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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 103 (540): [The Battle for True Disciple Position]
(103rd of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The Hidden Lord removed his metal mask, revealing a lean, middle-aged face with temples framed by shoulder-length hair.
He gazed at the golden, scale-like shimmer of the sea, his expression bitter.
"That day at the Dragon City Ruins, she nearly exposed her secret of being alive, making it impossible for her to remain in the Lingxiao Realm."
"After we parted, she traveled north along the East Sea. Perhaps she went to the Rainforest Living Realm north of the East Sea, or perhaps she ventured even further."
"The world is vast, but danger lurks everywhere. She might die far from home, never to be heard from again. Or perhaps, years later, she will secretly return, like a weary traveler from afar, or a weathered wanderer come home. But how many years will that be?"
"If the Jiu Li Gods still existed, if King Cang still lived, if the Chief regained his cultivation, perhaps everything would be different. Perhaps!"
Li Weiyi sensed the Hidden Lord's helplessness and deep sorrow.
"Don't be so pessimistic. Master Yao is a Immortal Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator, wise and resourceful. She rose to the position of Venerable One even in the treacherous Lingxiao Twin Rice Sect. Perhaps it won't be long before she achieves Great Immortal, or even becomes a Transcendent, returning as an unfathomable powerhouse to surprise us with a long-awaited reunion."
In truth, his heart was heavy with sorrow.
Forced departure and voluntary departure were worlds apart.
No matter how strong her spirit, loneliness would torment her.
No matter how formidable her cultivation, there would be times when she was gravely wounded and helpless.
Alone, fleeting moments of carefree solitude would give way to endless years of hardship and wasted potential.
"We can only hope for the best!"
The Hidden Lord forced a smile and straightened his posture.
"At least everything is moving in the right direction. The Chief has returned, the Sui Sect and Coffin Mountain have been routed, and Li Province is now stable."
"Cang Li, Hidden Nine, Yin Shiyi, and Li Ling are all growing rapidly... Oh, what about Yaoyin? I heard she was last seen with you. The Calamity Crossing Temple has sent inquiries three times already."
"Her?"
Li Weiyi and the Hidden Lord walked across the sea, returning to Moon Dragon Island.
Moon Dragon Island, guarded by powerful members of the Demon Clan, forbade fighting and killing, making it relatively safe.
The Hidden Lord and Hidden One had secretly met on a ship outside the island when they were ambushed and assassinated.
The Hidden Scet Stronghold on the island remained undiscovered.
Upon learning of Hidden One's tragic death, the Hidden Lord fell silent, clearly having anticipated this outcome.
After landing on the island, Li Weiyi claimed he was going to retrieve Yaoyin and Hidden Twenty-Four.
He found a secluded alley in the Sea Market and released them from the Blood Mud Space.
"If you seal us away again without any explanation, I'm going to be furious!" Hidden Twenty-Four huffed, her eyes wide with indignation.
Li Weiyi remained indifferent, leading the way forward. "Divine Hidden One don't need to explain themselves to Hidden Ones. You'd better remember your place."
Hidden Twenty-Four glared at Yaoyin.
Yaoyin hurried after them: "We know you're hiding a great secret, but Hidden Ones would never betray Divine Hidden One. You don't trust us enough."
Li Weiyi stopped, his demeanor toward Yaoyin completely different from his coldness toward Hidden Twenty-Four.
He smiled: "Hidden Twenty-Four's cultivation is too weak, and she lacks the cunning necessary for trust. But if you become a True Disciple of the Calamity Crossing Temple, I'll tell you any secret you ask."
"Really?"
Yaoyin's bright, beautiful eyes still held a hint of anger, but her resolve had already begun to waver.
The alliance against Li Weiyi that she and Hidden Twenty-Four had planned was crumbling before it could even form.
"Of course."
Li Weiyi added, "You're not angry anymore, are you?"
"Do you think I'm that easily appeased? Unless you teach me the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Altering Manual..." Yaoyin tilted her head, her gaze icy.
Before she could finish speaking, Li Weiyi agreed, "Alright!"
Yaoyin's icy gaze shifted to surprise.
She had only made a casual remark, never expecting him to agree so readily.
Li Weiyi knew the True Disciple of the Ancient Sect competition was bloody and brutal, akin to vying for the throne.
He worried about Yaoyin's safety at the Calamity Crossing Temple.
Learning the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Altering Manual would give her a better chance of survival.
Hidden Twenty-Four, feeling Yaoyin lacked backbone for being so easily manipulated, said coldly, "I want to learn it too."
Li Weiyi snapped, "What are you learning it for? Would you even understand it? You'd just make things worse!"
"You taught me the Transformation Technique," Hidden Twenty-Four retorted.
"If I hadn't, another Hidden One from the Hidden Sect would have," Li Weiyi countered, "Giving the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Altering Manual to Yaoyin allows her to compete for the True Disciple position at the Calamity Crossing Temple. What would you compete for?"
Seeing them bickering again, Yaoyin quickly intervened to mediate.
Even she felt Li Weiyi was being unfairly biased, as if deliberately provoking conflict between them.
"Yaoyin, I'll teach you the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Altering Manual, but you must never share it with anyone else."
Li Weiyi strode toward the stronghold's gate, inwardly muttering, 'They think they can pressure me by teaming up? I need to dismantle this alliance before it forms.'
The Hidden Lord observed the trio from afar, his heart heavy with concern.
As Li Weiyi approached, he transmitted a warning: "The Calamity Crossing Temple remains a Daoist sect. The selection of True Disciples places great emphasis on appearances. Before Yaoyin secures her position, you must exercise restraint."
"Yaoyin's appearance isn't good enough? She's undoubtedly among the top few in the Lingxiao Realm... What exactly are you implying?" Li Weiyi asked, his expression freezing.
The Hidden Lord nodded: "Exactly that."
Li Weiyi fell silent, feeling unjustly accused.
Far from entertaining the Hidden Lord's suspicions, he hadn't even properly touched Yaoyin's hand, let alone harbored any improper thoughts.
"Greetings, Hidden Lord!" Yaoyin and Hidden Twenty-Four had already entered, leaving no room for further discussion.
Seeing Yaoyin, the Hidden Lord finally emerged from his grief over Hidden One's death, a smile surfacing on his face.
"You've condensed the Dao Lotus! Excellent! The clan has prepared ample Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi for you. Until you reach the Immortal Realm, you need not worry about resources. However, your path to becoming a True Disciple will face its most formidable competitor yet."
Yaoyin, unlike her submissive demeanor around Li Weiyi, possessed her own innate dignity and was far from weak.
"I fear no competition. What satisfaction is there in obtaining something too easily?"
"Don't you want to know who that person is?" the Hidden Lord asked.
Yaoyin replied, "Within the Calamity Crossing Temple's hundred-year history, only two individuals have cultivated a Immortal Body and achieved Breakthrough to Immortal. The opportunity in the East Sea might allow a few Dao Seed Realm disciples to further refine their talents, but the number of true contenders will certainly not exceed five."
Yaoyin held little regard for most of the Young Celestial Emperors from the Dao Seed Realm throughout the Calamity Crossing Temple's history.
The Demon Child, for example, wasn't even among the five she considered worthy of mention.
"It's Zuoqiu Hongting," the Hidden Lord revealed.
Li Weiyi and Yaoyin both froze in surprise.
The Hidden Lord continued, "This isn't mere speculation. Zuoqiu Hongting herself declared at a gathering before departing for the Calamity Crossing Temple that her purpose was to claim the position of True Disciple. Cang Li, Hidden Nine, Zhu Yibai, Tang Wanqiu, and others have already returned to the temple to cultivate."
"Li Weiyi, you should be well aware of Zuoqiu Hongting's talent and intellect."
"With the dramatic changes in the East Sea and the revival of the Immortal Dao Dragon Meridian, the Calamity Crossing Temple needs to leverage the Zuoqiu Sect's influence in the region to seize territory and resources. Appointing her as a True Disciple could very well be a condition demanded by the Zuoqiu Sect."
Li Weiyi asked, "Could it be because the Hidden Ancestor has emerged and the Chief has returned, making the Zuoqiu Sect feel they can no longer control the Jiu Li Clan? Even allies compete with each other."
"Competition is inherent in everything!" the Hidden Lord said, glancing at Yaoyin, "Don't the Jiu Li Clan members and even the Hidden Ones compete among themselves?"
Yaoyin regained her composure and said solemnly, "If it's her, my fighting spirit will burn even brighter."
Li Weiyi retrieved two Immortal Herb Petals from the Underground Immortal Mansion and handed them to her.
"There are only two. Whether you can cultivate a Immortal Body depends entirely on you."
"Thank you, Divine Hidden One! Yaoyin will repay this debt," she vowed.
"I've added it to your tab!"
...
As dusk deepened, lanterns lit up the courtyard.
Li Weiyi and the Hidden Lord sat in a pavilion by the pond, conversing.
Hidden Twenty-Four brought them four small dishes and fermented rice wine.
"The Immortal Dao Dragon Vein has indeed awakened, encompassing nearly 30,000 miles of sea."
"While the cultivation environment is excellent, the coming years will be far from peaceful. Conflict is inevitable as various factions vie for dominance and resources. I advise you to return to Li Province for now. Once things stabilize and we establish our sect here, you can return."
The Hidden Lord informed Li Weiyi that the Jiu Li Clan planned to establish the Jiu Li Sect atop the Immortal Dao Dragon Vein in the East Sea and were currently selecting a suitable location.
"Since the Grand Palace Master revealed herself, the Three Island Barbarians and Dragon Sect have become skittish, withdrawing their forces in fear of retribution."
"The Three Islands are now occupied by the Rice Palace, Calamity Crossing Temple, and Thundercloud Sect respectively."
Li Weiyi raised his wine cup, his expression slightly surprised.
The Three Islands were massive, each capable of housing tens of millions of people, and all were covered by the Immortal Dao Dragon Vein.
"How did the Thundercloud Sect manage to seize such a vast prize?"
"The Thundercloud Sect secured the support of the Jellyfish Clan, likely through some promise or agreement."
The Hidden Lord smiled: "The Snow Sword Tang Court controls the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, while the Zuoqiu Sect conquered the Underground Immortal Mansion. With heaven and earth claimed, the Thundercloud Sect naturally wouldn't settle for obscurity. With the Imperial Court in hiding, they now stand as one of the three most powerful forces in the Lingxiao Realm."
The Imperial Court hid to evade retaliation from the Flying Phoenix and the Demon Kingdom, as well as the Zen Hai Guanwu's enemies from a thousand years ago.
Li Weiyi's mind raced: "The Underground Immortal Mansion was conquered jointly by the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiu Li Clan. The Jiu Li Clan must have claimed a significant portion of the territory, right? Lao Li, send more people to excavate. There must be more pages of the Luminous Star Tome down there - those are the true treasures."
The Hidden Lord nodded, then sighed: "It's not that easy to dig up. The Lingxiao Twin Rice Sect has been excavating for a thousand years and only found nine pages. Perhaps you should oversee the excavation at the Underground Immortal Mansion?"
"Whoosh!"
Night mist surged rapidly into the stronghold, coalescing into Elder Qin's gaunt figure.
Elder Qin's expression was grave.
When he saw Li Weiyi sitting in the pavilion, his face lit up.
In a raspy voice, he asked, "What exactly happened? I heard there was trouble at the Hidden Sect - a Immortal Realm battle erupted at sea, and the Jiu Li Clan suffered heavy casualties."
The Hidden Lord and Li Weiyi rose to greet him.
Li Weiyi said, "It's already resolved! How did you hear about this so quickly, Elder Qin? Were you nearby?"
Elder Qin had rushed from the Sentinel Spirit Army's outpost on Moon Dragon Island.
Unable to explain his presence to the Hidden Lord, he gave a vague answer before turning his gaze to Li Weiyi.
"Where's the Grand Palace Master?"
The Hidden Lord was also curious about this.
However, he assumed someone of the Grand Palace Master's stature wouldn't reveal her whereabouts to a junior like Li Weiyi, so he had refrained from asking.
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END OF CHAPTER
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