The Primordial Law

Chapter 227 Clash of Great Powers

The sky had darkened, and the clouds were rushing and the wind was strong.

It was a good night to kill.

The inner city wall of Qiuzhou was fifteen zhang high and was built of blue-and-white iron stones weighing ten thousand jin each. On it, the horse walkway was four zhang wide, with a crenellation every three zhang and a tower every five li.

Led by Zuoqiu Ting, the four climbed the three-story city tower and enjoyed a panoramic view of the inner and outer cities in the rushing evening breeze.

……

The stronghold of the Thunder Cloud Sect, Thunder Pool Abode, is located on a low hill outside the East City.

The Taoist temple-style buildings cover the mountainside, spanning dozens of acres.

At the top of the low hill stands a nine-story purple array tower, where lightning flashes and electric birds circle, making it extremely conspicuous.

"Wow!"

A young Grand Master of Mind, his brow radiating light, used his beast-taming technique to control a black-feathered beast several meters long, carrying Thunder-Magic Ice on its back, to attack from mid-air and destroy the formation.

A ten-foot-long golden feathered arrow shot out from a plaza within the Thunder Pool Abode, slaying the black-feathered beast in mid-air, turning it into blood mist and broken feathers.

"Boom!"

The Thunder-Ice Frost fell and crashed to the ground.

The area, spanning several tens of feet, was leveled to the ground.

Lu Cangsheng, dressed in a black robe, stood atop the tallest building below the nine-story array tower, observing the situation below and issuing commands.

Immediately, the crossbow with the hundred-character scripture on it in the square changed direction and fired another ten-foot-long golden arrow. The arrow, like a golden meteor, pierced the night and struck a Grand Master of the Calamity Fire Realm from the imperial court five miles away.

The great mind master's body exploded instantly, leaving not a single piece of intact flesh.

One side attacked, the other defended; the battle was at a stalemate.

The imperial court's next offensive was even more intense.

Eight magical war chariots attacked from the sky and the ground in eight different directions.

The chariots sped along, the air vibrated, and the entire city trembled.

"Wow!"

Inside Lei Chi Zhai, the nine-story array tower expanded violently, increasing in height tenfold, transforming into a purple mountain peak a thousand meters high, covering several miles of land, and completely destroying the eight war chariots.

The Thunder-Ice Magic inside the vehicle was activated, transforming into eight seas of lightning that were released.

Lightning flashed continuously in the eastern part of the city, sometimes shooting straight into the clouds, sometimes stretching across the sky.

This large-scale martial arts duel is comparable to a battlefield confrontation, and the destructive power it unleashes has surpassed the level of the Five Seas Realm.

……

On the third-floor tower of the inner city wall, Qi Xiao observed the surroundings and then looked at the invitation card in his hand: "Sixty percent of the court's top martial artists have arrived. Many first, second, and third-ranked figures have already appeared, but after fighting for half an hour, they still can't break through Lei Chi Zhai's defenses."

Shi Shi said, "Lu Cangsheng's Turtle Shell Divine Skill can be called the best in the world!"

Zuoqiu Ting, with one hand behind his back and an air of elegance, smiled and said, "In terms of defense, no one in the younger generation can compare to Lu Cangsheng. Moreover, the Thunder Cloud Sect understands the Thunder Law Profound Ice better than any other force, so they naturally know how to defend against it and how to detonate it in advance."

Li Weiyi, dressed in a black Taoist robe with his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, exuded a mysterious yet relaxed air amidst his handsome appearance: "That array tower is no ordinary structure. The energy it unleashed just now felt so powerful that even Ge Xiantong himself would have been forced back. Was it set up by an array master below the Spiritual Master level?"

Zuoqiu Ting said, "The Thunderclap Sect dispatched ten young Fire-type Grand Mind Masters to Qiuzhou City. Using the Thunderclap Tower, a fourth-grade hundred-character scripture magic artifact, as the base, it took them three months to set up this nine-story array tower. Its defensive strength far surpasses the arrays that ordinary Mind Masters can set up in a short time."

The power of ritual implements containing the Hundred-Character Sutra varies depending on the number of sutras inscribed inside, and they can be divided into nine grades.

One hundred to two hundred characters are called "a first-grade one-hundred-character scripture ritual implement".

A work consisting of two to three hundred characters is called "second grade".

A work consisting of 300 to 400 characters is called "Grade 3".

……

On Leichizhai Square, the heavy crossbow wrapped in a cloud of magical energy, with more than a hundred scriptures flashing on its surface, is a first-grade magic weapon with a hundred-character scripture.

Li Weiyi didn't know much about the magical artifacts and warfare in this world, so he asked, "The Thunder Cloud Sect can use fourth-grade hundred-character scripture artifacts, so why doesn't the imperial court use fifth-grade or sixth-grade hundred-character scripture artifacts? Or even thousand-character scripture artifacts?"

Qi Xiao laughed and said, "Brother Wei, we are martial cultivators at the Fifth Sea Realm. With the grade and quantity of the magical energy in our bodies, it is difficult to effectively activate the Hundred-Character Scripture magical artifact."

"Only top-tier martial artists who have cultivated to the sixth level of Qi can fully unleash the power of a first-grade hundred-character scripture magic weapon."

"A second-grade magic artifact with a hundred-character scripture, with my cultivation level, I can only unleash a portion of its power, probably around 60-70%."

"The higher the grade, the more difficult it is to activate, and the power can indeed be stronger, but the strength is limited."

"For example, if I were to wield a fourth-grade sword inscribed with a hundred-character scripture, I could only unleash one or two tenths of its power. It could only slightly increase my combat strength, giving me a chance to challenge the inheritor."

"Give me a ritual implement inscribed with the Thousand Character Sutra, and I dare to challenge the inheritor."

"But what if it gets robbed?"

"My Qi family, a powerful clan with millions of members, a prestigious family in Lizhou, only possesses three magical artifacts inscribed with the thousand-character scripture, each of which is a treasure of our clan."

"Is it worth turning yourself into a fat sheep for such a small increase in combat power?"

"Moreover, with our cultivation level at the Fifth Sea Realm, it takes a lot of time to activate a high-grade magic weapon. You might not even have activated the magic weapon before someone cuts off your head with a single sword strike, just like Hua Yuzi."

"In one-on-one battles, it's best to use a suitable magical weapon."

"Only when powerful forces clash do they need heavy weapons and large formations."

"The Thunderclap Tower and the nine great formations of the Thunderclap Sect were activated by ten Grand Mind Masters of the Calamity Fire Realm and a large number of Grand Mind Masters of the Earth Fire Realm and Heaven Fire Realm together to unleash their peak power and transform into a thousand-meter-high array mountain. The consumption of mental power is definitely not small."

Zuoqiu Ting said, "The imperial court's Thunder Magic Ice is almost depleted, and they should be activating the high-grade Hundred-Character Scripture magic artifact soon. Look, the imperial court's Five Seas Realm martial cultivators are gathering on a large scale."

Qi Xiao asked, "Young Master Ting, what level of magical artifact are we planning to activate when we attack the Governor's Mansion and the headquarters of the Far West Ash Region?" "Keep it a secret for now," Zuo Qiuting replied.

Li Weiyi pondered the quality of the several trump cards and magical artifacts he possessed.

The "corpse armor" he wore close to his body was likely of the lowest grade, not even reaching the level of a magic artifact with a thousand-character scripture. This was because he was already at the Yongquan Realm, able to activate the faint blood-red scripture and unleash some of its power.

The "Ghost Flag"—he couldn't yet perceive the scriptures inside, indicating it was of a higher rank.

The Ghost Banner's most important attack methods are the power of ice and the ghost generals sealed within.

The "Evil Camel Bell" is likely the most important artifact, as it involves the taboo figure Yu Tuonan, and therefore it is something they dare not reveal.

The "Black Iron Seal," which Master Coffin mentioned before, is a treasure of the Thunder Cloud Sect, and can be used in life-or-death situations.

Li Weiyi felt that he was the "fat sheep" Qi Xiao had mentioned. Using the Black Iron Seal would significantly boost his combat power, making him a formidable opponent even against inheritors. However, he was certain that trouble would follow the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.

The Yellow Dragon Sword is actually his most suitable magical weapon. As he grows, its power increases, as if it were tailor-made for him, allowing him to perfectly unleash his strength.

Li Weiyi secretly pondered whether he should find several more martial arts masters to activate the Black Iron Seal together, so that he could deliver a fatal blow to Luan Shenglin at a crucial moment.

"Wow!"

A barrage of magical arrows rose into the night sky, like a bright galaxy flying towards Lei Chi Zhai.

Simultaneously.

The martial arts practitioners from the Five Seas Realm of the Imperial Court have all assembled on the streets.

Led by nine Seventh Sea Realm martial artists, nearly a hundred Fifth Sea Realm martial artists joined forces to unleash their magical energy, which was then poured into a cauldron-shaped magical artifact inscribed with a hundred characters of scripture.

The surface of the cauldron-shaped ritual implement burst forth with crimson light, spinning as it rose off the ground.

It grew larger and brighter.

After ascending ten zhang into the air, the cauldron transformed into the size of a house, flames burned, and five hundred and thirty-five scriptures flickered on its body, illuminating the entire eastern city.

The dark clouds in the sky were illuminated by the light of the cauldron, turning them crimson.

"Shh!"

Inside Leichi Zhai, a ten-foot-long golden crossbow bolt flew out.

The sound of it cutting through the air was as loud as thunder.

The cauldron-shaped magical artifact shook slightly, causing the air to ripple, countless scriptures to fly out, and an energy burst that shattered the crossbow bolt into several pieces.

The cauldron-shaped magical artifact soared into the air, releasing its vast power, shining like a blazing sun.

"Activate the array tower with all your might!" Lu Cangsheng shouted.

"Boom!"

The nine-story array tower transformed once again into a thousand-meter-high purple lightning mountain, colliding with the cauldron-shaped magical artifact.

The hill where Leichizhai is located shook violently, some buildings collapsed, and cracks appeared in the mountain.

Fortunately, the formation withstood the attack and remained intact.

Qi Xiao said, "The imperial court is really going all out! In the end, war is about people. The more martial artists there are, the stronger the magical artifacts they can use, and the deeper their foundation. The difference in strength between the two sides is huge, and Lei Chi Zhai's formation will be broken sooner or later. Once the formation is broken, the battle will probably be one-sided!"

“The Thunderclap Sect is no weakling; after all, they were once the rulers of the Lingxiao Realm. The price the imperial court will have to pay to take them down will be considerable,” Shi Shishi said.

Zuo Qiuting nodded: "Knowing that the imperial forces led by Ge Xiantong were coming to Dongcheng, Lu Cangsheng did not immediately flee the city or abandon the Qianlong Lantern Festival. It is clear that he must have something to rely on."

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "Perhaps Lu Cangsheng guessed that Zuoqiu Menting would definitely lend a helping hand."

"I think he just can't bear to part with that longevity pill ticket!" Qi Xiao said.

Shi Shi said, "That's an elixir of immortality, who would be willing to give it up?"

"Wow!"

Nearly a hundred more martial artists from the Five Seas Realm of the Imperial Court activated a hammer-shaped fifth-grade magic weapon with a hundred-character scripture, rising from another urban area and attacking Lei Chi Zhai.

……

…………

A terrifying aura, chilling to the bone, emanated from the inner city.

A silver, shuttle-shaped magical artifact descended straight down from the clouds, surrounded by countless scriptures.

It swept through the defenses of the Longmen stronghold with unstoppable force, crashing to the ground and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

"Boom!"

The powerful shockwave traveled for miles, reaching the city walls.

Zuo Qiuting, Li Weiyi, and the other three immediately looked over.

The Dragon Gate stronghold was the residence of an ancient, powerful figure in the Longevity Realm. It was vast and formidable in its defenses. However, under the suppression of the Dispelling Characters and the attack of the Silver Shuttle, all defensive formations crumbled, and buildings within the residence collapsed en masse.

The forces attacking Lungmen came from the far western Ashlands.

The silver shuttle-shaped magic artifact was activated by more than two hundred martial artists at the Fifth Sea Realm.

They were numerous and powerful, coming from different factions, and each of them was an outstanding individual.

Luan Shenglin stood atop a tall building several hundred meters from the Dragon Gate stronghold, her long hair swaying in the wind. She gracefully reached out into the void, retrieved her silver shuttle-shaped magic weapon, and it floated in her palm.

"Wow!"

The silver shuttle-shaped magical artifact melted, turning into a liquid silver mask, which he put on his face. He then ordered an attack on Longmen, leaving no one alive.

(End of this chapter)