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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 6: [Battle for the True Inheritance]
Chapter 57 (598): [The Hidden Sentinel]
(57th of Volume 6)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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'This trick again?'
Li Weiyi's gaze shifted, recalling Xie Wumian's final moments.
"Jingzhe?" he asked, "Don't tell me you're a hidden sentinel for the Sentinel Spirit Army? Hai Envoy Jingzhen is of the Great Void Clan, concealed within the Shaoyang Division. It's no challenge for your Taiyin Sect to learn my seasonal designation, just as we know everything about your Twelve Tai Yin Envoys."
"I transmitted all the information about the Twelve Tai Yin Envoys back to the Sentinel Spirit Army," Huo Tianming declared, eager to prove himself, "During our earlier clash, if you had focused all your Psychic Power on controlling the ninety-three Heaven Sword Talismans, you could have suppressed me, perhaps even wounded me."
"But most of your Psychic Power was spent resisting and neutralizing Honghou's willpower attacks. Your control over the Heaven Sword Talismans was weak, making it easy for me to break through."
"Once Honghou and I join forces, do you still think you stand a chance?"
As if to demonstrate his ability to shatter the Heavenly Sword Talisman's suppression, Huo Tianming raised his right hand, his palm swaying back and forth like a dragon's tail.
The surrounding earth and cloud mist churned.
A Fifth Layer Dao Technique, the "Cloud Sea Wind-Sweeping Palm," materialized, its palm strike drifting lightly toward Li Weiyi.
"Boom!"
Hundreds of thousands of Immortal Scripture verses and Spiritual Qi intertwined into a hurricane, vaporizing the black lake within a several-mile radius and carving away a layer of the ground, leaving a deep crater.
Li Weiyi remained vigilant, his sword flashing, yet he observed the scene with unwavering calm.
Huo Tianming's control over his palm strikes and Dao Techniques was astonishingly precise.
Though Li Weiyi stood at the center of the Dao Technique's attack, the palm force automatically split around him, merely ruffling his hair and clothing like a gentle breeze.
Mastering the power of "non-attack" was far more difficult than mastering the power of "attack."
The combat prowess Huo Tianming displayed now rivaled that of Tang Wanzhou from two years prior.
Moreover, the relentless palm strikes flowed with effortless ease, clearly indicating he was still holding back.
Huo Tianming withdrew his Spiritual Qi and Immortal Scripture verses, his expression smug.
"To become one of the Twelve Tai Yin Envoys, Huo must possess some merit, wouldn't you agree?"
"More than just some merit, Mao Envoy. You're being too modest."
Li Weiyi was now more convinced that Huo Tianming was a Sentinel Spirit Army infiltrator.
Otherwise, why would he have stood by and watched Honghou be killed?
His current actions - revealing his true strength - offered no benefit and only exposed him further.
Li Weiyi harbored another concern.
Feigning deep thought, he gazed at the two Ghost Marquises slain by the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors.
All seven moth emperors had reached the peak of the First Realm, possessing the strength to individually battle Second Immortal Realm powerhouses.
Among them, Second Phoenix's Soul Devour ability, Third Phoenix's Golden Crow Flame, and Fourth Phoenix's thunder and lightning released from its eyes were particularly effective against Ghost Spirits.
After the two Ghost Marquises' soul bodies exploded, vast quantities of green karmic fire poured forth, burning across the ground.
Li Weiyi retrieved a scarlet gourd and handed it to Big Phoenix, instructing it to collect the flames.
Meanwhile, Second Phoenix was actively devouring souls, striving to break through to the Second Immortal Realm before Big Phoenix and Seventh Phoenix could.
"Could it be that two Sentinel Spirits are lurking among the Twelve Tai Yin Envoys? How can I possibly trust this?" Li Weiyi said after careful consideration.
He worried that Huo Tianming's true motive was to probe Xie Wumian's fate and true identity.
Growing impatient, Huo Tianming cut him off: "I don't care if Xie Wumian is a Sentinel Spirit infiltrator. I never expected you to believe me so easily. Just deliver the message."
"Tell the Holy Commander of the Shaoyang Guard that the Taiyin Sect is continuously summoning the Army of the Dead from Yecheng and the Seven Vengeful Plains into the southern reaches of the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom. She must prepare immediately."
"As for whether to evacuate immediately or have all the living forces of the Dark Alliance launch a preemptive strike, the choice is yours."
This news struck like a bolt from the blue!
Li Weiyi's heart jolted violently.
"Chu Yutian is mobilizing a massive army. What is he planning?"
Huo Tianming shook his head slightly.
"It seems to be related to some internal issues within the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom. I haven't yet grasped the specifics. But eliminating you is undoubtedly part of his plan."
"Transporting the Time Stone is Chu Yutian's condition for borrowing troops from Yecheng."
"Furthermore, I've heard that decades ago, during the last Wither-Flourish Zone's weak cycle, some Dead Spirits discovered unusual circumstances within the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom. They chose to remain behind rather than leave. With the Nether Domain's assistance, no one knows how far their cultivation has progressed. Chu Yutian has been searching for them relentlessly."
"Yet these Dead Spirits have vanished as if into thin air. The Taiyin Sect hasn't managed to find a single one."
"In short, if you possess Dao Techniques bestowed by your seniors, do not use them lightly. The true life-or-death battle may not have arrived yet."
Li Weiyi and Huo Tianming simultaneously sensed something and turned to gaze north.
From the Northern Region, a sharp, piercing aura surged forth with incredible speed, like a dazzling celestial sword slicing across thousands of miles of territory with terrifying force.
Its velocity was astonishing.
Even Qingzao, renowned for her body cultivation techniques, paled in comparison.
"It's Qi Jianru from the Calamity Crossing Temple," Huo Tianming said gravely, his expression darkening as he understood the consequences of his identity being exposed.
"He entered with the Demon Kingdom's forces and has been tailing me, waiting for an opportunity to strike, thinking I hadn't noticed. He must have sensed the battle's energy and is rushing here now."
"Qi Jianru has already broken his third Immortal Shackle, reaching the early stages of the Third Immortal Realm. His combat power far surpasses ours. If he can cultivate to the cusp of breaking his fourth Immortal Shackle within the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom, he'll likely be directly appointed as a True Disciple upon returning, using his superior cultivation to crush all other contenders."
"Attack me with everything you have! Don't hold back!"
With these words, Huo Tianming scooped up the unconscious Corpse Marquis beauty and executed the perfected fourth layer of his body cultivation technique, Thirteen Cloud Crossings, leaving behind afterimages as he moved.
"Whoosh!"
In a blur, thirteen Huo Tianmings materialized across the battlefield.
Each figure, spaced one or two miles apart, instantly vanished twenty miles away.
Their escape techniques were honed to perfection.
Even a Fourth Stage Great Immortal cultivator would struggle to pursue them.
"Impressive escape technique," Li Weiyi muttered, retracting the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors into his Insect Pouch.
Channeling Spiritual Qi into his Governor's Robe, he transformed it into a swirling mass of Purple Mist and Spatial Evasion, teleporting over ten miles in pursuit.
"You're already facing death! Still trying to run?" he roared.
"Boom!"
The Purple Heaven Thunder Seal shot forth, striking from afar.
Moments later, a bright sword light pierced the sky, landing on the Time Stone-strewn earth.
A young figure, tall and heroic like a Sword Immortal, gradually materialized from the haze.
The horizon turned purple, accompanied by the thunderous roar of lightning.
Qi Jianru examined the battle traces on the ground, his expression shifting from shock to awe.
Following the scorched earth left by the thunderbolts, he tracked the fleeing figures for a hundred miles before discovering traces of blood.
He had already sensed the aura of the Purple Heaven Thunder Seal.
Yet he couldn't believe Li Weiyi alone could have accomplished such a feat.
After all, Huo Tianming and Honghou were both at the peak of the Third Immortal Realm, and the Earth Dragon Corpse Marquis was a formidable Third Immortal Realm powerhouse.
Even with his own strength, Qi Jianru wouldn't have been confident of victory against these three combined.
Just as Qi Jianru prepared to continue his pursuit, a colossal, blood-red Ghost Shadow emerged from the darkness, its size rivaling a mountain.
The air reeked of blood.
A chilling wind swept across the desolate plains.
Qi Jianru's gaze sharpened, sensing an overwhelming killing intent.
The Blood Mountain Marquis, having rushed from the Heavenly Capital River Nether Domain, mistakenly believed Qi Jianru was the one ambushing the transport team.
He charged forward, his face contorted in fury, roaring, "Human! You're courting death!"
.....
South of the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom lay the Dead Spirit forces centered around Ancient Ye City, the final resting place for those who died unjustly, wronged souls, and vengeful spirits.
In the Cave Void Camp's Hundred Records intelligence reports, the "Lord Marquis of Ye City Record" ranked high, its ranks teeming with formidable experts.
The Four-Eared Ghost Monkey Marquis, who had fought alongside the Jade Corpse Marquis against Bai Chuan, hailed from Ancient Ye City.
The city lord of Ye City was an even more formidable existence than the Holy Infant, the foremost Fallen Spirit powerhouse in the region surrounding the Lingxiao Realm.
Rumor had it that even the Five Ghosts of the Seven Vengeful Plains obeyed the city lord's commands.
Li Weiyi had once guarded a watchpost at Yecheng for three months and knew the approximate location of Ancient Ye City.
He headed directly south, searching along the Wither-Flourish Zone at the edge of the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom for traces of an army.
No matter how convincing Huo Tianming's claims sounded, Li Weiyi needed to verify them personally.
The darkness was absolute, the moonlight of the Void Ruins growing faint in this remote border region.
The Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom itself was defined by the reach of this epochal moonlight, carving its borders within the Nether Realm of the Dead.
The world lay utterly silent, save for the ceaseless howling of wind and sand, which swiftly buried all traces of passage.
After days of relentless searching, covering twenty thousand li, Li Weiyi found nothing.
Even if an army of Dead Spirits truly existed, scattered across this boundless wilderness, finding them would be as impossible as finding a needle in the sea, especially if they employed even the slightest concealment techniques.
'Could Huo Tianming have lied to me?'
Li Weiyi gazed at the distant gray-white Wither-Flourish Zone, preparing to cross it and reach the Yecheng Outpost.
He planned to send the Sentinel Spirit Army to investigate Ancient Ye City.
A thought struck him.
The Fan Ye Valley Nether Domain.
It lay only six thousand li from the Wither-Flourish Zone at the national border.
If a major figure from the Taiyin Sect was guiding an army of Dead Spirits, they would undoubtedly need a staging area.
The Fan Ye Valley Nether Domain had been the site of a brutal, bloody battle.
Who would dare return to investigate?
And what purpose would such a return serve?
Yet the domain's intact Defensive Formation made it an ideal location for concealing troops and storing supplies.
Two years later, Li Weiyi returned to the Fan Ye Valley Nether Domain, concealing himself among a cluster of jagged rocks.
From his hidden vantage point, he gazed at the three towering, majestic peaks.
The scars and fissures in the earth, caused by the clash of spiritual artifacts, remained unhealed by the relentless wind and sand.
Suddenly, Li Weiyi's eyes narrowed.
At the valley entrance, a corpse hung from a flagpole.
The Shaoyang Guard Robe hung in tatters, its wearer's hair like straw, the corpse withered and gray-black from the wind.
It was Lu Qing!
Li Weiyi's heart churned with mixed emotions.
He vividly recalled Lu Qing's bold declaration when the Deputy Sentinel Lord had given them the choice to enter the Void Ruins Ancient Kingdom.
A Boundary Realm, the foremost talent of his generation, showered with praise and favor, yet his journey had abruptly ended at the First Immortal Realm, shattering the future everyone had envisioned for him.
"Boom!"
A sudden gust of wind swept across the open ground before the valley entrance, kicking up sand and dust.
From within the swirling sand, a dark, misty cloud billowed forth.
A Ghost Army cavalry, clad in full armor and moving in perfect unison, emerged from the cloud mist.
"Clang, clang."
Their standardized armor, battle blades, and bows clearly indicated their ability to form battle formations and unleash extraordinary combat power.
Their discipline was impeccable, their murderous aura palpable.
Both the soldiers and their Soul Beast mounts possessed Double Pupils that burned with green karmic fire, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread.
Li Weiyi, who had been meditating cross-legged, immediately opened his eyes and stared intently at the approaching force.
A black war chariot emerged from the cloud mist.
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END OF CHAPTER
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