The Primordial Law

Chapter 467 Raising an army for a thousand years, using it for a single day

The Moon Dragon Island outpost looked extremely simple, built of blue stone slabs, consisting of only a few rooms.

However, Li Weiyi sensed complex and profound array patterns on the ground, in the air, and underground, making it absolutely impregnable. Without Liu Ye leading the way, he and Tang Zhan would most likely not even be able to get in.

Behind the outpost, shrouded in white mist, rising and falling, as if something was hidden.

Before Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan appeared two figures, one large and one small.

The younger one is Qin Lao, an ancient hermit of the Jiuli Hidden Sect.

Old Qin's body was withered and dry, his eyes were sunken, and his face, full of wrinkles, bore a deep scar.

The other figure was a giant, deformed human from the North. This person had a human head, a snake's body, and a dragon's tail. He had two arms and stood up to be six or seven meters tall. His entire body was covered in scales that shimmered with a metallic sheen.

The cultivation path for the deformed race is actually to transform into a dragon.

Each time they break through a major realm, they must consume the blood of different ancient immortal beasts to undergo a physical transformation. This is to compensate for any deficiencies in their innate physique, thus giving them the opportunity to pursue higher realms and longer lifespans.

The higher the cultivation level of the freak race, the more types of ancient immortal beast blood they can consume, which is enough to elevate their combat power at the same level to a level comparable to that of a pure immortal body.

If one obtains the blood of an ancient immortal beast of sufficiently high quality, or, like Yin Shiyi, acquires the mysterious power related to a dragon, one's combat strength at the same realm could even rival that of the inheritor.

"Senior Tuoba, you're actually a Sentinel Spirit?"

Tang Zhan bowed to the deformed humanoid giant opposite him with great respect.

Tuoba Tao's human head, with its long, flowing hair, chuckled: "It's been seven or eight years since we last met in the Northern Netherworld, hasn't it? Let's catch up?"

Most of the Longevity Realm giants of the Snow Sword Tang Court were unaware of Tang Zhan's identity, but Tuoba Tao did.

This shows how close the relationship is between the two.

……

In Qiuzhou City, after Qin Lao severely injured Li Weiyi with a single sword strike and created the illusion that the ancestral land had been destroyed, they never saw each other again.

Old Qin, with his hands behind his back and a slight hunchback, strolled ahead: "It's that time of year again when the Sentinel Spirit Army recruits soldiers in the Lingxiao Realm, and you're the first person I recommend. Do you know why?"

Li Weiyi gently shook her head.

Qin Lao said, "Actually, Yin Jiu, Yin Shiyi, or Yin Wu and Yin Yi are all qualified to participate in the selection. However, they do not necessarily have to join the Sentinel Spirit Army. The Jiuli Hidden Sect can protect them and provide them with what they need for future cultivation."

“But you can’t do that. You need the Sentinel Army as your backer.”

"Now it's just the two of us, young and old, so let's not talk about those empty words and let's talk about something practical."

"With your talent and potential, you will definitely leave once you reach the Longevity Realm. The pool in the Lingxiao Realm is too small. If a true dragon is born there, it will be spotted at a glance and easily scooped up."

"The higher one's cultivation level, the greater the chance of something going wrong."

"Without the strong support of a powerful background, you will find it difficult to move forward after leaving the Lingxiao Realm. Many people may use means outside the rules to deal with you."

"The Sentinel Army cannot protect you like a flower in a room or a maiden in her boudoir, but it can provide you with a roof over your head. It can help you obtain more fairness and more protection from the rules in this unfair world."

“We are not royalty or the direct descendants of countless clans. Joining the army is already the best way for us to protect ourselves and advance. We also have the opportunity to obtain the precious resources used by royalty. We also have the same level of Taoist techniques and classics as the ancient religions.”

"As a member of the Sentinel Army, when you travel to various human kingdoms, at least no one will dare to openly and unfairly treat you. Even if they try something underhanded, someone will definitely investigate thoroughly and seek justice."

"Without this identity... well, I'm pessimistic anyway. I don't want anything to happen to you. I hope our Hidden People can grow up, become transcendent, and become powerful figures who can dominate the world. Even if the Jiuli Clan gets a little bit of that, it's like they've been given a golden shield."

Li Wei could sense Qin Lao's care and concern, and asked, "What's the difference between the Sentinel Spirit Army and the Crossing Calamity Temple?"

"Back then, I wholeheartedly supported not letting you go to the Temple of Crossing Calamities."

Qin Lao said, "The Du'e Temple's philosophy of accepting disciples without discrimination is commendable, but it has also given some people an opportunity to take advantage of it. Over the years, the internal forces have become complex, with various factions vying for power and interests. For example, the Demon Kingdom faction has already gained considerable influence within the Du'e Temple."

"The space for pure Taoist martial arts practitioners to survive is getting narrower and narrower."

"Given your talent, there were many uncertainties when you entered the Du'e Temple at that time."

“Isn’t Yaoyin in great danger?” Li Weiyi asked.

Master Qin said, "Yao Yin entered the temple with the cultivation of the Yongquan Realm, which is different. By the time she revealed her extraordinary talent, she had already been accepted as a disciple by the temple master. With this layer of protection, who would dare to easily harm her?"

"Don't think too highly of people, nor too badly of them. In fact, the vast majority are normal people. They just make different decisions for the sake of profit, fame, spiritual practice, survival, dignity, and spiritual pursuit."

"Interests are not just narrow personal interests, but also family interests and national interests."

"The pursuit of fame is not all hypocrisy and negativity. Who wouldn't want it? If you want it, you have to be positive and have to restrain yourself to a certain extent."

Elder Qin continued, “You asked me what the difference is between the Sentinel Spirit Army and the Crossing Calamity Temple. In my opinion, the Sentinel Spirit Army is much purer. Because, those who dare to join the Sentinel Spirit Army and dare to silently dedicate themselves in the Netherworld have already filtered out the vast majority of villains and those with wicked intentions.”

"The first principle of recruiting soldiers for the Sentinel Army is this spirit of righteousness and responsibility. Only secondly, and other things such as cultivation talent, are considered."

"The Netherworld is not the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, nor the Carefree Capital; it lacks the glitz and glamour and the allure of fame and fortune." Li Weiyi said, "I heard that the Spirit Sentinel Army was established by the human race's high-ranking officials?"

Qin Lao nodded: "It was the result of discussions among the most prominent figures of the human race. Therefore, the rulers of each major nation and each habitat regularly allocate funds to secretly support the Sentinel Army."

"For the past thousand years, the Lingxiao habitat has been funded by the Lingxiao Palace."

"When Lord Lan began mobilizing troops during the chaos in Lingxiao Realm, the Sentinel Army also alerted the imperial court and various sects. Of course, Lord Lan's territory is right next to Lingxiao Realm, and the martial arts practitioners patrolling the borders of the imperial court were able to detect some unusual movements on their own."

"The Sentinel Army is just a group of people who discover problems in advance and give early warnings."

"Solving problems is not our task."

"Strictly speaking, we only have one mission. That is, to send out the news a year, a month, or a day in advance when the great calamity that will wipe out the entire human race is brewing deep in the Netherworld."

"An army that has been raised for a thousand years may only need to be used in one day."

"I hope that day never comes."

Afterwards, Qin Lao and Li Weiyi talked about Dongxu Camp, the curse, and recruiting soldiers.

"The Sentinel Army recruits soldiers based on a certain ratio according to the population of the habitat. It is estimated that only a dozen or twenty people will be recruited in the entire Lingxiao habitat this time. The exact number will be discussed later."

"We're on lookout duty, not fighting, so we don't need that many people."

In Li Weiyi's view, this was no small amount.

After all, they recruit outstanding young people.

Cultivation talent is ranked second in the recruitment assessment, which shows how important it is.

Qin Lao said, "The service time and free time of the Sentinel Army are split 50/50. For example, if you serve a mission in the Netherworld for a year, you can return to the Living Realm to cultivate and live for a year. Of course, in the event of an emergency conscription, you must return to the camp immediately no matter where you are."

"At the same time, your status as a Sentinel Army member will not affect your status in the Living Realm."

"In the camp, we are comrades-in-arms. But back in the wilderness, we could very well turn against each other because of family feuds or sect conflicts."

Li Weiyi said, "Actually, I'm very curious about the attitude of the human race's higher-ups towards the struggles between different habitats."

"With your current cultivation level, there's absolutely no need for you to think about this issue. If you think about the struggles between living realms, then you'll have to think about the struggles between families, and the struggles within families. Wherever there are people, there will be struggles. The struggle that is happening in the Lingxiao Living Realm has existed in the past, exists now, and will exist in the future. Every living realm is the same, and every Netherworld is the same."

Qin Lao said, "That's all the information I can give you about the Sentinel Army. You and Tang Zhan don't need to participate in the next assessment. Just nod and you can enter the camp directly."

"You don't need to decide now. There's still some time before the others are assessed. If you've thought it through, you can contact me or come to the outpost to report for duty."

"Of course, don't tell anyone else about the Sentinel Army. Including the Hidden Lord and I, neither of them are Sentinels. Revealing their identities could lead to them being assassinated by the undead."

In the ensuing conversation, Elder Qin told Li Weiyi that the sentry of the Cave Ruins Camp had gone to the depths of the East Sea. He warned that the excavation of the ancient immortal dragon's remains might involve the spirits of the dead, and caution was advised.

Liu Ye escorted Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan out of the outpost and appeared on the north cliff of Yuelong Island.

The northern cliff is towering, with sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high.

On one side, there is the tranquility of the moon rising over the sea, with waves crashing against the rocks. On the other side, there is the bustling and noisy harbor, with thousands of lights.

Liu Ye warned, "It's best not to use the identity of Liu Fengshu anymore. Daogong's strength below the Longevity Realm is beyond your imagination."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Liu."

After separating, Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan put on invisibility cloaks and strode towards the sea city.

Moon Dragon Island is neither too big nor too small; powerful figures from all sides gather there, and the sound of wind breaking through the air can be heard at any time.

"Where is the young lord?"

Li Weiyi really wanted to meet Tang Wanzhou and ask her to urge the jade boat to go to the foot of the Fusang Divine Tree to collect the Midday Sun Dew in order to break through to the Eight-Star Spiritual Master level.

With his current cultivation level, even if he were to urge the jade boat forward, he would be unable to return to the Blood Mud Space before the Golden Crow sets sail.

Tang Zhan said, "Young Master is preparing for the generals' review banquet."

"What kind of banquet is this?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Zhan said, "Don't you know? In this resource competition, Shaojun is the leader of the younger generation in Lingxiao Realm. She makes all decisions on matters under the Great Longevity Realm."

"The Generals' Banquet is a gathering of heroes from the Lingxiao Realm to coordinate and arrange the specific matters to come."

"For example, how to deal with the retaliation from the Western demon race."

"How to absorb more Six-Clawed Immortal Dragon Qi in the gap between the Rice Palace and the Crossing Temple."

Even a reclusive person with exceptional talent like Tang Zhan showed admiration: "No matter how much infighting occurs within the Living Realm, at crucial moments, the transcendent beings of the Living Realm still have to rely on the young lord. In terms of talent and martial arts, only she is capable of shouldering this great responsibility."

(End of this chapter)