Chapter 348: Loyalty and Righteousness Have Always Been Difficult to Reconcile

Li Wei immediately withdrew his Heavenly Sight Eye, not daring to gaze for long, fearing that the masters in the courtyard would sense his presence. After careful thought, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Standing from Yao Qian's perspective, he must have assumed Li Wei would launch a furious retaliation against the Daoist Sect to unleash his hatred over Zhou Bida's death. Thus, playing into Li Wei's hands, he set up an inescapable net.

It was foreseeable that the remaining two strongholds and over a dozen properties of the Daoist Sect in Nanyan Pass were likely ambushed. As for how these strongholds and properties became known to the imperial court, Li Wei had ample room for manipulation. He could easily claim to have uncovered them through "Elder Fu" Jiang Xin. This would also allow him to gain merit and compensate for the "mistaken killing" of Zhou Bida.

Simultaneously, he could pin the significant crime of the Daoist Sect's complete ruin in Nanyan Pass on Li Wei. From the Daoist Sect's perspective, this would also drag Yao Qingxuan into trouble. This was yet another instance of killing two birds with one stone.

But...

This was precisely the outcome Li Wei wanted to see.

The question was, who would the Daoist Sect's main altar believe?

Regardless, Li Wei's objective of destroying all the Daoist Sect's assets in Nanyan Pass and framing the Sui Sect had been achieved with Yao Qian's help. How could he not be pleased?

Now, he had to find a way to rescue Qifeng. From the outside, that Daoist Sect stronghold appeared calm and peaceful, with only lanterns swaying under the eaves.

"They can't know which stronghold or property I'll attack. It's impossible for every single one to have so many masters gathered." Li Wei's mind stirred, and he departed as a wisp of green smoke, planning a diversion.

Half an hour later, a property of the Daoist Sect, located in the northern part of the third-tier city district, came under attack by Li Wei. The imperial martial cultivators ambushing inside included as many as five masters of the Dao Seed realm and Spirit Nian Masters, and dozens of Five Sea realm practitioners, yet they couldn't withstand the assault. One eunuch escaped and quickly rushed towards the stronghold where Zhuang Yue and others were ambushed, the two locations being only seven or eight li apart.

Li Wei, having made his escape, caught up to the eunuch, knocked him unconscious with a palm strike, and dragged him into the shadows. A moment later, Li Wei, dressed in the eunuch's blue-green robe, transformed into his likeness, emerged from the shadows with a blood-splattered face, and frantically ran towards the stronghold where a large contingent of imperial forces was ambushed, shouting: "He's here! The villain has appeared... The villain has appeared in the North City..."

Inside the courtyard of the Daoist Sect stronghold.

Jiang Ning sat on a rosewood chair, her beautiful hair like clouds, dressed in a white official robe with an embroidered red goose soaring through clouds on her chest insignia. She wore a veil, and her body was enveloped in a mist of spiritual energy. Also possessing a Pure Immortal Body, she made the other female officials of the Imperial Censorate present seem dim in comparison.

Her dark, bright immortal eyes slightly lifted as she asked, "What time is it now?"

"The sixth quarter of the Yin hour! It seems that evil cult demon will not act tonight."

Elder Jiang Qumin of the Jiang family stood three steps away on the snow. She held a large luminous pearl, and threads of psychic energy from her brow permeated the entire stronghold, creating an illusory scene.

Under Yao Qian's guidance, the Imperial Censorate's analysis concluded that the series of events over the past few days were internal conflicts within the evil cult, caused by power struggles. One faction was led by "Elder Fu" Jiang Xin, and the other was Zhou Bida's contact. Both the Imperial Censorate and the General's Residence had been exploited by the evil cult forces. If they could seize this opportunity to capture both factions of the evil cult in one fell swoop, the Imperial Censorate would be the ultimate winner, able to compensate for past errors with significant merit.

Zhuang Yue snorted coldly, clutching her sword: "The evil cult is full of selfish individuals, fighting among themselves for power and profit. When two fight, a third gains. After this battle, Nanyan Pass will be thoroughly purged, and the Imperial Censorate will achieve a complete victory. No, not entirely; there's still that defiant demon. He probably doesn't realize that to capture him, vast forces from the Imperial Censorate, the Jiang family, and the General's Residence have been secretly deployed, setting a massive trap."

None of the imperial officials present responded. This was because power and profit struggles were not only rampant within the evil cult but were even more intense, bloody, and sinister within the imperial court itself.

Just then.

From outside the courtyard, the disguised eunuch, Li Wei, shouted: "The villain has appeared in the North City!"

Inside the stronghold's courtyard, a whooshing sound of figures cutting through the air immediately arose. Several figures, including Zhuang Yue, rushed out.

Li Wei seemed exhausted, his body unsteady, his face pale, almost collapsing in front of Zhuang Yue, who fortunately caught and supported him.

"What happened? Where did that demon appear?" Zhuang Yue asked.

Li Wei panted, stammering: "North City... Xunsheng Street, grain and oil shop... Quick... That villain is too strong, we're no match..."

"Swish! Swish..."

Top masters, one after another, surged out of the stronghold, soaring over rooftops towards the North City. As Zhuang Yue was about to return to the courtyard to report, a telepathic message whispered in her ear: "Go east along the main street, to the noodle stall. I have something to ask, tell no one."

She whirled around, only to see the eunuch from moments ago already leading a large group of people towards the North City. That voice just now... Zhuang Yue suppressed the shock in her heart, her face returning to calm. She was no longer as naive as two years ago; having gone through countless trials, she had naturally grown, albeit slowly.

At the sixth quarter of the Mao hour (around 6:30 AM), the sky began to lighten. At the third quarter of the Mao hour (around 5:45 AM), the city gates, which had been closed for three days, had already opened. Streams of people from all directions, north and south, successively poured into the city. The streets gradually became crowded with pedestrians and bustled with traffic.

Zhuang Yue looked from afar towards the street noodle stall bathed in warm light. She saw a young man in a gray robe sitting with his back to her at a table, eating noodles with chopsticks. Another steaming bowl was placed opposite him. Glancing around once more, Zhuang Yue quickly walked over and sat opposite the young man, staring intently at him.

Li Wei looked up, revealing an unfamiliar face, and smiled at her: "Eat quickly, we'll talk business after."

Zhuang Yue was very nervous, lowering her voice: "You've been causing all this trouble these past few days? What exactly are you trying to do? Meeting me like this will get me killed!"

"Knowing you might get killed, you still came?" Li Wei asked.

Zhuang Yue lost her temper and asked, "Have you joined an evil cult?"

Li Wei continued eating silently, and after a while, he asked, "Have the imperial masters in that stronghold withdrawn?"

"I will not betray the imperial court or Miss. You won't get any information from me," Zhuang Yue said indignantly.

"So it really was her," Li Wei sighed inwardly. Then he looked at Zhuang Yue and smiled: "Do you know why I contacted you instead of Jiang Ning? Because I trust you more. Our bond isn't just a one-time life-or-death situation."

A blush instantly appeared on Zhuang Yue's pure immortal, snow-white face: "But I really can't help you. You know I can't keep secrets. The city gates are open now; quickly leave the city, and I promise I won't expose you."

Li Wei said, "Qifeng is trapped in the illusion of that stronghold. Help me get her out."

Zhuang Yue sighed in relief: "Is that all?"

Li Wei then added, "Also, help me investigate the list of all Dao Seed realm masters from the imperial court who disappeared in the underground immortal mansion. The Imperial Attendant Hall's Feather Bureau must have a record."

If the thirty Dao Seed realm masters brought from the Daoist Sect's main altar by Luan Sheng Lin You all infiltrated Lingxiao City, they would be a massive unpredictable factor in this world-shaking battle that would decide the fate of the realm. Those were thirty undead powerhouses!

Zhou Bida was dead, and Li Wei decided to take on this heavy responsibility. Even if he couldn't prevent Lingxiao City's downfall, he would ensure that the demon race, the Netherworld of the Deceased, and the Daoist Sect paid the greatest possible price in this cataclysmic battle, on the battlefield of Lingxiao City—a place destined to become the greatest meat grinder in a thousand years—rendering them unable to sweep across the world with the momentum of victory.

This would create opportunities for human factions like the Zuoqiu Clan, Xuejian Tangting, the Zhu Clan, and the Leixiao Sect to defeat them. Covertly eliminating the forces the demon race and Daoist Sect had embedded in Lingxiao City was also crucial. This was a tough battle that Li Wei had to fight, gathering all hidden individuals above the Dao Seed realm to go to Lingxiao City.

"No, I cannot betray the imperial court." Zhuang Yue was loyal to the court and felt that agreeing to Li Wei's request would be colluding with an evil cult member, a line she couldn't cross.

Li Wei said, "You owe me a life, and you owe me a lot of money."

Seeing Li Wei no longer speak of their past friendship but utter such words, Zhuang Yue felt extremely pained, sensing that they were about to draw a clear line between them. She said with a pained expression: "The information simply cannot be accurately gathered! The imperial court has many factions: three Palace Lords, seven Transcendent beings, and each faction has a large number of Dao Seed realm experts under its command. For instance, the Embroidered Robe Divine Guards under the Blood-Clad Grand Supervisor, and the two great military commanders, the King of Xihai and the Duke of Donghai—their experts investigating the underground immortal mansion would never report to the Imperial Attendant Hall. The personnel under the various prefectures are even more fluid in their movements."

Li Wei frowned slightly: "Gather as detailed a list as possible; I will discern them myself when the time comes."

Zhuang Yue asked, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Can't you do it? If not, tell Chen Chuan and have him handle it," Li Wei said. Chen Chuan was Hidden Thirteen.

Zhuang Yue gritted her teeth: "Is that how you ask for favors? I'm not even allowed to know your purpose?"

"Your mind isn't sharp enough; knowing too much will spoil things," Li Wei said.

Zhuang Yue said, "What did you say?"

Li Wei quickly corrected himself: "If a person has enough flaws, they have no flaws at all! Who would believe that you, Zhuang Yue, would betray the imperial court?"

A major event like attacking Lingxiao City, once it became known, would inevitably cause a stir throughout the world. At that time, even if the demon race wasn't fully prepared, they would act immediately, not giving the imperial court a chance to conduct large-scale purges of internal operatives or redeploy troops. The Daoist Sect would then also be forced into the conflict.

Like the battle at Qizhou's provincial city, Qilin Zang acted with extreme decisiveness. One could say that if Li Wei dared to leak the news in the morning, the battle might already erupt by noon. The current imperial court merely sensed a dangerous aura and never imagined the demon race would dare to directly attack Lingxiao City. The surface of the water was only slightly rippled, but beneath, dark currents surged wildly. Whoever could win the clandestine war of hidden deployments before the main conflict would gain a greater advantage once the war began.

This was one of Li Wei's concerns. Second, no one knew which individuals within the imperial court had already been controlled by the demon race and the Daoist Sect. Jiang Xin's existence would certainly not be an isolated case.

Before Zhuang Yue could get angry, Li Wei asked again, "What exactly happened during the battle of the Immortal Realm magnates outside Nanyan Pass three days ago?"

Zhuang Yue vehemently shook her head: "I don't know, I don't know anything. All I know is that the Sui Sect Master hasn't returned to the city yet. That's all I know. You're really going to get me killed!"

Li Wei's eyes subtly flickered sideways. Sensing several sharp gazes on him, he knew masters were approaching, yet he remained composed and comforted Zhuang Yue: "Loyalty and righteousness have always been difficult to uphold simultaneously. I understand your inner turmoil, but Zhuang Yue, aren't we friends who have shared hardships? Let's leave it at that... Remember what you promised me. Look into my eyes!"

Zhuang Yue looked up blankly, and the moment their eyes met, a spiritual imprint entered her body. Instantly, her entire being became dazed. Under Li Wei's control, Zhuang Yue picked up her chopsticks and began to eat. He then spoke in an aged voice: "As expected of Fairy Yu, a disciple of the Second Palace Lord; my little trick couldn't fool you. Haha!" Thirty zhang behind him, Jiang Ning appeared as if from thin air, holding the Startle-Feather Sword. The immense aura emanating from her sent everyone nearby fleeing in alarm. The city residents all knew the destructive power of battles between top masters. This stretch of street was instantly cleared. It became as silent as a dead city.