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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 6: [Battle for the True Inheritance]
Chapter 34 (575): [The Imperial Palace's Holy Capital, the Imperial Court's Second-Ranked Scholar]
(34th of Volume 6)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi recalled Tang Wanzhou mentioning that Qin Zhengyang's secret treasure was the Void Divine Token.
He intended to use it to trade with the Rice Palace's True Disciple for the Tai Yin Seal, which Chu Yutian had pawned.
After Liu Tianchen left, the Shaoyang Guard gathered to discuss their strategy.
Some, unfamiliar with the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom, seized the opportunity to learn more.
Xu Daoqing, one of the strongest and oldest among the Shaoyang Guard, produced a map from his sleeve and unfurled it before the group.
"This region south of the Hundred Realms of Life Domain begins with the chaotic zone under the Calamity Crossing Temple's influence, where Living Realms and Netherworlds intertwine. Aside from the Demon Kingdom, most of the Cave Void Camp's Sentinel Spirits and Sentinels come from the dozen or so Living Realms within this chaotic zone."
"Further south lies the vast Nether Realm of the Dead, ruled by Cave Void (Dongxu) Ghost City. From the Calamity Crossing Temple to the southernmost Lingxiao Life Realm, the entire stretch is shrouded in darkness. I estimate it's at least six or seven hundred thousand li, riddled with dangers. Martial-Mystic Cultivators below the Transcendent realm cannot even begin to measure its vastness."
"The legendary Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom was established within this Nether Realm of the Dead," Lu Qing said, "It stretched from Ye City in the south to Nether Pond in the north, from Rotting Marsh in the west to the Rainforest in the east."
"Such a vast territory far surpasses even the Demon Kingdom," Lu Qing remarked, "How powerful must the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom have been in its prime? And why was it swallowed by the Netherworld?"
"The Demon Kingdom? What comparison can the Demon Kingdom possibly have to the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom?" Nangong stood bathed in the radiant glow, her figure ethereal and elegant, her crimson lips vivid, and her voice melodious.
"Legend has it that in that ancient era, the two Eldest Disciples of the Empress of the Void Ruins's conspired with Yu Jia, the Thunder Ancestor, and Emperor Ji. Wielding the five Void Divine Tokens, they led five rebel armies to invade the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom, resulting in mutual devastation. Ultimately, the Cave Void Ghost City seized the opportunity, reaping the fruits of victory as the Netherworld devoured the entire kingdom's Living Realm."
"The Empress's two eldest disciples were one Daoist and one Demon. After their defeat, one founded the Calamity Crossing Temple, while the other established the Demon Kingdom."
"The Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom was buried beneath wind and sand, its former glory swept away by the ravages of time. Even the bones of its billions of inhabitants have long since decayed into dust. Yet history cannot be completely erased; records still exist to preserve its memory."
"A traitor who betrays their master and ancestors, a bandit who burns, kills, and loots - even if they ascend to become an Immortal or an Ancestor, they can never wash away the sins on their hands. Though no one dares to uphold justice, there will always be those who judge right from wrong and good from evil."
Li Weiyi followed Liu Tianchen into the Barracks Hall, handed over the Silver Crown, claimed his Merit Points and rewards, and emerged just in time to hear the usually taciturn Nangong recounting events from at least twenty thousand years ago in an unusually emotional tone.
Faced with the group's curious stares, she turned and left.
Naturally, she had no choice but to leave.
After all, the Living Realm where the Cave Void Garrison's Spirit Sentinels resided was heavily influenced by the Calamity Crossing Temple and the Demon Kingdom.
Who would dare criticize them?
Li Weiyi, Changyu Jian, Lu Qing, and Liu Ye, being younger and of similar cultivation levels, shared more common ground.
They descended the mountain together, discussing whether to journey to the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom.
Suddenly, Lu Qing said, "Did you know Yuan Zhen is still in secluded cultivation, cultivating the Immortal Body?"
"He's been in seclusion for a year already. Is it really that difficult?" Li Weiyi wondered if Yuan Zhen would still be cultivating the Immortal Body even after he himself broke through to become a Transcendent, or even the Martial-Mystic Dao Heavenly Emperor.
"It's incredibly difficult! With his talent, it could take him anywhere from a few years to several decades. And even then, success isn't guaranteed."
Lu Qing glanced at Changyu Jian and continued, "This is what I wanted to discuss - the difference between striving and not striving."
"Brother Chang went to the East Sea, risking his life, and thus effortlessly cultivated the Immortal Body, creating an insurmountable gap between us and Yuan Zhen."
"Yuan Zhen and I didn't take that risk, so we have to pay an even greater price to catch up, and we likely still won't succeed."
"Opportunities don't come often. When they do, you must seize them."
"Take one step ahead, and you'll stay ahead."
"Brother Chang's initial step in the East Sea led to this second step - the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom. Only by seizing this second step can we secure our tickets for the Immortal Competition in five years and grasp the third step. By then, how could Yuan Zhen, a Martial-Mystic Cultivator in the Dao Seed Realm, ever catch up?"
Changyu Jian replied, "Brother Lu only sees the glory ahead, but he doesn't see the corpses piling up beside me. One day, I might become one of them. On the path of great strife, only the survivors become legends."
"All who pursue the pinnacle of the Martial-Mystic Path are driven by this ambition. I refuse to stand on the ground, gazing at the glittering stars until my hair turns white and my bones wither. This time, I will fight for it!"
Lu Qing strode away with determined strides.
Li Weiyi returned to Blazing Absolute Mountain and entered the Clear Sound Pavilion, preparing to enter the Blood Mud Space.
Suddenly, he spotted a graceful white-robed figure in the vegetable garden and approached her in surprise.
"Yu'er?"
Li Weiyi remembered sending Yu'er into the Fire Abyss three months prior, witnessing Yu Yaozi's Awakening before leaving.
Yu Yaozi was planting seedlings, cultivated from the seeds of fruits, her hands covered in soil and her dark hair damp with dew.
"Go to the stream and fetch me a bucket of water," she ordered.
Her cold, impersonal tone confirmed Li Weiyi's disappointment: Yu'er hadn't returned.
"With the Grand Palace Master's cultivation, she could summon water from the stream with a thought to irrigate the garden. A single thought could make the seeds sprout, grow, and bear fruit."
"A single thought could also imprison you beneath Blazing Absolute Mountain. You talk too much!" Yu Yaozi shot him a sidelong glance, her figure having grown taller, now appearing fourteen or fifteen years old.
Li Weiyi hastily grabbed two wooden buckets and hurried to fetch water, his steps light and quick.
Yu Yaozi rolled up her sleeves, revealing forearms as white and smooth as jade, and began watering the plants one by one with a gourd ladle.
"Two decrees," she announced, "First, if you dare embrace Yu'er again, don't blame me for turning against you. I overlooked your previous actions, assuming they stemmed from genuine affection. Second, I must continue entering the Blood Mud Space to nurture my soul and spirit."
Li Weiyi's lips moved slightly.
"There's no room for negotiation," Yu Yaozi said, "No one has ever dared to defy me. Consider this an extraordinary favor. Don't push your luck."
Li Weiyi asked, "If you enter the Blood Mud Space, who will tend to the garden?"
"Splash!"
Yu Yaozi tossed the gourd ladle into the water bucket, splashing water everywhere.
She straightened her delicate frame and glared at him.
"Aren't you still alive? This third decree: you must take care of the garden."
"Unfortunately," Li Weiyi replied, "I might have to travel to the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom soon."
Yu Yaozi's gaze sharpened: "Another weak cycle?"
Li Weiyi nodded.
"Going there might be good," Yu Yaozi murmured, lowering her gaze to the seedlings in the garden, "How else can you prove yourself worthy of becoming the Martial-Mystic Dao Heavenly Emperor without enduring trials by fire? I'll have to entrust this to Liu Tianchen."
...
The following afternoon, the Shaoyang Division secretly gathered halfway up Blazing Absolute Mountain, at the former camp of the Spiritual Master Guard.
This time, Tu Miangou was absent, making it a true council meeting.
Li Weiyi traveled to the sea beneath the Fusang Divine Tree to retrieve Tang Wanzhou.
Her cultivation had reached the peak of the second realm, and she was using the tree's power to search for the third shackle.
To avoid suspicion, the two ascended the mountain separately.
Li Weiyi was the last to enter the camp gate, his gaze sweeping over the Young Sentinels before settling on two unfamiliar figures standing on the high platform.
One figure stood over two meters tall, clad in three layers of impenetrable armor that revealed only a stern, sharp-featured face. A square metal blade sheath was slung diagonally across his back.
He glared coldly at Li Weiyi and declared in a deep voice, "The Cave Void Camp's military discipline is far too lax. When a secret meeting is scheduled, you should arrive with utmost speed. In the Great Void Camp or the Holy Capital's Inner Palace, such tardiness would be met with immediate disciplinary action. Is this the so-called Shaoyang Division, the most elite Sentinel Spirits? Are you even standing straight?"
Li Weiyi hastily joined the ranks, standing ramrod straight beside Liu Ye.
Liu Ye transmitted telepathically, "Powerful figures from the Great Void (Taixu) Camp and the Ancestor Dragon (Zulong) Camp."
The hulking man in triple-layered armor stood above them, his sharp gaze radiating an oppressive Intent.
He boomed, "I am Mo Duanfeng, the top expert among this year's Sentinel Spirits from the Great Void Camp. I'm seventy-two years old, younger than most of you. I'm strict, so even if you resent it, you'll have to endure it for now."
"The Wind-Severing Blade of the Sacred Capital's Inner Palace?" the scholar whispered in astonishment.
"That's right," Mo Duanfeng confirmed, "I am that Wind-Severing Blade."
Another man stood on the high platform, exuding an air of refined elegance and nobility.
His gaze swept over the four women of the Shaoyang Division with open admiration, his eyes sparkling with genuine appreciation.
Only when Mo Duanfeng called his name did he snap out of his reverie.
He bowed politely to the crowd, introducing himself, "Bai Chuan, Ancestor Dragon Camp."
"Bai Chuan, the second-ranked swordsman from the Sword Dao Imperial Court?"
Changyu Jian couldn't suppress his surprise.
Bai Chuan nodded with a smile: "That's me! Brother Mo and I came to the Cave Void Camp to enter the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom with you. Don't misunderstand - we're not here to command you, but to assist you. Aside from cultivation, we have only one mission: to kill Chu Yutian."
"The Cave Void Camp is located in the south and has had little contact with the Tai Yin Sect. But we are very familiar with the sect's power and Chu Yutian's formidable strength. We've also received intelligence confirming he will definitely enter the Void Ruins this time."
As the speaker continued, Changyu Jian transmitted telepathically to Li Weiyi, Liu Ye, and Lu Qing: "This New Second-Ranked Scholar has an unbelievably terrifying background. I never imagined he would join the Sentinel Spirit Army."
Lu Qing explained, "The Bai Clan is the foremost of the Sword Dao Imperial Court's Myriad Races, with twenty-four dukes among their descendants over a hundred generations."
"What does that mean?" Li Weiyi asked, confused.
Lu Qing elaborated, "The Bai Clan Patriarch is known as the 'Nine Thousand-Year-Old,' second only to the Emperor in the Sword Dao Imperial Court and above billions of others. Over nearly ten thousand years, his descendants - including the deceased - have produced twenty-four dukes. Only those who have transcended can be granted the title of duke. And that doesn't even account for his disciples, former officials, and in-laws. Isn't that terrifying?"
Li Weiyi stared in disbelief.
Compared to the Bai Clan, the Ancient Myriad Sects of the Lingxiao Life Realm seemed like mere village households.
"What's even more terrifying is that the Bai Clan Patriarch is one of the twenty-eight Crown Princes, ranked eleventh," Changyu Jian added.
On the high platform, a heated debate erupted.
Mo Duanfeng declared, "My proposal is to eliminate Chu Yutian swiftly. Upon entering the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom, we should immediately use the Hai Envoy to lure him out and strike him down in a single battle."
"How do we lure him out?" Tang Wanzhou asked.
Mo Duanfeng replied, "Based on our understanding of him, Chu Yutian's desire to kill you is ten times stronger than our desire to kill him. We'll use you and the Shaoyang Division as bait to draw him out."
"That's too risky! I disagree!" Tang Wanzhou protested, "The slightest misstep could lead to our utter annihilation."
Mo Duanfeng frowned: "I thought someone who dared to kill Qin Zhengyang in the East Sea, defying overwhelming odds, would be a person of great courage, unlike other women. I never expected such cowardice."
"I don't consider this cowardice!" Tang Wanzhou retorted, "I refuse to surrender the initiative to our enemies, nor will I entrust my life to others."
Bai Chuan chuckled: "The Holy Commander clearly underestimates our capabilities, believing we can't handle Chu Yutian. Brother Mo, it seems we need to establish our authority. Otherwise, we'll continue to be dismissed, and nothing will ever get done."
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END OF CHAPTER
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