Chapter 165: Setting Sail
“This Young Master is not begging you! You must understand that the interests and honor of our two families are now tied together.”
Zuo Qiu Ting sat down on the rosewood chair by the table, leisurely crossing his legs: “Li Zhou is the battlefield concerning your life and death. Without the deterrence of our clan Old Ancestor, the Four Extremes Ape King or Coffin Mountain Taboo might have already intervened, killing all Jiu Li Tribe Leader Longevity Realm experts. Where would your current situation come from?”
Yin Ten sat down on another rosewood chair, his tone not weakening at all: “And then? They join hands to conquer Zuo Qiu Gatehouse next? Zuo Qiu Ting, you must understand that if it weren’t for Jiu Li Tribe holding back the enemy in Li Zhou, what arrived in Qiu Prefecture now wouldn’t just be the younger generation’s enemies, but the real armies from all sides.”
She continued: “Anyone can see that the Imperial Court is on the verge of collapse, just a year or two away. The world situation has reached the most critical moment. In the Northern Seven States, Snow Sword Tang Court has already subdued and incorporated the various Righteous Armies, dominating alone, gathering experts from five states’ territories under its banner, with a million cultivator army ready for battle, sharpening weapons and feeding horses, assembled in the Misty Grassland, waiting only for an order to march south and water their horses at the Sui River, unifying the North.”
“In the Eastern Seven States, Dragon Gate and Lei Xiao Sect divide the world in two. The Three Islands Pirates are hunkered down in the East Sea, and within a year they will surely complete integration, then join Snow Sword Tang Court under Lingxiao City.”
“In the Western Seven States, Zhu Men has already taken three states. Only Quan Rong and Que Rong can still resist them somewhat, but they are like cicadas chirping after autumn, not for long.”
“The world situation is gradually becoming clear. Only in the Southern Territory, over these ten years under the joint efforts of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li Tribe, has half the territory maintained a stable situation.”
“That’s right, Jiu Li Tribe has declined severely, but without Jiu Li Tribe’s support, for Zuo Qiu Gatehouse to unify the Southern Territory, the price would be severe damage to vitality, losing all qualification to contend for under heaven. Why have Dragon Gate and the Far West Ash Region come at this time, sparing no effort to support the major powers in the Southern Territory to create turmoil? They want you to lose this qualification!”
“Who doesn’t know that your Zuo Qiu Gatehouse plans to use the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, borrowing the momentum of Du’e Temple, to integrate the entire Southern Territory without shedding blood? Will they let you succeed?”
“So Zuo Qiu Gongzi, we need each other mutually, not a master-servant relationship.”
Zuo Qiu Ting listened quietly, nodding lightly: “Very well, since the Hidden Person sees the current situation clearly, this Young Master won’t waste words! Behind San Chen Palace and Night City is the Far West Ash Region. Sui Sect and Tian Yi Sect also show signs of leaning that way.”
“Your Jiu Li Tribe is already irreconcilable with the three great sects. If I go to war with them, will you fight? If yes, then it must be with full effort, and many may die.”
“Do we have a way out?” Yin Ten countered.
Zuo Qiu Ting shook his head: “No.”
“Since there is no way out, why does Zuo Qiu Gongzi ask unnecessarily?” Yin Ten said.
Zuo Qiu Ting clapped three times: “Refreshing! Rest assured, in this battle Zuo Qiu Gatehouse will go all out, and Zuo Qiu Hidden Sect will also mobilize. I’ve already investigated clearly—our greatest enemy, the Young Esteemed One, is named Luan Sheng Lin You, son of the Far West Ash Region Great Demon Green Luan, possessing pure Ancient Immortal Giant Beast bloodline, able to tear Dao Seed Realm Martial Cultivators apart with physical body power alone. Martial Way is astonishingly talented, cultivating both Green Luan Qilin battle intents simultaneously. Wherever they go, birds and beasts bow in worship, no different from the Young Son of Heaven in Demon Race historical legends.”
“Under them are four great experts: Hua Yuzi, Qi Jin, Ming Nian Sheng, Cang Jin—any one comparable to the successor of ten million gateways.”
“Additionally, there are the left and right attendants, followers from Southern Territory major powers, such as Night City Young City Lord Yuwen Tuozhen, Coffin Mountain Four Truths, Chen Wenwu, and other top experts. Also, cannot underestimate Heartless Golden Ape, Long Ting, Yang Qingxi, and others.”
……
Li Weiyi drank the second mouthful of Golden Spring, hammering and tempering the one hundred fortieth bone. A layer of golden glow appeared on his body surface.
Any increase in strength is an increase.
The discussion ended.
Zuo Qiu Ting stood to take his leave. As he prepared to depart, his gaze fell on Li Weiyi standing by the window. He walked over: “Have you collected a lot of Golden Spring? Give me a pot!”
Li Weiyi opened his eyes, his pupils emitting golden haze, surprised: “Has Zuo Qiu Gongzi misjudged our relationship? Golden Spring is very precious.”
Zuo Qiu Ting said: “Would this Young Master fancy something not precious?”
Very reasonable.
Li Weiyi thought of the rune robe from last night that could resist one Death Tribulation—Zuo Qiu Ting gave it away without hesitation. In terms of generosity, few could match. Thus he said: “If Zuo Qiu Gongzi wants to use Golden Spring for bone tempering to boost strength, you can consider exchanging with Thousand Year Elixirs. But I am someone who likes making friends, so I have a secret technique I can give you.”
The seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors eat too much; raising them big requires massive resources—even many Thousand Year Elixirs wouldn’t suffice.
“Oh!”
Zuo Qiu Ting pondered, quite tempted.
Li Weiyi leaned to his ear, whispering: “《Bone Changing Spirit Shifting Chapter》!”
Since he knew the Spirit Tablet Master was proficient in this lost Daoist Sect secret technique of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, how could Li Weiyi not learn it?
This was a truly remarkable Great Technique; once perfected, its effects unimaginable.
Zuo Qiu Ting doubtful: “That Departed Spirit Senior also passed this secret technique to you?”
Li Weiyi immediately mobilized magic power in his body, flowing along the veins throughout, then altering his muscles and bones. His height grew half an inch, shoulders narrowed, facial features adjusted, and his temperament and demeanor completely changed.
In mere moments, Li Weiyi had transformed into another appearance, utterly different from before: “How’s that? As long as no fighting or releasing magic energy, it won’t expose. If you learn it, don’t transform into Long Ting’s appearance anymore—I might mistake you in the future.”
Zuo Qiu Ting’s eyes lit up with admiration: “Good, Li Weiyi, you’re a friend. After this matter, this Young Master will come find you to study.”
What he wanted to learn was, of course, more than just 《Bone Changing Spirit Shifting Chapter》.
He believed the one Li Weiyi met in the Nether Realm of the Dead was the Transcendent who disappeared from Zuo Qiu Gatehouse a thousand years ago.
After Zuo Qiu Ting left, Yin Ten’s expression grave, whispering: “You’re right, the enemy is more terrifying than I imagined. This is a hard battle where people are destined to die. Li Weiyi, you and Yao Yin are Hidden Sect’s future—leave Juze City quickly, don’t get involved.”
Li Weiyi very much wanted to take out the Jiu Li God battle intent now for them to try fusing, but time was tight, no time.
He said: “Good, I’ll leave as soon as possible, not drag you down or cause trouble. But you all don’t push too hard either—run if you can’t win, no shame, key is to survive.”
Li Weiyi took Zhuang Yue away, claiming to send her to the Imperial Court’s Prefectural Office in Juze City.
In reality, Li Weiyi did not do so. For a proud woman like Zhuang Yue, if everyone in the Prefectural Office knew she was now like this, surrounded and pitied by countless people, it would be more painful than death.
More importantly, the Imperial Court had long abandoned Qiu Prefecture—how much strength could Juze City Prefectural Office have?
Inside a temporarily rented exotic beast carriage.
Zhuang Yue was fully wrapped in night-walking clothes black robe, sitting on the left side of the compartment.
Li Weiyi sat on the right, gently saying: “Skin can grow back—take core lamp flower petals, already had someone purchase last night. As for the eyes… I checked, your Martial Way cultivation is high, can find Demon Race spirit eyes to connect, then slowly nourish with veins and magic power.”
Zhuang Yue reached out both hands, gripping Li Weiyi’s wrist tightly like clutching a lifeline: “Li Weiyi, don’t worry about me, save my family’s Young Miss. That Lord Qi definitely wants to transform into my appearance to deceive her… hurry and tell Miss, if she falls for it, I deserve ten thousand deaths… please, I beg you…”
“Don’t worry about her first. Even if she dies, what does it have to do with you? Your fault? People must learn to care more for themselves—do you have no brain?”
Li Weiyi scolded, then sighed, taking out the core lamp flower stored in the ice jade box.
The flower had nine petals, all crystal clear.
The inner stamen emitted soft glow, like a lamp wick.
Li Weiyi plucked one petal, feeding it to her lips.
Zhuang Yue seemed to cry, but no tears, trembling lightly as she opened her mouth, chewing softly. A faint white light appeared on her body, the flesh and blood surface becoming slightly hot and itchy.
All nine petals and stamen eaten. Zhuang Yue’s skin regrew, very tender, but still different from normal, needing vitality and magic power to nourish for full recovery.
At least the pain had greatly lessened.
Li Weiyi’s tone warm and gentle: “That’s right! The one who peeled your skin and impersonated you is an Ash Spirit called Lord Qi, cultivation extremely terrifying, comparable to ten million gateways’ successor. With just us two going to save, it’s suicide.”
“Go to Juze City Prefectural Office, ask the Imperial Court’s strong practitioners and army to act.” Zhuang Yue said.
“Good idea!”
Li Weiyi agreed, then took the black metal box still stained with Zhuang Yue’s blood from the Evil Camel Bell, placing it in the compartment.
The two got out, both wrapped in night-walking clothes black robes, hooded.
Li Weiyi took out ten silver coins and handed them over, instructing the coachman: “Take the box on the carriage to the Prefectural Office. If they ask, say the one who told you did so already got off at the North City Gate. Go quickly!”
Outside the North City Gate was the bustling outbound dock, sea surface full of large and small ships, fishermen and transport servants everywhere.
Large ships like towers, sails layered.
Small boats mostly fishing vessels, colorful flags flying, drying fishing nets.
Juze City not only bordered Bing Zu Marsh, but was the confluence of Sui River and Li Zhi River, commerce prosperous, water and land hub. Western Territory ore, Eastern Territory rice slaves, south coffin north beast transportation all passed through here.
Li Weiyi bought a twenty-plus-meter-long fishing boat, sailed out two li, then stopped on the water surface, drinking spring for bone tempering while secretly watching the city gate direction from afar.
“Clop clop!”
At noon, sea surface shimmering, heavy hoofbeats came from the city.
Tian Yi Sect younger generation’s First Expert Huo Qiankun, holding silver spear, rode a tiger-like exotic beast charging out the city gate.
The two Tian Yi Sect Five Seas Realm Martial Cultivators riding behind him dismounted immediately to ask around for news, describing Li Weiyi and Zhuang Yue’s appearances.
