoyin of today.
"You escaped alive?" she remarked, her eyes never leaving the scripture, "The Rice Palace's strength below the Immortal Realm is more than ten times that of the Lingxiao Realm. Your audacity is truly boundless."
Li Weiyi exuded the same composure that Qiongji Daozi had displayed when standing beside Yao Qingxuan.
"The Rice Palace is indeed a colossal force, a Holy Land teeming with hidden power. But the younger generation hasn't fully mobilized in the East Sea. In terms of Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators, the Lingxiao Realm holds an absolute advantage."
"Last night, I met with Yaoyin and told her everything I needed to. She's always been stubborn, but she's not unreasonable. I'm sure she'll understand you."
Yao Qingxuan's eyes narrowed as she looked up from the scriptures.
"You'd best stay out of this. It has nothing to do with you."
"Master is worried about me getting caught up in danger, aren't you? You're one of the few people who truly care about me. When I needed help most, Yaoyin sold the properties you left her to buy cultivation resources for me. I remember every kindness!" Li Weiyi declared.
Yao Qingxuan fell into thought: "How is she?"
"I know her. She'll be fine."
Li Weiyi asked, "Does Master know if the Twin Rice Sect has any resources or secret techniques to help break the Immortal Shackles?"
Yao Qingxuan's expression remained calm, as if she had long suspected this.
"They likely do, but those are top-tier secrets I never had access to. It might be related to the "Nine-Page Radiant Stellar Tome" or the "Jidi (Emperor Ji's) Primordial Chaos Sutra.." It's hard to say. There may be shortcuts to cultivating in the Immortal Realm, but innate talent will always be paramount."
"Take Tang Wanzhou, for example. She reached the Immortal Realm less than two years ago and has already broken the Soul Return Shackle, entering the second realm. She's driven countless self-proclaimed geniuses among Martial-Mystic Cultivators to despair, like mayflies gazing at the vast sky."
"You should know that it's not uncommon for Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Immortal Realm to exhaust their lifespans without even reaching the second stage."
"Breaking free from the Soul Return Shackle within forty years of achieving Immortal Realm is considered decent. The next Jiazi - sixty years plus twenty - is allotted to breaking the third shackle."
"Breaking through within twenty years is considered superior. You must understand, this is among the elite of Immortal Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators."
"Breaking through within ten years is exceedingly rare, achievable only by True Disciples of Ancient Sects or those who've encountered extraordinary opportunities."
Li Weiyi detected the bitterness and self-mockery in Yao Qingxuan's tone.
Wasn't she herself once proud of her exceptional Innate Talent?
Tang Wanzhou's rapid advancement to the second stage was undoubtedly due to her near-death trials under the Six Thoughts Heart Spirit Curse and her experiences in the Blood Mud Space.
She had explicitly stated that the Blood Qi and spiritual power within the Blood Mud Space could aid her in breaking the Soul Return Shackle.
Li Weiyi trusted Yao Qingxuan, but with his current cultivation level, he dared not expose the Blood Mud Space to too many people.
The more who knew, the greater the risk of complications.
Perhaps only when one's cultivation reached a sufficient level could one truly be fearless.
Sending Tang Wanzhou into the blood mud space had been a desperate measure.
Fortunately, though Tang Wanzhou was shameless and persistent, he understood the principle of reciprocity and had proven invaluable to Li Weiyi.
"This disciple has obtained a True Scripture and offers it to Master for study," Li Weiyi said.
Knowing that Yao Qingxuan's cultivation methods originated from the Yao Li Tribe, Li Weiyi retrieved a True Scripture with similar principles from the scriptures within the Divine Martial Tower of Lingxiao Palace and placed it on the table.
"A True Scripture?" Yao Qingxuan exclaimed inwardly, immediately picking up the jade-like object from the table for closer examination.
An ancient and sacred aura emanated from it, penetrating directly into her Soul Spirit.
Dense scriptures began to surface on the jade's surface.
Studying a True Scripture was entirely different from studying a transcribed copy, and the speed of cultivation was vastly accelerated.
"This artifact is priceless, capable of establishing an entire sect. Is this something you can just casually flaunt?" Yao Qingxuan demanded.
"Then give it back," Li Weiyi said, reaching out to retrieve it.
"Get lost. I'll study it for a while and return it," Yao Qingxuan retorted.
...
Blood Mud Space.
Li Weiyi wove a Cocoon of Time, then retrieved four pages of the Earth Book to study and contemplate.
These four pages of the Earth Book bore no traces of Azure Cloud Qi and contained the scriptures on Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning.
As time passed, corresponding scriptures manifested within the Twelve Dao Lotuses of Divine Palace and the Wind Mansion Dao Fruit.
He refrained from delving deeper into contemplation.
Li Weiyi understood that such profound and extensive scriptures as the Earth Book required prolonged cultivation and contemplation to yield results.
His most pressing need now was to enhance his combat prowess as quickly as possible.
Once Wu Hongling reported the news, the Rice Palace would undoubtedly send investigators into the underground caverns, potentially triggering unforeseen consequences.
"Whoosh! Whoosh..."
Propelled by Li Weiyi's Spiritual Qi, the four pages of the Earth Book shot forth with blade-like speed and sharpness.
The pages radiated faint traces of Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning.
Li Weiyi extended his palm and retrieved the four pages.
"Without prior comprehension, they cannot be activated. Once comprehended, they can be used as Spiritual Artifacts."
"Perhaps, with deeper contemplation in the future, the Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning power they unleash will grow stronger."
"When Fu Wenyan was in his most perilous moment, he used the Earth Book as a protective spiritual artifact. But why do his two pages of the Earth Book possess Azure Cloud Qi?"
Li Weiyi couldn't fathom the reason and stored the Earth Book away.
He then began absorbing the radiant starlight emitted by the Book of Radiant Stars to cultivate his Psychic Power.
Simultaneously, he retrieved materials to craft Earth Sword Talismans, Divine Swiftness Talismans, and Immobilization Talismans.
In the short term, talisman crafting was the fastest way to enhance his strength.
After reaching the Eight-Star Spiritual Master realm, his success rate in crafting Earth Sword Talismans significantly improved.
However, due to the limitations of the talismanic runes themselves, the Earth Sword Talisman could only match the full-force strike of a Seventh Heaven Martial-Mystic Cultivator.
Li Weiyi's unique Psychic Power had slightly enhanced its potency.
Once he gained sufficient familiarity, he would undoubtedly attempt to craft Heaven Sword Talismans.
He remained within the Cocoon of Time for only ten days.
Hidden Nine stood outside the door, the sun hanging behind the rooftop behind him, and smiled.
"The Divine Hidden One truly possesses remarkable composure. Snow Sword Tang Court, Rice Palace, Calamity Crossing Temple, Zuoqiu Clan - all factions are searching for you, yet you're in secluded cultivation."
"Have I disturbed you?"
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END OF CHAPTER
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