The Primordial Law

Chapter 401 Farewell at Immortal Plains
The car was dark and silent.

Li Weiyi raised her eyes and looked at Yao Qingxuan.

Yao Qingxuan shook his head, signaling him not to speak lightly, including through telepathy.

The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The sky is beginning to brighten.

The protective array of Lingxiao City was still shrouded in mist, but the city gates were open, and after strict checks, people could enter and leave the city.

Caravans from all over the world, carrying goods such as ores, medicinal herbs, grains, oils, cloth, fruits, and fresh produce, lined up to enter the city.

Li Weiyi and Yao Qingxuan used a disguise technique to follow a convoy transporting supplies to the western frontier out of the city. The convoy was led by a mid-level member of the Rice Cult.

Shortly after leaving the city, Li Weiyi and Yao Qingxuan quietly left the group.

……

The Yuntian Immortal Plains are a vast region, rich in magical energy.

Li Weiyi stood atop a sacred hill several hundred meters high. Under the rising sun, he was surrounded by lush green sedges over a foot tall, undulating like a carpet in the wind, making a rustling sound.

A hundred feet away lies the edge of the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain.

There, the earth transforms into sheer cliffs, with a white sea of ​​clouds stretching to the horizon below.

Despite the vastness of the sky and the expanse of clouds, there is a nearly transparent barrier at the edge of the cliff, connecting the sky and the earth. To enter or leave the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, one must pass through four major passes and four heavenly gates.

This scene added to the already heavy feeling in Li Weiyi's heart. He felt that the world was vast, yet everywhere he looked there were cages and shackles, and he could not truly soar freely.

He looked at Yao Qingxuan, who was sitting on a boulder at the edge of the cliff: "Can you speak now?"

Yao Qingxuan's long dress spread out at her feet, her waterfall-like black hair tied back, as she gazed at the sea of ​​clouds under the sunlight: "In the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, the Rice Ancestor cannot sense us. As long as we leave the city, Palace Master An can rest assured that he will not follow us."

Li Wei asked, "Was Palace Master An really nearby before we left the city?"

"I don't know, but it's possible."

After thinking for a moment, Yao Qingxuan said again, "She deliberately let us leave, giving us a way out. If we leave, we can live. If we don't leave, even if she wants to let us go again, we will definitely die."

Li Weiyi was deeply shaken: "Where did I go wrong?"

Yao Qingxuan raised his head and glanced at him: "You have done very well! I was destined to die, but because of you, I was able to leave the main altar alive."

"Why is that?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yao Qingxuan said, "This concerns the success or failure of a major event, and involves the lives of hundreds of millions of rice people. Do you think they need evidence to kill us humans? If there is strong suspicion, they can simply eliminate the threat!"

“We are still alive because Lord An has been protecting us. Lord An needs a reason to protect us, and you have provided one. This is what has happened over the past month.”

"Whether a person can live depends not only on loyalty, but also on their value."

"With our combined value, without Palace Master An, a single word from us could decide life or death for certain members of the Rice Sect. However, the sheer size of Yang Shenjing and Suizong forces even the Rice Sect's Transcendent to deal with us with caution."

Li Weiyi gave a self-deprecating bitter smile, only then realizing that all his tricks relied on the power of Palace Master An. He asked, "Did the higher-ups of the Rice Sect actually suspect the Sui Sect?"

“For the Rice Sect, the two of us are potential problems, while for the Sui Sect, we are definitely potential problems,” Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi said, "Is there something wrong with the Sui Sect itself?"

Yao Qingxuan said, "It's not just that there are problems! More importantly, the Sui Sect's stance could really change in an instant."

"Didn't the Rice Ancestor plant the Death Spirit Flame in Yang Shenjing's mind?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yao Qingxuan said, "Firstly, if Yang Shenjing were to be implanted with the Death Spirit Flame, would the Second Palace Master trust him to this extent? Secondly, even if Yang Shenjing were implanted with the Death Spirit Flame, he could break free after breaking through to the Transcendent Realm. He is very close to achieving Transcendent!"

"It seems that Yang Shenjing and Suizong are indeed difficult to control," Li Weiyi said.

Yao Qingxuan said, "Therefore, the secret of the demon race and the Rice Sect attacking Lingxiao City has not yet been known to Yang Shenjing and the experts of the Sui Sect."

"Do you know why, despite countless pieces of evidence pointing to the Sui Sect's betrayal and the Dao Sect's continued distrust of them, they haven't been eliminated immediately? Instead, the two of us are still being suspected?"

Li Weiyi asked, "That's precisely what I don't understand!"

Yao Qingxuan said, "Because even if Yang Shenjing and Suizong betray us, it will only be when the outcome is decided, when the Dao Sect is likely to perish. Right now, everyone can see that the court is surrounded by wolves and is in imminent danger. At this time, it would not be wise for him to resolutely side with them."

Li Weiyi suddenly realized, closed his eyes and said, "I understand! For someone who can stand on both sides, they won't choose a side in advance and completely cut off their other escape route. That's indeed the biggest irrationality!"

After a moment of silence, Yao Qingxuan asked, "What's going on with Sikong Jingyuan?"

Li Weiyi said, "Yin Yi is the head of the Yang family; it's his method."

"This move was excellent. If you continue, you might be able to force Yang Shenjing and Suizong to the imperial court ahead of time. You've already played half the game, why give up halfway?" Yao Qingxuan asked.

Li Weiyi felt a profound sense of powerlessness: "I summoned all the Dao Seed Realm hermits and elders to Lingxiao City. I was determined to instigate internal strife within the Rice Sect, while secretly eliminating the hidden forces of the demon race and the Rice Sect within the city, turning Yuntian Immortal Plain into their meat grinder, thus giving humanity a chance to win." "But I was still too naive!"

"The court is riddled with holes. It is not an impregnable fortress at all, but a dilapidated palace that leaks air from all sides."

"Lingxiao Palace is so weak that it does not have absolute control over Lingxiao City and is unable to suppress the enemies within the city. Furthermore, many high-ranking officials of the imperial court have already defected to the Demon Kingdom."

"What we need to deal with is not just the infiltrators of the demon race and the Rice Cult. Even if we thoroughly cleanse the entire court, we still won't be able to wipe them all out."

“Is there any point in staying? All efforts are in vain. I don’t want all the Hidden People to perish in this doomed burial ground.”

The wind picked up!

The grass rustled on the hill behind us.

Li Weiyi said, "After everyone leaves Yuntian Immortal Plain, I will send someone to tell the court everything that the Hidden Sect has found about the various strongholds of the Rice Sect, the problems of the Sui Sect, and the secret of attacking Lingxiao City. This is my last effort."

"So you've done all this!"

Yao Qingxuan looked thoughtful: "Give me all the pieces you have. I will finish this game of Lingxiao City for you. Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

A look of disbelief crossed Li Weiyi's eyes: "You want to go back?"

“I didn’t want to go back, but you’ve done so well, and with some trump cards I have, we must at least use this battle to eliminate the Sui Sect. If they profit again in the Battle of Lingxiao City and grow stronger, the Jiuli Clan will be in great danger in the future. As for the outcome of the racial war, that’s not something we can decide!”

Yao Qingxuan stood up on the boulder at the edge of the cliff and looked at Li Weiyi, who was two steps away.

Li Weiyi said, "Didn't you say that even if you don't leave Lingxiao City, Palace Master An can't protect you?"

"So what?" Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi said, "You have the Spirit Fire of Death within you. The Ancestor of Rice can kill you with just a thought."

“The Ghost Banner can temporarily sever the connection between the Death Spirit Fire and the Rice Ancestor,” Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi shook his head slightly, fully aware of the dangers of returning to the city: "What you taught me at the main altar is that the higher your cultivation level, the greater the things you can do. This battle in Lingxiao City is beyond our cultivation level to contend with."

With her hands behind her back, Yao Qingxuan's beautiful face, which had been as cold as an iceberg for millennia, revealed a smile that was both leisurely and spiritual, unlike anything she had ever seen before: "The principles of this world are easy to talk about, and everyone understands them. But putting them into practice is too difficult... Being governed by principles can allow you to live, and even live very well. But being governed by your own emotions and desires is what allows you to live your own life."

"Give me the Decree of the Hermits, and I'll send half of the Hermits away. I'll use the other half. It's time for me to experience being a Hermit for once!"

Li Weiyi gazed at her and took out the Divine Concealment Token: "I'll go back with you."

Yao Qingxuan snatched the Divine Concealment Token from his hand, pressed his fingers in front of his eyes, and withdrew the Death Spirit Fire planted in his body bit by bit.

Then, she walked past Li Weiyi, stepped off the boulder, and was no longer in such a tense state, but had the demeanor of the legendary woman in everyone's stories.

Yao Qingxuan said nonchalantly, "I have the Death Spirit Flame planted within me, I'm going to die sooner or later, there's no escaping it. You're different, you've shown me endless variables and hope... Take good care of Yao Yin for me!"

Li Weiyi stared at her departing figure, knowing that it was impossible to persuade her. He rolled his eyes and said, "Then give me back the ghost flag."

"Are you really not leaving me any way out?"

Yao Qingxuan stopped at the foot of the hill without turning around, took off his bag and tossed it to him: "All the wealth and resources I've collected over the years are in here. I'll buy the Ghost Flag!"

……

Li Weiyi, like a walking corpse, left Yuntian Immortal Plain alone, his mind a jumble of thoughts, his heart in turmoil, and countless ideas lingering in his mind.

Sometimes she thought that Yao Qingxuan might be exposed and die at the hands of the higher-ups of the Rice Cult. Other times she thought of Jiang Ning, Zhuang Yue, and Grandpa Zhuang—she hadn't kept her promise.

Last night's situation was extremely dangerous, with life and death uncertain, so he had no way of taking Zhuang Yue with him.

Before long, he thought of Zuoqiu Hongting again, wondering if she had already left Lingxiao City.

He thought of Taishi Yu, Taishi Bai, Song Lin, Song Qingli, and other friends he had made in the court. He thought of the dungeon of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the several ghost mothers who were already half-treated.

Tang Wanzhou's voice came from the Buddha's relic, as if he was saying something, but Li Weiyi couldn't hear it at all, struggling to get out of her own thoughts.

Before we knew it, we had left Nantianmen and arrived at Nanyanguan.

Walking down the slope, Li Weiyi smelled the aroma of food, and his five senses gradually returned. He stopped and looked at the four-story restaurant next to him. He, who usually had a great appetite, had no appetite at all today.

"This is absolutely terrifying! We must send this message back to Leixiao Sect immediately. Over the past twenty years, many women in Leizhou have also drunk from the Mother-Child Spring."

A group of Leixiao Sect disciples rode past Li Weiyi on strange beasts.

Lu Cangsheng, Lu Wensheng, Qin Qian, and others were among them.

Last night, the horrifying news of the Mother-Child Spring spread throughout Lingxiao City.

After a night of fermentation, the whole truth was revealed, causing widespread panic. Once the city gates were opened, the news spread like wildfire to all twenty-eight states.

(End of this chapter)