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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 56 (493): [Thirty Thousand Li in the Deep Sea]
(56th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"It's all thanks to Shaoyang Star," Master Coffin said, "The Blood Qi there gradually restored my body, and the spiritual power nourished my Remnant Soul. It's a pity that my Third Eye Spirit Realm was destroyed. If the Psychic Power (Nianli) Stars were still intact, I might have had a chance to rekindle its light."
Master Coffin showed little regret, already content with what he had.
He differed greatly from Zen Hai Guanwu.
Zen Hai Guanwu harbored grander ambitions, striving for higher goals: to regain flesh and blood, reclaim her position as Ancient Heavenly Emperor, and ascend to the Immortal Realm against all odds.
Master Coffin, on the other hand, was merely a Corpse Spirit. What set him apart from other Corpse Spirits with transcendent bodies was the Bronze Ancient Ship, which had preserved his memories from his previous life. Shaoyang Star had nourished his body, Remnant Soul, and Other Shore Heavenly Pill.
As Li Weiyi first entered Shaoyang Star, Master Coffin had explained that during the battle a millennium ago, spatial power had guided them to Shaoyang Star before their departure.
This connection to Shaoyang Star allowed all participants to draw upon its power to heal their wounds and nourish their souls.
It was a special privilege granted by Dao Ancestor's Tai Chi Fish Master to those who fought in the war.
Even after Master Guan had been reduced to ashes and buried deep within the Blood Mud Space, he could still manifest a humanoid body of Blood Mud. This demonstrated the mysterious and formidable power of Shaoyang Star.
Master Coffin said, "We went to the Underground Immortal Mansion to find energy substances that could rapidly restore our cultivation. Without that journey, I wouldn't have been able to regain my Transcendents-level strength, though I'm still far from my peak condition."
Li Weiyi pondered this: "So, excavating the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains will be our next opportunity to recover our power?"
"Exactly!"
Master Coffin asked, "What about Mist Celestial?"
Li Weiyi shook his head and sighed: "She hasn't contacted me. At times, I can vaguely sense her location, but the feeling is so faint, like trying to catch the wind with my bare hands - I can't be sure if I've truly grasped anything."
The Spirit Tablet Master's voice echoed from within the coffin: "With your current cultivation, a Yang Marriage Bride can't stray too far from you."
Li Weiyi was mildly surprised to hear the Spirit Tablet Master was also inside the coffin.
"How far is too far?" he asked.
"I don't know! I only know that if your Yang Bride leaves you beyond a certain distance, she will become exposed to the Law of Life," the Spirit Tablet Master replied.
Master Coffin countered, "Not necessarily. Mist Celestial's Hundred Hells Wind Chime is crafted from Immortal Bone, which might allow her to evade the Law of Life."
Li Weiyi, keenly aware of his own path to cultivation, asked, "Do either of you know about the Sentinel Spirit Army?"
"Have they contacted you?"
"For you, that would be a good place to go," Master Coffin said, "I served as the Sentinel Lord of the Cave Void Camp for some time and am quite familiar with the area. Once we've settled things here, we'll go together."
"Master Coffin truly knows everything and has done everything," Li Weiyi said with a smile, finally feeling reassured.
They left the room.
Li Weiyi and the Hidden Lord ascended the narrow staircase.
The Hidden Lord's voice was filled with worry: "The Chief's return is undoubtedly a momentous occasion, but what about the Earthwolf King's Army? If we don't retrieve the Immortal Star soon, Shinaer will break through to the Transcendent realm, and we'll face unimaginable trouble. Barbarian bandits will always seek to break free from their restraints."
Li Weiyi realized that the Hidden Sect likely had no idea of Master Coffin's true strength, believing him to be merely a corpse and thus sending Old Zhuo to protect him.
Master Coffin's deliberate concealment of his power must stem from his own concerns.
But Li Weiyi had already devised a plan to retrieve Shinaer's Immortal Star - it was essential.
Reaching the deck, they saw Zuoqiu Hongting in her Daoist robes, arriving from the sea, riding the wind and treading on moonlight.
Her delicate figure, sculpted like jade, finally revealed her true appearance.
She descended gracefully and offered a serene bow, radiating the ethereal elegance of an immortal.
"Greetings, Hidden Lord. The Ancestor wishes to see you both."
...
A bright lamp illuminated the highest deck of the Zuoqiu Sect's flagship.
Zuoqiu Ran sat at a desk piled high with ancient texts, his expression grave as he observed the three figures in the room.
After a long silence, he finally spoke: "It's possible this is connected to the Immortal Dao Dragon Meridian."
The Hidden Lord held his breath, focusing his Spiritual Qi: "Master, what's the current situation?"
"This matter is of utmost importance, so I can't reveal too much. The underground space has shifted to another location. All parties have agreed to temporarily conceal the truth and immediately begin excavating the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains. You three are privy to this information - I must warn you again: absolute secrecy is paramount."
Zuoqiu Ran retrieved two talismans from the wide sleeves of his Confucian robes and handed them to Li Weiyi and Zuoqiu Hongting.
"The excavation of the Ancient Immortal Dragon Remains presents an extraordinary opportunity for both of you, but it also carries immense danger and fierce competition. We won't be able to protect you there."
"Are you prepared to face the likes of Sheng Wulian, Si Wuyan, and the other Young Celestial Emperors of the Ninth Heaven?"
Zuoqiu Hongting glanced at the talisman in her hand: "Is this to protect our lives?"
"Ten Thousand Miles Divine Swift Talisman!" Zuoqiu Ran declared.
"If you face mortal danger," he continued, "activate this talisman. It will unleash unparalleled speed, and its Talisman Light provides formidable defense, allowing you to escape ten thousand miles in a short time."
"Hurry up and thank the Ancestor!" the Hidden Lord urged, gently kicking Li Weiyi, "Even Great Immortal cultivators would covet this talisman. It's worth a life."
Li Weiyi understood that Zuoqiu Ran was treating him as Zuoqiu Hongting's fiancé, hence the equal treatment and the gift of this talisman.
Accepting it would tacitly acknowledge the Ancestor's authority.
Li Weiyi already owed Zuoqiu Ran a deep debt of gratitude and held him in profound respect.
Acknowledging him as an ancestor was no issue.
But the matter of marriage to Zuoqiu Hongting...
"Ancestor," Li Weiyi said, "are you underestimating us? We shouldn't need such a treasure to deal with them."
"Good! That's the spirit!" Zuoqiu Ran responded immediately, as if he had been waiting for this very remark, "Listen carefully, you two. Whoever uses this talisman first will have their next life-saving measure downgraded by one level. The one who uses it last will receive an additional reward. Do you know why?"
Zuoqiu Hongting sat as still as a painted scroll, resembling a refined Confucian Dao scholar rather than her usual lively self.
"The Ancestor wants us to act with caution and rely on our own wisdom and strength to solve problems."
Li Weiyi added, "He fears that if we have powerful tools, we'll become arrogant and reckless, provoking anyone and doing anything without considering our true capabilities."
Zuoqiu Ran nodded: "That's why I didn't give you offensive talismans. But just because I didn't provide them doesn't mean other sects' elders haven't equipped their disciples."
"Rest assured, Ancestor," Li Weiyi and Zuoqiu Hongting said in unison, "We'll proceed with utmost caution."
Zuoqiu Ran frowned, his brow furrowing: "I remember during the engagement banquet, Xiao Gu gave you engagement tokens - the Wind-Fire Dragon-Phoenix Pendants, right? The Wind Dragon Pendant and Fire Phoenix Pendant. Why aren't you wearing them? They're Thousand-Inscriptions Artifacts with formidable defensive capabilities."
Li Weiyi understood perfectly what the Ancestor was implying and glanced at Zuoqiu Hongting.
Hongting pretended not to notice until he gave her a pleading look.
Zuoqiu Hongting said, "Old man, stop worrying about us young people! We've already discussed it - we won't consider marriage until we reach the Immortal Realm."
Zuoqiu Ran kept the Hidden Lord behind for a private conversation, while Li Weiyi and Zuoqiu Hongting left the room.
Li Weiyi asked, "What do you mean 'not considering marriage until the Immortal Realm'? Shouldn't we just break off the engagement? We're brothers who share life and death!"
"If we don't stall him, the old man might force us to marry right now. How would you explain that to Jiang Ning?" Zuoqiu Hongting reverted to her true self, shedding her demure and elegant facade, and winked at him.
She understood Li Weiyi better than anyone.
Among his many romantic interests, Jiang Ning was the only one he truly cared for.
Otherwise, why would he have insisted on sending Jiang Ning away from Lingxiao City?
As for whether they should break off the engagement or go through with the marriage, Zuoqiu Hongting didn't particularly care.
She hadn't even given it much thought.
Hearing Jiang Ning's name, Li Weiyi glanced at Zuoqiu Hongting, who stood beside him with an indifferent expression. A pang of guilt struck his heart, and his thoughts drifted far away.
Li Weiyi said, "Keep the Myriad Manifestations Staff-Spear for now. When the time comes, you'll need to become Li Weiyi again."
"Actually, I could also play Liu Fengshu," Zuoqiu Hongting said with a gentle smile, "The Peachwood Staff suits me better."
Li Weiyi's heart stirred.
He realized this suggestion had merit.
A mix of truth and deception would keep their enemies guessing.
They returned to the Jiu Li Clan's ship.
Li Weiyi descended to the lower deck and secluded himself in Master Coffin's cabin.
He activated the Dao Ancestor's Tai Chi Fish, entering the Blood Mud Space.
Master Coffin and Spirit Tablet Master followed him inside.
Li Weiyi fed the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors Essence Medicine that was five thousand years old. He then handed the "Great Earth's Primordial Essence Spiritual Qi Chapter" from the Earth Tome to Master Coffin for study, confident that this Manual would greatly accelerate the Master's recovery.
Over the next period, Li Weiyi wove a Time Cocoon and began refining Earth Sword Talismans using Transcendent Bone.
These Transcendent Bone Earth Sword Talismans would be far more durable and sharper, preventing them from shattering easily.
Under Spirit Tablet Master's guidance, he also attempted to refine Heaven Sword Talismans.
Days turned into weeks.
The journey from Moon Dragon Island to Nine Ring Reef spanned nearly thirty thousand li. Propelled by the ship's Formation, it took eleven days to reach their destination.
Within the Time Cocoon, two months had already passed.
...
Nine Ring Reef, located in the deep waters of the East Sea, comprises nine small island reefs.
Standing on the deck, one could see the massive Copper Pillars rising from the reef tops, each towering over a hundred zhang above the surface - a truly awe-inspiring sight.
The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the East Sea continuously converged upon these pillars, condensing into crackling lightning.
Thunder rumbled incessantly.
These were the nine Dragon-Locking Pillars forged by the Rice Palace and Calamity Crossing Temple, each as heavy as a mountain.
Far removed from the Lingxiao Realm, this region was shrouded in the dark power of the Nether Realm of the Dead, where eternal night reigned.
The sea teemed with countless Malevolent Demons, creatures of low intelligence and savage temperament.
The Jiu Li Clan's warships followed the Zuoqiu Sect's fleet toward the waters surrounding Phoenix Stone Reef.
The older generation of powerhouses, led by the Transcendents, had already descended into the subterranean depths.
Master Coffin and Spirit Tablet Master were secretly escorted underground by Old Zhuo.
The sky hung low with thick, oppressive storm clouds.
At the summons of Zhu Qishier Chongtian and Tang Zhan, representatives from various states and regions of the Lingxiao Realm's younger generation of Martial-Mystic Cultivators gathered aboard the Zhu Sect's Crimson Jade Ancient Warship to discuss their next course of action.
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END OF CHAPTER
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