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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 44 (481): [Qu Ru Bird]
(44th of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Wu Hongling would never believe him.
She had witnessed the battle firsthand. It was clear that this man had feigned weakness, luring Huoxin to the seabed before suddenly revealing his true strength and catching him completely off guard.
Qiongji Daozi had met the same fate - killed with lightning speed while believing he had the upper hand.
Escape was impossible.
There was no chance to activate life-saving trump cards.
Wu Hongling spoke with genuine sincerity, "Don't you take it seriously? Huoxin's master is a Transcendent of the Rice Palace."
"Normally, one must reach the Immortal Realm to become a Transcendent's disciple."
"Now do you understand why I've been hunting you?"
"If I didn't capture you, the higher-ups would have punished me."
Li Weiyi remembered clearly that during his Karmic Fire Transformation beneath the sea, Huoxin had pressed his palm against his Ancestral Field in a moment of desperation.
He was deeply concerned that Huoxin's Ancestral Field might contain a terrifying power.
When retrieving the Dao Fruit and absorbing the Blazing Ember Divine Flame, he would need to proceed with extreme caution.
She continued, "Among all the young prodigies from the Rice Palace who came to the East Sea this time, Huoxin ranks among the top ten. You're stronger than him, so you must be exceptionally talented. Your future achievements will be extraordinary."
"What about you? Where do you rank?" Li Weiyi asked.
Wu Hongling replied, "I'd say fourth. Above me are two True Disciples and my elder sister."
"The two True Disciples can defy the natural order by crossing two realms to defeat opponents in the Dao Seed Realm. By the Ninth Heaven, they've cultivated their Immortal Bodies to 99% completion, making them virtually invincible below the Immortal Realm."
Li Weiyi asked curiously, "From what I know, most Young Celestial Emperors don't linger in the Ninth Heaven to refine their bodies. They break through directly. As True Disciples of the Rice Palace, they shouldn't lack Immortality Pills, right?"
Wu Hongling explained, "True Disciples are different. They must cultivate their Immortal Bodies in the Dao Seed Realm. Only then will their combat power in the Immortal Realm increase by one or two percent, and their chances of breaking free from the Immortal Shackles will also improve by the same margin. Don't underestimate that one or two percent - it's the defining difference between True Disciples and ordinary disciples."
"Moreover, upon becoming a True Disciple, one gains access to True Scriptures, Immortality Pills, Herbs, Dao Techniques, wealth, status, and power far surpassing those available to non-True Disciples."
"Even though both True and non-True Disciples are considered Young Celestial Emperors in the Dao Seed Realm, the gap between them widens exponentially over time."
"Ultimately, in the Immortal Realm, only True Disciples can defeat opponents a realm above their own. Non-True Disciples are likely to only dominate within their own realm, regressing to the level of top Chief-level geniuses."
Li Weiyi could sense her burning ambition to become a True Disciple. Once someone reveals their desires, they expose their weaknesses.
"Is cultivating the Immortal Body difficult?" Li Weiyi asked.
Wu Hongling replied, "It's not difficult for Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Immortal Realm. But for those in the Dao Seed Realm, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven. It wastes immense time, and even then, most will stall at 99%, unable to generate that unique surge of blood. That surge of blood is the Immortal Body's greatest weapon against Immortals."
Li Weiyi had once believed the Demon Child had cultivated the Immortal Body, but now it seemed unlikely.
The Demon Child's breakthrough in Lingxiao City had been rushed.
After his breakthrough, the gap between his combat power and Tang Wanzhou's remained significant.
Their current state was peculiar, like old friends who had known each other for years, their sincerity palpable, their conversation flowing smoothly, yet separated by a distance of several hundred feet.
Wu Hongling sighed softly: "Let's stop deluding ourselves. Instead of wasting time cultivating the Immortal Body, we should focus on breaking through to the Immortal Realm sooner. Once we reach that level, everything will change."
"They're back!"
Big Phoenix and the Bone Spirit descended from hundreds of feet above.
"It's too hard! The deeper we dig, the harder it gets. The rock layers are like metal, and golden flames keep erupting. What do we do? We might really be trapped here!" Big Phoenix communicated the situation to Li Weiyi telepathically.
Meanwhile, after hearing the Bone Spirit's report, Wu Hongling's expression turned grave as she looked at Li Weiyi.
"We can't afford to remain enemies. We need to work together to escape. I've made an extraordinary discovery on the stone wall - something I didn't want to share with you... but perhaps we should study it together?"
Li Weiyi remained wary, refusing to be lulled by her sudden display of goodwill and sincerity.
Words were cheap; everyone could spout them effortlessly.
But would she truly share a major discovery?
Li Weiyi brought the Seven Little Ones, the Purple Heaven Thunder Seal never leaving his hand, and followed Wu Hongling to the base of the stone wall, maintaining a distance of at least thirty meters.
Wu Hongling pointed: "I saw a similar carving in an ancient scroll from the Rice Palace. It depicted the Holy Spirit with two heads, one for dawn and one for dusk, the most supreme being in the universe, a sovereign from the Ancient Immortal Giant Beast Era. The fact that his carving appears here... do you understand what this means?"
"What does it mean?" Li Weiyi asked.
Wu Hongling replied, "We've fallen into an unimaginably terrifying realm, where our lives are in constant danger. Look at the mark above the Holy Spirit's neck. Legend says it contains billions of transformations and can reveal the Great Dao to Immortality."
Her Spiritual Qi stirred subtly within her, waiting for Li Weiyi's soul spirit to be influenced by the Buddhist mark.
The moment he was vulnerable, she would seize the opportunity to strike him down.
Li Weiyi had already noticed the Buddhist mark.
According to legend, the Buddha's hands, feet, and chest each bore this mark - five in total - symbolizing his boundless divine powers and mastery over all things.
Even a single glance at the mark made Li Weiyi feel its extraordinary power, as if the Great Sun were shining down upon him.
Within the Dao Ancestor's Tai Chi Fish, the Sea of Scriptures was divided equally between Buddhist Scriptures and Daoist Scriptures, making comprehension extremely challenging for Li Weiyi.
At that moment, the Buddhist Scriptures he had previously studied seemed to have their dust washed away, like clouds dispersing in the wind.
Each Buddhist character became clear, its meaning instantly discernible.
Above the Twelve Manifestation Dao Lotus in Li Weiyi's Divine Gate, a radiant golden Buddhist light surged forth, giving birth to one golden Buddhist character after another.
His cultivation advanced at an astonishing rate.
Wu Hongling frowned.
She watched as an increasingly brilliant golden light emanated from Li Weiyi's body, accompanied by the resonant chanting of Buddhist scriptures.
She didn't dare act rashly.
His eyes were clear and bright, showing no signs of being ensnared.
Moreover, his psychic power remained vigilant against her.
After only a brief period of time, Li Weiyi felt tremendous gains.
He gazed deeply at Wu Hongling, who stood nearby.
"This Dao imprint is truly extraordinary. Thank you for sharing it, Immortal Maiden Hongling. Would you like to study it together?"
"It's not quite suited for me," she replied.
"You continue cultivating. I'll explore elsewhere. This way, you won't have to remain on guard against me, as if I might harm you."
Seeing that Li Weiyi had genuinely gained insights, Wu Hongling felt a pang of frustration, as if she had woven her own trap.
Her fingers clenched tightly, and the urge to strike grew overwhelming.
Li Weiyi stared at Wu Hongling's retreating figure. If she hadn't nearly killed him earlier, he might have doubted his own petty suspicions.
He continued his comprehension.
Half a day later, the Buddhist light radiating from Li Weiyi grew increasingly intense. His right palm burned hot as golden spiritual power surged from the Laogong Spring acupoint.
A Buddhist Dao Mark (Imprint) materialized, flickering faintly.
Another half-day passed.
A second Buddhist Dao Imprint appeared on his left palm, the hand burning as if engulfed in Blazing Ember Divine Flame.
Wu Hongling stood on the cliff opposite the stone wall, molten lava flowing beneath her feet.
Her teeth clenched in frustration, she could no longer wait.
The red silk ribbons around her body fluttered more and more urgently.
This Buddhist Dao Imprint was no ordinary symbol; she had seen it in ancient scriptures, a subject of study even for the Ancient Immortals.
As Wu Hongling's attention remained fixed on Li Weiyi, a human head silently emerged from the shadows behind her. Its features were grotesquely distorted: long, disheveled hair, prominent cheekbones, green eyes, and sharp teeth.
A human head atop a bird's body, complete with featherless Twin Wings.
Sensing danger, Wu Hongling immediately activated her protective Spiritual Qi and lashed out with her red silk ribbons.
"Boom!"
The human-headed bird-bodied monster was sent flying.
It let out a piercing, inhuman shriek, tumbled several times, then lunged forward again. Its physical defenses were astonishingly formidable, rivaling those of a fourth or fifth-stage Immortal Body.
"The Malevolent Demon Bird - Qu Ru," Wu Hongling murmured.
She looked up to see more Qu Ru Birds emerging from the gloom, their dark silhouettes multiplying rapidly.
A chill ran through her as she immediately soared toward the opposite stone wall, drawing the flock toward Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi had already sensed the commotion.
He saw a grotesque creature with a human head and avian body flying toward him, its stench of decay filling the air.
Without hesitation, he struck out with a palm strike.
A golden Buddhist Dao Imprint slammed into the Qu Ru Bird with a resounding boom, sending it reeling backward.
The imprint branded itself onto the creature, impossible to shake off.
The bird flapped its wings frantically, fleeing with piercing cries as golden Buddhist flames erupted across its body. It finally burned to ash seven or eight miles away.
Witnessing this, Wu Hongling gained a deeper understanding of the Buddhist Dao Imprint.
Even the elemental nature of Li Weiyi's Spiritual Qi seemed to have shifted.
A subtle emotion flickered in her eyes as she called out, "There are too many! We can't kill them all. Follow me!"
Li Weiyi unleashed four consecutive palm strikes, each felling a Qu Ru Bird. The air was thick with human heads and avian shadows, leaving no space to maneuver.
With no other choice, he led his seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors after Wu Hongling, descending toward the lava river below.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Countless Qu Ru Birds pursued them relentlessly, their dark mass resembling a storm cloud, leaving countless claw marks on the stone cliffs.
On a cliff face just a few dozen feet above the magma river, stood the massive stone gates of a palace.
The gates towered over thirty feet high and were nearly three feet thick, their sheer size awe-inspiring.
The cliff face was adorned with stone pillars, flying eaves, railings, and gate platforms, all entwined with dragon-shaped stone beasts.
Wu Hongling landed on the stone platform before the gates, her red silk ribbon whipping past Li Weiyi to strike at the pursuing Qu Ru Birds.
"Hurry! I've investigated this palace. The gates are made of a special material that even spiritual artifacts can't penetrate. They'll hold them back!"
Li Weiyi was surprised.
He had assumed she would use red ribbon to fling him into the swarm of Qu Ru Birds.
"Boom!"
Before entering, Li Weiyi unleashed the Purple Heaven Thunder Seal, unleashing a torrent of thunder and lightning that repelled the Qu Ru Birds.
Then, he and Wu Hongling each grabbed a gate and pushed with all their power.
Throughout this struggle, Li Weiyi kept a close eye on Wu Hongling, wary of her possible schemes.
"Boom!"
The heavy stone gates finally slammed shut.
Silence descended instantly, the birds' cries and roars vanishing completely.
Li Weiyi immediately surveyed their surroundings.
"This palace looks extraordinary, built from some kind of unusual stone. Do you think there might be any dangers here?"
Wu Hongling said, "Don't Worry, If I wanted to scheme against you, I would have acted already. Besides, I couldn't have predicted the Qu Ru Bird's appearance, so there's no way I could have set a trap here in advance."
"Do you even understand what it means to share adversity or trust someone? All this suspicion must be exhausting. Even I, a woman, haven't been this wary of you."
Li Weiyi traced formation glyphs on the stone door.
"The treasure inside must have already been taken by you."
"There's no treasure here. I've searched three or four times already. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you here. I should have just let you die in the Qu Ru Bird's beak." As she spoke, she casually removed the pale gray skull mask from her face.
"In combat, I'm no match for you. But when it comes to finding treasure, I'm confident... You..."
Li Weiyi stared in disbelief.
He hadn't realized she was wearing a mask, deliberately disguising herself as ugly.
What did removing the mask mean?
A seduction attempt?
With her cultivation level, that seemed unlikely.
Wu Hongling's slender willow-leaf eyebrows framed skin that radiated an eerie jade-like glow, like warm jade emitting smoke. Her lips were soft, glossy, and crimson, their subtle fragrance piercing his soul spirit, leaving him breathless and weak-kneed.
The stark contrast to her previous ugliness was stunning. Any man would be captivated by this sudden, otherworldly transformation.
Her face was a study in contrasts: her eyes and crimson lips radiated a bone-deep allure, yet her skin was as pure and ethereal as an immortal's, her features sculpted with delicate, refined lines.
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END OF CHAPTER
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