Chapter 268: Zuoqiu Zangwu
Half a year ago, Zuo Qiu Cang Wu reached Dao Seed Realm Ninth Heaven, successfully taking over from Zuo Qiu Ling, making him the only candidate capable of supporting this super gatehouse during the Longevity Ban Martial Order period.
He was already fifty-five years old, but he looked like he was around thirty, and the Thousand Character Armor on his body had never been taken off in the past five years.
Before becoming Family Head, he had stayed in the Secret Realm Division for thirty years, knowing full well that danger was everywhere. Except for the armor on his body and the knife in his hand, no one could be completely relied upon.
Upon hearing that Li Weiyi had come to visit, Zuo Qiu Cang Wu immediately set aside the military affairs in his hand: “Quickly invite him in!”
The one who brought Li Weiyi into the meeting hall was Zuo Qiu Cang Wu’s daughter, Zuo Qiu Qingying.
She was in her early thirties, but due to her mind power talent surpassing the young generation of the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, she was already a Spirit Mind Master, looking like she was around twenty years old, extremely young.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu stood up and smiled: “Weiyi, seeing your complexion, you’ve fully recovered. It’s been half a year, and everyone has been very worried. Before our Zuo Qiu Longevity Order headed to Tian Ya Ridge to battle the Demon Race, he repeatedly urged me to take good care of you. So, what are your plans next?”
Li Weiyi gave a salute: “Thank you for your concern, Family Head. Weiyi is fine now. This time, I’ve come to request an audience with Old Ancestor. Half a year ago, if not for him saving me, I might have already turned into three feet of yellow soil.”
At Hidden Lord’s request, half a year ago, the Confucian Dao Old Ancestor had put on quite a show several times.
The Six Desires Talisman on Li Weiyi’s body was resolved with a casual wave from Old Ancestor.
For the Jiu Li, matters that required mobilizing the Nine Great Priests to handle were solved effortlessly by Transcendent.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu’s expression turned serious, then he gave a wry smile: “You are Hong Ting’s husband, naturally also a core member of the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, so it’s fine to tell you. Old Ancestor is not at Taoli Mountain at the moment; he’s probably gone to some battlefield. If there’s something, you can tell me first? Is it very important?”
“It’s not really a big deal! I just want to request a Ling Tai Yan Xing Stone Fragment. I can pay to purchase it.”
Li Weiyi didn’t hold out much hope, after all, more than a thousand years had passed; even if there were dozens originally, they were probably all consumed by now.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu showed a puzzled expression and looked at Zuo Qiu Qingying: “This resource, does the gatehouse treasury have it?”
Zuo Qiu Qingying pondered: “I have some impression; it seems to be an extremely precious cultivation treasure for Mind Masters.”
“Go to the gatehouse treasury immediately to check; if there is, bring it quickly.” Zuo Qiu Cang Wu then looked at Li Weiyi and smiled: “Taking the Mind Master path is the right choice. Rebuild your confidence, and with those seven Marquis-level Strange Insects, you will still be one of the top figures under heaven in the future.”
After Zuo Qiu Qingying left, Li Weiyi saluted and thanked again.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu pulled Li Weiyi to sit down: “Like Hong Ting, just call me Thirteenth Uncle. On my side… sigh, how to bring it up!”
“Thirteenth Uncle, please speak freely.” Li Weiyi said.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu put away his awkward smile, his expression grave: “Currently, for the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse, the two biggest matters are undoubtedly the war with the Demon Race faction, and the strange changes in the Underground Immortal Mansion at the border of Qiu Prefecture and Fu Zhou.”
“Coffin Mountain, Tian Ya Ridge, Night City—the three major battlefields in the Southern Territory—we are sending frequent victory reports, and sweeping them away is only a matter of time.”
“But the strangeness of the Underground Immortal Mansion has spread from underground to the ground. Half a month ago, I went to check; on Qiu North Plain, grave mounds and tombstones have emerged from underground, spanning thousands of miles, growing and spreading like bamboo shoots crazily.”
“It’s said that in just half a month, they’ve advanced dozens of miles toward Qiu Zhou Prefectural City.”
“Next year, these ancient vanished grave mounds and tombstones will probably grow to the outskirts of Qiu Zhou Prefectural City, covering the shores of Bing Zu Marsh.”
Li Weiyi had also heard about this, finding it utterly unbelievable.
Half a year ago, the Transcendent Great War blasted open the entrance to the Underground Immortal Mansion at the border of Qiu Prefecture and Fu Zhou, and countless Martial Cultivators went to explore, including some Longevity Realm Giants.
The strange change happened four months ago; it was said that a Southern Territory Longevity Realm Giant triggered a taboo inside, unleashing a heaven-shaking disaster.
After a massive earthquake, thousands of miles of land in Fu Zhou saw the departed spirits buried there for millions of years grow out in the form of tombstones and grave mounds.
Later, it spread toward Qiu Prefecture, causing widespread panic.
After the strange change, even Longevity Realm Giants could no longer enter the Underground Immortal Mansion!
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu said: “Of course, these are not things we can solve; we must wait for the Transcendents to step in. What we can do is probe the internal situation of the Underground Immortal Mansion as much as possible, reducing risk for the Transcendents’ action.”
“The greatest dangers in the Underground Immortal Mansion are the Departed Spirits and Fierce Insect Swarms.”
“Currently, Commander Level Strange Insects and Insect Tamers have suffered heavy losses and are in short supply.”
Li Weiyi said: “Thirteenth Uncle wants me to go to the Underground Immortal Mansion with the team?”
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu shook his head and smiled: “I wouldn’t dare let you take such a risk; if something went wrong, Hong Ting would never let me hear the end of it. What I want is… to borrow insects!”
Li Weiyi fell silent.
“Borrowing” in this world was never that simple.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu did not press, waiting for Li Weiyi to consider slowly.
Zuo Qiu Qingying returned and used Mind Power Transmission to say something to Zuo Qiu Cang Wu.
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu frowned and said coldly: “Didn’t tell Elder Qi; it was my order?”
Zuo Qiu Qingying glanced at Li Weiyi and stopped transmitting: “Elder Qi said that no matter who it is, they must follow the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse rules. Without rules, anyone could line their pockets and empty the family wealth; he must guard the treasury gate tightly.”
“Ling Tai Yan Xing Stone Fragment—only the last piece remains, who knows what great use it might have in the future. To buy it, at least two million Spring Coins.”
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu was startled: “Why doesn’t he go rob? I’ve cultivated bitterly for decades, fought through hundreds of battles, traversed countless secret realms, and if I sold everything I own, it would barely buy one small broken stone from him. Weiyi, leave this to Thirteenth Uncle; I’ll personally talk to him tomorrow.”
“Then thank you, Thirteenth Uncle; Weiyi will take his leave first.”
Li Weiyi stood up and left.
Sitting in his chair, Zuo Qiu Cang Wu’s gaze instantly became profoundly deep, muttering to himself: “Was I too hasty? But it’s already been half a year!”
Zuo Qiu Qingying said: “He didn’t agree?”
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu nodded: “After all, it’s seven Marquis-level Strange Insects; if it were me, I wouldn’t let go easily either.”
Zuo Qiu Qingying snorted coldly: “He clearly wants to take the Mind Master path, but half a year ago, he was only an Earth Fire Realm Great Mind Master, showing he’s destined not to cultivate to the Spirit Mind Master level. The second path is also a dead end.”
“In the past half year, the entire Zuo Qiu Gatehouse has been striving—either heading to the Demon Race battlefield or adventuring to probe the Underground Immortal Mansion. Yet he acts entirely entitled, staying at Taoli Mountain enjoying peaceful times; I think he’s truly crippled!”
“Seven Marquis-level Strange Insects following him is a complete case of a pearl cast in the dark.”
“Dad, you must help me seize them. Mastering seven Marquis-level Strange Insects, your daughter will surely stand shoulder to shoulder with Transcendents in the future.”
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu pondered and said: “He is still Jiu Li Hidden Sect’s Hidden Person; we can’t be hasty. Here’s the plan: go befriend him, make sure everyone knows that during his life low point, it was you who stayed by his side, helping and caring for him.”
“That way, if he… suicides again and gives the seven Strange Insects to you, it will be perfectly reasonable. Zuo Qiu Ling, Zuo Qiu Hong Ting, and Jiu Li won’t be able to pick any faults!”
“How many Ling Tai Yan Xing Stone Fragments are there exactly?”
Zuo Qiu Qingying said: “Actually, the Ling Tai Yan Xing Stones were used up a thousand years ago; we deliberately set a price he can’t afford. Now, we can slowly manipulate him.”
…
Li Weiyi walked slowly down from the Fourth Heaven of Taoli Mountain toward below the mountain, preparing to meet Yin Er.
When he reached the Second Heaven, Seven Phoenix flew back, landing on his shoulder, shifting from invisibility to the size of a speck of dust, then from dust size to nine inches long.
This was its Innate Dao Technique!
Shrinking its body and entering invisibility—as long as not too close, Martial Cultivators below Longevity Realm would have difficulty detecting it.
Seven Phoenix told Li Weiyi the conversation between Zuo Qiu Cang Wu and Zuo Qiu Qingying just now.
The little one was furious, its eyes bulging and speech rapid as it spoke.
Li Weiyi stopped, gazing at the endless night sky, sighing deeply: “Seven Marquis-level Strange Insects are indeed too tempting; even the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse Family Head has grown bold in malice. Looks like I can’t stay at Taoli Mountain much longer!”
Northern City, on the wide Li Shui River.
A three-story multi-story ship hung with bone lamps sailed quietly southward.
On the ship, Li Weiyi and Yin Er sat in the second-level cabin with a deployed formation.
Yin Er was rather short, with a thin face, looking in his thirties or forties, responsible for all mundane affairs of the Jiu Li Hidden Sect, now stationed long-term in Qiu Zhou Prefectural City.
In the past half year, it was already their third meeting.
The seventh month, the weather was hot.
The banks of the great river bustled with noise and traffic.
Yin Er was extremely perceptive, drinking alone and smiling: “What’s wrong? Your mood seems a bit down?”
“It’s nothing… give me a cup too.”
Li Weiyi looked out the window and sighed.
Yin Er was slightly surprised; this was the first time Li Weiyi had proactively asked for wine—previously, he had always steered clear of it.
Li Weiyi took the wine cup handed by Yin Er and asked: “Second Brother, what level is your cultivation realm?”
“Me? My talent is average, Dao Seed Realm Second Heaven, no hope for Longevity, so mundane affairs are left to me!” Yin Er smiled.
Li Weiyi said: “Others like Zuo Qiu Cang Wu, a top Dao Seed Realm figure, are still handling mundane affairs.”
“He has no choice; the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse mundane affairs must be supported by a top master. Face and substance are different.” Yin Er said.
Li Weiyi drank another cup, his expression slightly stern: “How’s the investigation into Qi Xiao going?”
“Yin Five is investigating; we already have some leads.”
Suddenly, sounds of breaking water and boarding the deck came from outside; Yin Er smiled: “Speak of him and he arrives! Talk to him yourself…”
Yin Er chose the river surface for the meeting because river water could wash away all traces.
After all, Yin Five’s identity was special and must not be exposed.
