Chapter 301: Yin Corpse-Type Rice

Dapeng had two layers of wings. The outer layer was made of colorful feathers, as splendid as a phoenix's wings. The inner layer of its wings consisted of membranous wings covered in mysterious patterns, sharp like magical swords. Its body emanated a brilliant, multi-colored glow, and its six sharp claws were covered in fine scales, with exceedingly keen talons.

After reaching the Dao Seed Realm, even without unleashing its disguised aura, it possessed a terrifying presence. Dapeng alone could challenge a powerful third-heaven Dao Seed Realm cultivator like Ye Nanfeng. If it were to use its commander-level strength and aura to summon a swarm of insects for assistance, it could even defeat such an opponent.

Dapeng led the way to a low pavilion, a study located in Nanqing Palace near the Scarlet Fire Bamboo Forest. The air was filled with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves. The pavilion was only two stories high, with a veranda-style structure. It had no windows, only wooden walls about four feet tall.

Li Weiyi had cleaned the study pavilion. The bookshelves were covered in dust, indicating that Yao Qingxuan rarely visited this place.

Upstairs, on the second floor, Tang Wanzhou sat on the floor between two bookshelves, flipping through a yellowed book. She was severely injured during the pursuit; even her hair ornament had been shattered by Yao Qingxuan, leaving her looking quite disheveled. Her long hair now fell loosely on either side of her face, and her complexion was deathly pale. Having lost her enchanted shoes, she was barefoot, her bare feet exposed. She sat leaning against a bookshelf, looking far from a lady.

"Thump-thump!" Footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Soon, Li Weiyi saw her. A headache immediately set in, and he nervously glanced at the distant jade palace with green tiles before whispering, "Young Master, why did you flee here?"

Tang Wanzhou had not found the information she sought. She placed the book back on the shelf, looked up, and said, "That Southern Venerable is gone, so naturally, I came."

"If someone finds out about this, I won't be able to clear my name, even if I jump into the Sui River," Li Weiyi said.

Tang Wanzhou replied, "Then how will you clear your name with your fiancée Zuoqiu Hongting and Li Songgu, given that you apprenticed under an evil sect venerable and are intimate with Yang Qingxi?"

Li Weiyi stared at her for a moment. "Young Master, what is your purpose in coming to the main altar? Are you here to rescue someone, or was this premeditated?"

Tang Wanzhou leaned against the bookshelf, closing her eyes. Her eyelashes were long. "Don't be so nervous. I'm not here to coerce you into doing my bidding. It just so happens that Nanqing Palace has become the safest place in the evil sect's main altar, suitable for hiding. You are in a perilous situation, unable to control your circumstances, yet you still think of rescuing Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo, even putting yourself in greater danger. Honestly, I admire that, because in terms of loyalty and righteousness, I am not your equal."

Tang Wanzhou did not give a direct answer, but Li Weiyi already knew the truth. It turned out that her fundamental purpose in gathering a large force to enter the underground immortal mansion was to target the Twin Rice Sect. The so-called search for the 'Book of Bright Stars' was not her true objective.

Li Weiyi asked, "I want to know, when you invited me into the underground immortal mansion, was it truly to borrow my insects? Or was I just one of the baits to draw out the Twin Rice Sect?"

"Is that question meaningful?" Tang Wanzhou continued, "As you yourself said, even if you hadn't come with me, you would have ventured into the underground immortal mansion on your own. Wouldn't the outcome have been the same in the end?"

Li Weiyi said, "But many people died because of your plan. Master Tiger is dead, and Tuoba Butuo is still in the Fourth Divine Son's residence, having lost an arm. I want an explanation; that's not too much to ask, is it?"

"No, it's not too much." Tang Wanzhou nodded gently and explained, "Initially, I only wanted to use myself as bait, but after entering the underground immortal mansion several times, the Twin Rice Sect never made a move. Therefore, I couldn't be certain whether their main altar was located there. To lure them out... or rather, to force them to act, I had to gather enough masters to work together. But I still felt it wasn't enough. Coincidentally, you, a prodigy making waves at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, began fighting against the evil sect and actively tracking them down. At the same time, they were also looking for you, intending to capture you. I thought they wanted your seven wondrous insects. After all, given the environment of the underground immortal mansion, the seven wondrous insects could be of great use. Taking you and your seven wondrous insects into the underground immortal mansion would increase the chances of drawing them out. After investigating your Wind Palace, I actually felt a genuine appreciation for your talent. That's why I advised you not to go and subtly warned you of the dangers."

Li Weiyi felt that Tang Wanzhou was like someone devoid of emotion, recounting everything in an exceptionally calm tone. To her, powerful figures and geniuses from the northern regions like Tang Hu and Tuoba Butuo seemed to be mere pawns, readily sacrificed to achieve her objectives.

"So it was just to confirm whether the Twin Rice Sect's main altar was in the underground immortal mansion?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Wanzhou replied, "Do you think that's a small matter?"

Li Weiyi looked at the swaying bamboo branches outside the window, waiting for her to continue.

Tang Wanzhou had to convince Li Weiyi, as only he could get her out, so she spoke patiently: "You've witnessed the bizarre changes on the surface! The entire Fuzhou region has been covered by a sudden emergence of countless tombstones and mounds, rapidly expanding into neighboring prefectures like Qiuzhou. I've communicated with the Confucian Dao ancestor of the Zuoqiu Family. Historically, several similar events have occurred, verifiable in ancient texts. Some were due to the invasion of the Netherworld of the Deceased, others to the resurrection of imperial corpses... In short, none were good, and they all led to devastating calamities. One of these was related to the Rice People! That particular event was known as 'Yin Corpse Rice Cultivation'. Records indicate that tens of thousands of years ago, the Rice People set up a grand altar array for 'Yin Corpse Rice Cultivation' beneath a living realm. Using the power of sacrifice, they channeled underground Yin energy to the surface. When pollen from the rice flowers drifted on the wind and landed on the graves, the corpses within those graves would transform into an army of Corpse Rice, devouring every living being in the entire realm. Afterward, the entire living realm became a rice field, remaining the Rice People's nation to this day."

Li Weiyi's brows furrowed tightly. "With so many masters in the world, can't the tombstones and mounds on the surface be leveled in advance?"

"How many people have been buried underground throughout history? Level one wave, and another will sprout." Tang Wanzhou continued, "No one knows if the bizarre occurrences in Fuzhou are similar to this scenario, which is why powerful figures from various major forces have been drawn here to investigate the cause. The reason for suspecting the Twin Rice Sect is that evil sects have become increasingly active in recent centuries, gradually emerging from the shadows. Their willingness to appear openly suggests that they can no longer hide in the darkness, implying an unknown level of power they have achieved. The imperial court and major clans have all investigated and captured some evil sect leaders, but most were extremist followers of the Heavenly Hall. Some had only heard of the main altar, while others who entered or exited it had their five senses sealed, preventing them from knowing its true nature. However, all investigations point to the evil sect's main altar being hidden in Fuzhou. Twelve years ago, the world fell into chaos. Since then, no one has had the spare capacity to continue investigating the evil sect, as the imperial court itself became a common enemy."

Li Weiyi said, "Could the cause of the world's chaos be related to the Twin Rice Sect? Perhaps they used it to divert attention, incite humans to fight among themselves, and then profit from the chaos to achieve their final harvest?"

Tang Wanzhou pondered for a moment. "From the perspective of those who stand to gain the most, it's possible. However, I don't believe they've become powerful enough to influence Yu Yaozi."

She continued, "Actually, this matter shouldn't have fallen to me; I am merely a junior. I also fear death, and I don't wish to take such a great risk. But it's clear that the evil sect quickly reacted to the exposure of the underground immortal mansion, using some method that prevents individuals above the Longevity Realm from entering the entrance. As a junior, I instantly became the strongest person capable of entering the underground immortal mansion. How could the strongest person shirk responsibility?"

Li Weiyi suddenly understood her better, sighing, "Can even Transcendents not get in?"

"Hard to say. I think there should be a way to force entry." Tang Wanzhou said, "But do you really think Qilin Zang just coincidentally struck and revealed the entrance to the underground immortal mansion? He must have done it because he failed to conquer Qiuzhou City and the Vermillion Gate, knew he couldn't win the Lingxiao living realm in a single battle, and didn't want the Twin Rice Sect to reap the benefits. That's why he deliberately exposed them. A year ago, the Transcendents of the human and demon races suffered heavy losses in a mutual defeat, leaving very few with their full strength intact. Under such circumstances, even if two or three Transcendents at their peak managed to force their way into the underground immortal mansion, they would likely perish inside, leaving no trace. The terrain here is too complex, and everything is unknown. Who knows what arrangements the evil sect has made? The Confucian Dao ancestor of the Zuoqiu Family is an active proponent, seeking to resolve the potential hidden dangers within the underground immortal mansion. However, he told me that when he went to the Leixiao Sect to seek a Transcendent's cooperation, the other party asked if he had set up a killing array in the underground immortal mansion, intending to trap and kill them. The Leixiao Sect's Transcendent was relatively good; despite fearing manipulation by the Zuoqiu Family, they at least dispatched a Longevity Realm grandmaster to Fuzhou to actively investigate. But when the Transcendents of our Snow Sword Tang Court went to seek cooperation, others either politely refused due to injuries or suspected that our court was colluding with the demon race and had set up lethal traps in the underground immortal mansion. Li Weiyi, not everyone in this world shoulders their responsibilities! The concept of unity has been incredibly difficult to achieve throughout history. Unless faced with a life-or-death crisis like Qilin Zang and the demon race, Transcendents either harbor suspicions or prefer to watch others take risks and die first to protect themselves."

Li Weiyi nodded gently. "If internal unity could be achieved, there would be no dynastic changes. The root cause of disunity is that everyone is vying for power and gain."

"You're absolutely right, that's exactly how it is." Tang Wanzhou said, "Take the Transcendent War a year ago as an example. To my knowledge, when a human Transcendent fell, their faction was quickly divided by other human forces. Their descendants were enslaved, abused, and massacred, leading to the extermination of their clan. This is truly disheartening! How can you expect Transcendents to be magnanimous in their contributions? This current era of war is one without rules. Even the promotion of the Longevity Realm Martial Ban has met with immense resistance, as no one respects anyone else... On the imperial court's side, a sword still hangs over them. Without a decisive Son of Heaven to establish rules and restrain everyone, people can only act with extreme caution. Therefore, I can understand the caution of those Transcendents. So, someone has to step forward, someone has to be the first to die. That's why I came. I need to bring back accurate information. Only with precise intelligence can all available forces be united to launch a direct assault and resolve the crisis before it escalates."