Chapter 138: Rebellion

Li Weiyi recalled the Hermit Lord's previous words. To minimize casualties as much as possible, the Hidden Sect had actually incited the Earth Wolf Royal Army to rebel, employing a strategy of befriending a distant power to attack a closer one.

The Earth Wolf Royal Army was located in Shuzhou, thousands of miles away from Lizhou, with Hanzhou situated between them.

The phrase "befriending a distant power" sounded simple, but inciting a rebellion was far from easy. Getting the Earth Wolf Royal Army to fight for the Nine Li tribe was even more difficult, almost impossible. The key to everything must be inside that metal box.

The Hermit Lord sat opposite the Grand Master.

The arm that had been holding the chess piece was long gone.

The Grand Master opened the metal box. A dazzling silver light immediately burst forth from within. Taoist sounds echoed through the spacious room, and scriptures transformed into a sea of characters, as if a world had been opened.

"Thud!"

He immediately closed the metal box.

The Grand Master absorbed the shock; then, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out as he smiled. "To readily give up a treasure like the Immortal Law Star, it seems the so-called heritage of the myriad ancient tribes is nothing special. Yang Shenjing must have already pushed you into a corner."

The Hermit Lord observed the chessboard, then his gaze swept the room. "There's no need to test the Hidden Sect's strength. Even the Nine Li tribe's overt power, let alone if we combine forces, is formidable. As for Yang Shenjing, dead or alive... you don't actually believe that giving you the Immortal Law Star is a good thing, do you? If so, you would disappoint me greatly."

The Grand Master placed the metal box aside, speaking unhurriedly. "Except for the Son of Heaven, anyone who possesses the Immortal Law Star is committing a capital crime. In the entire Lingxiao Mortal Realm, only Yu Yaozi might barely be able to withstand its power, but given the current situation, even she wouldn't survive the year-end if she had it."

"But as long as the news doesn't leak, the Immortal Law Star is the greatest treasure under heaven. Right now, only our two factions know this secret."

"In other words, the Nine Li tribe is using retreat as a means to advance. We're offering them both a reward and a leash, thereby gaining the greatest leverage over the Earth Wolf Royal Army."

The Hermit Lord asked, "What about their King? Will he accept it?"

"Who in the world could refuse the Immortal Law Star?"

The Grand Master gave a wry smile and asked, "Alright, what are your terms?"

"In this battle, the Earth Wolf Royal Army must fully assist the Nine Li tribe, and that includes their King personally coming to participate," the Hermit Lord stated directly.

The Grand Master replied, "Agreed!"

"Kill Yao Qian," the Hermit Lord said.

The Grand Master naturally wouldn't agree to everything. "Yao Qian has caught the eye of the Second Palace Lord of the Lingxiao Palace. The cost of harming him would be unbearable even for the Nine Li tribe, let alone us."

"Do you think the Nine Li tribe pushed this task to you because we're afraid to kill him ourselves?" the Hermit Lord countered.

The Grand Master smiled but said nothing.

"I will personally eliminate him," the Hermit Lord declared.

The Hermit Lord's tone was firm. He continued, "I naturally have a clear measure of how much effort the Earth Wolf Royal Army will exert. If you stand by and watch the fire, only killing a few stragglers, the news of their King having refined the Immortal Law Star will quickly spread throughout the Lingxiao Mortal Realm. In any case, the Nine Li tribe won't lose anything."

The Grand Master's face darkened. "Once this leash is put on, it seems it can't be removed! How about this: the Nine Li tribe fully supports the Earth Wolf Royal Army? You have money, provisions, and resources, while we dare to fight, contend, and risk our lives. It would be a match made in heaven. First, we clear the southern territories, then we aim for dominion over the world!"

"Haha!"

The Hermit Lord burst out laughing. "That's a clever calculation you've made, but I'm no fool. Once their King breaks through to that realm with the Immortal Law Star, how could any leash hold him? I estimate it'll take ten years, ten years at most, for him to achieve that breakthrough. At that point, how would the Nine Li tribe dare to command him?"

The Grand Master had been staring into the Hermit Lord's eyes, hoping to discern the truth.

Giving away the Immortal Law Star was a brilliant move, enough to turn the Earth Wolf Royal Army into the Nine Li tribe's enforcers. But who in the entire cultivation world would willingly do such a thing? The Grand Master asked himself: if he were in the Hermit Lord's position, he would absolutely not be willing to give up the Immortal Law Star.

The Hermit Lord continued, "The Nine Li tribe can support the Earth Wolf Royal Army to a certain extent, but you are definitely not cut out to contend for dominion over the world. Have you heard the news? The Du'e Monastery has intervened in worldly affairs!"

Divine light emanated from the Grand Master's eyes. "A reclusive Taoist sect of a thousand years, unwilling to remain solitary, is now preparing to contend for dominion over the world?"

The Du'e Monastery was mysterious and unpredictable, with various legends surrounding it in the Lingxiao Mortal Realm. It was said to only emerge during years of great calamity.

Even a figure like the Grand Master knew little about it, only that it produced ten Longevity Pills every sixty years. Legend had it that the Longevity Pills were refined by the Du'e Monastery, and only they could refine them.

Just by controlling the Longevity Pills, it was unimaginable how terrifying their power must have become after a thousand years of reclusion. The Hermit Lord said, "No, they are merely intervening in worldly affairs, not truly entering society. Currently, they seem to have chosen the Zuoqiu Faction, intending to support them to rise to power and replace the Lingxiao Palace, thereby rectifying the world's situation. So, between the Earth Wolf Royal Army and the Zuoqiu Faction, Grand Master, who do you think the Nine Li tribe will choose?"

The Grand Master gave a forced smile. "Naturally, we'll go with the flow. It's quite good for the true dragon to emerge from the southern territories."

After removing the Six Desires Talisman from Li Weiyi, Shi Liuyu, accompanied by the Eight Dragon Chariot, disappeared underground.

"Li boy, since you're one of us now, next time I'll definitely arrange for flowing streams for you. Haha!" Shi Liuyu's laughter echoed from underground, growing fainter and fainter.

Li Weiyi's expression remained calm, completely ignoring the gazes directed at him.

The Hermit Lord's black robe fluttered and rustled in the wind. He looked at the others and said, "You must have many questions, don't you?"

"Bargaining with a tiger, taking a dangerous gamble. If the Earth Wolf Royal Army can turn sides at a crucial moment, the Tear Sect and the Three Chen Palaces will surely suffer a great defeat," said Hidden Two.

"Weiyi, come with me."

The Hermit Lord led Li Weiyi aside, creating a force field with his spiritual energy. It was clear that his previous casual remarks were intentionally for the Grand Master. He would never truly allow too many people to know a great secret concerning the survival of their tribe.

The Hermit Lord asked, "Have you heard of the Immortal Law Star?"

Li Weiyi certainly knew. He had heard Master Coffin explain it in detail, and his heart was greatly shocked. "The Hermit Lord gave the Immortal Law Star to the Earth Wolf Royal Army... this..."

The Hermit Lord gave a wry smile. "Do you know what's most difficult and most uncertain about this decisive battle?"

Li Weiyi understood that the Hermit Lord was testing him. After careful thought, he replied, "The hidden moves of the Tear Sect and the Three Chen Palaces. The Nine Li tribe has the Hidden Sect, so they must also have hidden methods; not everything will be out in the open."

"Half right!"

The Hermit Lord explained, "The enemy's overt strength and movements have always been under our control. Therefore, wherever they choose to attack, the Nine Li tribe's masters can rush there to provide support immediately. The Nine Li tribe isn't afraid of such a confrontation."

"But the Nine Li tribe is on the defensive! We have to defend the Nine Li Daoist Academy, Nine Li City, the Nine Li Divine Temple, the Ancestral Realm, and also the ancestral mountains of the nine great tribes. And all the villages, towns, and passes..."

"Once the enemy has one, two, three... hidden forces that suddenly break through our defenses and start slaughtering our people, should we go to their rescue or not?"

Li Weiyi said, "If we go to rescue them, we'll be completely passive and even risk losing more ground. Why not launch an active offense?"

"The Tear Sect's foundation is in the Sui River, and the Three Chen Palaces' foundation is in the Three Land Routes. Destroying the Tear Sect and Three Chen Palaces within Nine Li City would be meaningless. As for other forces like Coffin Mountain, Tianya Ridge, and Dragon Gate, they are even farther away."

"Initiating the decisive battle is true initiative."

The Hermit Lord said, "If we want to seize the initiative, we must choose our own battlefield and not be led by the nose by the enemy. Originally, we planned to use the Immortal Law Star to lure all enemies to the ancestral mountain of the Cang Li tribe and wipe them out, sacrificing the entire Cang Li tribe for the peace of the Nine Li tribe."

"Therefore, we conveyed the news of the Immortal Law Star being with the Cang Li tribe to Shinar of the Earth Wolf Royal Army through a special method."

"At the same time, we were preparing to relay the news to Yang Shenjing and others before the decisive battle."

Li Weiyi asked, "Why did you change your mind again?"

The Hermit Lord looked at him with keen eyes. "Two reasons, one internal and one external."

"Externally, the Zuoqiu Faction has decided to contend for dominion over the world, requiring the full support of the Nine Li tribe in all aspects. Therefore, they will fully assist us in this battle. This means the Nine Li tribe won't have to make such a massive sacrifice. After all... the Cang Li tribe is the largest tribe among the Nine Li, with millions of members. Who could bear to personally sacrifice so many? Internally, it's because of you."

"Me?" Li Weiyi asked.

The Hermit Lord said, "The news you brought back is too important! As long as the chieftain returns in ten years, even if Shinar breaks through to that realm with the Immortal Law Star, he will have to return it. Until then, the Earth Wolf Royal Army will be the Nine Li tribe's puppet enforcers."

"Weiyi, will the chieftain truly return in ten years?"

Before giving away the Immortal Law Star, the Hermit Lord had been very decisive. But after giving it away, his heart couldn't settle down, which was why he sought out Li Weiyi again for confirmation.

Li Weiyi hadn't expected that the Hermit Lord's bold decision, which might lead to nurturing a tiger that could eventually turn on them, was based on his trust in Li Weiyi.

At that moment, if he dared to speak the truth, he feared the Hermit Lord would slap him to death.

"The chieftain will definitely return. Within ten years, absolutely!"

Li Weiyi's gaze was firm, and he secretly clenched his fists as he spoke.

Since it was because of him that the Hermit Lord made a mistaken judgment and decision, he was determined not to betray the Hermit Lord's trust. He would personally retrieve the Immortal Law Star within ten years.

A smile appeared in the Hermit Lord's eyes.

After parting ways with the Hermit Lord and Hidden Two, Li Weiyi, Hidden Thirteen, Hidden Twenty-Three, and Hidden Twenty-Four left this immortal realm space and entered the Five Seas Realm martial cultivators' exit road from the town.

This road was located on the mountaintop, following the ridge.

The ground was covered in frost, and the snow was nearly a foot deep.

This was in stark contrast to the scorching heat of the path in the Flowing Spring Realm.

After exiting the qi barrier, Li Weiyi looked down at Burial Immortal Town, which seemed to be just below him. He noticed that the thick, bright pillar of light rising from the town was actually beginning to fade.

He could clearly see that the pillar of light was erupting from an ancient well in the northeastern corner of Burial Immortal Town.

"Are the anomalies in Burial Immortal Town truly activated by my blood? What secrets does my blood hide? Who exactly am I?"

Li Weiyi secretly decided that before leaving, he must find Chan Hai Guanwu to understand all of this; he could no longer live in such confusion.

Walking down the mountain ridge, they proceeded along the Tan River from the Five Seas Realm boundary.

Indeed, the path was unobstructed, with no sign of the enemy, but they did not encounter Hidden Nine and Cang Li.

After walking a hundred miles, they arrived at the place where they had separated from the nine armored commanders when first entering the town.

The area was filled with shocking signs of battle: the riverbed had a wide gap tens of meters long, parts of the mountain had collapsed, and large swathes of trees had been reduced to charcoal...

The army of the Yao Li tribe was stationed on the riverside plain, four miles away.

"Weiyi, the Hidden Sect's secret stronghold is located thirty miles west of Yao Pass City, at the tomb of Mountain Lord Taiqing. When you've made up your mind, meet us there."

Hidden Thirteen led Hidden Twenty-Three towards the Longshan Mountain Range, soon disappearing into the immortal mist and clouds.

Li Weiyi looked at Hidden Twenty-Four beside him. "Aren't you going with Senior Brother Hidden Thirteen?"

"You can go to the Yao Li tribe's main camp, so why can't I go back to see my father? My father is injured!" Hidden Twenty-Four retorted proudly.

Hidden Twenty-Four tilted her chin up proudly and walked towards the military camp first.

"What did you tell me back then? That to become a Hidden One, one must sever ties with the past."

Li Weiyi quickly followed, half a step ahead of her. "I can use Sima Qin's identity, but what about you? What's your real name?"

"It's reasonable enough for me to use the identity of Sima Qin's female companion, isn't it?"

Hidden Twenty-Four said this playfully, pretending to be fierce. Then she took half a step forward and gently leaned against him, her heart thumping wildly.