Chapter 298: Wolfish Collusion

“Run!”

Ye Nanfeng remained rational, knowing that with the two of them allied, there was no way to rescue Zuo Sheng today. Ye Beifeng attempted to escape, but Li Weiyi’s psychic web enveloped him layer by layer, trapping him like quicksand, making it impossible to break free.

“Still trying to escape? A third-tier Dao Seed Realm cultivator is nothing special.” Li Weiyi, facing Ye Beifeng alone, felt the pressure lift, giving him ample room to maneuver. With the help of the six Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, he completely suppressed Ye Beifeng.

Seeing no hope of escape, Ye Beifeng knew that Ye Nanfeng and Yang Qingxi, locked in a distant chase, would have no spare energy to rescue him. Unwilling to suffer Zuo Sheng’s fate, Ye Beifeng retrieved his dimensional pouch and released two puppet scarecrows. He slit his wrist and sprinkled blood onto them. He declared, “You have strange insect helpers; I have my puppet techniques.”

A spiritual glow appeared on Ye Beifeng’s brow as he activated the runes on the blood crystals within the puppet scarecrows. “Boom! Boom!” The two puppet scarecrows explosively released a dense black mist, coming to life. Wielding daggers and short swords, they attacked Li Weiyi from left and right, following Ye Beifeng. They moved like phantoms, incredibly fast, skilled in movement techniques and swordsmanship.

Ye Beifeng had not created the puppet scarecrows; he was merely their controller. Ye Beifeng's psionic cultivation was limited; over long distances, he could only control one puppet scarecrow. Otherwise, he believed that if all three puppet scarecrows had infiltrated Nancheng Palace to assassinate Li Weiyi, Li Weiyi would have surely died. The puppet scarecrows were slightly stronger than a single Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperor, but their defensive capabilities were far inferior. Under the assault of Li Weiyi's fiery light whip, the two puppet scarecrows quickly turned to ash.

“So, you were the one trying to assassinate me. Who sent you?” Li Weiyi's sword strikes grew faster, and his whip lashes became more perilous, forcing Ye Beifeng into a perilous retreat, where he could only passively endure the attacks. The six Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors darted about, unleashing various attacks that left multiple wounds and blood marks on him.

Ye Beifeng dared not reveal the powerful figure who had given him the puppet scarecrows. After enduring dozens of blows, he was severely wounded by Li Weiyi’s palm strike, bleeding from all seven orifices. His limbs were then broken, and he was thrown into Nancheng Palace. The six Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors were left to guard him.

Li Weiyi, sword in hand, pursued Yang Qingxi and Ye Nanfeng, soaring through the air atop a golden dragon. From a distance, he unleashed a Sword that Parts the Sea, a brilliant surge of sword energy that intercepted Ye Nanfeng, who was attempting an escape technique. Ye Nanfeng plummeted to the ground.

“Boom!” Two massive apparitions of Divine Mulberry trees descended from above, crashing down on his head. Countless fiery roots spread out, entangling him. “Whoosh!” With a swing of Yang Qingxi's sword, countless crisscrossing sword energies immediately appeared. The sword energy, combined with scriptures, unleashed immense power, severing the tendons in Ye Nanfeng’s hands and feet, causing his body to go limp.

Li Weiyi stood atop the Fusang Divine Tree apparition, sword in hand, floating in mid-air. “Is this the extent of your strength after a year of cultivating the Dragon Seed Dao? If I hadn't arrived in time, he would have escaped!” Yang Qingxi’s veil fluttered in the wind. “Low-tier Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators prioritize cultivating escape techniques. Not everyone, like you, can use psionic power to restrict their escape.”

“You adulterous pair... Yang Qingxi, you and Li Weiyi colluding will not end well... Ahh!” Ye Nanfeng was utterly indignant. He had come with full confidence to rescue someone, only to suffer a disastrous defeat. He screamed as Yang Qingxi struck him across the face with her palm. His entire head was pushed into the ground. “Insulting the Divine Maiden of the Holy Sect? Do you truly think I am still a young cultivator of the Five Seas Realm?” Yang Qingxi retracted her sword into her Ancestral Field, then, a step ahead of Li Weiyi, confiscated Ye Nanfeng’s Grade-3 Hundred-Character Golden Pillar.

The golden pillar was extremely heavy, but once absorbed into the Ancestral Field, it lost all its weight. It was an independent space she had created, capable of holding mountains, lakes, and seas if her cultivation was strong enough. Li Weiyi was a step too slow and gave Yang Qingxi a long, discerning look. This Young Miss Yang, who once led the younger generation of the Suizong Sect, was quite magnanimous. Now, she seemed to have changed, even beginning to collect spoils of war.

Ye Nanfeng was not dead, merely unconscious. Li Weiyi's conduct was even less graceful than Yang Qingxi's. In front of countless Holy Sect disciples, he stripped Ye Nanfeng of his enchanted battle robes and confiscated his dimensional and money pouches.

Following this, he stood up and called out to the onlookers in the distance, “I know some of you are from the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate. Deliver a message to Wang Shu: If he dares to send people, using puppet scarecrows, to infiltrate Nancheng Palace and assassinate me, then don’t blame me for being impolite.” He continued, “However, every wrong has a perpetrator, and every debt has an owner. I am a reasonable person; I only care about money, not grudges.” He concluded, “Within three days, bring 1.5 million Spring Coins to Nancheng Palace to redeem them.”

Yang Qingxi found Li Weiyi too cautious, not ruthless enough. So, in an elegant tone, she added, “If Wang Shu does not come within three days, Ye Nanfeng, Ye Beifeng, and Zuo Sheng will be castrated and then taken in as disciples by this Divine Maiden. As for the so-called Fourth Divine Son’s Estate, it would be best to remove its plaque as soon as possible. The rest of us Divine Sons and Divine Maidens cannot afford to lose face like this.”

Among the crowd, figures quickly dispersed, heading to the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate, Spirit Valley Hall, Heavenly Principle Hall... “This Divine Maiden is ruthless!” “She intends to cripple the Fourth Divine Son and then seize all his resources, including his subordinates and followers.” “If the Fourth Divine Son doesn't go to Nancheng Palace within three days to recover his reputation, his subordinates will undoubtedly panic and switch allegiance to other Divine Sons or Divine Maidens. Who would follow someone who cannot even protect his own true disciples?”

Yang Qingxi and Li Weiyi returned together to Nancheng Palace's main hall. This majestic building, with its hipped-and-gable roof, was a relic from the ancient Bhagaloka Sect era. Its walls were thick and luminous, appearing as if cast from immortal jade. The roof was covered with emerald green tiles, emitting wisps of cool spiritual mist.

Zuo Sheng, Ye Nanfeng, and Ye Beifeng lay disheveled inside, their limbs broken, looking utterly miserable. Li Weiyi went straight to the highest seat in the hall, the sacred jade throne originally belonging to Yao Qingxuan, and used a cold jade casket to preserve the severed arms of Qi Xiao and Tuobabu Tuo. Although he knew the chances of reattaching them were slim, a sliver of hope was still hope.

Yang Qingxi stood in the center of the hall, scrutinizing him. “He dared to take you as a disciple. Could Southern Venerable also be one of your Nine Li Hidden Sect members?” “Do you take the Rice Ancestor and the Holy Sect's Hall Masters for fools? Would an untrustworthy person be entrusted with such a critical responsibility, overseeing the entire southern region?”

Li Weiyi glanced at her, then closed the casket and stood up. “Young Miss Yang is the Holy Sect’s Sixth Divine Maiden. Wang Shu has deep ties with the Wang family of the Yanzong Sect, and the ancestor of the Zongsheng family is a Saint Spirit Psionic Elder of the Holy Sect... Your Suizong Sect's rapid progress in strength over the past millennium is due to the Holy Sect's full cultivation efforts, isn't it?”

Yang Qingxi said, “The Nine Li Clan has planted countless informants within the Suizong Sect. If the Suizong Sect truly possessed such immense power within the Holy Sect, would I be competing with Wang Shu for disciples?”

Li Weiyi chuckled. “Who knows? The Holy Sect is divided into four halls, each with its own interests. The three Vice Hall Masters of the World Hall and the five Venerables aren’t a monolith, are they? Every Longevity Realm cultivator has their own faction.”

Li Weiyi was half-convinced, half-skeptical. Yang Qingxi said, “What? Testing me so much, are you worried that Wang Shu and I might secretly join forces to eliminate you?”

“Young Miss Yang, do you truly believe that by joining forces, you could cast me into the abyss and kill me? If I don’t die, you should understand what your fate will be.” Li Weiyi walked towards her, his presence imposing.

Yang Qingxi felt an invisible pressure. She said, “To deal with you now, Wang Shu doesn’t even need to join forces with me. Ye Nanfeng and Ye Beifeng are merely two third-tier Dao Seed Realm cultivators with inferior roots. Wang Shu could defeat both of them with one hand. If he had come today, you wouldn’t have had a chance to escape.” She added, “Wang Shu’s younger brother, Wang Zhi, has an even more terrifying Soul Seed of the Departed within him.”

Li Weiyi asked, “Then why didn’t he show up?”

“That’s what concerns me most!” Yang Qingxi continued, “Previously, the reason I didn’t intervene was to see if you could defeat Ye Nanfeng and Ye Beifeng and force Wang Shu to appear. If you could achieve that, then we would have a chance of victory by joining forces.” She paused, then said, “This current outcome, while appearing as a great victory for us, is actually the worst-case scenario.”

“If I’m not mistaken, Wang Shu must be at a critical juncture, consolidating his Dao Lotus, which is why he couldn’t spare attention for you.” She continued, “Once he breaks through to the fourth-tier Dao Seed Realm, you and I will have no chance of victory. We would either have to surrender or bet that he wouldn’t dare to storm Nancheng Palace.” She pressed on, “But now, Southern Venerable has left the main altar, while Wang Shu’s master, the Vice Hall Master of Heavenly Principle Hall, is still there. With the pretext of rescuing his people, would he truly not dare to break into Nancheng Palace?”

Li Weiyi trusted Yang Qingxi’s analysis. Even in the Five Seas Realm, she had been able to lead the younger generation of the Suizong Sect, earning the willing obedience of some older figures. Her wisdom and ability to analyze situations were extraordinary.

“But you still made a move!” Li Weiyi knew very well that Yang Qingxi must have an agenda.

Under her veil, Yang Qingxi’s lips were glistening as she softly spoke, “Our only chance of victory now is for you to lend me the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor and the Ghost Banner. You and I must immediately launch an assault on the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate, deprive him of the opportunity to consolidate his Dao Lotus, and cripple him.”

Li Weiyi revealed an “as expected” smile. “And the reason? Without a justifiable cause, storming the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate and attempting to cripple Wang Shu—do you really think the Vice Hall Master of Heavenly Principle Hall is made of clay?” Yang Qingxi said, “Since we’re already mortal enemies, why hesitate?”

Li Weiyi knew well that for Yang Qingxi to act so boldly, her backing must be formidable. It was highly probable that Yang Shenjing, the Sect Master of the Dongzong Sect, held a very high position within the Twin Rice Holy Sect. He, however, was different. He was a latecomer, new to the scene, and inherently untrusted. He had to act cautiously. If he attacked the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate, even if he won, he would die at the hands of the Heavenly Principle Hall’s Vice Hall Master. The reason for his death would be his attempt to rescue Qi Xiao and Tuobabu Tuo. Furthermore, Li Weiyi felt that while Yang Qingxi appeared calm and intelligent, she possessed an inner wildness and audacity. It was entirely possible for her to take a radical approach and use this opportunity to eliminate both Wang Shu and himself.

“Three days! If Wang Shu doesn't come to Nancheng Palace after three days, we will go together to the Fourth Divine Son’s Estate and force him to act. As for the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor and the Ghost Banner, allow me to consider it further.” Li Weiyi intended to use these three days to attempt a breakthrough to become a Three-Star Spirit Master. If successful, his strength would undoubtedly increase significantly, allowing him to handle any unforeseen circumstances. Now, it was a race against time, striving to break through before Wang Shu.

“It seems that after your Ancestral Field was crippled, you truly lost all your drive and ruthlessness. I’m quite disappointed; I’m already regretting having helped just now.” Yang Qingxi cast a dismissive glance at him.

Li Weiyi’s eyes narrowed. “Yang Qingxi, don’t forget, on the bed at Evergreen Monastery, you owe me five million Spring Coins. I can hit you five times. If you really force me to spend one million Spring Coins to hit you hard just once, then you’ll understand what drive and ruthlessness truly are!”

Li Weiyi ignored her and walked towards the backyard. Yang Qingxi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She then sat cross-legged in the hall, attempting once more to break through to the third-tier Dao Seed Realm. She decided to wait three days for Li Weiyi to see what he was planning. Having already openly defied Wang Shu, she naturally couldn’t return to the Divine Maiden’s Estate; being alone would be too dangerous.

Li Weiyi left the Green-Tiled Grand Hall and walked alongside the blood lake towards the formation where the Golden Rice was located. Suddenly, he saw Da Feng fly out from behind the rock garden, startling him. He quickly glanced around. Da Feng's aura was very strong; it had grown to a foot in length and had officially reached the Dao Seed Realm.