Chapter 366: Holy Infant

Li Weiyi felt extremely unnerved, completely lacking any confidence.

However, the ghost infant incident was very likely connected to the demon race's scheme.

He had originally come to Lingxiao City precisely to dismantle the hidden forces of the demon race and the Dao Sect, so that Lingxiao Palace could withstand the impending world war as much as possible. This, in turn, would delay the demon race and the Dao Sect from annihilating humanity and sweeping across the twenty-eight prefectures.

Therefore, he had to give his all in this endeavor.

"Zhe!"

Standing by the bed, Li Weiyi repeated his technique, touching Song Qingli's forehead with a finger.

Ripples of spiritual light spread outwards in circles.

Song Lin stood by, watching intently, his heart filled with apprehension.

"Hisss..."

Song Qingli's face contorted into a monstrous grimace, and she let out a sharp, piercing scream, her eyes filled with hatred. Her fingers curled into claws as mystic energy surged from her body, and she lunged at Li Weiyi, still remembering him as the one who killed her child.

The two chains on her body rattled, and talismanic light appeared.

The royal elder standing guard nearby narrowed his eyes and struck like lightning. A mist of mystic energy spread out, suppressing Song Qingli back to her place.

Li Weiyi quickly retreated.

He saw Song Qingli on the bed clenching her teeth, glaring intensely at him.

Song Lin sighed, his heart twisting in agony. In truth, he hadn't held much hope from the beginning, but when all hope vanished, the anguish became even more despairing.

His sister, a favored daughter of heaven, possessed top-tier talent and beauty.

How could she have met such a fate?

"Let's go! Even Saint Spirit Thought Masters and Longevity Realm grandmasters are helpless, so this outcome was expected. Don't worry, Brother Zuo Ning, Xihai Royal Manor will certainly do its best to help you with your matter."

Song Lin forced a smile, preparing to escort his guest out.

"I want to try again."

Li Weiyi didn't have a solution; he simply wanted to investigate the specific conditions within Song Qingli's body.

Since it was a case of treating a dead horse as if it were alive, Song Lin agreed.

"Whoosh!"

From Li Weiyi's glabella, threads of fiery spiritual light emerged, entering Song Qingli's glabella, Ancestral Field, Danzhong, Fengfu, and other major acupoints, carefully sensing.

He discovered that the blood within her body was entirely permeated with yin and corrupting energy, resembling corpse blood.

Her mystic energy was contaminated by purplish-black ghostly energy, making it murky and chilling.

No wonder Saint Spirit Thought Masters and Longevity Realm grandmasters were helpless; she was undergoing cadaverous transformation and decaying from the inside out, from top to bottom, completely merged with her normal flesh and muscles, indistinguishable from them.

The "Zhe" character incantation could cleanse the mind and dispel evil.

However, it could not resolve the abnormal transformation of her physical body and mystic energy.

"Aha!"

Li Weiyi noticed that the threads of Golden Crow flame spiritual light moving through Song Qingli's body could purify the ghostly energy in her mystic energy.

So, more threads of spiritual light flew from his glabella, entering her Nine Springs.

Cautiously, they advanced along the 102 trace meridians.

The trace meridians had not been corrupted.

If these were unblocked and her mystic energy purified, she would be able to circulate her mystic energy and refine the yin-corrupting power in her blood and muscles herself, potentially reversing everything.

Song Lin, standing nearby, clearly saw the purplish-black ghostly mist enveloping Song Qingli dissipating. He held his breath, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Half an hour later.

Li Weiyi withdrew the threads of spiritual light, his eyes visibly weary, his energy greatly depleted.

Song Lin asked with concern, "How is it, Brother Zuo Ning? It seems to have had some effect."

Li Weiyi closed his eyes and meditated for a moment. After recovering some of his spirits, he looked around and asked, "Where is Brother Taishi?"

Song Lin was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "He went to the front courtyard for the birthday banquet. As for whether she can be saved, I see Qingli's condition has improved quite a bit."

Li Weiyi had long realized that Taishi Bai's eager presence at Xihai Royal Manor wasn't to treat Song Qingli, but for Long Xiangcen.

Clearly, Taishi Yu bringing Long Xiangcen to the birthday banquet had left him seething with anger, anxious and worried.

Li Weiyi and Song Lin stepped outside, standing in the dim courtyard. Instead of immediately responding, Li Weiyi asked, "Given how severe the ghost infant incident's impact is, surely a transcendent being has personally investigated Zimu Spring, right? If you want to save your sister, please answer me truthfully, Brother Song."

Song Lin hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "My uncle came to check on Qingli yesterday and did mention this. The two Palace Masters of Lingxiao Palace speculate that it might be connected to a departed spirit named Holy Infant in the Realm of the Departed, but they haven't been able to confirm it."

"A thousand years ago, the Holy Infant was severely wounded by the Great Palace Master but still managed to escape. Zuo Ning, a departed spirit capable of escaping the Great Palace Master's grasp — just how powerful must such a being be?"

"My uncle said the Third Palace Master believes that if this matter is truly related to the Holy Infant, they would also be powerless, and Qingli could only hope for the best."

Li Weiyi said, "Has the Holy Infant come to Lingxiao City?"

"How is that possible?"

Song Lin shook his head. "Lingxiao City has many defenses set up by Emperor Mist in the past; it wasn't breached even during the catastrophe a thousand years ago. Entering the city is like entering a formation. Below a Martial Emperor, who would dare risk entering it?"

"If Qilin Zang dared to appear in the city, that would also be a dead end."

"My uncle speculates that this matter is likely related to the demon race, because the affected women all drank from Zimu Spring within the last two years, which aligns quite well with Qilin Zang's return."

"Zuo Ning, are you afraid of bringing a fatal disaster upon yourself?"

"Don't worry, quite a few women have indeed drunk from Zimu Spring in the past two years, but they are all very young and have low cultivation levels."

"If a being of the Holy Infant's caliber were to personally descend, it wouldn't be such a minor disturbance, nor would there be any need to manipulate Zimu Spring. With absolute cultivation power, they could simply destroy heaven and earth."

Li Weiyi feigned a worried expression. "I feel as if I've been dragged into a major conspiracy."

Song Lin guaranteed again, "The Song family will certainly ensure your safety. If you can resolve the ghost infant incident, the Second and Third Palace Masters would likely summon you and offer you their protection."

Hearing this, Li Weiyi's heart tightened. "My thought power is quite unique; it seems capable of refining the yin ghost energy within your sister's mystic energy. However, it cannot be completely refined in a short time; I estimate it will take several days. Before she fully recovers, please keep this confidential for me, Brother Song. If the news leaks without a definite result, what if..."

Song Lin was ecstatic and repeatedly promised, "I understand, I understand. We mustn't announce it prematurely; it's easy to spoil things by being too eager. Zuo Ning, will you continue refining tonight? Your complexion looks quite poor."

Li Weiyi gave a wry smile. "To be honest, I've been tirelessly crafting talismans for the past two days in seclusion, which has drained a lot of my mental energy."

"Then you should get some good rest tonight."

Song Lin added, "For the next few days, please don't leave Xihai Royal Manor; there might be unforeseen dangers outside. Just stay here with Qingli; I'll have someone prepare a room for you."

Li Weiyi still had an appointment with Zhuang Yue and Taishi Yu tonight. He smiled and said, "Brother Song, don't be so anxious. What dangers could there possibly be in Lingxiao City? Besides, I've already promised to accompany Brother Taishi to the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices tomorrow. Rest assured, I will give my all to your sister's matter."

Song Lin no longer insisted, claiming he would send someone to pick him up. Afterward, he led Li Weiyi down the mountain towards the front courtyard's birthday banquet hall.

They passed by a bamboo grove.

Li Weiyi sniffed the air, then stopped and looked at the lights deep within the bamboo grove, a strange glint in his eyes. He asked, "Whose residence is this?"

His sense of smell was very acute; he detected a faint, familiar scent on the wind.

It was very faint, impossible to discern.

So, he secretly tugged at the bug pouch hidden in his robe, opening a small slit to let Er Feng sniff and identify the scent.

Song Lin's mood had improved significantly, and he was no longer so tense. He smiled and said, "That's Song Muchuan! He's a Seventh-Heaven master of the Song family's fourth generation; I call him Fourth Uncle."

"So it's Elder Hero Song; I've long admired your reputation. The elegant environment here is truly refreshing; I wonder if I might pay a visit?" Li Weiyi had just received Er Feng's mental response.

The scent in the air belonged to Long Xiangcen.

This made Li Weiyi realize that Long Xiangcen agreeing to attend the birthday banquet with Taishi Yu might also have her own ulterior motive.

Song Muchuan, who appeared to be in his sixties with considerable white hair at his temples, was actually 114 years old, very close to the average lifespan of 120 for a Dao Seed Realm martial cultivator.

He exuded vitality, was warm and hospitable, and showed no signs of the despondency of old age. He invited Li Weiyi and Song Lin inside.

Li Weiyi did not find Long Xiangcen, so after exchanging pleasantries and flattery for a while, he bid farewell to Song Lin and departed.

Er Feng informed Li Weiyi that Long Xiangcen's scent was in the room, meaning she had been there.

On the way down the mountain, Li Weiyi intentionally sighed, "Elder Hero Song should try his luck at the underground immortal mansion; perhaps he could defy fate and change his destiny."

Song Lin gently shook his head. "Zuo Ning, how could the Longevity Realm be so simple? While a Seventh-Heaven Dao Seed Realm cultivator may seem close to longevity, in reality, only those at the Ninth-Heaven Dao Seed Realm truly know where the threshold to the Longevity Realm lies."

"Speaking of the underground immortal mansion, Fourth Uncle has already been there and just returned a few days ago. He seems to have found some opportunities; his entire demeanor has become much more cheerful, not as rigid as he used to be."

Li Weiyi nodded slightly, making a mental note of Song Muchuan.

As they passed through the covered walkway, the darkness completely dispersed.

A lively and bustling atmosphere assailed them, the lights illuminating the royal manor's front courtyard as brightly as day.

Beautifully and meticulously dressed maids moved frequently among the tables.

The banquet had already begun, with martial cultivators, officials, prodigies, and ladies gathered at each table, either discussing the state of the world or engaging in playful banter.

Accompanied by Song Lin, Li Weiyi was led to the most central area. They ascended jade steps, walking towards a magnificent, double-eaved hip-and-gable roof building, dozens of yards high, resplendent with gold and jade, its red pillars sturdy and paper windows bright yellow.

Only martial cultivators listed in the Jiazhi Scroll or possessing extremely noble backgrounds were qualified to enter.

Inside the hall, which could have accommodated hundreds of round tables, only sixteen were placed, making it incredibly spacious.

Lamps and candles burned brightly, the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and in the center, several dancers from Xianlin performed graceful dances.

Upon entering the hall, Li Weiyi immediately looked around and soon saw Long Xiangcen sitting with Taishi Bai. As for Taishi Yu, he was seated at the main table with important figures like Song Yulou and Zuoqiu Ling.

"Zuo Ning, Song Lin, over here!"

Taishi Bai stood up and waved to them.

Li Weiyi and Song Lin walked over, and indeed, seats had been reserved for them at the table.

Before sitting down, Li Weiyi's gaze fell upon Long Xiangcen, and he feigned surprise. "Fairy Long actually came too? When did you arrive?"

Long Xiangcen lightly stomped her foot, feigning annoyance. "Zuo Ning, you're too naughty. Don't call me Fairy; it only makes me a laughingstock in front of a true fairy."

Li Weiyi followed her gaze, shifting his eyes to Jiang Ning, who was seated on the right. His expression immediately turned solemn, as if he had only just noticed her.

Taishi Bai, playing the role of a peacemaker, said, "Hurry and sit down! I specifically asked for the seat next to Fairy Yu for you. If there are any misunderstandings, you can clear them up now. And if you have any difficulties, Song Lin and Xihai Royal Manor can help, right?"

Song Lin smiled. "Besides the demon race, our great enemy who seeks to destroy humanity, what other grievances in this world cannot be resolved?"

Li Weiyi took the opportunity to sit in the seat to Jiang Ning's left. The seat to her right, which was originally Song Lin's, was temporarily empty, as he, being a representative of the host family, naturally had to greet the various distinguished guests.

To the right of the empty seat sat Long Xiangcen and Taishi Bai, in order.

To Jiang Ning's left sat Ge Xiantong.