Chapter 329: Mountain Storm Approaching

Li Weiyi had dedicated most of his energy recently to cultivating the Twelve-Character Dao Seed and refining the Star Day Pill, with very little time spent on the Wind Mansion Dragon Seed. Even so, the Dragon Seed's awakening was not far off.

Changing the subject, he asked, "Master, how soon will we attack Lingxiao City?"

Yao Qingxuan replied, "Naturally, the Demon Race wants to attack as soon as possible, because the transcendent beings injured in that epic great battle two years ago are steadily recovering. However, the Divine Sect hopes to delay it as long as possible!"

Li Weiyi cautiously inquired, "Is it related to the strange phenomena spreading across Fuzhou? I heard that the emerging tombstones and grave mounds have covered several surrounding prefectures, even encircling Qiuzhou's provincial capital and Bingzuze, or perhaps it's the legendary Yin Corpse Rice Cultivation."

"The longer it drags on, the more grave mounds and Yin Corpses will grow from the ground. When the rice flower pollen blows across the land, the soldiers of my Divine Sect will be as numerous as a sea of people, subsequently engulfing the world, unstoppable by anyone."

Yao Qingxuan's eyes turned cold. "Where did you hear that?"

Li Weiyi's mind was shaken. "Is that true?"

"I don't know, and I also wish you didn't know," Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi asked, "Master, are you worried that if I reveal this secret, it will kill me and you too?"

Yao Qingxuan replied, "When you are not strong enough, you must learn to keep quiet. When you think you are smart enough to do things quietly, it means you have become arrogant and are on the brink of death."

"Li Weiyi, I'm going to tell you something you must remember."

"In the face of an irresistible tide, one considers intention, not action. This doesn't mean doing nothing, but rather matching your actions to your level of cultivation."

"For benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, filial piety, and trustworthiness, one considers action, not intention. If we were to consider intention, where in this world would there be such a saint?"

Li Weiyi's heart was in turmoil. He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply. "This disciple has taken note!"

Yao Qingxuan said, "The attack on Lingxiao City is tentatively set for three months from now... but don't take that as final. The true timing is known only to the transcendent beings. The Divine Sect will definitely keep delaying the date."

"Of the eight prefectures controlled by the Imperial Court—Fuzhou, Hanzhou, Yongzhou, and Liangzhou—will be attacked by the Divine Sect. Once conquered, they will also be controlled by the Divine Sect, which will reap all the benefits."

Li Weiyi unfolded the map of the Lingxiao Living Realm on the table. "Fuzhou and Hanzhou belong to the Southern Region, while Yongzhou and Liangzhou are in the Eastern Region. Since Master is the Southern Venerable, I presume you are responsible for Fuzhou and Hanzhou?"

Yao Qingxuan strolled over to the table and gently shook her head. "The Divine Sect's power structure, from top to bottom, consists of two Rice Patriarchs, three Sufferers, four Hall Masters, and five Venerables."

"Don't take that as absolute either! Firstly, even I'm not sure which of these masters are 'Twin Born' and which are single entities."

"Secondly, the three Deputy Hall Masters of the Hall of All Under Heaven are all Grand Immortals, with cultivation levels that are peerless."

"Among the five Venerables of the Hall of All Under Heaven, I am the youngest. None of the other four are younger than one hundred and twenty years old, and their cultivation realms are unfathomable."

"The main altar is located in the Southern Region, which is critically important to the Divine Sect. Think about it: why would they appoint the youngest human as the Southern Venerable?"

Li Weiyi pondered for a moment. "So, Master, your position as Southern Venerable is one of title without real authority?"

Yao Qingxuan said, "It's not that exaggerated, but close enough. Two Deputy Hall Masters of the Hall of All Under Heaven are in the Southern Region, each with vast influence under their command. They are Xu Fodu from Coffin Mountain and Yang Shenjing from Suizong. Those two are the true decision-makers for major affairs in the Southern Region."

Li Weiyi mused to himself, no wonder she mostly stayed at the main altar; it turned out she had two great mountains weighing down on her.

Yao Qingxuan explained, "I became the Southern Venerable because the Divine Sect initially intended to first seize Lizhou, gain control of the Nine Li Tribe, and then form a triangular stance with Guanzhou and Fuzhou to destroy the Zuoqiu Clan in the middle and control the entire Southern Region."

"You know what happened later."

"What about now?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yao Qingxuan replied, "Xu Fodu and the Fodu Army of Coffin Mountain will take Hanzhou. The forces under Yang Shenjing will take Fuzhou."

Li Weiyi said, "The Jiang family in Fuzhou is one of the Imperial Court's four great families. They have a transcendent ancestor and are said to possess as many masters as a million-strong sect. Yang Shenjing might not be their match, might he?"

Yao Qingxuan shook her head. "The Divine Sect's main altar is beneath Fuzhou. The Jiang family likely cannot compare to the Divine Sect's infiltration and control over Fuzhou. If the Jiang family is wise, they will survive. If not, their entire clan will perish."

"When the Demon Race and Divine Sect join forces to attack the Imperial Court, the major human factions will surely stand by initially, waiting for both sides to suffer heavy losses. Therefore, conquering the eight prefectures won't be difficult; the real challenge lies here."

She pointed to the highlighted area north of Fuzhou, west of Liangzhou, and south of Youzhou.

This was the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, where Lingxiao City was located.

A city of immortals, high on the plateau, amidst the clouds.

Given Li Weiyi's current cultivation level and his status as a senior disciple and Fourth Divine Son, Yao Qingxuan did not treat him as a mere pawn. Instead, she valued him highly and revealed everything to him without reservation.

She continued, "The Heaven and Earth Grand Array of the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain was personally set up by the Misty Heavenly Son in his time. Only four mountain ranges connect to the Immortal Plain, and each mountain range has a formidable pass capable of stationing tens of thousands of soldiers."

"To the north of Fuzhou, beneath the Xushan Heavenly Mountain Range, lies the Southern Yan Pass, one of the four passes."

"Originally, I intended to send you to Lizhou to oversee affairs there. However, circumstances have changed, and you must deliver a very important item for me to the Southern Yan Pass."

Li Weiyi asked, "What is it, and why me?"

"I will tell you before you depart," Yao Qingxuan said.

An Xianjing returned. She and Yao Qingxuan declined all other matters and remained by the rice field.

Two days later, nourished by their blood and Li Weiyi's Qi and spiritual essence, four infants were born—two boys and two girls, all with pure immortal physiques.

When they emerged from the husks, brilliant golden light illuminated the entire main altar, and a cloud-like mist enveloped the Southern Purity Palace.

Many senior masters whom Li Weiyi had never seen before appeared, all attaching great importance to the event, making the Southern Purity Palace bustling as never before.

Li Weiyi felt immense pressure, fearing that Tang Wanzhou in the Ancestral Field might suddenly awaken. Fortunately, as An Xianjing took the four golden rice infants back to the Spiritual Valley Hall, the Southern Purity Palace quickly quieted down.

Li Weiyi felt an emptiness in his heart. He had only seen the four infants when they emerged from their husks; each was very well-behaved and adorable, and two of them had wings, like the embodiment of elves.

Yao Qingxuan stepped through the array's shimmering light and looked at Li Weiyi, who was sitting lost in thought on the field ridge. "What's wrong?"

"It feels a bit strange. I'm used to seeing them growing here. When they grow up, they probably won't even know that someone once watered, nurtured, and accompanied them for a long time," Li Weiyi said, a touch of sentiment in his voice.

Yao Qingxuan used her Qi to retrieve an iron box sealed with runes from her dimensional bag.

"This is what I need to deliver?" Li Weiyi stood up and carefully examined the iron box.

It was square, a foot in length and width.

The runes inscribed on it were exceptionally complex and profound; Li Weiyi's current mental power couldn't decipher them.

Yao Qingxuan said, "This matter is of great importance; there must be no mishap."

Li Weiyi repeated the question from two days prior.

She said, "What it is, is not important to you. The reason you are going is because this matter must be handled by someone of sufficiently high status within the Divine Sect to demonstrate our sincerity."

"You absolutely must not think this task is simple; on the contrary, it may be full of perils."

Li Weiyi asked, "Who is the recipient?"

"One of the three Deputy Commanders of the Southern Yan Pass, Zhou Bida. He is a disciple of the Jiang family's transcendent being and also the Jiang family's son-in-law," Yao Qingxuan replied.

Li Weiyi said, "But he is now one of ours?"

"For now, only half."

Yao Qingxuan continued, "All of his family members have been taken control of by the Divine Sect; that is the coercion. The item in the box is the enticement, and also his condition."

Li Weiyi asked, "Master, are the perils you mentioned about Zhou Bida possibly changing his mind?"

Yao Qingxuan shook her head. "No, Zhou Bida loves his wife and daughter deeply; he would not risk becoming an enemy of the Divine Sect. The dangers stem from three aspects."

"Firstly, the item in the box is extremely rare and precious; it might help Zhou Bida achieve immortality in one go. Many people know it has been retrieved. I'm concerned that there are infiltrators from major human factions within the Sect who might have sent the news ahead, planning to ambush you en route."

"Secondly, your departure from the main altar will inherently provoke covetous desires among some within the Sect."

Li Weiyi asked, "If that's the case, why don't you personally make this trip, Master?"

"That is your third major danger!"

Yao Qingxuan explained, "With your current cultivation level and strength, you are almost eligible for inclusion in the 'Jiazi Register'! The 'Jiazi Register' is located at the Phoenix Platform. All masters under sixty years old who meet the criteria across the world are automatically detected and their approximate locations locked by the 'Jiazi Register'."

"When a new 'Jiazi Register' master emerges, people from the Phoenix Platform and the Attendant Hall will immediately seek you out to record your information. The Imperial Court must ensure that all masters in the world are under their control."

Li Weiyi said, "There must be a way to avoid it, right? Otherwise, how do the masters of the various hidden sects and million-strong clans avoid it?"

Yao Qingxuan glanced at him indifferently. "Only by staying hidden within a secluded sect can one evade it."

"Once you leave a hidden sect and engage in combat, your aura will be exposed and still locked onto by the 'Jiazi Register'. When the Lingxiao Palace dominated the world, how many strong individuals could the various major factions hide?"

"Besides the 'Jiazi Register', there's also the 'Human Overlord Scroll' refined by the Du'e Temple for the Zuoqiu Clan, the Demon Race's 'Yujia List', and the Divine Sect's 'Map of All Beings Under Heaven'."

Li Weiyi asked, "Master, have you been recorded in the 'Jiazi Register'?"

Yao Qingxuan showed a hint of pride. "I've long been on the 'Jiazi Register' blacklist. For the past decade or so, the Phoenix Platform has dispatched many masters to track me. As soon as I appear, they pursue me, trying to ascertain my identity, but unfortunately, they haven't succeeded."

Li Weiyi said, "With my current strength, I might not even qualify for the 'Jiazi Register'. Even if I do, I'd surely be at the very bottom and wouldn't attract much attention. Moreover, as long as I don't engage in combat and don't reveal my aura, the 'Jiazi Register' won't show any fluctuations."

"Be extra careful near Lingxiao City. Once you reach Southern Yan Pass, find Elder Fu; he is responsible for all matters there," Yao Qingxuan instructed.

Li Weiyi's lips moved. He had many more questions but wasn't sure if he should ask them.

Because Yao Qingxuan had explained everything too clearly and deliberately sent him away, it seemed as if she wanted to convey these secrets to someone through him.

Yet, she had explicitly told him to learn to keep quiet when his cultivation was not strong enough.

For a moment, Li Weiyi couldn't quite grasp where Yao Qingxuan's true loyalties lay. Was she truly a hidden sect elder? Was he genuinely just being sent to deliver an item?

Or perhaps she simply dared not speak plainly?