Chapter 122: Jiang Ning and Zuo Qiuting

Li Weiyi felt surprised. Their previous encounter on the ship had made him think Zhuang Yue was arrogant and looked down on others, but this time he realized she was straightforward and didn't resort to cunning or feigned friendliness.

Such a person clearly distinguishes good from evil, loves and hates with clarity, leaving no room for gray areas. Fortunately, she was in Luan Tai. If she were in a chaotic mortal world, she definitely wouldn't have survived until now.

He put away the insect tube.

After running a distance, Li Weiyi shouted from afar, "Don't just keep fighting to the death; if you can't win, escape together."

"So stubborn!" he muttered. Whispering to himself, he opened the insect tube while fleeing. Inside the tube, there was a colorful, misty glow, truly dazzling.

Seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors were eating the leaves of a Dyeing Cloud Exotic Herb. Noticing the tube open, their seven pairs of eyes all looked at Li Weiyi outside. After a brief chirping, they went back to eating.

Li Weiyi's face instantly darkened. "All you care about is food when your master returns; there's no excitement at all. No wonder you were easily abducted."

However, Jiang Ning and Zhuang Yue were indeed extravagant. A rare treasure like the Dyeing Cloud Exotic Herb — Li Weiyi could sell it for a hundred million copper coins, and Yin Ershiwu would readily buy it. One could imagine that outside Lizhou, it would surely fetch an even higher price. Yet, they used it to feed insects.

What was gratifying was that the seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors had already grown to two inches in body length.

"How strange. Why didn't Zhuang Yue release them to fight Shi Shishi together? Could it be... she doesn't even know that the seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors' combat power has reached the Five Seas Realm level, and thinks they won't be helpful?" Li Weiyi thought this was highly probable. At any level, encirclement was always effective.

If the six Buddhist bandits from before had joined forces and coordinated better, they definitely would have given Li Weiyi a tough time. The seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors were by no means comparable to those six Buddhist bandits. Most of the six Buddhist bandits were at the Seven Springs breaking into Five Seas stage. The seven Emperor-level exotic insects, however, could fully rival the combat power of a Hundred Meridian Silver Vein inheritor seed at the same realm. While they might be slightly inferior to inheritor seeds in battle techniques, magical artifacts, and intelligence, they could compensate with their astounding defense and speed.

A piercing sound of air being torn rent behind him. Li Weiyi's expression changed slightly, and he quickly looked back.

Zhuang Yue, moving on a stream of spiritual energy, was as fast as a white streak, continuously closing the distance between them. Further away, Shi Shishi was employing a jumping movement technique, each leap like a cannonball, covering tens of feet. His body was like a spring.

"What do you mean by this?" Li Weiyi asked nervously.

Zhuang Yue caught up to within ten feet behind him. Heavily injured and with chaotic aura, she gritted her teeth and retorted, "Didn't you tell me to escape with you if I couldn't win?"

"I didn't tell you to escape *towards* me," Li Weiyi said, feeling frustrated.

Zhuang Yue was even more frustrated. "You didn't make it clear! I thought you wanted me to follow you so we could escape together."

In Zhuang Yue's view, "Sima Qin" was a responsible and fearless hero, so she thought his shout meant "we die together, we escape together."

"Whoosh!" Shi Shishi, like a large fat bird, soared over their heads and landed heavily in front of them, kicking up dust. Li Weiyi slid two feet forward before finally stopping. Zhuang Yue stopped a short distance behind him, knowing she wouldn't escape today. Spiritual energy clouds emanated from her, preparing for battle.

Shi Shishi chuckled, "Brother Sima, are you also from the Nine Li Hidden Sect?"

"I don't understand what you're saying, but be careful, Dharma King Shishi. My cultivation might not be as high as yours, but I have another identity."

Li Weiyi opened the insect tube, and a Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor flew out, flapping its wings.

"An insect master!"

"Hiss! Hiss!" The two-inch long body of the Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor rapidly grew, its feathery wings and membranous wings reaching three feet in length, transforming into a giant moth emanating colorful glazed light. Its six sharp claws appeared forged from metal, their hooks as keen as spears.

This Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor was the largest of the seven and specialized in bluster. In the Tomb of King Cang, when Li Weiyi first encountered it, it appeared in this colossal form, exuding an aura like that of a Longevity Realm martial cultivator, almost startling his three masters. Li Weiyi had just communicated with it via telekinesis. There was no need to release a Longevity Realm aura; that would be too fake and easily arouse suspicion. A Five Seas Realm Fifth Stage aura would be sufficient.

Its three-foot-long body, full of metallic and glazed texture, slowly crawled towards Shi Shishi, emitting a loud chirping sound that echoed across the field. Shi Shishi's face instantly changed, and he quickly retreated to create distance.

Zhuang Yue felt the terrifying aura of the Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor and was greatly alarmed: "This is its true power?"

"Naturally," Li Weiyi said, hands clasped behind his back, looking confident and smug.

Zhuang Yue held her breath and asked, "What about the other six in the tube?"

"Why would I need to use all seven exotic insects to deal with a heavily injured child?" Li Weiyi said calmly. The other six couldn't bluster or release a strong aura.

"Exotic insects? And there are six more?" Shi Shishi instinctively felt something was amiss, but the giant moth approaching him had a powerful and incredibly dangerous aura. He was considering whether to retreat when he suddenly saw white feathers filling the sky from a distance, and an ethereal figure with wings spread approaching. His expression changed again.

"Brother Sima, if such a formidable insect master like you could join our Earth Wolf Royal Army, that would be wonderful. We'll meet again sometime." Shi Shishi leaped, burrowed into the ground, and vanished.

Li Weiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly recalled the Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor into the tube, and walked to where Shi Shishi had disappeared. The ground was solid, not hollowed out.

"This earth-burrowing technique is truly formidable," he said.

Zhuang Yue snorted, "Hmph, they're just a bunch of ground rats to begin with. Otherwise, they would have been wiped out by the imperial army long ago."

White spiritual energy feathers drifted down, and Jiang Ning's feet touched the ground. The white light wings on her back dissipated as she walked towards the two of them. She had a tall, graceful figure, dressed in a green cloud robe. Her full bosom was alluring, and colorful light shimmered around her, possessing the unique flawless beauty of a Pure Immortal Body woman, every inch of her skin like crystal jade. Even among Pure Immortal Bodies, there could be significant differences in temperament and beauty. Even with a veil covering her face, Jiang Ning would undoubtedly stand out among other Pure Immortal Body women, like a true goddess or celestial maiden appearing in the mortal world.

"Miss, it was Shi Shishi, Shi Na'er's adopted son," Zhuang Yue stepped forward, bowed, and reported.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly. Her ethereal eyes, like clear blue waves, gazed at Li Weiyi, deep enough to perceive all mysteries of the world. "He saved you?"

Zhuang Yue affirmed, then stepped forward to express her gratitude to Li Weiyi. Li Weiyi was surprised. Luan Tai martial cultivators considered themselves celestial beings, yet she could lower her proud head and thank a mortal martial cultivator like him. It was truly a rare occurrence. However, it was only verbal gratitude with no tangible expression, which did not align with Li Weiyi's expectations.

"No need to thank me. I was mainly here to retrieve these seven little fellows." Li Weiyi, not wanting to get too deeply involved with them, was about to leave.

The insect tube on his back was flung open. The seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors flew towards Jiang Ning; some landed on her shoulders, some on her hair, and others circled her playfully and intimately.

"You..." Li Weiyi tried to maintain his composure and did not immediately forcibly recall the seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors.

Zhuang Yue's eyes were strange. Seizing the opportunity, she used spiritual energy to transmit a message to Jiang Ning, telling her about the performance of the Phoenix-wing Moth Emperor earlier. Jiang Ning was secretly astonished. It seemed these seven little creatures were even more extraordinary than she had estimated. Back in Lingxiao City, she would have to thoroughly check ancient texts and the "Exotic Insect List." Given her proud nature, she wouldn't kill someone to seize the insects, but her desire to recruit Sima Qin for her own use grew even stronger.

She tried to make her tone approachable: "I've read extensively since childhood and consider myself knowledgeable, yet I know very little about these seven. What kind of exotic insects are they?"

"Rainbow Spirit Moths." Li Weiyi gave the name of a commander-level exotic insect that his spirit master had already prepared for him.

Jiang Ning said, "Rainbow Spirit Moths, ranked fifth among commander-level exotic insects on the 'Exotic Insect List.' Once they mature, the seven of them together can contend with a Longevity Realm martial cultivator. More importantly, they possess a certain degree of ability to summon underground insect swarms. Sima Qin, with your talent, if you were to cultivate in Lingxiao City, you would definitely receive priority training. Do you have any thoughts about serving the imperial court?"

It was only then, seeing Jiang Ning, that Li Weiyi truly felt the extraordinary charm and aura of a Pure Immortal Body, which was beyond the reach of mortals. It made one feel that she should not be burdened by worldly affairs but rather escape the mundane world to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao. For someone like her to actively communicate with a lower-realm cultivator, rather than giving commands, was already her way of showing sufficient sincerity.

Li Weiyi chuckled, "Thank you, Celestial Maiden, for your appreciation, but I don't understand imperial court rules and dislike being constrained. I'm afraid I can only be an ungrateful scoundrel this once. But I can assure you, I will never join the rebels or become an enemy of the imperial court."

Keeping distance from the imperial court was important. Stabilizing Jiang Ning, to avoid being seen as a threat and eliminated in the cradle, was also crucial. Being rejected was not surprising; Jiang Ning could understand. However, the combat power Sima Qin displayed at the same realm was indeed extraordinary, comparable to a young ancient emperor, and he also controlled seven Rainbow Spirit Moths. Furthermore, she recalled the intellect and resilience he had shown in the Five Seas Realm. As long as he didn't die, he would definitely rise rapidly within ten years, becoming a shining new star in the Southern Region.

She wanted to try harder: "Your name isn't Sima Qin, is it? Your disguise technique has many flaws."

"Celestial Maiden's eyesight is extraordinary. I'm impressed!" Li Weiyi gave an awkward smile, then quickly realized something. The image of Zuoqiu Ting flashed in his mind. Suddenly, it all became clear. So that was it. Zuoqiu Ting must have also used a disguise technique, which was why his face was identical to the Dragon Gate inheritor, and the sense of disharmony about him was so strong. Using a disguise technique to change one's face into another's was extremely difficult, requiring very high levels of cultivation, observation skills, and mastery of disguise. At least Li Weiyi was far from being able to do it yet. Even with Zuoqiu Ting's cultivation, he could only manage a half-hearted disguise.

Jiang Ning added, "You're not from the far western Ash region, as everyone speculates. You are truly from the Nine Li Hidden Sect!" In the Five Seas Realm, Li Weiyi risked his life to protect those young martial cultivators of the Nine Li tribe. In her opinion, only a member of the Nine Li tribe could possess such responsibility and dedication. How could someone from the Ash region make such sacrifices? If he wasn't a visible cultivator of the Nine Li tribe, then he could only be from the Hidden Sect. Luan Tai monitored the world, naturally possessing records about the Nine Li Hidden Sect, so Jiang Ning knew that the Nine Li Hidden Sect truly existed.

Li Weiyi felt Jiang Ning was trying to trick him, so he flatly denied it.

Jiang Ning firmly believed her judgment was correct: "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it! What I value is your talent, potential, intellect, and character. Yes, the Grand Palace Master certainly had her faults back then. The Minor Field Decree caused too much harm to you, and I can understand your prejudice against the imperial court. But there were many hidden complexities in the events of that year. I believe that the Grand Palace Master, who once governed diligently, loved her people like her own children, was kind, pure, and radiant, will return. Her darkness and prejudice are only temporary; she has the ability to correct her mistakes."

"Haha!" A familiar and hearty laugh rang out. Zuoqiu Ting and Li Ling slowly walked up a small hill nearby, appearing before the three people below. The giant dragonfly appeared with them.

Zuoqiu Ting gently fanned himself, looking elegant and unconstrained, and laughed loudly, "Jiang Ning, how audacious of you to dare to speak ill of the Grand Palace Master. How many heads do you have to spare?"

Jiang Ning observed Zuoqiu Ting for a moment, recognizing him, and said in a melodious voice like a celestial melody, "If a mistake was made, it was made. What is there to fear in speaking of it? But my respect and admiration for the Grand Palace Master will never change. She merely lost herself for a time, falling into an inner maelstrom, which led to a great error. But don't forget, a thousand years ago, who was it that carved out a bright, clear sky for the world amidst the calamitous death brought by the Nether Realm? At that time, the Three Hundred Lingxiao Prefectures were in constant retreat, with millions of casualties daily. All armies and martial cultivators were powerless to resist. Wherever the soul clouds of the Departed Spirits surged, an entire prefecture turned into darkness and desolation. When the world was in its direst and most desperate hour, it was the Grand Palace Master, alone with her sword, who stood at the forefront, repelling the Departed Spirit armies dozens of times. In a single day, she fought ninety thousand miles, carving out a circle within the boundless soul clouds of the Departed Spirits and the night of the Nether Realm, which is why we have the current Twenty-Eight Lingxiao Prefectures. But everyone has forgotten all of this, forgotten that for the past thousand years, it was under the Grand Palace Master's leadership that the Lingxiao Living Realm flourished anew. Forgotten that it was because the Grand Palace Master was present that the four Nether Realms and the Malevolent Departed Spirits were deterred. Forgotten that without the Grand Palace Master, there would be no Lingxiao Living Realm today. Without the Grand Palace Master, your Zuoqiu family sect would have been gone a thousand years ago! Do you acknowledge this?"

Zuoqiu Ting's expression became solemn, and he nodded with a sigh. "I naturally acknowledge the Grand Palace Master's achievements. But a thousand years of accomplishments were all ruined by three years of the Minor Field Decree. In three years, how many people died? How much bloodshed, tears, and humiliation were caused? I have always believed that if the most powerful person in the world is not restrained, they will become the greatest calamity."

Jiang Ning said, "What about these ten years of war? Haven't far more people died than in those three years? When a hero rises up, it often means ten years of tribulation for the common people. How many are true heroes, and how many are truly for the common people? I see more who merely seek to satisfy their own ambitions and interests, just like the brewing crisis in Lizhou right now."

Zuoqiu Ting said, "If the Grand Palace Master doesn't admit her mistakes, then naturally someone must correct them."

Jiang Ning said, "We should give her some time."

"Three years have been given; I think the world has been very generous!" Zuoqiu Ting said.

Jiang Ning said, "So, your Zuoqiu family sect is finally entering this grand chess game of the world?"

Zuoqiu Ting stared into her eyes for a while, then smiled, "I won't tell you! At least for now, the Zuoqiu family sect has absolutely shown utmost benevolence and righteousness towards the Grand Palace Master and Lingxiao Palace."

With Jiang Ning's personal confirmation, indicating that Zuoqiu Ting was indeed the inheritor of the Zuoqiu family sect, Li Weiyi's worries slightly lessened. However, the two of them were debating fiercely, their words sharp and incisive, as if they were about to fight. Clashes between inheritors were truly terrifying.

Fearing involvement, Li Weiyi forcibly recalled the seven Phoenix-wing Moth Emperors, then quickly retreated to the side, coming to Li Ling and asking, "Didn't you go to Thirty-Three-Mile Mountain?"

Li Ling, interested in the intense debate between the two in the distance, smiled and said, "We came back for you."

"For me again?" Li Weiyi was astonished.

Li Ling said, "The latest news is that a Longevity Realm old monster has discovered a special method to send Five Seas Realm First and Second Stage martial cultivators into Thirty-Three-Mile Mountain. Young Master Zuoqiu believes he still needs your help."

"With the Zuoqiu family sect's resources, finding a Pure Immortal Body master at the Five Seas Realm Second Stage shouldn't be difficult, should it? Why keep focusing on me, a mortal martial cultivator who just entered the Five Seas Realm?" Li Weiyi asked.

Zuoqiu Ting heard this and called out from a distance, "It's extremely difficult for Five Seas Realm Second Stage martial cultivators to enter; the Zuoqiu family sect can only send one person at most. Although you've just entered the Five Seas Realm, your combat power is outstanding even among Second Stage cultivators, so naturally, you are my primary target for recruitment."

Li Weiyi no longer refused outright as he had before. Going to Thirty-Three-Mile Mountain with the influence of the Zuoqiu family sect would certainly be safer than going alone.

Jiang Ning had no intention of fighting Zuoqiu Ting. As she left, she looked at Li Weiyi and said, "If you change your mind, you can always find me. The imperial court is still the strongest faction in the world."

Zhuang Yue clasped her fists in farewell and followed Jiang Ning, disappearing at the edge of the grassland.

"Whish!" Zuoqiu Ting closed his folding fan and tutted with regret, "Jiang Ning is a Luan Tai Celestial Maiden, a disciple of a Palace Master-level figure, a Hundred Meridian Silver Vein inheritor-level master with boundless prospects. And I've heard she's one of the 'Three Immortals of the Young Generation' as evaluated by the Immortal Forest, titled 'Feathered Fairy Maiden.' Her beauty beneath that veil must be unparalleled. Brother Sima, you actually rejected her? Do you know how many heroes and powerful figures in the world wish to follow her, yet she doesn't even bother to glance at them?"

Li Weiyi smiled, "Brother Zuoqiu seems very interested in Jiang Ning?"

Zuoqiu Ting opened his fan and gently fanned himself, gazing in the direction Jiang Ning had left. "Who doesn't love a graceful fairy maiden? Unfortunately, this fairy maiden has thorns; not everyone can become close to her. Thinking of this, I feel sorry for Brother Sima."

Li Weiyi stopped smiling and said seriously, "Although Jiang Ning is proud and prickly, and hard to approach, she is still considered honorable and upright."

"She didn't kill you and seize the exotic insects, so you think she's honorable and upright? How naive! As someone from the imperial court, which is a mixed bag, if she didn't have extraordinary means, it would be as hard as climbing to heaven just to establish herself, let alone become a Luan Tai Celestial Maiden." Zuoqiu Ting leaped onto the back of the giant dragonfly and smiled, "Let's go. I, Zuoqiu Ting, am not some honorable and upright person, but I can guarantee that if you help me this time, the benefits you receive will be considerable."

The giant dragonfly carried the three of them, flying dozens of feet above the ground, towards Thirty-Three-Mile Mountain.

Li Weiyi told Li Ling about the plight of the Gushing Spring Realm martial cultivators and asked, "What exactly is the situation on your Five Seas Realm battlefield?"

Li Ling replied, "With the help of a group of mysterious martial cultivators, my brother and his group have already forged a path out of the Five Seas Realm. The path from the Five Seas Realm to Yao Pass City should be cleared soon."

Zuoqiu Ting exuded the unique confidence of a scion from a prominent aristocratic family. "Lizhou is the main rear area of the Southern Region, and also the backbone of the Zuoqiu family sect. Rest assured, the Zuoqiu family sect will not allow Lizhou to fall into chaos; they will definitely intervene to help."

Li Weiyi was dismissive: "If the Zuoqiu family sect truly wanted to help the Nine Li tribe, they would have intervened fourteen years ago! What you need is a Lizhou with internal strife but not total collapse, not a strong and stable Nine Li tribe. I suspect that even if you do intervene, it will be after the Nine Li tribe has been severely weakened. Perhaps if the Nine Li tribe doesn't withstand this turmoil and collapses, you might even turn to support the Sui Sect or the Three Chen Palaces instead."

Zuoqiu Ting stood at the very front, conjuring a cloud of spiritual energy to envelop the three of them. A strange glint flashed in his eyes as he sighed, "Li Ling, you should quickly tell your father to summon him as a son-in-law for the Li family. If Jiang Ning manages to lure him away, the Nine Li tribe would suffer a huge loss!"

Li Ling said sourly, "He won't be lured away. Some people are interested in Yao Yin. Becoming a live-in son-in-law for the Medicine Li tribe might be more appealing."

Li Weiyi smiled wryly, feeling a sudden strong sense of oppressive dullness, as if his heart and lungs were suddenly squeezed, making it hard to breathe. He looked up. He saw a terrifying black demonic shadow with large red wings, a dragon's head, and a snake's tail, flying through the celestial mists in the sky, casting an enormous shadow on the ground. The area covered by the shadow could encompass several small hills.

Zuoqiu Ting was calm: "It's just a Longevity Realm demon cultivator passing by. It's quite normal. The opportunities in this immortal realm space, Buried Immortal Town, are too great, attracting many old monsters here."

"I heard that even the Four Extremes Ape King has arrived!" Li Weiyi said with some concern.

Zuoqiu Ting said, "It's fine. It only killed a sixth-generation descendant. Our Zuoqiu family sect's ancestor has also arrived and can keep it in check."

Half a day later, they arrived at the edge of the grassland. On the horizon, Thirty-Three-Mile Mountain was in sight, shrouded in clouds and mist, majestic and magnificent.

A look of surprise appeared in Li Weiyi's eyes.