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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 110 (365): [The West Sea King's Mansion]
(110th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Tai Shi Bai said, "The world today is in turmoil. Only by uniting can the Human Clan's major powers defeat the Demon Clan and counter the Heretical Sect's challenges."
"If you've come for Zhuang Yue, I'll do everything in my power to help you two lovers be together. I respect your loyalty and your courage to love and hate."
"But if you're a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Clan to infiltrate Lingxiao City and replace Zhou Bida within the Tai Shi Clan, tell me the truth now. Considering our past acquaintance, I'll let you leave the city. I'll take responsibility for Phoenix Terrace. Consider it a favor to a friend, a contribution to the Human Clan's unity."
Li Weiyi asked, "You'll believe anything I say?"
Tai Shi Bai smiled: "In times of chaos, deception and ruthlessness prevail. Humanity is eroded, and hearts become inscrutable. Perhaps I'm too trusting and sentimental. But I refuse to believe that every sincere gesture is met with hypocrisy and ingratitude. If even once sincerity can be met with sincerity, it's enough to fill me with hope and love for this world."
Li Weiyi felt even more conflicted. He found it difficult to lie to someone who had placed their trust in him.
He said, "Young Master Bai, rest assured. I am neither a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Clan nor the Jiu Li Tribe, and I would never harm the Tai Shi Clan. I, too, deeply desire the unity of the Human Clan."
Tai Shi Bai breathed a sigh of relief, the worry in his eyes fading.
He smiled: "Those words are enough! From now on, don't call me Young Master Bai. With your innate talent and potential, you are more than worthy to be my brother."
"Let's not dwell on what's already happened. There's a way we might be able to make Phoenix Terrace compromise."
Li Weiyi asked, "What way?"
....
Jiang Ning didn't ride an Exotic Beast back to Phoenix Terrace. She kept her Dao Heart Manifestation within a one-zhang radius as she walked down the street in silence, lost in thought.
Zhuang Yue followed behind her, remaining silent throughout.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ning spoke: "You've been with me since you were nine, haven't you?"
"Yes!" Zhuang Yue replied.
"I can't control what others do, but I can still make decisions about your life. But Zuo Ning... I can't quite put my finger on him. I sense his intentions aren't pure, yet his determination to take you away when he left, his genuine desire to save you, was undeniable. If you're truly set on him, I won't force you to stay..."
"Miss!"
Zhuang Yue knelt before her, tears streaming down her face, "I... I won't leave. I'll stay with you for the rest of my life. Zuo Ning... he's nothing but a harmful scoundrel. I'll make him understand, and I'll explain everything to you too."
"Get up at once!" Jiang Ning snapped.
Not far away, a figure flickered into existence.
Ge Xiantong appeared before Jiang Ning, complaining, "You asked me to handle something, but then you canceled the operation without even informing me?"
Ge Xiantong had been hired by Jiang Ning to deal with Zuo Ning, responsible for a different direction.
"I sent someone to notify you!" Jiang Ning retorted.
Ge Xiantong said, "Then it seems I missed it! I ran into Li Jiao just now and got delayed for a moment."
Li Jiao was Yin Shi Yi.
"Li Jiao of the Jiu Li Tribe?" Jiang Ning asked.
Ge Xiantong replied, "He saved me at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, so I'm very familiar with his aura. I was originally releasing my Intent to sense what was happening over here, but I unexpectedly discovered him."
Jiang Ning wore a thoughtful expression: "Li Jiufu is here, and Li Jiao is here too. They're both from the Jiu Li Hidden Sect. Doesn't that seem a bit unusual?"
"Are you suggesting the Jiu Li Hidden Sect is planning something? Or perhaps they're just here to join the excitement surrounding the Ninefold Dao Image Diagram," Ge Xiantong said.
"Perhaps," Jiang Ning replied.
She sent a Spiritual Qi message to Zhuang Yue: "Go find Chen Chuan and ask him what the Jiu Li Hidden Sect is really up to and how many Hidden Ones have come. Be sure to intimidate him. Tell him we have concrete intelligence and that if he doesn't tell the truth, I'll report him to the Phoenix Terrace."
Zhuang Yue's eyes immediately cleared.
She hurried off, realizing the Jiu Li Hidden Sect must be planning something big. After all, their Hidden Ones had arrived!
Ge Xiantong said, "Tonight is Song Yulou's sixtieth birthday, and the entire city is buzzing with excitement. He's considered the number one cultivator below the Lingxiao Realm's Immortal Realm. The Demon Child Senior Brother from Calamity Crossing Temple will definitely bring the Ninefold Dao Image Diagram to challenge him. This battle will be watched by the entire world. Do you want to go see it?"
....
Tai Shi Bai said, "In the two days you've been in seclusion, three groups from the West Sea Royal Manor's Song Clan have secretly sought me out, all because of you. If not for the 'Closed-Door Meditation' sign on your door, I would have forced my way in long ago."
"Why... because of the Ghost Mother? Did I cause trouble?" Li Weiyi asked.
Tai Shi Bai waved his hand and chuckled.
"Far from causing trouble, you might have actually helped them greatly. Song Qingli has regained some of her consciousness."
"If that's the case, what do they want? If it's a thanks gift, they could have just sent it over directly," Li Weiyi said with a smile.
Tai Shi Bai replied, "As far as I know, Song Qingli is the most powerful Ghost Mother among all of them. No one knows whether she resisted the Strange power through her own formidable cultivation or if it was related to your battle with her."
"The Song Clan sent people to ask you to confirm this."
"I recall you using a Psychic Technique called 'Clear Mind, Purge Evil' on the Post Ship. Was it related to this?"
Li Weiyi shook his head: "I've seen Ghost Mothers and Ghost Infants - they're practically monsters, their bodies completely mutated. It's not just a matter of consciousness; it's more like they've been afflicted by Corpse Poison, rare medicine, or curses. A simple Psychic Technique wouldn't have that kind of power."
Tai Shi Bai nodded: "The Grand Temple of Eternal Harmony shares the same view. But since the Song Clan has come seeking your help, you can use this opportunity to make demands."
"Can the Song Clan really influence the decisions of the Phoenix Terrace?" Li Weiyi asked.
Tai Shi Bai replied, "The King of the Western Sea is second only to the Three Palace Masters. Remember, the ten thousand Western Sea Slaves are the Lingxiao Realm's most formidable iron army. They were once known as 'The Western Sea Slaves Never Fall, Lingxiao City Never Falls.'"
"Over a decade ago, when the Western Sea Slaves were at their peak, even the Second and Third Palace Masters had to treat the King of the Western Sea with respect."
"The Cangyuan battle was a crushing defeat for the Western Sea Slaves, with thirty thousand casualties. This defeat marked the beginning of widespread chaos across the realm. Without it, no one in the Twenty-Eight Provinces of Lingxiao would have dared to rebel."
At South Yan Pass, the Giant Spirit Army, composed of eight thousand Five Seas Soldiers, formed a formation. Their combined battle intent and Formations coalesced into an Ancient Immortal giant, led by Tai Shi Qingcang, giving them the power to confront even Transcendent beings.
At their peak, half of the ten thousand Western Sea Slaves were Five Seas Soldiers.
Tai Shi Bai continued, "The current Clan Head of the Song Clan, Song Yulou, is Song Qingli's uncle and the greatest expert in the Lingxiao Realm below the Immortal Realm. Tonight is his sixtieth birthday, and he certainly wouldn't want any scandals. If you can cure Song Qingli, you'll be doing him a huge favor. So, as long as your conditions aren't too outrageous, he'll definitely agree."
"You've heard the secret about Song Yulou and the Third Palace Master, haven't you?"
"I haven't heard anything about that!" Li Weiyi replied.
Tai Shi Bai said, "Song Yulou is the Third Palace Master's male companion for this sixty-year cycle. It's an open secret in Lingxiao City, though of course, it's never discussed in public."
"Slap!"
Li Weiyi slapped his forehead, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. He really wanted to find Zen Hai Guanwu and ask them about their disciple selection criteria back then.
The West Sea Royal Manor was located in Azure Cloud Market in the eastern part of the city.
When Tai Shi Bai and Li Weiyi arrived, dusk had fallen, and the market's streets were choked with carriages of all sizes.
Every prominent figure in Lingxiao City - officials from various government departments and provincial administrations - had either come in person to offer birthday greetings or sent retainers with gifts.
Tai Shi Bai and Li Weiyi abandoned their carriage and walked the three miles to the manor's main gate.
"Strange," Li Weiyi mused, "Why would Zhuang Yue choose the West Sea Royal Manor as our meeting place? And should I take this opportunity to visit the address Zhuang Yue gave me?"
As he pondered this, a carriage bearing the Zuoqiu banner floated several dozen feet above the ground, like a cloud bridge, before descending gracefully in front of the manor's magnificent entrance.
A majestic and imposing figure emerged from the carriage.
Even from behind, Li Weiyi recognized him as Zuoqiu Ling, the previous Clan Head of the Zuoqiu Clan.
How did he get here?
Tai Shi Bai secretly observed Li Weiyi's expression: "Surely you know that Zuoqiu Ling and Song Yulou have been lifelong friends for decades? Among their generation, they were nearly invincible, true heroes who admired each other."
"I prefer to cultivate in seclusion and am rather ignorant of worldly affairs."
Li Weiyi scanned the people accompanying Zuoqiu Ling, hoping to spot Zuoqiu Hongting.
"Old Bai, this must be Young Master Zuo Ning, right? I am Song Lin."
Song Lin, one of the fifth-generation representatives of the West Sea Royal Manor, had personally come to greet them.
He was Song Qingli's elder brother and had been waiting for them for some time.
Li Weiyi returned the greeting.
Tai Shi Bai chuckled: "No need for such formalities. Song Lin is like family."
"That's right. We've been fighting since we were kids. Why don't we get down to business first?"
Song Lin, deeply worried about Song Qingli, led them quickly into the manor, bypassing the noisy and chaotic front courtyards and halls.
They passed through a covered pavilion and a towering courtyard wall that resembled a city wall, following a winding mountain path that led into one of the manor's Spirit Mountains.
Ancient trees grew densely, and jagged rocks jutted out from the mountainside.
The direct descendants of the West Sea Royal Manor's Dao Seed Realm resided here. Some of the residences were hosting private banquets tonight, inviting only their closest friends.
Song Qingli's residence was located halfway up the mountain, shrouded by a Formations.
Only one Clan Elder, who had cultivated a Dao Fruit, stood guard here.
On the way up, Tai Shi Bai had informed Song Lin about Li Weiyi's situation, hoping the Song Clan could intervene and resolve the matter.
Song Lin, the third most powerful figure within the Song Clan's sixty-year lifespan, naturally held considerable influence.
"Whether Brother Zuo Ning can help Qingli or not, the Song Clan will recognize this favor as long as he's willing to lend a hand. Phoenix Terrace is a minor matter. If he truly succeeds in helping Qingli, there will be another reward."
The three entered the room.
Song Qingli lay on the bed, bound by two Spiritual Artifact iron chains. The purplish-black vein patterns on her skin had faded considerably.
Her eyes were open, her gaze vacant, her pupils a dark crimson, yet she remained relatively calm.
Song Lin clenched his fists tightly, his face etched with worry: "For the past two days, she's been like this most of the time, unresponsive to any calls. Only occasionally does she recognize people. After midnight, she undergoes a terrifying transformation, her screams piercing and ghastly, like a demon's wail... How could this have happened? The Mother-Child Spring might truly be a Ghost Infant Spring."
"I heard that the Ghost Mothers imprisoned in the Grand Temple of Eternal Harmony have even resorted to cannibalism, devouring each other. It's utterly horrifying."
"Brother Zuo Ning... please..."
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END OF CHAPTER
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