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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 5: [Seeking Immortality in the Eastern Sea]
Volume 5 (Pinyin): [Dong Hai xun xian]
Chapter 52 (489): [The Assassin]
(52nd of Volume 5)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"What disturbance? With the current situation, there's no time for me to seclude myself."
Li Weiyi led Hidden Nine and Yin Shiyi toward the dining hall.
"It's only been a day or two. What do they want?"
Hidden Nine replied, "The Divine Hidden One demonstrated Psychic Master combat prowess rivals that of the Rice Palace's top Heavenly Pride, Zhenxin. He's become a highly sought-after figure. Even some old fogies from the Jiu Li Clan have repeatedly asked me to contact you. Today's special visit to urge the Divine Hidden One out of seclusion is because of Yaoyin. She wishes to see you."
The Hidden Sect Stronghold's meals were prepared by the Old Man of Medicinal Cuisine and Yin Ershi Si.
Yu'er, wearing an apron, bustled around assisting them.
The trio sat down at a table, and breakfast was promptly served: three steaming bowls of noodle soup.
"She's not coming to the Hidden Sect Stronghold? It seems she still hasn't fully moved on," Li Weiyi remarked.
Hidden Nine countered, "She's only eighteen, with sharp edges and fierce emotions. Can you expect her to be like those century-old geezers? If she treated all emotions with detachment and calmly accepted any arrangement, that would be truly unsettling and cause for concern."
Li Weiyi nodded and called out loudly, "Who made today's noodle soup?"
"It was Twenty-Fourth Sister! Master, I helped start the fire," Yu'er said, her small face smudged with soot like a kitten, eager to take credit.
Li Weiyi remarked, "Not bad. Your cultivation has fallen behind these past two years, but your cooking skills have certainly improved."
Hidden Twenty-Four rolled her eyes at him.
"My cultivation hasn't fallen behind at all."
"Your younger sister has already reached the Dao Seed Realm, Third Heaven, while you're still in the Five Seas Realm. By the time Yaoyin and I were in the Spring Surge Realm, you had already reached the Five Seas," Li Weiyi said with disdain.
Hidden Twenty-Four's full chest heaved with anger.
"It seems the Divine Hidden One people shouldn't eat too much. I haven't provoked you."
Hidden Nine suppressed a laugh.
The Hidden Sect couldn't possibly produce another member with such sharp edges.
In the entire world, aside from the Immortal Realm Great Powers, it would be hard to find another person who dared to retort to Li Weiyi like this.
Yin Shiyi added, "Her cultivation speed is actually quite fast. She's almost reached the Fifth Stage of the Fifth Realm. When I was in the Five Seas Realm, my progress was far slower than hers. You and Yaoyin are just two monsters... uh, two Young Celestial Emperors..."
"Sigh, I can't grasp the Divine Comprehension of the Jiu Li's Battle Technique Intent. My cultivation progress is lagging behind."
"From now on, you'll focus on improving my culinary skills and take over the Congee Elder's duties. Here, take this Dragon Seed. Stop cursing me in your mind - I can hear everything."
Li Weiyi retrieved his last Dragon Seed and placed it on the table.
Then, he left the stronghold with Hidden Nine and Yin Shiyi, heading for the Sea Market.
In truth, Li Weiyi had two Dragon Seeds remaining.
He had given the other one to Zhuang Yue in Lingxiao City.
Hidden Twenty-Four watched the trio depart before hurrying forward to retrieve the Dragon Seed. Her expression shifted from confusion and surprise to disbelief and then overwhelming joy.
She was surprised that he hadn't taken the opportunity to demand an exorbitant price.
Perhaps he realized that even selling her wouldn't cover it.
But she was overjoyed because with the Dragon Seed, reaching the Immortal Realm was no longer an unattainable dream.
"Sister Ershi Si," Yu'er said, "Master just likes to tease you. He really cares about you."
Hidden Twenty-Four nodded silently and took Yu'er to wash her face.
...
Li Weiyi and Yaoyin glided through the Sea Market's waterways in a small boat, drawing envious and jealous gazes from countless Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
Yaoyin sat at the bow, donning a silk-veiled conical hat, yet she still felt the burning stares from both banks and overheard snippets of conversation.
"It's the Jiu Li Divine Hidden One and Holy Maiden Yao of the Calamity Crossing Temple. They're boating on the river again? Didn't they get ambushed here last time?"
"I envy Li Weiyi. Holy Maiden Yao, with her noble status, is completely devoted to him. Others struggle just to meet her, yet he can spend time alone with her whenever he pleases."
"Is that all you envy?"
"Have you heard of Jiang Ning, the most beautiful woman in Lingxiao? She's his close confidante, and he publicly acknowledged her in Lingxiao City."
"If I were his fiancee, Zuoqiu Hongting, I'd break off the engagement immediately. Before doing so, I'd teach him a lesson for his arrogance."
"Teach him a lesson? Though the Jiu Li Divine Hidden One's Martial-Mystic Dao path is severed, his Psychic Power cultivation speed is terrifying. Remember his peerless performance at the Commander's Banquet? How many young talents in Lingxiao can match that?"
"The Young Lord of the North and the Southern Divine Hidden One - their cultivation speeds defy the heavens. Once the Southern Divine Hidden One breaks through to become a Holy Spiritual Master, all the criticism against him will vanish like smoke."
Yaoyin murmured, "Is this what you call 'taking a break'? What are you really up to?"
"I'm not selling medicine; I'm here to buy it," Li Weiyi replied.
Li Weiyi put away the intelligence provided by the Hidden Lord regarding the four great masters of Zongsheng Academy and looked up.
In the distance, he could already see Master Ma's stall.
The small boat docked beside the stall.
Master Ma, of course, recognized his distinguished customers. His eyes lit up at the sight of such important clients, and he rose to greet them.
Li Weiyi asked, "Do you have any Essence Herbs that's five thousand years old?"
"I do," Master Ma replied.
"What's the price?" Li Weiyi asked.
"Fifteen million Yongquan Coins, or fifteen Top-Grade Blood Crystals," Master Ma said.
Li Weiyi lowered his voice: "Are there any slots still available?"
Master Ma paused, secretly admiring the Jiu Li Hidden Sect's intelligence network.
"There are only ten slots, and everyone's scrambling for them. But since you're a Divine Hidden One, I can squeeze out two slots for you - ten million Yongquan Coins per slot."
'The price has been halved? It seems these slots aren't selling well,' Li Weiyi thought to himself.
He sent a telepathic message: 'This place is too crowded. Let's find a secluded spot for the transaction. Also, I'd like to meet your two great-nephews. For a deal this large, I need to verify the authenticity.'
"Agreed," Master Ma replied.
The price of a 5,000-year-old Essence Herbs was three times higher than the 4,000-year-old one he had purchased previously.
Normally, the Essence Herbs provided by the Hidden Lord, combined with those obtained from Qiongji Daozi's Cosmic Pouch, would have been sufficient to gradually nurture the Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors to the Ninth Heaven.
However, to accelerate their growth to the Eighth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm within a short timeframe, acquiring the 5,000-year-old Essence Herb was essential.
Master Ma closed his stall and led Li Weiyi and Yaoyin to his residence.
He instructed a demon servant to serve tea and dispatched a lesser demon to summon the Water Beaver Immortal and Crown Prince Ba.
Master Ma settled into the main hall, facing the entrance, his massive hippopotamus head looming large.
"The Divine Hidden One possess extraordinary courage. Aren't you afraid I might harbor ill intentions?"
Li Weiyi sat in a chair beside Master Ma, lifting his teacup.
"Master Ma is no ordinary being, but the Jiu Li Clan and Calamity Crossing Temple are not to be trifled with. This is Moon Dragon Island's Sea Market, after all. Of course, Princess Dengfeng's intervention would change things. We young people have our own ways and rules."
After a hearty laugh, Master Ma retrieved a golden Treasure Box from his Cosmic Pouch, containing the Millennium Essence Herb.
Li Weiyi opened the box, confirmed the White Jade Ganoderma's 5,000-year age, and immediately closed it.
He then produced the Thousand-Inscriptions Artifact he had prepared beforehand, exchanging it for the Herb.
The first item was a wheel-shaped Thousand-Inscriptions Artifact.
It had been seized from a Transcendent Disciple of the Demon Kingdom beneath the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain.
"A First-Grade Thousand-Inscriptions Artifact, crafted with exquisite artistry. Four million Yongquan Coins," Master Ma appraised.
The second Thousand-Inscriptions Artifact Li Weiyi produced was Qiongji Daozi's Heavenly Scripture Sword.
Master Ma recognized it instantly.
"I acquired it through a trade with Liu Fengshu," Li Weiyi explained.
"This sword is extraordinary - the very foundation of Qiongji Daozi's power and status. Ten million Yongquan Coins," Master Ma declared.
Li Weiyi offered no further Thousand-Inscriptions Artifacts.
Instead, he paid the remaining one million Yongquan Coins with two Dao Fruits.
He then purchased a batch of materials from Master Ma, including Transcendent Bone, for crafting Heaven Sword Talismans.
"I've heard you also sell information, Master Ma," Li Weiyi said, his bearing exuding confidence, "As a major client, might I receive a complimentary piece of information?"
"Of course, of course. Standard information is always free for valued clients," Master Ma replied, intrigued by the Jiu Li Divine Hidden One before him.
He sensed this young man was destined for greatness.
"Then tell me," Li Weiyi asked, "who was behind the assassination attempt on me and Holy Maiden Yao at the Sea Market that day?"
The actual targets had been Zuoqiu Hongting and Yaoyin.
Master Ma's eyes narrowed slightly.
"With your vast network, Master Ma, you must know," Li Weiyi pressed.
To casually produce a five-thousand-year-old Essence Herb and address the Water Beaver Immortal and Crown Prince Ba as "nephews and grandsons" - how could this be an ordinary Demon Beast?
Master Ma nodded, sighing, "This information comes at a steep price, but consider it the cost of making the Divine Hidden One a friend. From what I know, the assassins were Martyrs trained by the White Barbarians among the Three Island Barbarians. Their goal wasn't assassination, but to capture Holy Maiden Yao."
Li Weiyi asked, "Who's the mastermind behind this?"
"Bai Yeqing, the Innate Dao Spirit of the Western Monster Race," Master Ma replied.
Yaoyin sat quietly beside them, her expression serene. Yet Li Weiyi could sense the subtle fluctuations in her heartbeat and breathing - she was far from the state of Pure Tranquility True Self.
He clasped his hands in a bow toward Master Ma.
"Thank you for the information."
Outside the room, the Water Beaver Immortal's urgent voice rang out, "Aiya! Finally, a customer! Where is he? Where's the Honored Guest...? Cousin, let's go. There's no Honored Guest here. We've come to the wrong place..."
When the Water Beaver Immortal spotted Li Weiyi inside, he turned to flee, but Crown Prince Ba blocked his path.
Crown Prince Ba had long known that "Lu Cangsheng" of Old Yu Prefecture City was actually Li Weiyi, and he held him in high regard, unlike the Water Beaver Immortal, who remained terrified.
After all, who wouldn't be afraid after being branded with Death Spirit Fire?
He just wanted to get as far away as possible.
Li Weiyi stood up, walked to the door, and smiled at the Water Beaver Immortal.
"Shall we discuss this deal privately?"
"Excellent! I'll talk to him alone. No one knows how to haggle better than me!"
The Water Beaver Immortal immediately released a crimson Immortal Undying Mist, enveloping himself and Li Weiyi in isolation.
He struck a haughty pose, but his voice was filled with pleading.
"Brother, stop toying with me! Release me from this Death Spirit Fire, and I'll agree to any condition."
"I want a free spot," Li Weiyi stated.
The Water Beaver Immortal immediately agreed: "Okay!"
"Protect her well, in case anything goes wrong..." Li Weiyi added.
"With me here, she'll be safe," the Water Beaver Immortal assured him.
"Good. If you fulfill this, I'll release you from the Death Spirit Fire."
Then, Li Weiyi added, "I want to see Princess Dengfeng!"
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END OF CHAPTER
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