Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 121 (376): [The Gathering of Hidden Ones]
(121st of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
***********************************
Tang Wanzhou carefully sensed the spatial fluctuations that had just occurred, then scanned the interior of the carriage with her sharp eyes.
The bustling street outside was filled with a cacophony of sounds.
Her gaze landed on the Dao Ancestor's Tai Chi Fish hanging around Li Weiyi's neck.
Li Weiyi quickly tucked it inside his robes.
"Only I can activate this. If Young Lord were to seize it, it would incur a great karmic debt."
"Look at how nervous you are," Tang Wanzhou said coldly, "Is it really just a visit to Yao Qian? Not an assassination?"
"Are you insane? To attempt an assassination in Lingxiao City?" Li Weiyi whispered, "This matter is delicate. It must remain hidden, yet someone must discover it."
Tang Wanzhou said, "You want to frame the Sui Sect, led by Yang Shenjing, for my escape from the Demonic Sect's headquarters? A mere visit won't suffice. I must offer him a gift he can't refuse - a truly generous token of gratitude. His Burial Snow Sword Qi is far inferior to my Immortal Slaughtering Divine Snow Fourteen Swords."
"In the Dao Seed Realm, he was known as Thirty Li Snow. He still falls short of Song Yulou's Thirty-Three Li Azure Cloud."
"And this Sovereign covers the Snow-Covered Fourteen Prefectures of the Southern Realm."
Li Weiyi asked, "Are you going to teach him the Immortal Slaughtering Divine Snow Fourteen Swords?"
"I'll teach him a few moves. He won't be able to refuse. Even if he learns all fourteen, killing him within ten moves will be as easy as turning my hand," Tang Wanzhou replied.
Li Weiyi cautioned, "Young Lord, don't underestimate Yao Qian. The Hidden Lord of the Hidden Sect once tried to kill him in the Immortal Realm, yet he still escaped."
"Li Songgu wants to cultivate both the Martial-Mystic Dao and Psychic Power. He leads the Hidden Sect and heads the Cangli Tribe, trying to juggle everything at once. In the end, he's a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. His true expertise lies in studying ancient scriptures and researching Otherworldly Coffins. He's no match for me in combat," Tang Wanzhou said with a condescending tone.
Li Weiyi chuckled inwardly, thinking of Master Coffin. The old man seemed to know everything and dabbled in every field.
Then, remembering that the Hidden Lord's fate remained uncertain, his mood darkened.
"Very well. Young Lord's wisdom is unparalleled. You know how to find a reasonable excuse to visit. I won't say more about Phoenix Terrace," Li Weiyi said, changing his appearance and preparing to disembark.
"Whoosh!"
Tang Wanzhou struck from behind, pointing a finger and sending a sword qi into Li Weiyi's Wind Mansion.
"What do you mean?" Li Weiyi asked.
Tang Wanzhou leaned against the carriage wall, eyes closed in meditation: "Your Transformation Technique is incredibly subtle. How else would I find you? After Phoenix Terrace, I need to return to the Blood Mud Space to cultivate immediately."
Li Weiyi was speechless: "You can't just stay here forever. The Snow Sword Tang Court is worried about you. Aren't you going back?"
"No rush. I'll break the Soul Return Shackle first. Cultivation always comes first," Tang Wanzhou replied.
She was a woman of greater resolve than Jiang Ning and Zuoqiu Hongting.
The latter two were still bound by their families.
Tang Wanzhou, however, gave the impression that even the transcendent Snow Sword Tang Court had to follow her lead.
Li Weiyi dismounted and walked toward the Pale Moon Quarter.
The wind and snow continued to fall.
The sky was so dim and oppressive that it felt like a weight pressing down.
With half an hour until nightfall, the streetlights had already been lit on both sides of the road.
Tonight's gathering of Hidden Ones was to be held in a transcendent manor garden near the Pale Moon Quarter, purchased centuries ago at a high price by a prominent figure from the Jiu Li Hidden Sect.
The Prefecture was a tranquil haven amidst the bustling city, featuring four gates for entry and exit from different directions.
Li Weiyi entered a narrow alley paved with blue stone, leading him to the South Gate of the Prefecture.
Two figures stood outside the gate.
One was an old man, the other a young man - one squatting, the other standing.
The old man, dressed in simple cloth robes, sat on the threshold, his back hunched, his hair sparse, his appearance utterly aged.
The younger man leaned against the wall, his gaze sharp as he sized up Li Weiyi from head to toe.
"Where do you come from, sir?"
Li Weiyi clasped his hands behind his back, produced his Divine Hidden Token, and handed it to the young man.
Turning to the old man on the threshold, he smiled faintly, "Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder, why have you traveled so far to Lingxiao City? The journey is long and arduous; please take care of your health."
Beside him, the young man returned the token to Li Weiyi, bowed, and spoke in his true voice: "Greetings, Divine Hidden One! It's me, Hidden Nine."
Hidden Nine had used the Transformation Technique, so this was not his true appearance.
Upon learning that the Divine Hidden One had arrived, the Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder also stood up and bowed slightly, his voice raspy.
"The Divine Hidden One's emergency summons must signify a major event. Our Sixty-Year Cycle must send a representative."
Li Weiyi nodded and entered the manor.
"Ninth Brother, come with me. I have some questions for you."
The former residence of the Transcendents was naturally vast, filled with pavilions, towers, and courtyards, all shrouded by a powerful Formation and surrounded by multiple layers of walls.
In Lingxiao City, such a manor was priceless.
Hidden Nine led Li Weiyi toward the Council Hall.
Along the way, Li Weiyi asked how his severed arm had been reattached and inquired about the Calamity Crossing Temple, showing great interest in the Daoist Sect's Holy Land, which possessed the Martial-Mystic Dao Ancient Heavenly Emperor.
Yu Yaozi, though not yet a Heavenly Emperor, had single-handedly subdued the world. What kind of divine power did the Martial-Mystic Dao Ancient Heavenly Emperor possess?
In the garden, some of the Hidden Ones had already arrived. All had used the Transformation Technique to disguise themselves, wearing simple clothing and concealing their Qi and sharpness to avoid drawing attention.
Hidden Nine said, "Actually, the greatest gain from our visit to the Calamity Crossing Temple was the strengthening of our foundation. Our Meridian Veins have undergone significant transformation, and our Qi Seas have expanded greatly, allowing us to go much further in the future."
"It's precisely because the Calamity Crossing Temple possesses secret techniques and methods to enhance the Meridian Veins and Qi Seas of Martial-Mystic Cultivators that those in the Ninefold Dao Image Diagram are so overwhelmingly powerful at the same cultivation level."
"In terms of talent and Martial-Mystic Dao heritage, the Lingxiao Realm in this era is overflowing with talent. Cang Li, Zhu Yibai, and Tang Wanqiu are no less skilled than those depicted in the Dao Image Diagram. The Martial-Mystic Dao heritages of the Jiu Li Clan, the Zhu Sect, and the Snow Sword Tang Court are all top-tier outside, with extraordinary origins."
"Right, and the secret methods for rapidly enhancing physical strength are also crucial. Unfortunately, many legendary body-refining treasures and rare resources from the Lingxiao Realm were swallowed by the Nether Realm of the Dead in the Two Hundred Seventy-Two Provinces."
"Over the past two years, our cultivation realms haven't fallen significantly behind the Inheritors of the Dragon Seed Dao in the Lingxiao Realm. But our physical bodies are definitely not a weakness. We've made rapid progress."
"At the same cultivation level, our combat prowess far surpasses that of Martial-Mystic Cultivators at the same level in the past."
Li Weiyi said, "Cultivation realms are easy to improve, but foundational strength is hard to change. Your two years at the Calamity Crossing Temple must have transformed you completely. In the future, not only the Immortal Realm but even Transcendents might be within your reach. Didn't the Calamity Crossing Temple try to keep you there?"
Hidden Nine replied, "We all took Transcendents as our masters at the Calamity Crossing Temple. Once you're a disciple, you're a disciple for life. How could we sever ties after receiving their grace? Like the challenge in the Ninefold Dao Image Diagram, how could we possibly intervene? To do so would be to betray their kindness."
"The Calamity Crossing Temple holds countless Dao Techniques and True Scriptures. Once you begin cultivating them, you're bound to practice them for life. How can you just walk away whenever you please?"
The two entered the Council Hall.
The tree-shaped lamp within the hall had already been lit, its flickering flames resembling a sea of stars.
A table, six or seven meters long, stood at the center of the hall, surrounded by dozens of chairs.
Li Weiyi donned the Smiling Buddha Golden Mask and took his seat at the head of the table.
He felt both the exhilaration of wielding great power and the crushing weight of responsibility for the lives of others.
A sudden sense of awareness struck him.
He noticed a tall figure materialize beside the tree-shaped lamp.
It had the head of a tiger, the arms of an ape, and a long tail.
Li Weiyi immediately rose and hurried forward: "Old Zhuo, why have you come?"
Old Zhuo replied, "I represent the Ancient Hidden Ones."
"Excellent! Please preside over the affairs of Lingxiao City. Your presence will surely command respect." Li Weiyi wanted to withdraw, feeling like a mere four-ounce weight on a scale trying to weigh the heavens.
Old Zhuo remained stern, "You are the Leader. You must preside."
"My qualifications are insufficient, and my words carry little weight. Moreover, this matter is of utmost importance. The slightest misstep..." Li Weiyi began.
Before he could finish speaking, Old Zhuo waved his hand, "You can do it! Everyone recognizes your abilities and strength. A year ago, I failed to enter the Underground Immortal Mansion, which was a dereliction of my duty as a protector."
Li Weiyi immediately understood that Old Zhuo must have followed them all the way to the Underground Immortal Mansion, hiding in the shadows with remarkable stealth.
He then asked about the Hidden Lord's situation.
Old Zhuo replied, "Before reaching Southern Yan Pass, he sensed the danger of this journey and asked Elder Qin to wait for him outside the pass. I investigated the battlefield. Elder Qin should have used his earth-escape technique to help him escape underground, but Yang Shenjing is no ordinary person. Whether they succeeded is still unknown."
Li Weiyi breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Elder Qin had cultivated his Spatial Escape Dao Technique to the fifth level, mastering earth-escape techniques as well.
In Qiu Prefecture City, he had "crippled" Li Weiyi with a single sword strike and still managed to escape.
Tang Wanzhou, after cultivating the first level of the Spatial Emperor Technique, had escaped Yao Qingxuan's grasp in the Dao Seed Realm and infiltrated the Twin Rice Sect's Main Hall.
Elder Qin's Spatial Escape Dao Technique might not be an Imperial Technique, but his fifth-level mastery was an extraordinary achievement by any standard, attainable only by those who had achieved Great Immortal Powers.
Hidden Two strode in and reported, "It's already the hour of Xu. Shall we begin?"
"Has everyone arrived?" Li Weiyi asked.
Hidden Two forced a bitter smile: "They're all unfamiliar faces. I have no idea. Only Hidden Lord knows the Elders' situation."
"Summon them all in. Let's begin! Old Zhuo, you said I could do this. If I mess it up, you'll have to clean up the mess."
Li Weiyi sat at the head of the long table, adjusting his posture to appear as calm and serious as possible. His eyes, hidden behind his mask, were deep and unreadable.
Dozens of Hidden Ones and Hidden One Elders filed into the hall.
All were Dao Seed Realm cultivators or higher, including Pure Immortal Physiques, Aberrant Humanoids, old men, and women - they came in all shapes and sizes, from various backgrounds.
As they entered, everyone turned to gaze at the masked figure at the head of the table.
They were all familiar with this Divine Hidden One. Whether it was his display of talent at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival or his exploits at the West Sea Palace the previous night, he was undeniably a prodigy.
Old Zhuo, his towering frame filling the seat opposite Li Weiyi, took his place.
The Forty-Fifth Supreme Elder sat in the first seat to Li Weiyi's left.
Some practitioners used the Transformation Technique or wore masks to conceal their identities, unwilling to risk exposure.
However, they all wore numbered badges on their chests for identification.
The Transformation Technique wasn't mastered by every faction. It originated from a fragment of a constantly changing Imperial Technique, passed down by Li Weiyi's Spirit Tablet Master, the Founding Ancestor of the Zuoqiu Sect's Daoist Sect.
Li Weiyi and Master Coffin had unearthed this fragment from an Otherworldly Coffin.
As a result, the cultivation method for the Transformation Technique remained firmly in the hands of the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiu Li Clan.
The most crucial part of the technique, the Bone-Shifting Spirit-Altering Manual, was not to be shared lightly. If too many people mastered it, it would cause widespread chaos, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.
Li Weiyi had only taught it to Zuoqiu Hongting.
Li Weiyi scanned the room.
Yin Wu, Yin Jiu, and Yin Shiyi all appeared in their true forms.
Also present were the long-absent Old Man of Medicinal Cuisine and the Gatekeeper.
The atmosphere grew solemn.
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
*************************************