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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 44 (71): [The Four Great Ancient Myriad Sects]
(44th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I truly feel unworthy of such a precious treasure," Li Weiyi said after a moment's consideration.
He felt genuine shame in his heart.
His benefactor had treated him with sincerity, yet he had kept many secrets.
As the saying goes, "Treat others with sincerity, and they will respond with kind."
But if he hadn't concealed his true identity, how could he enter the Hidden Sect and become a Divine Hidden One?
Li Songlin, who had been observing Li Weiyi's state of mind, smiled faintly: "Why are you calling me Senior again?"
"Fourth Uncle."
Li Weiyi was delighted to address him this way.
Having grown up without any family, his Master, Senior Brother, and Eldest Senior Sister had been his entire world. The term "family" held immense value for him.
This "Fourth Uncle" was even more heartfelt than when he had called him that in Jiu Li City.
"That rare medicine infused with Immortal Mist is stored in Zaomei Manor. We'll go and retrieve it now."
"There's no need to feel unworthy or burdened."
"Have you forgotten that the Cangli Tribe still owes you a favor from Burial Immortal Town?"
Pausing, Li Songlin gave a strange smile.
"Second Brother and Second Sister-in-Law have already heard your name and asked about you. Don't worry, there's no pressure. Just be in good spirits later. This day was bound to come eventually."
Li Weiyi looked at the girl sitting across from him, her face radiant with bright eyes and pearly white teeth. She was staring back at him.
He sighed inwardly, realizing that his Fourth Uncle's genuine warmth towards him might be largely due to Li Ling.
It was clear his uncle saw him as the Fourth Miss's future husband.
After a brief moment of awkward silence, Li Ling asked, "Fourth Uncle, what's really going on in Burial Immortal Town? I've heard rumors that it's a Fallen Immortal Realm filled with countless treasures. Some even say it connects to a corner of the Immortal Realm, a place where mortals can ascend to immortality in a single step. Is it truly possible for us mortals to reach the Immortal Realm?"
The lazy air around Li Songlin vanished, his eyes sharpening like swords. He straightened his back and said, "Those rumors must have been spread by malicious individuals seeking to lure powerful cultivators from various prefectures, causing chaos in Li Prefecture and profiting from the turmoil. So far, no one who has entered the depths of Burial Immortal Town has returned alive. Even a Dao Seed Realm cultivator who attempted to force his way in vanished into a bloody rain within the Immortal Mist, his bones reduced to powder."
Li Weiyi was shocked.
Even a Dao Seed Realm expert had died mysteriously?
He immediately abandoned any hope of finding great opportunities in Burial Immortal Town and instead became more concerned about Li Prefecture's safety and stability. He asked, "Were those rumors spread by the Earth Wolf King's Army?"
Li Songlin nodded: "Rumor has it that the Earth Wolf King's Army has dispatched three Dharma Kings to Li Prefecture, their ambition are clear: they intend to make a significant move. But even with their strength alone, they lack the appetite to swallow the entire prefecture. Other powerful factions must be involved. The Long Sect of the Ancient Myriad Sects in the Eastern Territory is one of them."
Li Weiyi was no longer the naive Earth boy who had first arrived. Having gained a deeper understanding of the world's affairs, he knew the weight of the Ancient Myriad Sects.
They were among the most formidable forces in the entire Lingxiao Realm.
The Dragon Sect in the Eastern Territory, the Zuoqiu Clan in the Southern Territory, the Zhu Clan in the Western Territory, and the Snow Sword Tang Court in the Northern Territory.
Each of these Ancient Myriad Sects was a dominant power, ruling over at least one prefecture.
Their influence, industries, and clans spanned throughout the Lingxiao Realm.
They had their fingers in nearly everything: medicinal pills, spiritual artifacts, exotic beasts, salt, money exchanges, spices, mining districts, porcelain, tea, inns, brothels, silk...
Their tendrils had woven deep into the twenty-eight prefectures, penetrating every nook and cranny, omnipresent and inescapable.
Their foundations had been laid a thousand years ago, some even stretching back thousands or tens of thousands of years.
How dense must their roots be?
How solid must their foundations be?
Ten years ago, the first horn of rebellion against Lingxiao Palace sounded in the Eastern Territory, blown jointly by Dragon Sect and the Thundercloud Sect. It quickly spread across the land, leading to the current state of endless warfare and fragmentation among various factions.
Over a hundred righteous armies, both large and small, rose up, their smoke signals filling the sky as dragons and snakes clashed.
Only Li Prefecture remained relatively stable; nowhere else in the world was truly peaceful.
Seeing the heavy expressions on Li Weiyi and Li Ling's faces, Li Songlin said, "Don't worry! Dragon Sect may be powerful, but their base is in the Eastern Territory. They can't launch a large-scale invasion of the Southern Territory. Otherwise, the local forces, led by the Zuoqiu Clan, would surely respond."
"Besides, the struggle for dominance in the world is a matter for the older generation to handle. It's not your concern."
Li Ling was more concerned about Burial Immortal Town: "Since no one has entered into the the deepest area, then the rare medicine Fourth Uncle collected, which was infused with Immortal Haze, must have come from the area around Burial Immortal Town, right?"
"How do these rare medicines form, and is it dangerous to collect them?"
Clearly, she was obsessed with achieving a Pure Immortal Physique Transformation.
Li Songlin replied, "The area within dozens of miles around Burial Immortal Town is enveloped in Immortal Haze, and it seems to be expanding constantly. These rare medicines grow wild in the mountains and fields. Their grade isn't high; most are only decades-old herbs or aged medicines."
"But some of these rare medicines have absorbed a wisp of Immortal Haze to sustain themselves, leading to extraordinary transformations."
"Some of these rare medicines can aid in the Pure Immortal Physique Transformation, others can help open the Wind Palace and Ancestral Field, and still others can expand the Qi Sea."
"Now you understand why so many young prodigies have gathered here, don't you?"
"You two should avoid taking risks. That area is teeming with powerful figures, and even if you're lucky enough to find something, you won't be able to keep it. Besides, Fallen Spirit Fiends are roaming there, making it extremely dangerous."
Li Ling's face fell, and she let out a long, mournful sigh.
Li Weiyi asked, "What did Fourth Uncle mean when he said Burial Immortal Town is constantly expanding internally?"
"The Immortal Haze Region surrounding Burial Immortal Town is steadily growing wider, as if space itself is being slowly stretched apart. Recently, some older cultivators ventured two hundred miles into the region without finding the ancient town that once stood there."
"Could it really be connected to the Immortal Realm?" Li Weiyi was deeply moved. It was almost too incredible to believe.
Li Songlin chuckled and shook his head. He had no idea how the situation would unfold.
Right now, the Clan Chiefs of the Nine Great Tribes were all deeply troubled.
The bull cart came to a halt before the gates of Date Plum Manor.
This was the Cangli Tribe's property in Yaoguan City. Li Weiyi and Gao Huan had visited here once before when they first arrived in this world.
There was no need for a driver.
After Li Songlin helped them out of the carriage, the Azure Bull automatically pulled the carriage around to the back courtyard. Its intelligence and spiritual awareness were remarkably high.
The sun had yet to set, casting a hazy, golden light that painted the walls with the shadows of branches.
Li Qing'er, the sixteen-year-old cousin Li Ling had mentioned, was waiting at the entrance. Though not a Pure Immortal Physique or Half-Immortal Physique, she possessed exceptional beauty and grace. Her martial-mystic cultivation was already quite advanced, having opened seven Springs.
"I heard you had a conflict with the Changlin Gang," Li Qing'er said, grabbing Li Ling's hand with worry etched on her face, "I was so worried! How dare they be so reckless?"
She then bowed to Li Songlin, addressing him as: "Fourth Uncle."
Li Ling asked, "The news traveled back so quickly?"
"Yaoguan is such a small place! Brother Ming just told me when he came by. He said Xue Zheng has already achieved a Pure Immortal Physique and is invincible below the Five Seas Realm. You were almost in serious trouble."
As she spoke, Li Qing'er finally glanced at Li Weiyi, her expression far from favorable.
She had heard from Qing Chengming that Li Weiyi had hidden behind Li Ling the entire time, not daring to utter a single word.
What future could such a man possibly have?
After Li Ling and Li Qing'er entered hand in hand, Li Weiyi followed Li Songlin into Zaomei Manor.
They passed through the screen wall.
Inside the courtyard, the noise gradually grew louder.
A gathering of the younger generation of Cultivators from Li Prefecture was in full swing.
Amidst fine clothes and exquisite wine, fame and fortune, youth and ambition, they discussed the affairs of the world with boundless enthusiasm, creating a lively atmosphere.
Cang Li naturally took the lead.
In the main hall, four other young figures with powerful auras sat at the head table. Each possessed exceptional bearing, their every gesture exuding an irresistible charm.
They were the top young representatives of four of the Jiu Li Tribe's Nine Great Tribes, all under thirty years old.
Among the dozens of young figures present, several possessed Pure Immortal Physiques and stunning beauty, yet only five were seated at the head table. This privilege was reserved for the leaders of their respective tribes, their formidable strength setting them apart as a class others could only look up to.
Li Weiyi overheard fragments of conversation: "Gathering herbs in the Immortal Haze Region," "Chen Wenwu of the Three Chen Academy has arrived," "The Sui Sect is becoming increasingly arrogant..."
Li Songlin asked, "They're the most outstanding young talents of the Jiu Li Tribe. In a few decades, they'll be the giants across Li Prefecture. Should we go and make their acquaintance? Young people together, sparks will fly, youth will sing - they'll surely have plenty in common."
Li Weiyi shook his head lightly, showing little interest, but his eyes were scanning the room, specifically the Pure Immortal Physique cultivators and the four seated individuals.
Li Songlin had mentioned that besides Cang Li, the Jiu Li Tribe had produced five more Nine Springs cultivators in the past decade.
One of them was likely present in the hall.
Li Qing'er had already pulled Li Ling into the main hall.
A moment later, Cang Li emerged first. His skin radiated a lustrous glow, his handsome features radiating noble yet sharp energy. He possessed a perfect aura that would make any woman in the world swoon.
His gaze fell on Li Weiyi, his expression complex. It was no longer the gentle, pure look he once held, but a sharp, scrutinizing assessment.
"Brother, he's my best friend," Li Ling reminded him.
The group of Li Prefecture's Talents who had followed Cang Li out of the hall finally turned their attention to Li Weiyi.
Li Ling's talent was remarkable. At only sixteen, she was already a Great Mind Master.
Maintaining such a close relationship with an outsider, calling him her "best friend," likely wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Cang Li's gaze narrowed slightly as he asked, "How confident are you against Xue Zheng?"
Even with countless eyes fixed on him, Li Weiyi remained completely unfazed: "100%... or perhaps 90%!"
He didn't want to sound too arrogant by claiming absolute certainty.
A low chuckle rippled through the crowd.
Cang Li frowned: "Slaying Yao ZhengSheng with a single sword strike proves your Sword Dao has reached Heavenly Dao Harmony (Changed from Heavenly Dao and Law Convergence Stage) - not bad for your age. But to face the current Xue Zheng, you must break through the Ninth Spring Ancestral Field. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance. You must reclaim the honor you've lost yourself; only then will you be able to stand tall in the future."
With that, he pulled a booklet from his chest.
"This contains the experiences and insights of every Martial-Mystic Cultivator from the Cangli Tribe who has ever broken through the Ninth Spring. It includes my own. Study it carefully; it should be helpful."
"You must fight. This is the only chance mortals have to catch up to those with Pure Immortal Physiques!"
"Your strength is considerable. You have a glimmer of hope."
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END OF CHAPTER
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