Chapter 328: Luan Sheng and Lin You Arrive at the Central Altar

A month later.

After Tang Wanzhou entered Li Weiyi's Ancestral Field, she sat cross-legged in mid-air, falling into a death-like stillness from which she could not be awakened, no matter how much she was called.

Li Weiyi tried to conjure spiritual energy to expel her from the Ancestral Field, but she remained unyielding, like a rock, as if she had grown rooted within it. Considering her Eternal Realm cultivation and the terrifying backlash of mental power she exhibited previously, Li Weiyi dared not use the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish, fearing it might provoke her, unleash an unpredictable storm of power, and truly destroy his Ancestral Field. He could only let her "reside" there.

Lately, Li Weiyi had been pondering why Tang Wanzhou had undergone such a transformation. He strongly suspected that it might not be qi deviation, but rather something she encountered on the other side of the spatial teleportation array. It was only after Tang Wanzhou remained in his Ancestral Field for an extended period that a terrifying thought emerged in his mind, drawing a connection to the Grand Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace, who had not left her chambers for many years. Tang Wanzhou's state was practically identical to that of the legendary Grand Palace Master.

Both were once exceptionally talented, brilliant, and wise, with a demeanor that overshadowed all men in the world. Suddenly, their personalities changed drastically, as if suffering from qi deviation, becoming paranoid and extreme. After her transformation, the Grand Palace Master encouraged the cultivation of Benevolent Rice and issued the Small Field Edict, plunging the world into chaos and fueling public resentment.

At that time, the imperial court and the major sects had just discovered that the Rice Cult's headquarters were in Fuzhou. However, due to the outbreak of war, with various human factions warring against the imperial court, they no longer had the energy to deal with the Rice Cult. When Li Weiyi and Tang Wanzhou discussed this previously, he had wondered if this war, which lasted over a decade, might be related to the Rice Cult, designed to divert attention, make humanity slaughter itself, and thus profit from the chaos to complete their final harvest. Tang Wanzhou, however, believed that the Rice Cult was not powerful enough to manipulate Yu Yaozi.

Now, it seemed there might indeed be a connection, and perhaps everyone in the world had underestimated the power of the Twin Rice Cult. Li Weiyi's heart was conflicted. If this war, which caused countless casualties, was truly orchestrated by the Rice Cult over a decade ago with the aim of eradicating humanity in the Lingxiao Living Realm, then what did his current membership in the Rice Cult make him?

If the "Yin Corpse Dao Seeding" that Tang Wanzhou risked her life to investigate at the Rice Cult's headquarters was real, then the ensuing storms and bloodshed would only be more brutal. A woman could brave danger for the sake of the world's common people. Yet he, to survive and muddle through, had become a member of the Rice Cult. Whenever he thought of this, Li Weiyi felt immensely distressed and became confused about his path forward. For the first time, he felt that the boundaries between right and wrong, good and evil, were so blurred. There was wrong in right, and right in wrong. There was evil in good, and good in evil. All things in the world seemed to be a Tai Chi diagram, with no absolute black or absolute white.

Unfortunately, the spatial teleportation array had been destroyed, making it impossible to investigate the other side and confirm his suspicions. Perhaps only when Tang Wanzhou truly awakened would the truth be known. Li Weiyi greatly admired her and had an unusual trust in her abilities and strength, believing she could certainly break free from the illusion and regain herself. This was because even immediately after waking from the teleportation array, she had quickly regained her sanity and was not completely swayed by madness and negative emotions.

On a wide road about three or four miles from Nanqing Palace, a magnificent procession of carriages moved towards Tianli Hall. There were seven carriages in total, some pulled by exotic beasts, others by departed spirit beasts. A large number of beast-headed, human-bodied demon martial cultivators followed behind the carriages, emitting rolling clouds of spiritual energy.

"How are demon martial cultivators here at the Divine Cult's headquarters?" Qi Xiao gazed from afar, utterly surprised.

Tuoba Butuo said, "The aura from the first carriage is terrifying; it must be a high-ranking figure from the demon race."

Li Weiyi said, "Tuoba, go and find out."

"Alright!"

Tuoba Butuo had already broken through to the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm. Coupled with their previous severe injuring of Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun, their power had shaken the entire Divine Cult. Now, he and Qi Xiao could move freely within the headquarters, and no one dared to easily provoke them. On the contrary, every day, inner disciples, core disciples, and true lineage disciples came to pledge allegiance, wanting to follow the Fourth Divine Son. Li Weiyi had no intention of building influence within the Twin Rice Cult, and given his state of extreme inner conflict, he naturally rejected all of them. In short, although the battle at the Nether Blossom Black Marsh was difficult, it earned them the respect and awe of the Divine Cult's younger generation, firmly establishing their position within the headquarters.

Over an hour later, Tuoba Butuo returned with a somber face: "You wouldn't believe who I saw."

Qi Xiao said, "There aren't many demon cultivators we both know. It couldn't be someone from the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, could it?"

Tuoba Butuo looked at Li Weiyi: "Luan Sheng Lin You is currently touring the Divine Cult's headquarters and has gone to the Divine Prison, accompanied by the Second Divine Son Huang Xu. Long Ting and Chen Wenwu, along with other young powerhouses now renowned across the land, are following him."

The Second Divine Son, 'Huang Xu,' is rumored to be a transcendent inheritor, cultivating Void Imprints, with a cultivation level second only to the Chief Divine Son. The Third Divine Maiden, named Li Niang, is very mysterious, with little information available about her.

Qi Xiao froze: "It really is him. Have the demon race and the Divine Cult reconciled their differences?" The conflict between the two major powers naturally referred to Qilin Zang blasting open the underground immortal mansion, thus exposing the hidden Twin Rice Cult and using this to tie down a large number of human experts in the underground immortal mansion and Fuzhou. This allowed the demon race to fight back and forth effectively against the various human factions.

"Something big is about to happen! It definitely won't be just Luan Sheng Lin You; there must be a supreme demon powerhouse accompanying him."

Li Weiyi keenly sensed the approaching storm and added, "Tuoba, keep investigating. I want to know why Luan Sheng Lin You went to the Divine Prison."

Tuoba Butuo said, "I've already sent people from the Sixth Divine Maiden's manor to inquire! I'm afraid... if I meet them, I won't be able to resist attacking." At the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, Tang Ting of Snow Sword, along with his cultivators, was almost entirely wiped out by the cultivators led by Luan Sheng Lin You. Tuoba Butuo was the only one from the Tuoba clan who survived. Tuoba Butuo had always remembered this blood feud.

Qi Xiao chuckled, "Tell me, after two years, what cultivation realm is Luan Sheng Lin You in now?"

Tuoba Butuo said, "At the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, before Brother Weiyi appeared, I once thought Luan Sheng Lin You could be compared to the Young Lord of over a decade ago, an unmatchable young emperor. Even without a Dragon Seed, such a person's cultivation speed would be terrifying." He continued, "With the Dragon Seed's blessing, and being the direct descendant of a Flying Dragon, his understanding and compatibility with the Dragon Seed surpass everyone else's. I can't imagine how powerful Luan Sheng Lin You is now."

Li Weiyi nodded slightly: "A year ago, I sparred with Long Ting. His cultivation realm was ahead of Tuoba and Yang Qingxi, and Luan Sheng Lin You would only be stronger. Therefore, Tuoba, you must control your hatred. There's no need to fight him to the death. You should know that the old figures from various human factions probably all want his life; his life isn't as glamorous as it appears."

Soon after, news arrived from the Sixth Divine Maiden's manor: "Luan Sheng Lin You has taken thirty people from the Divine Prison, all of whom are Dao Seed Realm experts affiliated with the imperial court." For two years, countless martial cultivators had entered the underground immortal mansion, seeking opportunities. The underground immortal mansion held the greatest allure for martial cultivators with inferior roots in the Dao Seed Realm, as they all believed they could find the secret to breaking through to Eternal Life despite their roots. These martial cultivators, from all corners of the world, were ambushed by the Twin Rice Cult, and all those captured alive were imprisoned in the Divine Prison.

Upon returning to Nanqing Palace, Yao Qingxuan's state was noticeably different from her usual calm and wise demeanor. Even Li Weiyi could discern her emotions; her eyes were filled with solemnity, struggle, distress, and contemplation. Li Weiyi did not ask, quietly waiting by her side.

After a long while, Yao Qingxuan finally calmed her thoughts and regained her detached composure: "The fluctuations of the Golden Rice are growing stronger. It should sprout within the next two days. What are your plans?"

"From what Master implies, you don't want me to remain in Nanqing Palace," Li Weiyi said.

Yao Qingxuan looked at him as if she had seen right through him long ago: "If not for the Golden Rice's connection, you would have wanted to leave Nanqing Palace a long time ago, wouldn't you? Don't you feel constrained staying with me?" Li Weiyi secretly gasped, wondering if his secrets had long been discerned by her. Staying in Nanqing Palace, entering the Blood Mud Space, or cultivating using the Cocoon of Time, he had indeed been extremely cautious, unable to fully exert himself. Tang Wanzhou in his Ancestral Field was even more like a ticking time bomb. If he could leave, that would naturally be for the best.

Yao Qingxuan quickly averted her gaze from his face: "A transcendent being from the demon race arrived at the headquarters today. Do you know why?"

Li Weiyi said, "With a transcendent demon entering the headquarters, there's no way the Divine Cult could have masked it from his senses. From now on, the location of the Divine Cult's headquarters will no longer be a secret." He continued, "In other words, the Divine Cult is about to formally reveal itself to the world! The moment it emerges, earth-shattering events are bound to occur, sweeping away threats in one fell swoop and changing the landscape of the Lingxiao Living Realm." He added, "I heard that Luan Sheng Lin You, the leader of the younger generation of the demon race, went to the Divine Prison and took thirty Dao Seed Realm prisoners affiliated with the imperial court. This disciple boldly speculates that the Rice Cult and the demon race are about to attack Lingxiao City, destroy the imperial court, and completely scatter humanity." He concluded, "That way, even if the headquarters are exposed, no one can threaten us."

A look of surprise flashed in Yao Qingxuan's eyes; she hadn't expected Li Weiyi to deduce the general direction of future events with such limited information. She said, "I have met Luan Sheng Lin You. He is a truly prodigious talent, with peak aptitude and intellect. No one among the Divine Cult's younger generation is his match. If your Ancestral Field hadn't been crippled, you should have been able to contend with him. Have you reached the Second Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm?"

Li Weiyi gave a bitter smile: "Master, I've only been cultivating the Wind Mansion Dao Seed for two months."

Yao Qingxuan said, "After Luan Sheng Lin You seeded his Dao, he experienced the tremors within two months and entered the Second Heaven. After another half a year, his Dao manifested, and he entered the Third Heaven." She continued, "He is the direct descendant of a Flying Dragon, and his understanding of the Dragon Seed is unmatched in the world. Let alone someone like me, who is half-crippled, even the ten individuals who went to cultivate at the Du'e Temple might not be able to catch up to him."