Chapter 358: Taishi Jia leads Taishi Yu

Taishi Bai was much closer to Li Weiyi than to his other retainers and valued him greatly.

Firstly, this was due to Li Weiyi's exceptional spiritual power talent. In Skysoar City, fewer than five prodigies under the age of sixty had cultivated their spiritual power to his level.

Moreover, "Zuo Ning" was only in his thirties.

Secondly, Taishi Bai had an excellent first impression of him on the post boat. In this era, "kindness" was rarer than thousand-year-old elixirs.

"This matter must be discussed from its origin," Taishi Bai began. "Over the past decade or so, in Skysoar City, particularly among the major families of the imperial court, many women have been conceiving and giving birth after drinking from the Mother-Child Spring, resulting in children with mothers but no fathers."

Li Weiyi asked curiously, "Was this forcefully mandated by the Grand Palace Lord of the Phoenix Pavilion?"

"When you are in Skysoar City, you must never discuss anything about the Grand Palace Lord. Remember this!"

After this warning, Taishi Bai continued telepathically: "The Grand Palace Lord has been in seclusion for over a decade, and no one knows her current state. Under the efforts of the Second and Third Palace Lords to restore order, the minor field decree has become as good as waste paper."

"While there's no explicit law regarding drinking from the Mother-Child Spring, within the court, if the women of an entire family don't drink from it, they will certainly be attacked by political rivals, accused of harboring resentment towards the Grand Palace Lord and having rebellious intentions against the court."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?" Li Weiyi asked.

Taishi Bai gave a wry smile. "As a brilliant ruler for a thousand years, the Grand Palace Lord was once like a deity in the hearts of countless people. Even now, that remains true."

"In fact, most families and the women within them voluntarily drank from the Mother-Child Spring to procreate."

"But... something went wrong with the Mother-Child Spring!"

"Recently, women who drank from the Mother-Child Spring have frequently given birth to ghost infants. Even the mothers themselves have transformed into ghost mothers."

"Initially, the news was suppressed; the court secretly subdued and confined these ghost mothers and ghost infants. However, the situation has escalated, with women who drank from the Mother-Child Spring in the past two years experiencing transformations, including some with extremely high cultivation."

"In recent days, this matter has spread throughout the streets and alleys, and rumors are rampant."

"Some say that what the Grand Palace Lord retrieved all those years ago wasn't the Mother-Child Spring at all, but the Ghost Infant Spring. They claim that everyone who drank from the Mother-Child Spring will suffer misfortune sooner or later."

"Others claim that the Tai-Chang Temple's lax guardianship of the Mother-Child Spring allowed it to be exploited by the Abyssal Realm of the Departed."

"Even more extreme rumors suggest that the Taishi family is the mastermind, using the Mother-Child Spring to undermine the Grand Palace Lord's prestige, divide the court, and plot a rebellion."

As Li Weiyi listened to Taishi Bai's account, he sensed an ominous atmosphere, thick with the scent of conspiracy, like a storm brewing.

He said, "To dare to criticize the Grand Palace Lord and use the Taishi family as a topic, there must be a mastermind behind these rumors."

"We are already investigating," Taishi Bai replied.

Taishi Bai looked worried and full of sorrow. "Zuo Ning, you must understand that these are extraordinary times. Externally, the demon race is causing havoc in the East Sea and Western Regions. Internally, foreign powerhouses are temporarily residing in Skysoar City."

"At this critical juncture, such a scandal—no, it's not funny at all—the ghost infant incident specifically targets those most loyal to the Grand Palace Lord and the imperial court. Now, with widespread humiliation and upheaval within the government, given the Second Palace Lord's temperament, heads are sure to roll."

"Who will take the blame?"

"If this matter cannot be resolved quickly, or if the truth isn't uncovered, the Taishi family will face great calamity."

Li Weiyi knew about the demon race's plan to attack Skysoar City, so he strongly suspected their involvement, seeing it as killing three birds with one stone.

Firstly, it would throw the imperial court into disarray, leaving them exhausted from dealing with internal issues and unable to perceive the true intentions of the demon race and the Daoist Sect in attacking Skysoar City.

Secondly, it would further ruin the Grand Palace Lord's reputation, causing even the most loyal adherents of the Skysoar Palace to waver.

Thirdly, political rivals would seize this opportunity to attack the Taishi family, plunging the court into internal strife. If the Taishi family were ostracized and suppressed, despite controlling half of the defensive formations of Skysoar City and the four major passes... the consequences would be unimaginable.

"This move is truly formidable, precisely placed and striking directly at the court's vital point," Li Weiyi thought to himself.

He secretly admired the strategy and asked, "Is this an inherent problem with the Mother-Child Spring itself, or has someone tampered with it?"

Taishi Bai gently shook his head. "It's still unclear. Many secrets are known only to the older generation. Hmm... you don't need to worry too much. The Taishi family has a transcendent patriarch; we won't fall! Over the past thousand years, we've weathered countless storms."

After passing through the bustling commercial district, the convoy arrived at Yunxiu Ward, where the Taishi family resided.

The ward walls were three zhang high, constructed from glazed spirit-fused stone.

The formation was activated, and the main gate opened.

The streets became much quieter. Buildings on both sides were constructed from special materials, with guardian formation stone beasts at their entrances and on their roofs.

Yunxiu Ward centered around the Taishi family's ancestral mansion, extending a hundred li around it.

Almost everyone living in the ward was closely related to the Taishi family, generation after generation, connected by blood or marriage.

The grandeur and opulence of the Taishi family's ancestral mansion were beyond words. Its grounds encompassed several mountains, with lush precious trees and exotic birds nesting, creating a sense of profound inscrutability. In Skysoar City, where every inch of land was precious, this was true extravagance.

After entering the mansion for about a li, on a white stone plaza, all the spirit cultivators disembarked from their vehicles.

Several old housekeepers, who were at the Dao Seed realm, came out and first bowed to Taishi Bai. Then, they took out pre-prepared formation plaques, distributed them to everyone, and arranged their accommodations.

Li Weiyi received a palm-sized jade formation plaque.

On the front of the plaque were the characters "Taishi."

On the back was the address: Huanhua Lane, Weiyi Residence.

The ancestral mansion had many female residents, so it wasn't a place for retainers like them to stay.

Long Xiangcen, wearing a veil, did not receive a formation plaque, indicating she would evidently be staying within the mansion.

A hearty laugh came from the northeast corner of the plaza: "Brother Bai, you've finally arrived in Skysoar City... Ah, Cousin Xiangcen, it's been two years since we last met, hasn't it?"

Head Taishi Yu, wearing an ornate robe adorned with talismans and a green jade crown, and appearing to be in his late twenties, quickly approached with a beaming smile.

He was noble and handsome, with a mole between his brows. He lacked the intimidating aura typical of a warrior head, instead presenting the carefree demeanor of a dissolute young master.

Behind him, several retainers followed, each of them striking in appearance and possessing a powerful aura.

Taishi Yu stood beside Taishi Bai, but his gaze fell upon Long Xiangcen, scrutinizing her as if his eyes could see right through her. He said with a smile, "You're even more beautiful now, more beautiful than before! Coincidentally, in two days, I'm attending the West Sea Prince's birthday banquet, and I need a female companion. Xiangcen, would you be willing to accompany your cousin?"

Long Xiangcen gave a reserved, faint smile and looked at Taishi Bai.

Taishi Bai, understanding Taishi Yu's character, coldly snorted, "Taishi Yu, the family is currently in a precarious situation, yet instead of solving problems and taking responsibility, you're attending some birthday banquet. Is this how a warrior head should act?"

"The incident at the Tai-Chang Temple is for the elders to handle. Why are you so anxious? Is it useful? With just these people you've brought?"

Taishi Yu's eyes twinkled with amusement and a playful expression. Then, he actually started walking towards Long Xiangcen.

All the retainers knew about the subtle relationship between Taishi Bai and Long Xiangcen. Taishi Yu's words, gaze, and actions made them extremely angry.

Behind Taishi Bai, two retainers flashed out, positioning themselves in front of Taishi Yu.

As retainers of the Nanyan Pass General's Manor, they didn't mind being looked down upon themselves, but their young master being insulted meant they had to step forward.

Taishi Yu had inherited the Taishi family's spiritual power attainments and was among the top ten masters of the generation in Skysoar City. He merely flickered his eyes; without any visible spiritual light overflowing, the two retainers who had cultivated Dao Lotuses crumpled to the ground, utterly helpless.

Long Xiangcen's heart stirred, and she seized the opportunity to quickly move behind Li Weiyi.

"Cousin, why are you hiding from me? Am I really that scary?"

Seeing Li Weiyi standing in front of him, unyielding, Taishi Yu's face instantly frosted over. He rebuked with a voice imbued with spiritual power, "Do you not know your place? Get out of my way!"

The power contained in this voice was even more formidable than his previous soul-capturing gaze.

It was like a clap of thunder by the ear.

"Whoosh!"

In front of Li Weiyi, a curved, crimson-golden flame barrier appeared, like a shield-seal, neutralizing Taishi Yu's sonic spiritual power. However, it couldn't fully block it, and Li Weiyi was forced back two steps.

A flicker of surprise crossed Taishi Yu's eyes as he scrutinized Li Weiyi. "You're not over forty, are you? To cultivate spiritual power to this realm at such an age is rare in the world. What's your name?"

"Zuo Ning!" Li Weiyi replied, neither humble nor overbearing.

"Never heard of you. So, you're an unknown," Taishi Yu mused. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head. Seeing Taishi Bai's face turn extremely cold, on the verge of erupting, he chuckled and said, "Never mind. Let's go to Immortal Grove in Danyue Ward for some drinks and music!"

After stepping outside, the frivolous smile on Taishi Yu's face vanished instantly. He telepathically instructed a retainer behind him, "Find out everything about this Zuo Ning. Where did he come from? The world isn't so big that a top-tier spiritual power genius can just appear out of nowhere."

He then ordered another retainer, "Monitor Long Xiangcen closely. Don't miss anything if she leaves the ancestral mansion, where she goes, or whom she meets."

Li Weiyi watched Taishi Yu and his group leave. "What a formidable Head Taishi! I couldn't even block one of his sonic attacks."

Long Xiangcen, no longer as reserved as before, said with a smile, "He is one of Skysoar City's Ten Prodigies, a top figure on the 'Jiazi Register.' The fact that you withstood his explosive roar is enough to make a name for yourself in Skysoar City!"

Taishi Bai said, "He's still the same old irresponsible self. Half of the Taishi family's reputation has been ruined by him. Nowadays, people outside call him 'Romantic Taishi Yu'; he's had at least a hundred lovers. Everyone, please go to your accommodations and rest. Tonight, the Family Head will host a banquet at the ancestral mansion to welcome all of you."

Taishi Bai and Long Xiangcen proceeded deeper into the ancestral mansion.

Li Weiyi walked with several other spirit cultivators who also resided in Huanhua Lane. They chatted pleasantly along the way, getting to know each other briefly.

Huanhua Lane was five or six li away from the main gate of the ancestral mansion, boasting a tranquil environment with three-story pavilion-style buildings.

Each residence was a small courtyard house, combining halls and rooms, spacious enough for six or seven people without crowding, and equipped with formations on both levels.

After walking around "Weiyi Residence," Li Weiyi left and exited Yunxiu Ward.

He walked towards Danyue Ward.

The main street of the ward was exceedingly wide, more than a hundred zhang across. The central imperial road was empty, as only the carriages of Eternal Realm magnates were permitted to travel upon it.

Danyue Ward was a world-renowned commercial district, housing Immortal Groves, Celestial Pavilions, Otherworld Coffins, Daoist Effigy Trading, auction houses, medicinal pills, magical artifacts, exotic insects, talismans... almost all major merchant associations had their main storefronts here.

All forces with a net worth of tens of millions had properties here.