Chapter 234: Using Borrowed Strength Against Strength
The Lei Xiao Sect camp was supported by dozens of formation flags, guarded heavily by thousands of departed spirits that had absorbed lightning, with battle beasts stationed at the main camp gate and mind masters gathered in the camp’s core.
Li Weiyi had just arrived at the entrance to the Lei Xiao Sect camp.
Lu Wensheng’s angry voice rang out: “It’s that dog thief Li Weiyi. Activate the formation and tear him to pieces.”
Li Weiyi felt bewildered: “Brother Wensheng, what grudge do we have? Why are you speaking to me with such malice?”
Lu Wensheng pointed at him, gnashing his teeth: “I wish I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin. Return my Spring Coins, return my Sky Thunder Saber, return my Magic Tool Battle Robe, return my Thousand Year Elixir… You and Zuo Qiu Ting are two beasts who teamed up to deceive the world with arena gambling. What ten moves to defeat the enemy, five moves to defeat the enemy—you can actually defeat enemies in the same realm in three moves.”
Li Weiyi said: “So it’s because of this, but how can it be called deception? We were holding a martial arts gathering… If Brother Wensheng truly feels that I acted dishonorably, then let’s fight again. Not three moves, just one. As long as Brother Wensheng can withstand one move from me, I’ll return everything I won before in full. Is that fair?”
“You’re that confident?”
Lu Wensheng restrained his anger: “Do you need challenge fee?”
“Of course! I’ll take a small loss… um, 100,000 Spring Coins.” Li Weiyi said.
Lu Cangsheng, emerging from the camp tent, saw his brother’s tempted expression and frowned tightly, coughing dryly twice: “He is now in the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas Realm!”
Lu Wensheng burned with rage, secretly hating himself for still not emerging from the shadow of gambling and defeat: “Since he’s delivered himself to our door, we absolutely cannot let him escape.”
At the edge of the camp, the formation light gauze opened a gap, and several Seventh Sea masters flashed out, surrounding Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi glanced at them and looked toward the distant Lu Cangsheng: “Is this the Lei Xiao Sect’s way of treating guests?”
Lu Cangsheng disliked Li Weiyi and showed it on his face.
But he knew that a heaven’s chosen like Li Weiyi would not put himself in danger for no reason, so: “Do you think you’re a guest?”
“The one who can save your Lei Xiao Sect—isn’t that a guest?” Li Weiyi said.
Lu Cangsheng’s gaze restrained, he said gravely: “Li Weiyi, is alarmist talk all you know? Do you think I’m Luan Sheng Lin You?”
“If it were Luan Sheng Lin You, they would patiently hear me finish speaking.” Li Weiyi said.
After a moment of silence, Lu Cangsheng said: “If you dare enter the Lei Xiao Sect camp formation, I can give you a chance to finish speaking. I just don’t know if you have the courage?”
The young martial cultivators of the Lei Xiao Sect present all revealed cold smiles.
Qin Qian secretly admired Lu Cangsheng’s wisdom; with a casual remark, he had regained the upper hand in momentum.
If that Li Weiyi didn’t dare enter the camp, he would naturally be mocked by everyone and end up slinking away in disgrace.
If he was provoked into entering the camp, it would be the perfect opportunity to grapple or kill him.
“The Lei Xiao Sect camp isn’t some dragon’s lair or tiger’s den—why wouldn’t I dare enter?”
Li Weiyi smiled easily and walked through the camp gate.
“Swish!”
Behind him, the light gauze closed.
Qin Qian was overjoyed and immediately ordered: “Use the formation to suppress him first.”
Li Weiyi didn’t even glance at her, staring arrogantly at Lu Cangsheng: “In the Lei Xiao Sect, are your words just fart?”
Lu Cangsheng met Li Weiyi’s gaze and raised one hand, stopping the formation master from acting.
In any case, the man was already inside, like fish on a chopping block—not urgent in this moment.
Only then did Li Weiyi reveal a smile: “Lu Cangsheng, I’ve come to cure your headache and anxiety.”
Lu Cangsheng observed Li Weiyi, wondering if he was feigning composure or truly confident: “You indeed have great courage, as the legends say. But you don’t naively think that with just your mouth, you can save the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li tonight?”
Li Weiyi said: “I’m in a hurry, so no more nonsense! Earlier, I fought Jiang Ning—I’m sure you’ve received the news. We were ambushed; the opponent used Golden Scale Fire Rain, along with seven death ashes.”
“So what? Are you trying to tell us allies are unreliable?” Qin Qian sneered: “We’ve never considered the Far West Ash Region an ally.”
Li Weiyi kept staring at Lu Cangsheng: “The one who ambushed us was Long Ting. I injured him—he bled! If you see the Dragon Gate as allies to live and die with, be careful or face eternal doom.”
Waves rose in Lu Cangsheng’s calm eyes: “Why should I believe you?”
Li Weiyi said: “The last ancient immortal giant beast on the land of Lingxiao Life Realm was Yu Jia.”
“Yu Jia birthed Flying Dragon and Flying Phoenix.”
“The Dragon Gate are servants of Flying Dragon; the Far West Ash Region are descendants of Flying Phoenix.”
“The hatred between Dragon Gate and Far West Ash Region stems from when Mist Heavenly Child slew Flying Dragon all those years ago, and the Far West Ash Region didn’t help.”
“But as far as I know, Flying Dragon had a son, the Qilin.”
“After Flying Dragon died, the Qilin and Dragon Gate vanished together from Lingxiao Life Realm. It wasn’t until a thousand years ago, when Mist Heavenly Child disappeared, that Dragon Gate dared return.”
“Now with upheavals under heaven, if the Qilin returns and connects with the Far West Ash Region—they’re all descendants of Yu Jia, so it’s entirely possible they turn swords into plowshares.”
“Lu Cangsheng, if your vision is limited to the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, that’s too disappointing.”
Waves surged in Lu Cangsheng’s heart, but his face remained calm: “The Qilin has always been just a legend.”
“I’ve said all I have to say.”
Li Weiyi prepared to leave, not hoping to convince Lu Cangsheng, only needing to plant a seed of doubt in his heart.
Once Lu Cangsheng deeply doubted the Dragon Gate, he would be completely isolated and without aid, with very few choices left.
“You think you can still walk out of this camp?” Lu Cangsheng said.
Li Weiyi looked around at the surrounding Lei Xiao Sect masters, then up at the formation above, in a mocking tone: “Old Lu, you’re just sending people to spread news of Zuo Qiu Hong, Zuo Qiu Ting, and Cang Li’s deaths to break the will of the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse faction’s martial cultivators. You don’t actually believe it yourself, do you?”
“If you detain me or kill me here, the Lei Xiao Sect will immediately become the number one enemy of the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse and Jiu Li.”
“The weakest among the five major powers, yet wanting to steal the spotlight. If you don’t fail, who will?”
“Additionally, the reason I came to talk to you is to leave you a way out. I don’t expect you to defect now. But you wouldn’t want to block off the Lei Xiao Sect’s retreat right now, would you?”
Qin Qian glared coldly: “This man is full of tricks—don’t believe him.”
Li Weiyi pointed toward the camp exterior, at the distant shadows formed by Feng Yin and Zhen Yu Yan: “I’ve come prepared! If I get trapped here, they’ll immediately inform Cang Li, Li Jiufu, and Li Ling. But if I walk out alive, I can continue dealing with the Imperial Court and Far West Ash Region.”
“You should be wise enough to know what’s beneficial for the Lei Xiao Sect.”
Lu Cangsheng looked into the distant darkness; Feng Yin and Zhen Yu Yan’s movement techniques were extremely fast—they had already vanished, undoubtedly top masters.
Lu Cangsheng was secretly shocked, not expecting the Jiu Li and Zuo Qiu Gatehouse to still have experts.
“The magic battle at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival isn’t over yet—who will be the final victor remains unknown.”
Li Weiyi turned with hands behind his back toward the camp gate, suddenly thought of something, stopped, and glanced at Qin Qian: “If your woman isn’t smart enough, make her speak less, or she’ll easily bring you unnecessary trouble.”
“What nonsense are you… It’s not what you think…” Qin Qian scolded angrily, but for some reason her heart raced, having already forgotten the need to kill Li Weiyi.
…
After leaving the camp, Li Weiyi hurried away, afraid Lu Cangsheng would regret and chase after him.
Feng Yin and Zhen Yu Yan flashed into appearance.
Zhen Yu Yan said: “What did you go to the Lei Xiao Sect for?”
“Of course to discuss cooperation with Lu Cangsheng.”
Li Weiyi sighed: “Lu Cangsheng is indeed a smart man—his vision is far beyond this small Prefectural City of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, set on the world under heaven. The Imperial Court and Far West Ash Region are completely unreliable. He’s already promised me that as long as the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse holds until dawn, the Lei Xiao Sect will take action to form a new power balance in the city.”
“You think we’ll believe that?” Zhen Yu Yan said coldly.
Li Weiyi said: “Lu Cangsheng has no choice—who made the Lei Xiao Sect the weakest in strength? If the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse falls, they’ll die too.”
Feng Yin said: “With Lei Xiao Sect allied to Dragon Gate, they can match any single power.”
“But I told him about Long Ting. Haha… Otherwise, how do you think I could walk out of the Lei Xiao Sect camp alive?”
Li Weiyi laughed long and strode forward.
Feng Yin and Zhen Yu Yan’s expressions both changed.
Feng Yin said: “He deliberately told us to ignite contradictions between the Imperial Court, Lei Xiao Sect, and Dragon Gate, buying the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse a chance to breathe.”
“But… if Lei Xiao Sect really defects at the critical moment, and if Long Ting really has issues, the Imperial Court might be caught off guard. We must send someone back to report this to Lord Ge.” Zhen Yu Yan said.
Feng Yin said: “You go report it—go quickly and return quickly. I’ll follow him first. My speed is faster than his; I’m not afraid of him acting.”
Li Weiyi noticed Zhen Yu Yan leaving and secretly breathed a sigh of relief—finally, he’d used the Lei Xiao Sect to draw away one person.
Since the five major powers lacked trust so much, Li Weiyi used the same method, heading to the Snow Sword Tang Court camp, where he met Wan Yan Xiao Se.
In the camp, Li Weiyi didn’t see many Snow Sword Tang Court masters and smiled: “Young Lady Wan Yan, are you overseeing the situation on the Southern City side?”
“Brother Weiyi, you’re not here to plead, are you? It’s very difficult for me.” Wan Yan Xiao Se’s small hands were behind her back, looking pitiful.
Li Weiyi shook his head: “I’m here to ask for your help, but not for the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse. It’s for that guy your Snow Sword Tang Court most wants to eliminate—he’s been following me, wanting me to join the Imperial Court.”
Feng State was one of the Northern Seven States.
Feng State’s Number One Expert Feng Yin held the Dragon Seed Voucher and Dragon Bone Ticket that Snow Sword Tang Court most wanted.
Li Weiyi briefly explained: “If Young Lady Wan Yan can act, help scare off this guy or restrain him for a moment, Li Weiyi will be endlessly grateful and at least save you once in the future. If we unfortunately become enemies later, I’ll certainly spare you once.”
Wan Yan Xiao Se pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly: “I thought it was something big! Feng Yin, Number One in Feng State, Fifth in the Northern Territory First Rank—I’ve long wanted to meet him!”
Up to now, the Jiu Li still had value to exploit for Snow Sword Tang Court.
Thus, tonight Snow Sword Tang Court had been targeting the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse without tearing faces with the Jiu Li.
After Wan Yan Xiao Se restrained Feng Yin, Li Weiyi took the chance to slip away, jumping into a great river, traveling several li along the riverbed to erase his tracks completely before surfacing, changing his appearance, and heading to Western City.
In any case, he had to first check the situation on Li Ling and Cang Li’s side.
Dawn had broken.
On the morning of the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, the sounds of battle in Qiu Prefecture City continued without cease, with all sides killing with bloodshot eyes.
