Chapter 164: Out to Sea

“I’m not begging you! You must understand that the interests and honor of our two families are now tied together.”

Zuoqiu Ting sat comfortably on a rosewood chair by the table, crossing his legs. “Lizhou is a battlefield concerning your survival. Without the deterrent power of my ancestor, the Four-Extremities Ape King or the Coffin Mountain Taboo might have already intervened, killing all of the Jiuli clan’s Longevity Realm cultivators. Where would you be now?”

Yin Shi sat on another rosewood chair, her tone equally firm. “And then what? They’d join forces and their next target would be the Zuoqiu Faction. Zuoqiu Ting, you must understand that if the Jiuli clan hadn’t pinned down the enemy in Lizhou, what would be coming to Qiuzhou now wouldn’t just be the younger generation of enemies, but genuine armies from all sides.”

She continued, “Anyone can see that the imperial court’s downfall is imminent, probably within a year or two. The world situation has reached its most critical juncture. In the seven northern provinces, the Snow Sword Tang Court has already integrated and subdued various rebel forces, establishing itself as the dominant power. They have gathered masters from five provinces under their command, and an army of a million cultivators is poised, ready for battle, assembled on the Misty Grassland. With a single command, they can march south to the Yimale River and unify the north.”

“In the seven eastern provinces, the Dragon Gate and the Thundercloud Sect have divided the territory between them. The three island pirates are holed up in the East Sea, and integration will certainly be complete within a year, after which they will join forces with the Snow Sword Tang Court outside Lingxiao City.”

“In the seven western provinces, the Vermilion Gate has already captured three provinces. Only the Dog Rong and Sparrow Rong can still put up some resistance, but their days are numbered like cicadas in late autumn.”

“The world situation is gradually becoming clear. Only the southern provinces, through the joint efforts of the Zuoqiu Faction and the Jiuli clan over the past decade, have managed to maintain a relatively stable situation in half of their territory.”

“Indeed, the Jiuli clan has severely declined. However, without the Jiuli clan’s support, the Zuoqiu Faction would pay a heavy price to unify the southern provinces, suffering vital damage and losing the qualification to contend for dominance over the world. Why have the Dragon Gate and the Far West Ashlands appeared at this time, sparing no effort to support major southern powers in creating unrest? They want you to lose that qualification!”

“Everyone knows that your Zuoqiu Faction intends to use the power of the Du'e Temple during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival to bloodlessly integrate the entire southern provinces. Do you think they will let you succeed?”

“Therefore, Young Master Zuoqiu, we need each other; this is not a master-servant relationship.”

Zuoqiu Ting listened quietly, nodding slightly. “Very well. Since the Divine Hidden Ones clearly understand the current situation, I won’t waste words! Behind the Three Chen Palaces and Night City lies the Far West Ashlands, and the Cave Sect and Tianyi Sect also show tendencies to align with them.”

“Your Jiuli clan is already irreconcilable with these three major sects. If I go to war with them, will you fight? If you do, you must go all out, and many people might die.”

“Do we have a retreat?” Yin Shi countered.

Zuoqiu Ting shook his head. “No.”

“Since there’s no retreat, Young Master Zuoqiu, why bother asking?” Yin Shi said.

Zuoqiu Ting clapped three times. “Excellent! Don’t worry, the Zuoqiu Faction will go all out in this battle, and the Zuoqiu Hidden Gate will also be deployed. I’ve found out that our greatest enemy, the Young Venerable, is named Luansheng Linyou. He is the son of the great demon Green Luan from the Far West Ashlands, possessing pure ancient immortal beast bloodline. With his physical strength alone, he can tear apart Dao Seed realm cultivators. His martial arts are also exceptionally brilliant, cultivating both the Green Luan and Kirin battle concepts. Wherever he goes, birds and beasts bow down to him, indistinguishable from the young emperors of demon clan legends.”

“Under his command are four supreme experts: Huayuzi, Qijin, Mingniansheng, and Zangjin. Each of them is comparable to the inheritors of ten million factions.”

“Additionally, there are two personal attendants, and followers from various major powers in the southern provinces, such as Yuwen Tuozhen, the young lord of Night City, the Coffin Mountain Four Truths, Chen Wenwu, and other top masters. As for the Heartless Golden Ape, Longting, Yang Qingxi, and others, they also cannot be overlooked.”

Li Weiyi drank the second mouthful of Golden Spring, forging his 144th bone, and a layer of golden light appeared on his body surface.

Every bit of increased strength counted.

The discussion concluded.

Zuoqiu Ting stood up to leave. As he was about to depart, his gaze fell upon Li Weiyi, who was standing by the window. He walked over and said, “Have you collected a lot of Golden Spring? Give me a pot!”

Li Weiyi opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with golden light, and said in surprise, “Young Master Zuoqiu, have you overestimated our friendship? Golden Spring is very precious.”

Zuoqiu Ting replied, “If it’s not precious, why would I bother looking at it?”

That made a lot of sense.

Li Weiyi thought of the talisman robe from last night that could resist one death tribulation, which Zuoqiu Ting had given away so readily. Few could match his generosity. So he said, “Young Master Zuoqiu, if you wish to use Golden Spring for bone forging to enhance your strength, you could consider trading it for thousand-year-old spirit herbs. However, I enjoy making friends, and there is a secret art I can bestow upon you.”

The seven Phoenix-Wing Moth Emperors ate too much; raising them required immense resources, and even vast quantities of thousand-year-old spirit herbs wouldn't be enough.

“Oh!”

Zuoqiu Ting looked thoughtful and seemed quite moved.

Li Weiyi leaned close to his ear and whispered, “The ‘Bone Transformation and Spirit Exchange Art’!”

Since he knew that his spirit master was proficient in this lost Daoist secret art of the Zuoqiu Faction, how could Li Weiyi not learn it? This was a truly remarkable great art, and its effects, once mastered, would be unimaginable.

Zuoqiu Ting asked suspiciously, “That departed senior, did they also pass this secret art on to you?”

Li Weiyi immediately circulated his internal magical power along his Trace Meridians throughout his body, subsequently altering his muscles and bones. His height increased by half an inch, his shoulders narrowed, his facial features adjusted, and his overall demeanor and aura changed.

In just a moment, Li Weiyi had transformed into a completely different person. “How is it? As long as I don’t engage in combat or release magical energy, I won’t be exposed. If you learn this, please don’t transform into Longting’s appearance again; I’m afraid I might mistake you for someone else in the future.”

Zuoqiu Ting’s eyes shone with admiration. “Good, Li Weiyi, I accept you as a friend. When this matter is resolved, I will come to you to learn it.”

What he wanted to learn, of course, was more than just the “Bone Transformation and Spirit Exchange Art.”

He believed that the person Li Weiyi encountered in the Land of the Departed Spirits must have been the transcendent being from the Zuoqiu Faction who disappeared a thousand years ago.

After Zuoqiu Ting left, Yin Shi’s expression became solemn, and she whispered, “You’re right, the enemy is even more terrifying than I imagined. This is a tough battle where people are destined to die. Li Weiyi, you and Yaoyin are the future of the Hidden Gate. You should leave Juze City immediately and don’t get involved in this.”

Li Weiyi wanted to immediately reveal the battle concepts of the Jiuli God and let them try to fuse, but time was short, and there was simply no time.

He said, “Alright, I’ll leave as soon as possible so I don’t hold you back or cause trouble. But don’t push yourselves too hard; if you can’t win, run. There’s no shame in it. The key is to survive.”

Li Weiyi took Zhuang Yue, claiming he would send her to the imperial court’s yamen in Juze City.

In reality, Li Weiyi did not do this. For a proud woman like Zhuang Yue, if everyone in the yamen knew she had become like this and was surrounded by countless onlookers and expressions of concern, it would actually be more painful than death.

More importantly, the imperial court had long since abandoned Qiuzhou. How much power could the Juze City yamen possibly have? Inside a temporarily rented exotic beast carriage...

Zhuang Yue, completely wrapped in a dark night-traveling robe, sat on the left side of the carriage.

Li Weiyi sat on the right, speaking gently, “Your skin can grow back. Just take the petals of the Core Lamp Flower; I already had someone buy them last night. As for your eyes... I’ve checked, and your martial arts cultivation is very high, so you can find a demonic spirit eye to reattach. You can slowly nurture it using your Trace Meridians and magical power.”

Zhuang Yue extended her hands and tightly gripped Li Weiyi’s wrist as if grasping a lifeline. “Li Weiyi, you don’t need to worry about me. Please save my young mistress! That Lord Qi must be trying to transform into my appearance to deceive her... Please, quickly go and tell my mistress. If she falls for it, I will be responsible for a thousand deaths... I beg you, I beg you...”

“Don’t worry about her for now. Even if she dies, what does it have to do with you? Is it your fault? People need to learn to care more about themselves. Do you have any common sense?”

Li Weiyi scolded her, then sighed, and took out the Core Lamp Flower stored in a cold jade box.

The flower had nine petals, all translucent and sparkling.

The pistil inside emitted a soft glow, like a lamp wick.

Li Weiyi plucked a petal and fed it to her lips.

Zhuang Yue seemed to be crying, but no tears fell. Trembling, she opened her mouth, took the petal, and chewed it gently. A faint white light immediately appeared on her body, and her flesh felt slightly warm and tingly.

All nine petals and the pistil were consumed. Zhuang Yue’s skin regenerated, very delicate, but still not entirely like that of a normal person. It would require nurturing with vital energy and magical power for complete recovery.

At least the pain had significantly lessened.

Li Weiyi’s tone was warm and gentle. “That’s better! The one who stripped your skin and impersonated you is an Ash Spirit named Lord Qi. Their cultivation is terrifying, comparable to the inheritors of ten million factions. For the two of us to go rescue someone would be equivalent to walking to our deaths.”

“Go to the Juze City yamen and ask the imperial court’s strong cultivators and army to intervene,” Zhuang Yue said.

“Good idea!”

Li Weiyi agreed, then took out the black metal box, which still had traces of Zhuang Yue’s blood, from the Evil Camel Bell and placed it inside the carriage.

The two got out of the carriage, both wrapped in dark night-traveling robes with hoods pulled over their heads.

Li Weiyi took out ten silver coins, handed them over, and instructed the coachman, “Take the box in the carriage to the yamen. If they ask, tell them that the person who told you to do this already got off at the North City Gate. Go quickly!”

Outside the North City Gate was a bustling seaport. The water was filled with ships of all sizes, and fishermen and porters were everywhere.

Large ships resembled floating towers, their sails casting multiple shadows.

Smaller boats were mostly fishing vessels, with colorful flags fluttering and fishing nets drying.

Juze City was not only near Bingzu Marsh but also at the confluence of the Sui River and Lizhi River. Trade was prosperous, with goods distributed by both water and land. Transportation of minerals from the western provinces, rice slaves from the eastern provinces, and goods for the 'Southern Coffin, Northern Beasts' routes all passed through here.

Li Weiyi bought a fishing boat over twenty meters long. After sailing about two li out, he stopped on the water, drinking the spring water to temper his bones while secretly gazing towards the city gate.

“Clip-clop!”

At midday, the sea glittered with reflections, and heavy hoofbeats came from within the city.

Huo Qiankun, the foremost young master of the Tianyi Sect, holding a silver spear, rode an exotic beast resembling a tiger and charged out of the city gate.

Two Tianyi Sect martial cultivators of the Five Seas Realm, who were riding horses behind him, immediately dismounted to inquire about information, describing the appearances of Li Weiyi and Zhuang Yue.