Chapter 254: Xi Emperor's Eight Trigrams Mirror

Zuoqiu Ling looked towards the Ninth Heaven above Mount Taoli. The state of mind of an immortal, honed through countless trials, could not conceal the emotion and worry in his eyes at this moment.

He withdrew his gaze and suddenly asked, "Weiyi, do you think the world's situation will evolve like the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival? Or rather, even worse?"

Evidently, Zuoqiu Ling felt that the situation tonight was exactly like New Year's Eve at the beginning of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.

The Zuoqiu Clan faced an extremely difficult challenge. If they endured, they could usher in a new order for the Lingxiao Realm.

If they failed, it could mean the annihilation of their clan.

Facing the patriarch of a myriad of clans, Li Weiyi did not dare to speak rashly. After pondering for a moment, he expressed his view: "Tonight is very similar to New Year's Eve, but it's still different."

"When the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival began, the Far West Ash Region could conceal its true strength, not revealing its hidden power. They had always been located to the west of the Lingxiao Realm, and for thousands of years, they had not shown their ambition."

"Therefore, everyone thought that the Zuoqiu Clan, supported by the Duer Abbey, was the biggest threat and had to be eliminated first."

"Tonight is different. The demon race is coming fiercely, and Qilin Zang is even more brazen, completely adopting a stance of not resting until humanity is destroyed."

"Even if the imperial court wants to use the demon race to destroy the Zuoqiu Clan again, for now, they must first protect the Zuoqiu Clan. Otherwise, if the Southern Realm falls, Lingxiao City will be next."

"The major forces in the Northern, Eastern, and Western Realms can no longer stand by idly as they did on New Year's Eve. Because if they couldn't win the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, they could escape the city. If they can't win a battle for the whole world, there will be nowhere to escape, and their descendants will become slaves and livestock."

Yin Twenty-Four and Yao Yin were utterly impressed with Li Weiyi, not so much by what he said, but by his ability to converse with a prominent figure like the Lingxiao Marshal with such composure and naturalness, without appearing arrogant or conceited.

The two of them, however, were very nervous.

It wasn't that they were afraid, but Zuoqiu Ling's imperceptible aura was simply too powerful.

Zuoqiu Ling said, "Qilin Zang's cultivation has reached an unimaginable level. The formation of Qiuzhou City can only temporarily repel it; it cannot harm it in the slightest. The immortal masters of Duer Abbey can only barely contend with it. The Transcendent from the Western Realm who rushed here was swallowed by it in one gulp. No one in the entire Lingxiao Realm is its match. It dares to wage war so recklessly, surely it has complete confidence."

Li Weiyi knew clearly that Zuoqiu Ling was testing him.

Someone capable of being a clan patriarch could not possibly fail to see the predicament behind Qilin Zang.

Li Weiyi said, "I think Qilin Zang might not have complete confidence; it's just that the arrow is on the string and must be shot."

"The Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, with the strength, trump cards, and subordinate forces of Luan Sheng Linyou, was originally a sure bet. As long as Luan Sheng Linyou was crowned Hidden Dragon, and Qilin Zang appeared as a result, with the two forces combined, it wouldn't even need to act; countless forces would have submitted to it tonight."

"The failure of the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival was clearly the result it least wanted to see."

"But forces like Tianya Ridge, Yin Mountain, Guan Mountain, Dragon Gate, etc., have already clearly taken sides. If it doesn't act tonight, if it doesn't show the toughest stance, how can it account for these people?"

"Tianya Ridge is right under the Zuoqiu Clan's nose."

"Yin Mountain will be uprooted by the Snow Sword Tang Court."

"Dragon Gate will be immediately attacked by the imperial army, and the people of the world will applaud."

"In this battle, the reason Qilin Zang is so strong, appearing certain to win, I believe, is more about showing its allies its stance, to reassure them."

Zuoqiu Ling's eyes lit up, and he nodded slightly: "Qilin Zang did not get the support of Duer Abbey. Overlords like the Four-Extremity Ape King and the Silver-Feathered Eagle King must be hesitant in their hearts, and it's entirely possible they might change sides... It's here, the Supreme Artifact has finally finished absorbing the spiritual energy..."

As Li Weiyi was feeling surprised, an inexplicable aura of terror erupted from an unknown space above the Ninth Heaven of Mount Taoli. Countless martial cultivators in the city were so overwhelmed they collapsed to the ground.

"Whoosh!"

A dazzling burst of light, like a scorching sun in the sky, dispelled the darkness and turned the entire Qiuzhou into daylight.

The Zuoqiu Clan's Supreme Artifact, the 'Fuxi Bagua Mirror', after absorbing enough spiritual energy from the Heavenly Law and Earth Spring, flew out of Mount Taoli, its supreme power vast and mighty.

The sea of clouds in the sky began to boil.

The scorching sun and bright moon derived from the Bagua Mirror created a miraculous scene of both sun and moon in the sky.

Sensing that destructive aura, the Silver-Feathered Eagle King lost its previous arrogance, flapped its wings and fled desperately, soaring over a hundred li in one swift motion. But it was caught by the Fuxi Bagua Mirror. A moment later, its demon body burst into a cloud of blood mist, and the southern sky turned completely blood-red.

"Boom!"

The demon king's shattered corpse fell to the ground. For a hundred li around, it transformed into a blood-red demonic plain.

Truly a night of blood. Another Transcendent had fallen, and the landscape of the Lingxiao Realm was bound to undergo immense change tonight.

The sky of this ancestral land around Mount Taoli had one of the Southern Realm's top Heavenly Law and Earth Springs, which could unleash the Supreme Artifact's power to its fullest.

Therefore, when the myriad of clans were in their stronghold, as long as they activated their Supreme Artifact, they could almost stand invincible.

The Zuoqiu Clan's second Transcendent emerged from an unknown space on the mountaintop. His physique was even more robust than Zuoqiu Ling's. With every step he took, the void trembled, and rings of energy radiance spread outwards.

It was he who wielded the Fuxi Bagua Mirror.

"The Zuoqiu Clan actually has a second Transcendent!"

"No wonder Duer Abbey intentionally chose them. Who exactly is this person? His aura is too formidable; it seems he's no weaker than the Second Palace Lord."

The Zuoqiu Clan's second Transcendent, wielding the Fuxi Bagua Mirror, charged out of Qiuzhou City, heading directly towards Qilin Zang.

"Boom!"

With just one strike, on the ground, several hundred-meter-wide fissures appeared, extending towards the horizon.

Qilin Zang had come prepared; the Supreme Artifact it carried had also finished activating. It transformed into a rising silver moon, colliding with the Fuxi Bagua Mirror.

In an instant, countless scriptures shot forth. The vast plain continuously collapsed, turning into a basin.

The Transcendent clash escalated further.

Qiuzhou's landscape was violently altered by the battle.

Human Transcendents were rapidly arriving, and Transcendents from the Far West Ash Region also appeared one after another. Artifacts clashed in the sky, and Daoist spells either incinerated the heavens or boiled the seas.

The battle raged on for an entire night.

As dawn approached, the battle fluctuations gradually receded.

Fighting near Qiuzhou City, the Fuxi Bagua Mirror could continuously absorb spiritual energy from the Heavenly Law and Earth Spring, displaying its strongest power. At the same time, the offensive power of the city's defensive formation was constantly being released, completely suppressing the demon race.

Only by moving away could they dismantle the human Transcendents' advantage and regain the upper hand.

The martial cultivators in the city endured a night of trepidation, finally letting out a sigh of relief. That doomsday-like aura was too terrifying.

On the Third Heaven, Zuoqiu Ling was not pleased by repelling the demon race. Instead, his expression was solemn, and he sighed deeply. It was unimaginable how severe the damage to Qiuzhou was from this battle. Countless common people outside the city were killed or wounded, and the city itself was also severely damaged.

The morning sun was just rising.

Zuoqiu Ling received an urgent message from the Western Realm, sent from a thousand li away. His expression suddenly changed: "Feinting south, striking west! Could it be that the rehearsal at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival truly cannot be avoided?"

The letter stated that last night, the Vermilion Gate was attacked by the demon race. Shanjun Huihuo, the leader of the Four Great Demon Kings, Old Ancestor Querong, and Zihuan, one of the Five Luans from the Far West Ash Region, appeared with Supreme Artifacts.

The battle results had not yet arrived.

In the current situation, as a junior, he could only resign himself to fate.

Mount Taoli was already the safest place. Outside the city, Transcendents were fighting, and countless common people died inexplicably.

In the Third Heaven, Zuoqiu Ling arranged a private cave dwelling for Li Weiyi to seclude himself, and ordered healing medicinal soup, brewed from thousand-year-old potent herbs, to be sent to him.

The cave dwelling was built near a cliff, and at its entrance stood an ancient peach tree.

"Patriarch Zuoqiu is approachable. He lacks the legendary arrogance of someone undefeated among his peers. As an immortal being, he was courteous even to a junior like me. Spirit Tablet Master, the upbringing and moral cultivation of your Zuoqiu Clan are indeed commendable."

After opening the cave dwelling's formation, Li Weiyi finally dared to communicate with the several people in the Blood Mud Space.

Then, he used the spiritual flame to activate the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish and entered it.

As soon as he stepped into the Blood Mud Space, he saw the seven little ones sprawled on the medicinal field, ruining his immortal soil.

He felt both annoyed and delighted.

"Eat, eat, you'll ruin it all eventually."

Li Weiyi quickly scooped up ten jin of immortal soil to use for shaping an immortal body. In a blink, he saw the Yellow Dragon Sword and the Startling Feather Sword stuck in the ground. His battle weapons were recovered after being lost, and the gloom in his heart vanished.

Zenhai Guanwu sat on the edge of the jade boat, her red robes vibrant, her skin as white as mutton-fat jade. She wasn't cultivating, and looked preoccupied.

Li Weiyi knew without guessing that on the Soldier Ancestor's Marsh, she must have been the one who acted, pulling the Yellow Dragon Sword and the seven little ones into the Buddha's Relic.

From this, it could also be inferred that her cultivation must have recovered significantly.

Noticing Li Weiyi's gaze, Zenhai Guanwu said, "Our relationship is quite special. I can also activate the Buddha's Relic to some extent."

Li Weiyi asked, "Will it be detected?"

"With the blood mist and scriptures of the Blood Handprint Demon Armor covering it, given their state at the time, they wouldn't have noticed."

Zenhai Guanwu stepped down from the jade boat, her expression solemn, and paced as she said, "The drastic change in the situation has exceeded my expectations. I had originally intended to hide in the dark and slowly accumulate strength, waiting until I returned to the level of a Martial Dao Emperor, at which point many things could be done boldly. But now, there is no safe place in the world. If Qilin Zang truly wins, we will all be doomed."

Li Weiyi asked, "Do you think the major forces, even if they unite, are no match for Qilin Zang?"

Zenhai Guanwu replied, "The cultivation Qilin Zang has displayed has already created a significant gap between it and all other Transcendents. Zhuang Shiyan of Duer Abbey is actually very capable, but can only barely contain it. What do you think of the one from the Zuoqiu Clan's School of Vertical and Horizontal Strategies?"

This question was clearly not directed at Li Weiyi.

Spirit Tablet Master said, "In the thousand years since we left, for him to have cultivated to this level is already quite beyond my expectation. However, there's still a considerable gap between him and Qilin Zang."

Jar Master gave Qilin Zang a very high evaluation: "It's already on par with me in my prime."

"Its strength is above yours," Coffin Master said.

The two immediately began to argue.

Ignoring them, Li Weiyi looked at Zenhai Guanwu and asked curiously, "I've actually always wanted to know, what exactly is the purpose of Duer Abbey? Rumors say that when you defeated the Leixiao Sect and established Lingxiao Palace back then, they supported you. It's also said that Duer Abbey is your sect."

"My sect... Are they worthy?"

Many childhood memories surfaced in Zenhai Guanwu's mind. After a long moment, she said, "As for Duer Abbey, just think of them as a group of investors. At the opportune time, they select the most promising forces or individuals to provide some assistance, in exchange for substantial returns."