Chapter 303: Vast and Mighty

Li Wei did not doubt his words.

Given the Twin Rice Sect's reputation as a cult, it was certainly involved in many dark practices, and its followers naturally adhered to the law of the jungle. Those who rose to prominence and survived to the Dao Seed Realm were all ruthless individuals.

It would be a huge anomaly if Wang Shu had a clean background.

Li Wei looked at Yang Qingxi: "Sons, Daughters, and True Disciples within the Divine Sect have surely committed many such acts, haven't they? If these actions are deemed crimes and used against Wang Shu, aren't you, Your Highness, worried that others might use the same charges against you in the future?"

"Li Wei, because I trust your ability and decisiveness, I've staked my life, honor, and disgrace on another gamble with you. Now you're hesitating. Has the destruction of your Ancestral Field drained your spirit and resolve? Are we fighting or not?" Yang Qingxi thought Li Wei's three-day delay was due to indecision and timidity.

"Fight! But not to demand accountability. Instead, it will be the Sixth Divine Daughter challenging the Fourth Divine Son."

Li Wei's primary goal was to rescue people, unlike Yang Qingxi, who was purely after cultivation resources. Therefore, he had to devise a foolproof plan, unwilling to risk his two friends' lives.

Yang Qingxi, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately grasped Li Wei's intention. Her eyes narrowed: "A lower-ranked Divine Son or Daughter challenging a higher-ranked one is perfectly reasonable, which means many people won't be able to interfere! Once Wang Shu accepts the challenge, you can seize the opportunity to infiltrate the Fourth Divine Son's residence and rescue the captives first."

"If Wang Shu doesn't accept the challenge, then have Ye Nanfeng expose his crimes publicly."

"But I'm a realm below him; you'll have to lend me the Ghost Banner and the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor."

Li Wei replied, "You're truly impolite! I can lend you the Ghost Banner, but I need the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor myself."

Before Yang Qingxi could press further, Li Wei offered her reassurance: "After the rescue, I won't abandon you. After all, I wouldn't want you and the Ghost Banner to fall into Wang Shu's hands. And you still owe me five million Rushing Spring Coins!"

To prevent Ye Nanfeng and Ye Beifeng from changing their minds at the last minute, Li Wei planted Death Spirit Fire within them.

"I have another piece of good news for you."

Yang Qingxi glanced at Zuo Sheng and smiled: "Do you know that there's an extraordinary figure within the Zuoqiu household who is very interested in your seven wondrous insects and almost took your life?"

Li Wei said, "Don't be so smug! If I didn't know that, I would have died long ago at the hands of Zuo Shi, Zuo Sheng, and Zuoqiu Qingying. But now, two of them are dead. Keep Zuo Sheng for me; he'll be useful later."

Li Wei planned to hand Zuo Sheng, as a witness, over to Zuoqiu Ling and Zuoqiu Hongting in the future.

Yang Qingxi's eyes narrowed slightly, and she secretly sighed, marveling at Li Wei's capability. He could foresee danger and escape even when confronting figures like Zuoqiu Zangwu.

Over the course of three days, various rumors spread like wildfire across the twenty-eight residences, five palaces, and four halls of the main altar: "The Sixth Divine Daughter and the Grand Disciple of Venerable Nan have planted Six Desires Talismans on each other," "extortion of 1.5 million Rushing Spring Coins," "Li Wei intends to rescue Qi Xiao and Tuoba Butuo," and "The Fourth Divine Son is attempting to break through to the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm."

Outside Nanqing Palace, a large crowd of young disciples had gathered early, eager to see if the Fourth Divine Son would appear, and to observe how Li Wei and Yang Qingxi would act.

"Creak!"

The palace gates opened.

The Sixth Divine Daughter, clad in a green robe, wearing a veil, and possessing a graceful, tall figure, emerged from Nanqing Palace, followed by three limping Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators.

Yang Qingxi proudly gazed at the surrounding Divine Sect disciples, her spiritual energy infusing her voice: "Today, the Sixth Divine Daughter officially challenges Wang Shu to claim his position as the Fourth Divine Son. Those who wish to witness the spectacle, follow along."

The Twin Rice Sect naturally encouraged competition among Divine Sons and Daughters, and challenges among True Disciples. The high-ranking members consistently believed that one Young Heavenly Son was worth ten Divine Sons or Daughters, and one Divine Son or Daughter was worth ten True Disciples.

Only through competition could true powerhouses emerge.

Great trees could not grow in a greenhouse.

"Why is it only the Sixth Divine Daughter? Where is Li Wei?"

"Could he have backed down?"

"For a Two-Star Spirit Cultivator with such attainments in spiritual power to challenge the Fourth Divine Son is inherently overestimating himself."

A multitude of young disciples, like a tide, followed behind Yang Qingxi and her three companions, heading towards Spirit Ridge Mountain, where the Fourth Divine Son's residence was located.

Many of them wore masks, indicating they were cultivators of status from outside.

Spirit Ridge Mountain, one of the twenty-eight cultivation strongholds in the Mortal Realm, was composed of purplish-black rock, standing over two thousand meters tall. It was characterized by cliffs and precipices, densely covered with silver-leaf pines.

At its peak was a Heavenly Law Earth Spring, from which spiritual energy cascaded down the mountain like waterfalls of clouds, forming a vast cultivation domain.

Within the area enveloped by the spiritual energy cloud-waterfalls, numerous buildings and pagodas had been erected, where hundreds of inner disciples cultivated. Many of them deferred to Wang Shu, the Fourth Divine Son.

It could be said that every Divine Son, Divine Daughter, and Great True Disciple had their own territory and followers within the main altar.

The "tributes" they received each month constituted a considerable fortune.

Those who desired wealth received monetary offerings. Those who craved precious medicines had people go to great lengths to acquire them. And those who favored beauty found it even easier, as the rarity of Pure Immortal Bodies paled in comparison to figures like Divine Sons, Divine Daughters, or Great True Disciples.

Yang Qingxi was new to the main altar and had been in seclusion for the past year, so many people didn't even know who she, the Sixth Divine Daughter, was. Thus, she chose the most direct method: defeat Wang Shu and take over everything he possessed.

She had always recognized Li Wei's intellect and abilities. Before his Ancestral Field was destroyed, she could even be said to have been somewhat impressed.

This was why she chose Li Wei over Wang Shu!

On the mountain path, led by three Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators, numerous core and inner disciples intercepted Yang Qingxi.

They were Wang Shu's followers.

Yang Qingxi was decisive, unleashing her Outer Dao Heart Image River and the silver Fifth-Grade Hundred-Character Battle Sword, swiftly and forcefully gravely injuring all three Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators.

She gave them no opportunity to organize a combined attack formation.

Yang Qingxi let out a cold shout: "Wang Shu is weak and incompetent; he wouldn't even rescue two of his True Disciples and Dao Seed Realm followers. Why are you still with him? Ye Nanfeng, Ye Beifeng, and Zuo Sheng have all pledged allegiance to me. Those who don't wish to die, step aside. Once I defeat Wang Shu, you may come and pledge allegiance to me."

With no one to lead them, the Five Seas Realm inner and core disciples were all intimidated by Yang Qingxi's spiritual will and retreated to the sides.

Li Wei, in an invisible state, observed from afar: "This Miss Yang, having long been in charge of the younger generation, possesses an aura and methods far beyond ordinary people. It's a pity that time is a bit too short; if she had entered the Third Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, Wang Shu might not have been her match."

Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun, one a Golden Pure Immortal Body and the other a Silver Pure Immortal Body, arrived at the foot of Spirit Ridge Mountain in a carriage pulled by nine humanoid specters.

They were the Fifth Divine Sons, having just returned from training in the Netherworld of the Deceased.

Their parents were "Wither" and "Flourish," the main and vice hall masters of the Wither-Flourish Hall, who had used the power of the Ten Thousand-Character Scripture artifacts, the Golden Mirror and Silver Wheel, to cultivate these two inheritor-level Rice Human geniuses.

This was also the origin of their names!

After four years of training in the Netherworld of the Deceased, Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun's cultivation had greatly advanced, so they immediately came to Spirit Ridge Mountain, intending to seize the position of the Fourth Divine Son.

Seeing the bustling scene on Spirit Ridge Mountain, the two immediately ordered the elder driving the carriage to go and inquire.

Upon learning the full story, the two couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Even a little girl who just broke through to the Dao Seed Realm a year ago dares to challenge him. It seems Wang Shu hasn't made much progress in these four years. I've lost interest in fighting him!" said Sikong Jingyuan.

Sikong Yanlun said: "We still have to fight. The third position is difficult to contend for, but the fourth must be fought for. The Divine Sect is sure to reveal its power to the world in these two years, and the rankings of the Divine Sons and Daughters will spread throughout the land. Being one rank lower would greatly affect our prestige."

"Alright, let's see what kind of caliber this 'Little Six' is. Reportedly, she's quite playful, even planting Six Desires Talismans with others. Interesting!" Sikong Jingyuan laughed.

Among the Divine Sect's four halls, only the World Hall had three vice hall masters; the other three halls each had only one.

The Heavenly Principle Hall was the foremost holy land for spiritual cultivation, but its vice hall master, Chu Tianshu, was a giant of the Martial Dao Longevity Realm. He commanded the Inspection Guard, overseeing all internal inspection matters within the entire Divine Sect, with all elders, disciples, and followers under his supervision.

Their duties overlapped in some areas with the Wither-Flourish Hall's Enforcement Team and the Spirit Valley Hall's Temple Guard, though each had their distinct responsibilities.

Yi Zhouxue, the Thousand Guard Commander of the Inspection Guard, was one of Chu Tianshu's direct disciples. At forty-three years old, his cultivation had already reached the Fifth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, making him a Great True Disciple and a promising candidate for Longevity.

Yi Zhouxue, with his youthful appearance of less than thirty and firm features, quickly entered the hall and knelt on one knee before a stone statue: "Master, are we really going to stand by and do nothing while they target Junior Brother like this? Our Inspection Guard has every reason to intervene."

Chu Tianshu's stone statue spoke: "Yang Qingxi is the Sixth Divine Daughter, challenging the Fourth Divine Son. This is perfectly justified by heaven's principles. How can we intervene?"

Yi Zhouxue said: "Junior Brother is at a critical moment, forming his Dao Lotus. As his Senior Brother, it's perfectly reasonable for me to protect him."

The statue replied: "Yang Qingxi and Li Wei are far from his match. Within the Divine Sect, there are many rules. If he cannot even protect himself or deal with two opponents who are far inferior to him, how will he survive once he steps outside, without any rules to protect him?"

Yi Zhouxue said, "But..."

"You are a Great True Disciple, you absolutely must not intervene. This is an unwritten rule. Otherwise, Yang Shenjing, who backs Yang Qingxi, and Yao Qingxuan, who backs Li Wei, will certainly not let the matter rest," the stone statue stated.

"Alright then!"

Yi Zhouxue stood up, preparing to leave.

The stone statue spoke again: "However, if they harm your Junior Brother's life, or cripple his cultivation, then they will be the ones breaking the rules first! At that point, you will have ample reason to intervene and bring them to the Heavenly Principle Hall."

There was no joy on Yi Zhouxue's face, only a deep chill, so profound it seemed to freeze his blood. He mused, "So Master intends to sacrifice Junior Brother. Could he also be coveting Li Wei's seven wondrous insects? Yes, those are seven Monarch-level wondrous insects; even Longevity Realm giants would be greatly tempted."

Stepping out of the Heavenly Principle Hall, Yi Zhouxue looked towards Spirit Ridge Mountain. A strange expression suddenly appeared on his rigid face, and his lips curved upwards: "What powerful aura fluctuations! It seems Junior Brother has successfully formed his Dao Lotus. Yang Qingxi and Li Wei are seeking their own demise!"

On the peak of Spirit Ridge Mountain, from within the Fourth Divine Son's residence, massive tidal waves of spiritual energy surged forth.

Wang Shu's voice boomed like thunder: "Yang Qingxi, with merely your cultivation at the Second Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, you dare to challenge me? Since you've chosen to ally with Li Wei and oppose me, don't blame me for being impolite to a Divine Daughter like you. Once I capture you, I'll plant the Six Desires Talismans on you as well and imprison you in the Fourth Divine Son's residence for three to five years to quell the hatred in my heart."

Outside the Divine Son's residence, Yang Qingxi's expression changed dramatically. She clearly felt Wang Shu's Outer Dao Heart Image rapidly expanding, far surpassing its previous state.

Had he already broken through to the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm?

Without giving her any chance to regret or retreat, Wang Shu shot up like a sharp arrow, then descended like a falling meteor, striking down at her with a palm.

His five fingers spread, transforming into a golden bowl-shaped palm force that enveloped the sky and covered the earth.

The palm force was too strong, sweeping like a hurricane, sending rocks flying. Several inner disciples, caught off guard while observing from the periphery, were knocked by the force of the wind and fell off the cliff.