Chapter 267: Zuo Qiu Zang Wu

Six months ago, Zuoqiu Cangwu reached the ninth level of the Dao Seed Realm and successfully took over from Zuoqiu Ling. He was the only one capable of sustaining the great Zuoqiu Sect during the Longevity Martial Ban.

Fifty-five years old, he nevertheless looked around thirty. The Thousand-Character Armor he wore had not been removed for five years.

Before becoming the sect master, he had spent thirty years in the Secret Realm Department, keenly aware that danger lurked everywhere. Besides the armor on his body and the blade in his hand, no one could be fully trusted.

Upon hearing that Li Weiyi had come to visit, Zuoqiu Cangwu immediately set aside his pressing military affairs. "Bring him in quickly!"

Leading Li Weiyi into the council hall was Zuoqiu Cangwu’s daughter, Zuoqiu Qingying.

She was in her early thirties, but due to her exceptional psychic talent, which surpassed all other young talents in the Zuoqiu Sect, she had already become a Spirit Psychic Master. She appeared very young, around twenty years old.

Zuoqiu Cangwu stood up and chuckled, "Weiyi, your complexion shows you've fully recovered. Everyone has been worried for the past half-year. Our Patriarch Zuoqiu Changsheng, before heading to Tianya Ridge to campaign against the demon race, repeatedly emphasized that I should take good care of you. So, what are your plans next?"

Li Weiyi bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. Weiyi is fine now. I came here to request an audience with the Old Ancestor. If not for his healing half a year ago, I might have already turned to dust."

At Master Yin’s request, the Confucian Dao Old Ancestor had staged a few impressive acts six months prior.

The Six Desires Talisman on Li Weiyi's body was effortlessly dispelled by the Old Ancestor with a mere wave of his hand.

What would have required the Nine Great Priests of the Nine Li Tribe to accomplish was resolved by a Transcendent One with a simple gesture.

Zuoqiu Cangwu's expression turned serious, then he smiled wryly. "You are Hongting's husband, so naturally, you are a core member of the Zuoqiu Sect. There's no harm in telling you. The Old Ancestor is not on Taoli Mountain at the moment; he has most likely gone to a battlefield somewhere. Is there anything you can tell me first? Is it very important?"

"It’s nothing major! I just wanted to acquire a Spirit Altar Blazestone fragment. I can pay for it."

Li Weiyi didn't hold much hope. After all, over a thousand years had passed, and even if there had been dozens of fragments, they would most likely have been depleted by now.

Zuoqiu Cangwu looked puzzled and turned to Zuoqiu Qingying. "This resource, is it in the sect treasury?"

Zuoqiu Qingying mused, "I have some recollection of it; it seems to be an extremely precious cultivation treasure for Psychic Masters."

"Go to the sect treasury immediately and search for it. If it’s there, bring it quickly," Zuoqiu Cangwu said, then looked at Li Weiyi and smiled. "Taking the path of a Psychic Master is the right choice. Rebuild your confidence, and with those seven Monarch-level exotic insects, you will still be a top figure in the world in the future."

After Zuoqiu Qingying left, Li Weiyi bowed again in thanks.

Zuoqiu Cangwu pulled Li Weiyi down to sit. "Just call me Uncle Thirteen, like Hongting does. As for my side... ah, how should I put it!"

"Please speak freely, Uncle Thirteen," Li Weiyi said.

Zuoqiu Cangwu's awkward smile faded, and his expression became solemn. "Currently, for the Zuoqiu Sect, the two biggest matters are undoubtedly the war with the demon faction and the mysterious changes in the underground immortal dwelling at the border of Qiu Province and Fu Province."

"At Coffin Mountain, Tianya Ridge, and Night City, the three major battlefields in the Southern Region, reports of victory keep coming in. Their eradication is imminent."

"However, the strangeness of the underground immortal dwelling has spread from underground to the surface. Half a month ago, I went to investigate. On the Qiu North Plain, burial mounds and tombstones have emerged from the ground, spanning thousands of li, sprouting and spreading like bamboo shoots."

"It is said that in just half a month, they have advanced dozens of li further towards Qiu Province City."

"Next year, these ancient, long-gone burial mounds and tombstones are estimated to reach beyond Qiu Province City, covering the banks of the Bingzu Marsh."

Li Weiyi had also heard of this matter and found it incredible.

Six months ago, a Transcendent battle blasted open the entrance to the underground immortal dwelling at the border of Qiu Province and Fu Province. At that time, countless martial cultivators went to investigate, including some Longevity Realm magnates.

The mysterious changes occurred four months ago. It was said that a Longevity Realm magnate from the Southern Region triggered a forbidden power within, unleashing a catastrophic disaster.

After a great earthquake, across thousands of li of land in Fu Province, the deceased buried over millions of years sprouted forth in the form of tombstones and burial mounds.

Later, it spread to Qiu Province, causing widespread panic.

After the changes, Longevity Realm magnates could no longer enter the underground immortal dwelling!

Zuoqiu Cangwu said, "Of course, these are not things we can resolve. We must wait for the Transcendent Ones to take action. What we can do is investigate the situation inside the underground immortal dwelling as much as possible to reduce the risks for the Transcendent Ones when they make their move."

"The greatest dangers in the underground immortal dwelling are the departed spirits and swarms of ferocious insects."

"Currently, Commander-level exotic insects and Insect Masters have suffered heavy losses and are in severe short supply."

Li Weiyi said, "Uncle Thirteen, do you want me to join a team going to the underground immortal dwelling?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu shook his head and chuckled, "I wouldn't dare let you take such a risk. If anything went wrong, Hongting would never forgive me. I'm thinking... of borrowing your insects!"

Li Weiyi fell silent.

Such "borrowing" in this world is rarely so simple.

Zuoqiu Cangwu did not press him, allowing Li Weiyi time to consider.

Zuoqiu Qingying returned and transmitted a message telepathically to Zuoqiu Cangwu.

Zuoqiu Cangwu frowned and said coldly, "Didn't you tell Elder Qi that this was my instruction?"

Zuoqiu Qingying glanced at Li Weiyi and stopped transmitting. "Elder Qi said that no matter who it is, they must abide by the rules of the Zuoqiu Sect. Without rules, anyone could enrich themselves and empty the family's wealth. He must guard the treasury door strictly."

"There's only one Spirit Altar Blazestone fragment left. Who knows what great use it might have in the future. To buy it, it would cost at least two million Spring Coins."

Zuoqiu Cangwu was startled. "Why doesn't he just rob someone? I've cultivated bitterly for decades, participated in countless battles, and traversed countless secret realms. Even if I sold all my possessions now, it wouldn't be enough to buy that small, broken stone from him. Weiyi, leave this matter to Uncle Thirteen. I will personally speak with him tomorrow."

"Then I thank Uncle Thirteen. Weiyi will take his leave now."

Li Weiyi stood up and departed.

Sitting in his chair, Zuoqiu Cangwu's gaze instantly became incredibly profound. He murmured to himself, "Was I still too hasty? But it's already been half a year!"

Zuoqiu Qingying asked, "He didn't agree?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu nodded. "After all, they are seven Monarch-level exotic insects. If it were me, I wouldn't easily let go either."

Zuoqiu Qingying scoffed, "He clearly intends to take the path of a Psychic Master, but half a year ago, he was only an Earthfire Realm Great Psychic Master. It's clear he's destined not to reach the Spirit Psychic Master level. His second path is also a dead end."

"For the past half-year, the entire Zuoqiu Sect has been striving, either heading to the demon battlefields or risking exploration in the underground immortal dwelling. Yet he acts as if it's his right, staying on Taoli Mountain and enjoying a quiet life. I think he's truly become useless!"

"Seven Monarch-level exotic insects following him is a complete waste of their potential."

"Father, you must help me acquire them. With control of seven Monarch-level exotic insects, your daughter will surely be able to stand on equal footing with Transcendent Ones in the future."

Zuoqiu Cangwu pondered. "He is still a Hidden Agent of the Nine Li Hidden Gate. We cannot be too hasty in this matter. How about this: you go and befriend him. Make sure everyone knows that during his lowest point, you were always by his side, helping and taking care of him."

"That way, if he were to... pass away again, and bequeath the seven exotic insects to you, it would be entirely reasonable. Then Zuoqiu Ling, Zuoqiu Hongting, and the Nine Li Tribe wouldn't be able to find any fault!"

"How many Spirit Altar Blazestone fragments are actually left?"

Zuoqiu Qingying replied, "Actually, the Spirit Altar Blazestone ran out a thousand years ago. We deliberately set a price he couldn't afford. That way, we can slowly manipulate him."

Li Weiyi slowly walked down from the fourth tier of Taoli Mountain, preparing to meet Yin Er.

As he descended to the second tier, Seven Phoenix flew back and landed on his shoulder. It changed from invisible to the size of a speck of dust, then from a speck of dust to nine inches long.

This was its innate Daoist ability!

Shrinking its body and entering an invisible state, as long as one didn't get too close, martial cultivators below the Longevity Realm would find it difficult to detect.

Seven Phoenix relayed the conversation between Zuoqiu Cangwu and Zuoqiu Qingying to Li Weiyi.

The little creature was furious; its eyes bulged and it spoke at a rapid pace as it recounted the exchange.

Li Weiyi stopped, looked out at the boundless night sky, and sighed deeply. "Seven Monarch-level exotic insects indeed possess too great a temptation. Even the sect master of the Zuoqiu Sect has grown greedy. It seems I won't be able to stay on Taoli Mountain for long!"

In North City, on the wide Lishui River.

A three-story ship adorned with bone lanterns quietly sailed south.

On board, Li Weiyi and Yin Er sat in a cabin on the second floor, which was fortified with formations.

Yin Er was shorter in stature with a slender face, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. He was responsible for all mundane affairs of the Nine Li Hidden Gate and was currently stationed in Qiu Province City.

This was their third meeting in the past six months.

It was a hot July day.

Both banks of the great river were bustling and noisy, teeming with traffic.

Yin Er, adept at reading people's expressions, poured himself a drink and chuckled, "What's wrong? You seem a bit down."

"Nothing... Pour me a drink too."

Li Weiyi looked out the window and sighed.

Yin Er was slightly surprised; this was the first time Li Weiyi had actively asked for alcohol. He had always kept his distance from it before.

Li Weiyi took the cup Yin Er offered and asked, "Second Brother, what level is your cultivation realm?"

"Me? My talent is average. I'm at the second level of the Dao Seed Realm, with no hope of reaching Longevity, so I'm put in charge of mundane affairs!" Yin Er said with a smile.

Li Weiyi remarked, "Others, like Zuoqiu Cangwu, a top figure in the Dao Seed Realm, aren't they also in charge of mundane affairs?"

"He has no choice. The Zuoqiu Sect's mundane affairs must be supported by a top expert. The outward appearance and inner reality are different," Yin Er said.

Li Weiyi took another drink, his expression turning slightly solemn. "How's the investigation into Qi Xiao progressing?"

"Yin Wu is handling it and already has some leads."

Suddenly, there were splashing sounds and footsteps on the deck outside. Yin Er chuckled, "Speak of him, and he arrives! You talk to him..."

Yin Er had chosen the river as their meeting location because river water could wash away all traces.

After all, Yin Wu had a special identity that must not be exposed.