Chapter 273: Tang Wanzhou
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu’s armor was pitch black, capable of devouring all surrounding light. He clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at the myriad lights of homes stretching toward the end of the night curtain below the mountain, feeling a bold emotion of having the world under his feet.
After hearing Zuo Qiu Qingying’s report, he said, “This Li Weiyi is no simple man. Even if he’s down and out due to his crippled martial way, he absolutely cannot be underestimated.”
Zuo Qiu Qingying said, “Daughter will not take him lightly.”
“He is still the Jiu Li Hidden Sect’s Hidden Person at present. Even if it’s just to protect the seven strange insects, the Jiu Li Hidden Sect will definitely have masters secretly following along. Before entering the underground immortal mansion, do not act rashly.” Zuo Qiu Cang Wu instructed thus.
Zuo Qiu Qingying said, “I will take him via the seventh path into the underground immortal mansion.”
Zuo Qiu Cang Wu nodded lightly: “The squad where Qin Zhi Huan is located is on that path. He is one I personally trained. With those few there, it will be foolproof!”
“Before setting out, bring along the Zuo brothers.”
“Qingying, if you can succeed in this matter, in the future you will surely be able to sit in one of the top positions in the Zuo Qiu Gatehouse.”
……
“Weiyi brother, I have always kept in mind the favor of saving me at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. After more than half a year, I finally see you again.”
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo was a successor level master of the Northern Territory, with a silver-like pure immortal body frame, lively personality, but facing Li Weiyi who had experienced great ups and downs in life, his words were very cautious, afraid of stimulating the other’s fragile heart.
After all, he had heard many rumors of Li Weiyi attempting suicide and wallowing in debauchery.
Only after more than half a year did he rally again.
Li Weiyi smiled: “Brother Tuoba has already reached the Dao Seed Realm?”
“Just glimpsing the door.”
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo cultivated dragon seed dao and was already at the second layer of the Dao Seed Realm, but he humbly led Li Weiyi to the front of the Five Dragon Jade Chariot while maintaining a modest demeanor.
The Five Dragon Jade Chariot was said to be the ancient Son of Heaven’s ride, an unparalleled magic tool battle treasure.
The five snow dragon flood dragon souls pulling the chariot were each dozens of meters long, majestic in aura, breathing dragon breath, enough to intimidate timid martial cultivators into trembling and not daring to approach.
The rear compartment was as large as a palace hall, resplendent in gold and jade, requiring ascent of jade material steps to reach the door.
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo smiled faintly: “Go on up. The Young Lord has been waiting for you for quite some time.”
Li Weiyi naturally was not intimidated by the spectacle before him. He ascended the fourteen jade material steps and entered the ten-foot-wide carriage door. Inside was a space tuned in profound black tones.
Spacious and grand, yet not the least bit ornate, with a solemn sense of icy desolation.
Tang Wanzhou sat at the head seat, dressed in a set of profound black men’s clothing. The space around her body was distorted and blurred. Seeing Li Weiyi enter, she immediately set down the golden silk bamboo slip in her hand. This was an ancient secret scroll recording a space-type “Imperial Technique.”
Normally, only transcendent beings would contact Imperial Techniques.
The blur and distortion of space vanished, revealing Tang Wanzhou’s handsome features without makeup.
Her pair of bright eyes carrying countless thoughts gazed at Li Weiyi for a moment, then she directly took out the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone fragment stored in a box and got straight to the point: “Li Weiyi, let’s make a transaction! Lend me the strange insects, or come with me to the underground immortal mansion. As long as you agree, you can take this Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone fragment right now.”
Li Weiyi secretly held his breath, only feeling that Tang Wanzhou’s gaze was as sharp as a sword.
Being watched by her felt like being dissected.
As if all the secrets on his body were exposed before her eyes.
Li Weiyi roused himself to twelve parts spirit, not wanting to be made to look like a mere underling in comparison to her: “Young Lord is not the first to make this request. Those coveting the seven strange insects right now are simply too numerous to count.”
“I understand your concerns!”
Tang Wanzhou stood up, her back straight and upright. Clearly half a head shorter than Li Weiyi, yet she had an aura as if holding up the heavens: “You are very outstanding, possessing many treasures and facing no small dangers. But I can tell you clearly, the dangers I face are greater than yours, more numerous, with more terrifying enemies. But why do I appear so high-profile, driving here to Qiu Zhou Prefecture City? Instead of hiding in the shadows to meet you?”
Li Weiyi said: “Young Lord wants to tell me that once all under heaven know I went to the underground immortal mansion with you, then I will be safe.”
“That’s just one reason!”
Tang Wanzhou continued: “I have always believed that people with open hearts will not hide in the shadows forever because of danger. Sometimes, one must face dangers and challenges head-on. Hiding is for the sake of not hiding, not for perpetual cowardice.”
Li Weiyi had a feeling that on the surface she was talking about herself, but it seemed as if she was talking about him.
Had she seen through something?
Or was it a probe?
“Swish!”
Without seeing Tang Wanzhou make any move, the wooden box on the table flew toward Li Weiyi.
Li Weiyi raised his hand to catch it, but regretted it after catching.
Neither keeping it nor returning it seemed right.
Just as he was hesitating…
Tang Wanzhou said: “Since you know of the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone, you should also know of the Pojia Luo Cult. It’s almost been a year, and the underground immortal mansion has yielded many things. It can nearly be confirmed that it is the site of the Ancient Bhakara Sect’s cult headquarters.”
“This Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone fragment was found inside.”
“Since you want to take the mind master path, you need more Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone to catch up to those few heading to Du’e Temple as a spirit mind master. For someone like you, how could you be content to lag behind?”
“On you, I can smell the aura of a kindred spirit.”
Li Weiyi finally felt somewhat moved. The Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone and Star Day Pill were indeed the two major important resources for his swift advance on the spirit mind master path in the future.
He asked: “How deep into the underground immortal mansion has the exploration gone?”
“The farthest path has currently been explored four to five hundred li. For the entire underground immortal mansion, the explored area is less than one percent of the total.”
Tang Wanzhou added: “At present, the fierce insect swarm is giving all parties a huge headache, with no small losses. It is said that among your seven strange insects, one can release an aura comparable to a Longevity Realm martial cultivator. In the underground immortal mansion, it will surely produce remarkable effects.”
“Li Weiyi, whether you believe it or not. In my heart, let alone just the larvae of seven marquis-level strange insects, even mature seven marquis-level strange insects, I simply do not take them seriously.”
“Standing at your current cultivation realm, would you take to heart seven strange insects comparable to Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators?”
“Even seven king-level strange insects or seven emperor-level strange insects would still be insufficient to shake my inner principles and bottom line, to make me do things that twist my heart. My state of mind comes at a high price.”
“Take this Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone fragment!”
“If you agree to the transaction, in five days, meet at Qifeng Ancient County City on the Qiu North Plain at the border of Fu Zhou and Qiu Zhou. I will wait for you at most one day!”
“If you don’t come, then consider us friends. To befriend a Jiu Li Hidden Sect Hidden Person with just a single Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone… a very cheap price!”
Li Weiyi did not know how he walked out of the Five Dragon Jade Chariot. Upon landing, he looked at the wooden box in his hand, then back at it once, secretly sighing: “This aura… this qi soul… what a Young Lord of the Northern Territory. Compared to her, I still have a long cultivation road ahead.”
In her presence, he simply could not find a shred of initiative.
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo came forward and asked: “Did you reach an agreement with the Young Lord?”
“She reached an agreement! I… I haven’t yet…” Li Weiyi shook his head with a wry smile.
Tuo Ba Bu Tuo laughed: “You’ll get used to it! Even Longevity Realm giants, when talking with her, often find she decides things first, leaving the other to consider slowly.”
……
…………
The next day.
After handling the affairs of joining the Secret Realm Division, it was already afternoon.
After bidding farewell to Zuo Qiu Cang Wu, the four rode four mounts out the North City Gate, along the official road, kicking up rolling dust toward the Qiu North Plain.
Shi Jiuzhai had been waiting early at a tea stall outside the city, having cast the Disguise Art to change his appearance and build. Watching the four trails of dust vanish from sight, he did not immediately pursue, but continued waiting.
He knew very well the reason Li Weiyi had him wait outside the North City Gate.
Sure enough.
Moments later, three groups of horsemen successively chased out the city gate toward the four.
Each group had restrained their auras extremely well, but with Shi Jiuzhai’s eyesight and experience, he recognized half of them just from their eyes and builds.
“Why did the news leak so quickly? Interesting!”
Shi Jiuzhai took out two silver coins, placed them on the table, and his body vanished on the spot, earth-escaping into the underground.
The mounts of Li Weiyi’s four were exotic beast blood patterned tiger camels, four meters long, with astonishing speed and explosive power. But their endurance was insufficient. After madly dashing over a hundred li, the four mounts were sweating profusely, breathing hard, and their speed slowed accordingly.
The Zuo brothers traveling with Li Weiyi and Zuo Qiu Qingying were two old men who had cultivated for nearly a century, with extremely rich experience in handling dangers.
They were rice person born, had repeatedly earned merits, and after reaching the Dao Seed Realm, were granted the surname “Zuo.”
They were respectively called Zuo Sheng and Zuo Shi.
Though already over a hundred years old, they looked only in their fifties or sixties, robust as dragons and tigers, with sturdy muscles and sharp eyes.
Li Weiyi suddenly reined in his mount and looked back: “Someone has caught up, and not just one group.”
“How could this be?” Zuo Qiu Qingying’s face turned ugly; this was beyond her expectations.
Li Weiyi said: “They must be after the seven strange insects on me.”
“But you cast the Disguise Art; it’s impossible for anyone to know our itinerary.” Zuo Qiu Qingying’s gaze turned to the Zuo brothers.
Li Weiyi said: “It has nothing to do with the two elders! Taoli Mountain is watched by countless eyes. The Zuo Qiu Gatehouse definitely has spies from other forces planted inside. Every time I go down the mountain, some people always find out.”
Zuo Sheng and Zuo Shi hurriedly cupped hands toward Li Weiyi, their eyes full of grateful emotion.
But they did not know that what Li Weiyi said and what he thought in his heart were completely different.
Rice persons certainly were not all Twin Rice Cult followers.
But these two experienced Secret Realm Division members had not detected the enemies behind at the first moment, which was truly suspicious.
Zuo Qiu Qingying asked: “What now?”
“Abandon the mounts and take a detour.” Li Weiyi said.
The four jumped off the blood patterned tiger camels and whipped them. The four beasts long-whistled and dashed forward madly.
Li Weiyi led the three, using movement technique to detour toward Qingyi Town. Along the way, he chatted amiably with the Zuo brothers about many rice person matters, secretly observing their expressions.
Though the Jiu Li Hidden Sect dared not probe Qingyi Town, its location had long been known.
As they drew closer to Qingyi Town, the sky gradually darkened.
“Those pursuers are surely searching everywhere for us. Traveling at night makes the target too obvious. There’s a market town ahead; why not stay there for the night first and evade them?”
Li Weiyi pointed ahead.
In the twilight, Qingyi Town had rising cooking smoke, with scents of firewood and meat and vegetable dishes wafting in the air.
Zuo Sheng frowned slightly, muttering inwardly, feeling everything was too coincidental—how had they stumbled right here?
The two had originally planned to strike after getting far from Qiu Zhou Prefecture City, killing Zuo Qiu Qingying and grappling Li Weiyi. Now, they had no choice but to advance the plan.
Perhaps even the heavens were helping them.
