Chapter 365: West Sea Prince's Residence

Grand Historian Bai said, "The world is in turmoil today. Only by uniting can the major human factions defeat the demon race and counter the challenges from the evil cults.

"If you are here for Zhuang Yue, I will fully support you two in becoming a couple. I respect your loyalty, integrity, and your courage to love and hate.

"If you are a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Faction to Lingxiao City, intending to replace Zhou Bida and infiltrate the Grand Historian family, tell me the truth now. Given our past acquaintance, I will let you leave the city. I will bear the responsibility with Luantai; consider it me making a friend and contributing to human unity."

Li Weiyi asked, "You'd believe anything I say?"

Grand Historian Bai smiled, "In chaotic times, deceit and unscrupulous methods prevail. Humanity is eroded, and intentions are hard to gauge. Perhaps I am someone who trusts easily and tends to be emotional. But I refuse to believe that every sincere effort is met with hypocrisy and ingratitude. As long as one genuine exchange of sincerity occurs, it is enough to fill me with hope and love for this world."

Li Weiyi felt even more conflicted. It was difficult for him to lie to someone who trusted him.

He said, "Please rest assured, Young Master Bai, I am certainly not a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Faction or the Nine Li tribe, nor will I ever harm the Grand Historian family. I, too, deeply desire the unity of humanity."

Grand Historian Bai secretly sighed in relief, the worry in his eyes dissipating. He smiled and said, "Your words are enough! From now on, don't call me Young Master Bai. With your talent and potential, you are certainly worthy of being called my brother.

"What's already happened, let's not dwell on it. There's a way now that might make Luantai compromise."

Li Weiyi asked, "What method?"

Jiang Ning did not ride a spirit beast back to Luantai. She kept her Dao Heart manifestation within one *zhang* as she walked silently along the street, lost in thought.

Zhuang Yue followed silently behind her.

After an unknown period.

Jiang Ning said, "You've been by my side since you were nine, haven't you?"

Zhuang Yue replied, "Yes!"

Jiang Ning said, "I can't control others, but when it comes to you, I still have a say. As for Zuo Ning... I can't quite put my finger on it, but I always feel his intentions aren't pure. Yet, his insistence on taking you with him when he left, his desire to save you, was undeniably genuine. If you're set on him, I can't forcefully stop you..."

"Miss!"

Zhuang Yue knelt before her, sobbing, "I... I won't leave. I'll stay with you my entire life. Zuo Ning... he's a harmful scoundrel. Sooner or later, I will make things clear to him, and to you too."

"Get up quickly."

Jiang Ning admonished.

Not far away, a figure flashed. Ge Xiantong appeared opposite Jiang Ning, complaining, "You asked me to do something, but the operation was canceled, and you didn't even inform me?"

Ge Xiantong was hired by Jiang Ning to deal with Zuo Ning, responsible for another direction.

"I sent someone to inform you!" Jiang Ning said.

Ge Xiantong said, "It seems I missed it! I just ran into Li Jiao and was delayed for a moment."

Li Jiao was Hidden Eleven.

"Li Jiao of the Nine Li tribe?" Jiang Ning asked.

Ge Xiantong said, "He saved me at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, so I'm very familiar with his aura. I was originally extending my senses to perceive your situation when I unexpectedly found him."

Jiang Ning showed a thoughtful expression: "Li Jiufu has arrived, and so has Li Jiao. Both are from the Nine Li Hidden Sect. Isn't this a bit too unusual?"

"Are you implying the Nine Li Hidden Sect has an operation underway? Perhaps they're just here for the excitement surrounding the 'Nine-Layered Dao Image Scroll'," Ge Xiantong said.

"Perhaps," Jiang Ning replied.

Jiang Ning transmitted her *fa qi* to Zhuang Yue, saying, "Go find Chen Chuan and ask him what exactly the Nine Li Hidden Sect intends to do and how many Hidden Ones have arrived. Make sure to bluff him, tell him we have concrete intelligence, and if he doesn't tell the truth, I'll report it to Luantai."

Zhuang Yue's eyes immediately cleared. She quickly departed, realizing that the Nine Li Hidden Sect must be planning something major.

After all, their Divine Hidden Ones had arrived!

Ge Xiantong said, "Tonight is Song Yulou's sixtieth birthday, and the whole city is abuzz. He is the foremost expert in Lingxiao's Life Realm below the Longevity Realm. That Demon Child Senior Brother from Du'e Monastery will surely bring the 'Nine-Layered Dao Image Scroll' to challenge him. This battle will capture the world's attention. Shall we go watch?"

Grand Historian Bai said, "During the two days you were in seclusion, the Song family from West Sea Prince's Estate sent three waves of people to secretly seek me out, all because of you. If not for the 'closed-door seclusion' sign on your door, I would have forced my way in long ago."

"Why is that... because of that Ghost Mother? Did I cause trouble?" Li Weiyi asked.

Grand Historian Bai waved his hand and smiled, "Not only did you not cause trouble, but you might have greatly helped them. Song Qingli has recovered some of her consciousness."

"In that case, what do they want? If it's a thank-you gift, they can just send it directly," Li Weiyi said with a smile.

Grand Historian Bai said, "As far as I know, Song Qingli is currently the most cultivated among all the Ghost Mothers. No one knows if she resisted the strange power with her immense cultivation or if it's related to your battle with her.

"The Song family sent people to invite you precisely to confirm this.

"I recall you used a mind technique to cleanse and dispel evil on the post boat. Is it related to this?"

Li Weiyi shook his head, "I've seen Ghost Mothers and Ghost Infants; they're absolute monsters, their bodies distorted. It's definitely not just a matter of consciousness; it's more like being afflicted by corpse poison, strange drugs, or curses. How could a simple mind technique possess such power?"

Grand Historian Bai nodded, "The Imperial Temple shares that view. But since the Song family is seeking your help, you can seize this opportunity to make a request."

"Can the Song family influence Luantai's decisions?" Li Weiyi asked.

Grand Historian Bai said, "The West Sea Prince is second only to the three Palace Lords. You must know that the 100,000 West Sea Slaves are the foremost elite army in Lingxiao's Life Realm. It is said that as long as the West Sea Slaves endure, Lingxiao City will not fall.

"More than a decade ago, when the West Sea Slaves were at their peak, even the Second and Third Palace Lords had to show the West Sea Prince a degree of deference.

"In the Battle of Cangyuan, the West Sea Slaves suffered a crushing defeat, with 30,000 casualties, which subsequently ushered in an era of widespread chaos. It can be said that without that defeat, no one in Lingxiao's twenty-eight prefectures would have dared to rebel."

At Nanyan Pass, the Juling Army, with its eight thousand Five Seas Soldiers arrayed, their formation and battle intent condensed into an ancient immortal giant, possessed the combat power to face the transcendent under the leadership of Grand Historian Qingcang.

At their peak, half of the 100,000 West Sea Slaves were Five Seas Soldiers.

Grand Historian Bai continued, "Song Yulou, the current patriarch of the Song family, is Song Qingli's uncle and the top master in Lingxiao's Life Realm below the Longevity Realm. Tonight is his sixtieth birthday, and he certainly wouldn't want any scandal. If you can cure Song Qingli, you would be doing him a great favor. Therefore, any condition you propose, as long as it's not too excessive, he will surely agree to.

"You must have heard the secret about Song Yulou and the Third Palace Lord, haven't you?"

"I actually haven't heard that one!" Li Weiyi admitted.

Grand Historian Bai said, "It's an open secret in Lingxiao City that Song Yulou has been the Third Palace Lord's favored consort for this *jiazi* cycle. Of course, it must never be discussed in public."

"Smack!"

Li Weiyi slapped his forehead, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information. He really wanted to ask Chan Hai Guan Wu what the recruitment standards were when he accepted disciples back then.

The West Sea Prince's Estate was located in Qingyun Ward, east of the city.

By the time Grand Historian Bai and Li Weiyi arrived, night had completely fallen, and carriages of all sizes in the ward were jammed, creating a complete blockade.

Influential figures from Lingxiao City, officials from various government offices and prefectures, either came in person to offer birthday wishes or sent their retainers with gifts.

Grand Historian Bai and Li Weiyi abandoned their carriage and walked towards the Prince's Estate gate, three *li* away.

"How strange that Qingyun Ward is where the West Sea Prince's Estate is located. Why would Zhuang Yue arrange to meet here?"

Li Weiyi was very curious, wondering whether to take this opportunity to go to the address Zhuang Yue had given him. Before his eyes, a carriage bearing a "Zuoqiu" flag flew several *zhang* above the ground, like a cloud bridge, descending in front of the magnificent Prince's Estate gates.

A majestic and dominant figure emerged from the carriage.

From his back alone, Li Weiyi recognized him as Zuoqiu Ling, the previous patriarch of the Zuoqiu Faction.

Why was he here?

Grand Historian Bai secretly observed Li Weiyi's expression: "Surely you know that Zuoqiu Ling and Song Yulou have been close friends for decades? Among their generation, these two were virtually unrivaled, a case of heroes admiring heroes."

"I prefer to cultivate in seclusion, so I'm quite uninformed about worldly affairs."

Li Weiyi observed the people accompanying Zuoqiu Ling, trying to spot Zuoqiu Hongting.

"Old Bai, this must be Brother Zuo Ning, right? I am Song Lin."

Song Lin, one of the representative figures of the West Sea Prince's Estate's fifth generation, personally came to greet them. He was Song Qingli's elder brother and had been waiting for them for a long time.

Li Weiyi returned the greeting.

Grand Historian Bai smiled, "No need for so much formality with him; Song Lin is like family."

"That's right, he and I have been brawling since we were kids. Gentlemen, perhaps we should attend to the main matter first?"

Song Lin, full of worry and eager about Song Qingli's situation, quickly led the two into the estate, bypassing the noisy and chaotic halls of the front courtyard. They passed through a covered walkway and a tall, wall-like courtyard wall, then followed a winding mountain path towards one of the spiritual mountains within the estate.

Ancient trees grew dense, and rocks were rugged.

All direct descendants of the Prince's Estate in the Dao Seed Realm resided on this mountain. Some of the residences were hosting private banquets tonight, inviting only their closest friends.

Song Qingli's residence was located halfway up the mountain, enveloped by a magical formation.

Only one elder, who had cultivated to the Dao Fruit stage, was guarding the place.

On the way up the mountain, Grand Historian Bai informed Song Lin about Li Weiyi's situation, hoping the Song family could intervene and resolve it.

Song Lin, the third strongest individual within the Song family's *jiazi* generation, naturally spoke with considerable influence: "Regardless of whether Brother Zuo Ning can help Qingli, as long as he's willing to act, the Song family will consider this a favor, and the matter with Luantai is a minor one. If he genuinely can help Qingli, there will be another gift of gratitude."

The three entered the room.

Song Qingli lay on the bed, bound by two artifact chains. The purplish-black vascular patterns on her skin had faded considerably.

Her eyes were open, a blank stare in her dark red pupils, yet she appeared relatively calm.

Song Lin clenched his fists, his face etched with worry: "For the past two days, she has been mostly calm like this, unresponsive no matter how we call her. On rare occasions, she recognizes people. But after midnight, she transforms again, her screams shrill and terrifying, like a ghost... How did it come to this? The Mother-Child Spring might truly be a Ghost Infant Spring.

"I heard that the Ghost Mothers imprisoned in the Imperial Temple have even started cannibalizing each other. It's truly horrifying.

"Brother Zuo Ning... please..."