Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 2: [Jiuli Insect Valley]
Chapter 95 (123): [Beneath Thirty-Three Li Mountain]
(95th of Volume 2)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
***********************************
Thirty-Three Li Mountain rose abruptly from the edge of the grasslands, a stark contrast to its surroundings.
Shaped like a pyramid, though irregular, its steep cliffs, ancient, lush forests, and waterfalls cascading like celestial rivers were visible from afar.
Li Weiyi had seen this mountain before.
When he first arrived in this world, he had gazed at it from outside Burial Immortal Town.
He had looked then because the giant stone statues standing outside the town all faced the mountain's direction, piquing his curiosity.
Looking at it again today, many parts of the mountain radiated a mystical, golden-yellow divine light that intertwined with the Immortal Mist Clouds floating halfway up, creating the image of a divine mountain range. It was completely different from what he had seen six months ago.
As the Giant Dragonfly flew closer, the mountain's terrifying pressure intensified, feeling like a wall at the edge of the world.
At the foot of the mountain, a winding river flowed.
Along the riverbank stood countless giant stone statues, ranging in size from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds, all gazing toward Thirty-Three Li Mountain, as if performing a special ritual.
Li Ling's eyes deepened as she silently observed the scene: "I never knew Li Province held such a mystical realm. This mountain is extraordinary. Its form conceals an invisible power, as if an ancient Immortal stood before us."
Li Weiyi said, "I heard that this mountain is called Thirty-Three Li Mountain because a stone tablet was discovered here with ancient characters on it."
"That's right. The tablet is at the foot of the mountain," Zuoqiu Ting confirmed.
Li Weiyi asked curiously, "But this divine mountain before us seems to span far more than thirty-three li. Why was it named this way?"
"It's not thirty-three li wide, but thirty-three li high."
Zuoqiu Ting gazed toward the left, where a vast grassland teemed with countless Demon birds, their wings blotting out the sky and their dense, piercing cries filling the air.
Beneath the dark swarm of birds, a Demon Cultivator army marched across the ground.
"A large number of Demon Cultivators from Heavenly Cliff Ridge have also arrived. This means the Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the Jiu Li Clan have broken free. Brother Sima, you no longer need to worry, do you?" Zuoqiu Ting said.
A Four-Armed Golden Ape sat on a palanquin at the head of the Demon Cultivator army, each of its four hands clutching a spiritual artifact. It opened its eyes, revealing fiery orbs that scanned the three figures on the Giant Dragonfly in the distance, a chilling glint of coldness flashing in its gaze.
If not for the interference of the Zuoqiu Sect's Inheritor, Cang Li would have been surrounded and killed long ago.
Why should they have failed at the last moment like this?
Cang Li's younger sister was also quite strange. Even its Flame God Eyes couldn't fully penetrate her.
At the foot of Thirty-Three Li Mountain, the river roared, and the air hung thick with moisture.
Zuoqiu Ting stowed the Giant Dragonfly into his insect pouch, and the three of them headed toward the Zuoqiu Sect's camp.
Li Weiyi glanced at the pouch at his waist, which was only about the size of a palm.
Even if the dragonfly could shrink and grow, the space seemed far too small.
Zuoqiu Ting, sensing his thoughts, explained, "This insect pouch is crafted from the lung of a Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator. The larger the Qi Sea within the lung, the larger the space within the pouch. However, the success rate is very low; it takes ten lungs to make one pouch. The larger the Qi Sea, the harder it is to refine."
"When I have the chance, I'll give you a larger one."
Li Weiyi asked, "Doesn't that mean the corpses of every Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator are quite valuable?"
Zuoqiu Ting paused, slightly surprised: "That's a rather novel way of looking at it."
The Zuoqiu Sect's camp was set up beneath a twenty-meter-tall azure Yin Banner. Azure radiance enveloped the surrounding area, and hundreds of armored Dead Spirit apparitions flitted about within, guarding the camp.
Two elders from the Zuoqiu Sect emerged to greet Zuoqiu Ting, bowing respectfully.
The three exchanged messages through spiritual Qi.
Behind them, Li Weiyi also used spiritual Qi to ask Li Ling, "Isn't the Jiu Li Clan interested in the treasures within Thirty-Three Li Mountain?"
Li Ling replied, "Immortal Soil, the Bone-Tempering Golden Spring, the Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs... each is incredibly precious, treasures for cultivating future generations. How could the Jiu Li Clan not want them?
"But the deaths of Surging Spring Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators and Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators on their way to Burial Immortal Town signal an impending war. The Jiu Li Clan's elders naturally had to abandon their interests in the Immortal Realm space and instead seize this opportunity to plot outside. They might strike first, launching an attack on the Four Great Sects."
Li Weiyi sniffed the air, his attention drawn to an Azure Python in the river behind the camp.
This Azure Python was over thirty meters long, with a body diameter exceeding one meter and a head as large as a house. Its eyes glowed like lanterns, and its scales resembled bronze.
The stench emanating from it was overwhelming.
Standing atop the Azure Python's head was a young man with his upper body bare, carrying a Supreme Secret Heavy Soldier's Warblade on his back. His eyes burned with a wild intensity.
Seeing Li Weiyi and Li Ling, the young man, Shang Zhi, guided his Azure Python to the camp, leaped down, and laughed, "Li Ling, this is Sima Qin?"
Li Ling nodded.
The young man, who carried a warblade on his back, immediately bowed deeply to Li Weiyi: "I am Shang Zhi of the Shou Li Tribe. Brother Sima, I am deeply grateful for your invaluable assistance in the Spring Surge Realm Martial-Mystic cultivator's path. The entire Jiu Li Clan will forever remember this kindness."
"Haha, it's a pity I wasn't there to witness Brother Sima's awe-inspiring feat of single-handedly defeating the Four Great Sects."
The direct descendants of the Yao Li clan bear the surname "Yao," while those of the Shou Li clan bear the surname "Shang," and those of the Qi Li clan bear the surname "Qi."
Many direct descendants have been granted the Li surname by the Jiu Li Divine Temple, considered an unparalleled honor.
Li Weiyi wasn't aloof or arrogant. He smiled and asked, "Brother Shang, were you also invited by the Zuoqiu Sect?"
"Young Master Zuoqiu has done the Jiu Li Clan a great favor. It's only right for me to offer a small helping hand," Shang Zhi replied in a low voice, "Moreover, Thirty-Three Li Mountain is far richer in Immortal Haze-tainted Herbs than other places. If we can gather enough, achieving a Pure Immortal Physique Transformation would be a massive windfall!"
Pure Immortal Physique Transformation is the ultimate aspiration of countless Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
Which of those Successor Seeds wasn't a Pure Immortal Physique?
Among the leaders of the Major Powers, Pure Immortal Physiques were overwhelmingly common.
Shang Zhi wasn't a Pure Immortal Physique, yet Zuoqiu Ting had taken notice of him, a testament to his formidable combat prowess in the first stage of the Five Seas Realm.
He was likely one of the few Nine Springs Supremes among the younger generation of the Jiu Li Clan.
Zuoqiu Baiming emerged from a dwelling within the camp.
A Pure Immortal Physique in the second stage of the Five Seas Realm, he stood over two meters tall, with broad shoulders and long arms, radiating an aura of strength. He glanced indifferently at the three figures before striding towards Zuoqiu Ting.
Using spiritual Qi to transmit his voice, Zuoqiu Baiming said, "Another Mortal? Has the Jiu Li Clan fallen so far? Not even a single Pure Immortal Physique who has opened their Ancestral Field in the first stage of the Five Seas Realm?"
An elder from the Zuoqiu Sect replied, "Stop complaining. You're leading this expedition into the mountains. They'll just be helping out with the dirty work."
Zuoqiu Baiming sighed: "I'm more worried about being dragged down by them. If they die in the mountains, don't blame me for not saving them."
"Alas, we didn't have time to bring more manpower this time. Otherwise, why would we have needed to recruit from the Jiu Li Clan?"
"Sima Qin's strength is considerable; he'll be a valuable asset to you," Zuoqiu Ting said.
Zuoqiu Baiming wore a look of disdain.
Zuoqiu Ting approached Li Weiyi and the others, smiling: "The Immortal Mist Clouds of Thirty-Three Li Mountain thicken dramatically every three days. Only during this time can Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators enter the mountain. There are still several hours until the next entry period. Rest and prepare yourselves in the meantime."
"Oh, and even outside the mountain isn't entirely safe. Several bizarre murders have occurred recently, suspected to be the work of Dead Spirits. Be sure not to stray beyond the area covered by the Yin Banner's Azure Radiance."
Li Weiyi had no interest in resting: "I'd like to start searching for the Golden Spring now."
Zuoqiu Ting nodded: "Very well, but don't venture too far. The area at the foot of Thirty-Three Li Mountain is already teeming with Five Seas Realm experts from various Major Powers. Don't let any enemies target you!"
Li Weiyi and Li Ling left the camp and followed the river channel that ran along the mountain's edge, searching the cliffs and stone walls for the Golden Spring.
Li Weiyi decided to clear up his doubts first, so he tentatively asked, "Li Ling, how did you know there might be a Golden Spring at the foot of the mountain? Have you been here before?"
"I heard it from other Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators," Li Ling said, continuing her search.
Li Weiyi pressed on, "How long did it take you to complete your Pure Immortal Physique Transformation?"
"It was Senior Brother who gave me the Golden Crow Blood..."
Li Ling turned her head, her gaze sharp.
"What exactly are you trying to ask?"
Li Weiyi dropped the pretense: "How do you always find me so accurately? Even when I'm wearing a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact Nightwalker's Garment, you can still sense me. Is the Netherlight Guide's ability really that mystical?"
Li Ling had a ready answer: "I know what you're suspecting. - that I've tampered with you. Have you heard of Perceptive Wisdom?"
Li Weiyi replied, "A Netherlight Guide who unlocks Perceptive Wisdom can be called a Priest Successor, possessing the ability to predict fortune and misfortune."
"There's another ability..." Li Ling began.
But before she could finish, Li Weiyi cut her off.
"When a Priest or Priest Successor truly falls in love with a man, they can find him no matter how far apart they are, even across thousands of miles, using their Perceptive Wisdom."
"If you already know, why bother asking?"
Li Ling stamped her foot, turned away shyly, and her snow-white cheeks flushed with a rosy blush.
Li Weiyi didn't believe this was the true answer. Li Ling was a master actress, but how to disprove her claim was a headache.
"I shouldn't interrupt your sweet nothings, but you two are drifting further and further away, and I'm worried sick. So, have you found the Golden Spring yet?"
Zuoqiu Ting stopped fanning himself, stepped across the water, and approached them, his handsome features resembling an exiled Immortal.
"It's proving difficult to find."
Li Weiyi shook his head and asked, "Young Master Zuoqiu, your Transformation Technique is truly exquisite. But why did you disguise yourself as a Dragon Sect Inheritor? Is there a particular reason?"
Zuoqiu Ting stepped onto the shore and stood before them: "No particular reason, just pure envy of Long Ting's handsome appearance. To be honest, though I possess a Pure Immortal Physique, my skin is merely flawless like white jade. My features are far from elegant - large ears, a flat nose, protruding teeth, a crooked mouth, and a short, thin physique for a man. I'm often ridiculed for it. So, you see, even though I come from a noble clan and have enjoyed all the worldly riches since childhood, perfection remains elusive."
"Moreover, the Transformation Technique is an extraordinary Technique. If one could master it to the point of completely transforming into another person... Brother Sima, can you imagine what that would mean?"
Li Weiyi pondered deeply, his eyes growing increasingly fervent.
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************