Chapter 355: The Crisis of the Taishi Family

Li Weiyi thought of Li Ling at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. If he could refine a large number of talismans in advance and control a rain of talismans, his combat power could indeed be significantly enhanced to a terrifying level.

The Nine Secret Characters of the Six Jia Incantation on the Yellow Dragon Sword could clearly be integrated with talismans.

Currently, he had only successfully combined the secret character "Xing" (行) with the "Divine Movement Talisman," greatly increasing its power.

What about the other eight secret characters?

Li Weiyi hadn't spent much time on talismans and only mastered a limited few. He mused, "Among the ones I know, the Immobilization Talisman is the most useful in combat."

"With my current spiritual power, if I can integrate the characters from the incantation, the power would be truly remarkable."

"For crafting talismans, I'll need to buy transcendent hide and ancient immortal beast blood, otherwise, they'll be instantly shattered by experts."

Li Weiyi and Tang Wanzhou returned to the Blood Mud Space, walking side by side. One was a mortal, the other a pure immortal body. She was a beautiful woman, frank, valiant, confident, and proud.

Her demeanor inspired trust, assuring that one would never have to worry about her betraying friends or killing for treasure.

After listening to Li Weiyi's account of the current situation, Tang Wanzhou pondered for a moment, her gaze returning to its wise and profound state. "Heavenly City cannot fall, at least not yet. I will fight this battle; your cultivation is far from sufficient. Just follow my commands. It's impossible for the邪 cult not to have an immortal realm powerhouse in Heavenly City."

Li Weiyi said, "If you reveal yourself now, all my previous efforts will be in vain. The main altar will definitely suspect that I helped you escape. I believe we must frame the Suizong Sect for all of this, making it seem like the Suizong faction rescued you from the main altar. Only by instigating internal strife within the Dao Sect will we have a chance to win."

"Furthermore, your current state is unstable, and your reactions to the outside world are slow. I will conduct the investigation; you follow my commands... well, please, Young Master, lend me a hand at the crucial moment."

Tang Wanzhou did not insist further. She took out a token. "With this token, you command as if I were present, and can deploy all of Snow Sword Tang Ting's hidden agents in Heavenly City."

Li Weiyi accepted it. With an immortal realm powerhouse assisting him, his confidence greatly increased. As he was about to leave, his eyes suddenly darted around.

"Whoosh!"

He unleashed the Karma Grinding Mill, combining spiritual power with martial arts, and unexpectedly slammed it towards Tang Wanzhou, who was preparing to meditate.

Tang Wanzhou formed a sword-finger gesture with her hand and swung her arm, repelling him. "That strike had some real intent!"

Li Weiyi retreated from the Blood Mud Space and walked out of the room. It was a bright, sunny day outside. He couldn't help but stretch and instruct the maidservants to prepare a meal.

He had cultivated for three days inside the Cocoon of Time.

It took another three days to break through his cultivation realm in the Sea of Tanggu.

Six days had passed outside.

His actual cultivation time was eighteen days, and his stomach was empty; he was very hungry.

"With my current cultivation as a five-star Spirit Master, the Cocoon of Time can definitely be maintained longer."

"My martial cultivation is still not strong enough. I need to quickly achieve Dragon Seed Dao Genesis. It took half a year for Luan Sheng Lin You to advance from the second to the third heaven. With the help of the Cocoon of Time, I wonder if I can achieve it in a month?"

Li Weiyi ate while pondering.

He still believed that refining talismans and buying thousand-year-old refined herbs to raise insects were the quickest ways to improve his combat power in the near future.

During his seclusion, Qi Feng had not disturbed him. After inquiring, he learned that Long Xiangcen had not left the Garrison Commander's Mansion for the past six days.

However, he learned from two maidservants that Taishi Bai had visited twice but did not disturb him, knowing he was in seclusion.

After the meal, Li Weiyi went to visit the Garrison Commander's Mansion.

When Taishi Bai saw him, he smiled from afar and said, "Zuo Ning, if you don't come out of seclusion soon, I'll definitely smash your door tonight!"

"What has the door done to deserve such drastic action, Brother Taishi?" Li Weiyi asked.

"Tomorrow we'll have to depart for Heavenly City... Come, Mother wants to see you." Taishi Bai heard the sound of Mrs. Long's spiritual power transmitting a message to his ear.

Li Weiyi followed Taishi Bai through the Garrison Commander's Mansion courtyard, where every step revealed a new scene. Wherever they passed, maidservants and house servants stepped aside, kneeling in respectful salutation.

Taishi Bai's expression grew solemn. "Something has happened at the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices! We had been suppressing the news to prevent panic, but in the past few days, it somehow leaked out and spread throughout the various districts of Heavenly City."

The Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices was an extremely important government office, responsible for rituals, divination, music, ancestral temples, imperial tombs, overseeing the Imperial Academy of Medicine, and managing the Music and Dance Bureau.

Most importantly,

The Mother-Child Spring, which Jade Yaozi had mysteriously recovered over a decade ago, was under the guardianship and management of the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Li Weiyi feigned ignorance and asked, "What happened at the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and how does it concern us?"

"Taishi Qingshi, the Grand Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, is the third most important figure in the Taishi family, after the Old Ancestor and my father. I call him Second Uncle. If something happens to him, the entire Taishi family will be in trouble. As for the strange events, I can't explain them clearly to you right now. Once we get there, be careful how you respond; my mother sent people to Shu Prefecture to investigate you."

Taishi Bai offered this reminder, then entered the door, cupping his hands in greeting. "Mother, Zuo Ning is here!"

Li Weiyi glanced at the figure in palace attire behind the plum-bamboo screen, then bowed in greeting. "Zuo Ning pays his respects to Madam."

"Zuo Ning, how audacious of you! Do you know the consequences of opposing the imperial court?"

Mrs. Long's voice was cold and rebuking, and a powerful surge of energy emanated from her, filling the entire courtyard.

To Li Weiyi's ears, it was like a thunderclap. He bent his waist even lower, looked at the ground, and said fearfully, "Zuo Ning dares not oppose the imperial court."

Yet, inwardly, he remained calm and unafraid.

If Mrs. Long genuinely intended to punish him, she wouldn't have waited for him to arrive at the Garrison Commander's Mansion to summon him; she would have dispatched troops to apprehend him long ago.

"You stayed in the rebel army for five years, and you still dare to claim you didn't oppose the imperial court?" Mrs. Long said.

Sweat beaded on Li Weiyi's forehead; he was utterly terrified. He stammered, "I... I was forced against my will... Now I am turning over a new leaf!"

"Turning over a new leaf, are you? Or perhaps you just couldn't stay in the Earth Wolf King's army anymore?"

With a rustle, Mrs. Long threw the investigation results from Shu Prefecture over the screen.

Taishi Bai picked it up and, after reading it, revealed a look of surprise.

Li Weiyi glanced at the contents and immediately cursed Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Liuyu silently ten times over. Relying on these Dharma Kings to handle matters was truly unreliable; they had completely ruined his good name.

The paper stated that Zuo Ning had once joined the Earth Wolf King's army, was highly regarded by Dharma King Liuyu, served as his advisor, and spent five years in the army.

Three months ago, he escaped from the Earth Wolf King's army.

The reason was that Shi Wuyan had taken a liking to him and wished to make him her male consort.

Taishi Bai burst out laughing. "I've long heard that Shi Wuyan has a fondness for men. I didn't expect you, Zuo Ning, to possess such charm!"

Li Weiyi snatched the secret letter, immediately tore it to shreds, and said with a mournful face, "Please, never mention this again, or my reputation will be utterly ruined!"

From behind the screen, Mrs. Long said, "Given your background in the Earth Wolf King's army, if the Imperial Censorate uncovers your past, the Garrison Commander's Mansion will surely be implicated."

Taishi Bai immediately pleaded, "Zuo Ning was merely an advisor, and most likely coerced by Shi Liuyu. On the courier boat, he didn't hesitate to expose his strength to save lives, which shows his good nature. Your son is willing to vouch for him; please, Mother, show him leniency."

One played the benevolent role, the other the stern one.

Mrs. Long merely wanted to help Taishi Bai recruit Zuo Ning into his ranks.

Li Weiyi understood this clearly, so he remained silent, awaiting her decision.

Taishi Bai said, "In times of chaos, ability comes first when hiring people. The Taishi family is currently facing misfortune, and as we're recruiting Spirit Masters from within the clan, Zuo Ning might be able to help."

Mrs. Long was silent for a moment, then sighed, retracting her spiritual power and intent. "If you plead for him so earnestly, and I insist on sending him to the Imperial Censorate for trial, you will surely resent me. Zuo Ning, remember Young Master's kindness well!"

"Zuo Ning is willing to die in the Young Master's service," Li Weiyi declared resolutely.

The next day, before dawn,

Outside the Garrison Commander's Mansion, a large contingent had assembled: seven gilded carriages and dozens of exotic beast mounts.

All Spirit Masters boarded the carriages, some with four people per carriage, others with six. They had to enter the city secretly, without drawing attention. The Dao Seed realm retainers, meanwhile, rode the exotic beast mounts.

That the Garrison Commander's Mansion could assemble so many formidable individuals in a short time demonstrated its immense power.

Li Weiyi spotted Long Xiangcen. She wore a veil and a green robe, sharing a carriage with several other female Spirit Masters. As she boarded, she gave Li Weiyi a cold glance and silently mouthed something, though he couldn't tell what she said.

"Zuo Ning, come with me!"

Taishi Bai's voice rang out from the lead carriage.

Li Weiyi boarded the carriage. Inside, the space was vast, about twelve feet square, with a built-in fixed table and a white exotic beast fur carpet.

On the table was a bronze incense burner.

Wisps of smoke curled upwards.

After the convoy set off, Taishi Bai's expression became serious. "Last night, an urgent military report traveled thousands of miles back to Nanyan Pass. On the East Sea side, the Three Island Barbarians and Dragon Gate remnants have launched a counterattack on the Eastern Territory."

Li Weiyi said, "The Eastern Territory has the Thunderous Firmament Sect and the army led by Duke of the East Sea, one of the imperial court's seven transcendent powers. They won't succeed."

Taishi Bai's brows were furrowed with persistent worry. "In the Western Territory, the demon army has gathered in the largest scale seen in two years. If the Vermilion Gate is destroyed, the imperial court's western gate will be wide open."

Li Weiyi said, "The West Sea Slaves, led by the West Sea King, are the imperial court's premier iron army. The Western Territory won't be easily breached."

Taishi Bai said, "Liangzhou is one of the imperial court's eight core prefectures, situated at the foot of the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plains. But not long ago, a demon transcendent entered the prefectural capital, causing shocking destruction and heavy casualties. Zuo Ning, it's been two years, and the demon transcendents have gradually recovered from their injuries and are starting to counterattack! Just wait and see; the center of the coming storm will surely be in the Western Territory."

Li Weiyi knew the truth: the demon race was luring the imperial court's experts to the East Sea and Western Territory to create chaos, confuse perceptions, and conceal their true objective.

But he dared not speak it aloud.

If the demon race knew that the news of their attack on Heavenly City had leaked, they might indeed decide to secure the Western Territory first.

As a friend, Li Weiyi desperately wanted to warn him that the Taishi family was currently in the gravest danger.

The Taishi family controlled the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plains, Heavenly City, four major passes, and half of the defensive formations. The Dao Sect and the demon race's actions against them must have already begun.

Outside, the rhythmic sound of hooves and carriage wheels could be heard.

Li Weiyi knew well that venturing to Heavenly City would be fraught with danger, like willingly stepping into the eye of a storm. He couldn't help but feel uneasy, his mind cluttered with thoughts. He mused, "Only three days remain until the first day of the twelfth lunar month. I wonder if all the Hidden Gate's secret agents have entered Heavenly City. After so many days, has Tuoba managed to send the blood letter back to the main altar? If it wasn't delivered..."

Li Weiyi wasn't very confident and could only prepare for the worst.

At this moment,

A large contingent from the Dao Sect's Main Altar, including forces from the Hall of Withered Glory and the Hall of Heavenly Principle, had surrounded the Southern Clarity Palace. Several hall masters personally arrived, taking an accusatory stance, directly breaking through the formations with Dharma artifacts and storming in.