Chapter 204: The Second Palace Lord Arrives
Zhuang Yue said: “Exactly! He was told not to come to Qiu Zhou Prefecture City, but he insisted on coming. The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival hasn’t officially started yet, and he has nearly died twice in Bing Zu Marsh.”
“You actually care so much about my safety. You know about both incidents?” Li Weiyi laughed.
Zhuang Yue turned her face away, not wanting to pay him any attention.
Li Weiyi let out a long sigh and explained: “It has nothing to do with the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. I was born with a fire fate; water brings disaster. But once midnight passes tonight and we enter the new year, perhaps my fortune can change.”
This was naturally nonsense!
But from the Arctic Ocean scientific expedition to the multiple perils on the Sui River, and then to the two near-death experiences in Bing Zu Marsh that Zhuang Yue mentioned, Li Weiyi did indeed start to suspect that he might truly be countered by water.
He even felt that in the future, he should be extra wary of anyone whose name contains water, like Yang Qingxi.
Zhuang Yue was amused by him and giggled nonstop.
Jiang Ning felt extremely helpless and considered taking extreme measures.
Li Weiyi said: “I’m just wondering, how did Yu Xianzi know that I would pass through this street at this time to head to Xuantian Stone Wall, and block me so precisely?”
“Your Jiu Li Hidden Sect has people of mine in it.” Jiang Ning said.
For Jiang Ning, it wasn’t hard to guess that Yin Shisan was a hidden person of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect.
It could be called an open card.
Outside the carriage, the old man driving let out a young voice: “The envoy mustn’t harm me! I am loyal first to the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, and only secondarily serve the Imperial Court.”
The old man was naturally Yin Shisan in disguise.
Jiang Ning suddenly said: “The Second Palace Master has come to Qiu Zhou Prefecture City.”
“What?”
Li Weiyi was greatly shocked.
The Second Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace was known as the number two person under heaven, second only to Yu Yaozi.
The current Second Palace Master was no different from the number one person under heaven. After all, Yu Yaozi had not appeared publicly for a long time, and almost all major and minor affairs of the Imperial Court were decided by the Second Palace Master.
Jiang Ning said: “I’ve said everything that should be said! Even things that shouldn’t be said, I’ve said! Li Weiyi, I’ll give you two paths.”
“First, right here in this carriage, if I make a move, you can’t escape. I’ll seal you, and Yin Shisan will immediately take you out of the city—back to Li Zhou or to Fu Zhou, anywhere is safer than the upcoming Qiu Zhou Prefecture City.”
Seeing she didn’t seem to be joking, Li Weiyi immediately went on alert, circulating magic energy endlessly in his body: “I choose the second path!”
Jiang Ning said in an even more serious tone: “The second path! This carriage will keep going all the way to the base of Xuantian Stone Wall, where martial cultivators from under heaven are gathered, and countless elders are watching. At that time, if you get out of the carriage with me, guess how the people under heaven will see it?”
Li Weiyi had a splitting headache: “Riding in the same carriage with Yu Xianzi will make me a thorn in the side and a target in the flesh for countless martial cultivators. At this timing of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, I’m afraid I’ll die miserably. You’re going to such lengths to force me to submit, even putting yourself in the game… Sigh, why kill a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred to yourself? What grudge or resentment?”
Jiang Ning had already thought everything through: “Not necessarily eight hundred to yourself! You could join the Imperial Court. The Second Palace Master has always appreciated peak geniuses.”
“No third path?” Li Weiyi said.
Jiang Ning said: “No.”
“Too ungrateful! My lady is trying to help you, trying to save you.” Zhuang Yue said.
Li Weiyi cupped his hands, listlessly saying: “I thank Yu Xianzi for her kind intentions. Forcing repayment of a favor like this is truly painstaking.”
Jiang Ning’s brows furrowed slightly, but then relaxed instantly. She said faintly: “You have a quarter-hour to consider! After another quarter-hour, we’ll be very close to Xuantian Stone Wall. Once the streets fill with people, none of us will have a choice.”
Li Weiyi naturally didn’t want to go, and even less wanted to be coerced by Jiang Ning into joining the Imperial Court.
The Imperial Court was almost entirely filled with eunuchs. And with the perverse rule that Luan Tai Angels must not share a room with men, it clearly wasn’t any good place.
More importantly, the Imperial Court was truly surrounded by enemies on all sides. Who knew how much longer it could hold out…
Thinking of this.
A spiritual light flashed in Li Weiyi’s mind, instantly clarifying everything. His body relaxed, and he laughed: “I think I get it!”
“Get what?” Jiang Ning asked, puzzled.
Li Weiyi said: “The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival is imminent, and you’re taking such a big risk to see me, so there must be a reason you have to see me. If not tonight, perhaps tomorrow it will be too late?”
“Keep going.” Jiang Ning said.
Li Weiyi said: “Everyone under heaven knows that Du’e Temple is holding the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival in Qiu Zhou Prefecture City to build momentum for Zuo Qiu Gatehouse. The young generation of Imperial Court martial cultivators rushing here in droves aren’t coming to cheer for Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, but to smash it.”
“I boldly guess that once midnight passes tonight and the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival officially begins, the young generation of Imperial Court martial cultivators will move against Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li. And it will surely be swift and fierce methods like a storm sweeping away remnants. By tomorrow morning, there might be corpses filling the streets, rivers of blood.”
Seeing Jiang Ning didn’t immediately refute.
Li Weiyi knew he had guessed right, and instantly his scalp went numb, his back covered in cold sweat.
He finally understood the weight of Jiang Ning’s earlier words “The Second Palace Master has come,” meaning the Imperial Court wasn’t afraid at all of Zuo Qiu Gatehouse turning hostile. The young generation of the Imperial Court could go all out.
Li Weiyi asked: “Is it the Second Palace Master’s order? Or Ge Xian Tong’s strategy?”
Jiang Ning didn’t answer and let out a quiet sigh: “You really only have two paths now! Shall I choose one for you?”
“No, I have a third path.”
Li Weiyi said: “If the young generation of the Imperial Court chooses to bloodily slaughter Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li tonight, it will be a colossal mistake. All of you young Imperial Court martial cultivators participating in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival will be doomed eternally.”
Each word rang out like hammered metal, smashing into Jiang Ning’s mind.
She said: “Are you trying to tell me that this is Zuo Qiu Gatehouse’s territory, with far more Five Seas Realm martial cultivators than other powers, and we’re no match? Then you’re gravely mistaken!”
“In the Five Seas Realm, human wave tactics work! Even against me, against experts of the level of Eastern Dragon Western Pig, Southern Tiger Northern Sword, they work—they’ll be buried under numbers.”
“But for characters of Ge Xian Tong and Luan Sheng Lin You’s level, no matter how many Five Seas Realm martial cultivators, they can kill through. Human wave tactics are useless against them.”
Li Weiyi had never seen Ge Xian Tong or Luan Sheng Lin You fight, and didn’t know their combat power, but he trusted Jiang Ning’s judgment.
He said: “No matter how strong Ge Xian Tong is, he will surely be injured. Do you think Cang Li, Zuo Qiu Ting—figures of their level—really can’t injure Ge Xian Tong if they fight to the death?”
“When Ge Xian Tong is injured, that’s when Luan Sheng Lin You kills him.”
“Jiang Ning, you’ve made a fatal mistake of missing the forest for the trees! You think that Du’e Temple choosing Zuo Qiu Gatehouse will make Zuo Qiu Gatehouse the target of all arrows.”
“But the true target of all arrows has always been your Imperial Court.”
“Your powerful facade can indeed intimidate people. Ge Xian Tong even holds the title of number one under heaven. But if the number one under heaven is injured, if the powerful facade shows a wound, it will immediately attract countless predators and face attacks from all powers.”
“At that time, what will you use to stop Luan Sheng Lin You?”
Though Jiang Ning wore a veil and her gaze was calm, turbulent emotions like raging waves rose and fell slightly with her full, soft peaks, clearly showing her heart was not a still lake.
Zhuang Yue felt Li Weiyi spoke with great reason, her face drastically changing as she couldn’t help wanting to speak up.
Li Weiyi struck while the iron was hot and continued: “If I were you, not only would I not attack Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li tonight, but I would secretly contact them—either form a temporary alliance or set a killing trap to first eliminate the greatest threat, Luan Sheng Lin You. Once the situation is controllable and strong enemies are all slain, we can settle victory later.”
Jiang Ning said: “What joke are you making? The Imperial Court allying with Zuo Qiu Gatehouse? Would Zuo Qiu Ting believe us?”
“Not an alliance, but open rivalry and secret cooperation.”
Li Weiyi continued: “You shouldn’t link this to the world situation. This is just the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival! Do you know what ‘all is fair in war’ means?”
“The more unbelievable something is, the more possible it is to pit and kill Luan Sheng Lin You.”
“Zuo Qiu Gatehouse is controlled by the Vertical and Horizontal School. Zuo Qiu Ting knows better than you how to form alliances, break stalemates, and create favorable situations.”
“Go back and tell Ge Xian Tong that in struggles under heaven, what matters most is the result, not the process. Even the most opposed enemies can become temporary allies in the face of crisis. If he is arrogant and stubborn, then naturally someone will collect his corpse.”
“For Luan Sheng Lin You, his flesh should be the most delicious.”
Zhuang Yue’s beautiful eyes rippled, and then she muttered softly: “I feel you’re crazier than anyone!”
Jiang Ning digested all that Li Weiyi said. The Imperial Court naturally had many deployments and contingencies, full of confidence, but it couldn’t defeat the martial cultivators of the entire city.
Li Weiyi knew his third path had a chance of succeeding. Next, it depended on Jiang Ning’s decision after thinking it over.
After a long while, Jiang Ning said: “I have to admit, perhaps you’re right. But implementing it is too difficult. Allies without trust are sometimes more terrifying than enemies.”
Li Weiyi’s suspended heart settled, a smile overflowing at the corners of his mouth. Looking at the governor’s official robe on her, he asked the question he’d wanted to since getting in the carriage: “How is your progress with the Dragon Awakening Art? Can you control the dragon soul power in the governor’s official robe?”
“How do you know I’m cultivating the Dragon Awakening Art? Did Zuo Qiu Ting tell you? Are you inquiring about my strength for her?” Jiang Ning asked with a smile, her gaze turning slightly cold.
Li Weiyi cried injustice: “I saw that your cultivation seems to have advanced again, with a very oppressive aura, so I casually asked. Can you let me go now? If not soon, the streets will fill up!”
Jiang Ning’s Seventh Sea ancestral field had never been fully cultivated, still in the stage of expansion and accumulating qi, so her cultivation was naturally still advancing.
“To be honest, I really don’t want to let you off the carriage! Talent like yours, not used for the Imperial Court… what a pity.” Actually, what she wanted to say in the second half was that he must be eliminated.
Li Weiyi suddenly had an idea and laughed: “Yu Xianzi wouldn’t think I can’t break your moves, would she? Do you know what Yang Qingxi’s reputation is now? You don’t want to follow in her footsteps, do you?”
Jiang Ning’s fine brows furrowed tightly. She really wanted to kick him off the carriage and snapped delicately: “I’ve never seen someone so eager to die. Since you choose to stay, hide yourself well. Don’t let some Zuo Qiu or some Ting use you and push you to the forefront. Get off!”
“Thank you, Yu Xianzi, for sparing me.”
After Li Weiyi got off, the smile on his face quickly vanished, his expression extremely grave.
What the Imperial Court would ultimately decide tonight was still unknown. After all, Jiang Ning wasn’t the one holding decision-making power.
Li Weiyi proceeded unhurriedly. On the street, more and more people crowded, impassable.
Looking up, at the end of Universe Street, the brightly lit building suddenly vanished, like the end of civilization. A majestic ancient mountain rose abruptly from the ground, with steep slopes, vast expanse, cliffs and waterfalls everywhere.
The entire view was filled by this famed ancestral mountain under heaven, “Taoli Mountain.” The mountain oppressed with its presence. It was said there were mountains within the mountain, connecting to unknown space.
At the Half-Sky Cliff a thousand meters up, magic energy was thick, forming clouds that veiled the peak with swirling mists. No one knew what mysterious scenes lay beyond the clouds.
