Jiang Ning and Zuoqiu Ting

Li Weiyi was surprised. During their previous encounter on the ship, she had always felt that Zhuang Yue was arrogant and looked down on others. This time, however, she realized that Zhuang Yue was straightforward and wouldn't play the game of being hypocritical or hiding a knife behind a smile.

Such people clearly distinguish between good and evil, have strong likes and dislikes, and leave no gray areas.

Fortunately, I am in the Imperial Palace; if I were in the chaotic world of mortals, I would definitely not be alive now.

Put away the Insect Tube.

After escaping for a while, Li Weiyi shouted from afar, "Don't just fight to the death! If you can't win, run away together!"

"What a stubborn person!"

He whispered something, and as he fled, he opened the Insect Tube.

Insect Tube, a dazzling array of colorful mists filled the air, creating a truly magnificent sight.

Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors are eating the leaves of a plant Crimson Haze Exotic Medicine.

Upon discovering the Insect Tube was open, seven pairs of eyes turned to look at Li Weiyi outside. After chattering for a while, they continued eating on their own.

Li Weiyi's face darkened instantly. All you see is food? You show no excitement at all about your master's return. No wonder you were so easily kidnapped.

However, Jiang Ning and Zhuang Yue are indeed arrogant and domineering.

Li Weiyi offered 100 million copper coins for such a rare treasure as the Crimson Haze Exotic Medicine, Hidden Twenty-Five readily bought it. One can imagine that if it were taken outside of Lizhou, and offered an even higher price, someone would definitely buy it.

They used it to feed insects.

The good news is that the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors have reached a body length of two inches.

"That's strange. Why didn't Zhuang Yue release them to fight Shi Shishi together? Could it be... that she doesn't know that the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors have reached the Five Seas Realm level and thinks they can't help?"

Li Weiyi felt that this was highly likely.

At any level, siege is effective.

If those six Buddha's Crossing Bandits had joined forces and cooperated more effectively, they would have given Li Weiyi a real headache.

The Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors were far superior to those six Buddha's Crossing Bandits.

The six Buddha's Crossing Bandits mostly broke through the Seven Springs and Five Seas.

The seven Emperor-level rare insects are comparable in combat power to the Inheritor Seed with a Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver Rank at the same level. They may be slightly inferior to the Inheritor Seed in terms of combat techniques, magical artifacts, and intelligence, but they can make up for it with their heaven-defying defense and speed.

A sharp whistling sound came from behind.

Li Weiyi's expression changed slightly, and he quickly turned around to look.

Zhuang Yue stepped on the flow of magical energy, moving so fast it was like a white streak, constantly closing the distance between them. Further away, Shi Shishi used a leaping technique, each leap like a cannonball, capable of covering a distance of dozens of feet.

His body is like a spring.

"What do you mean by this?" Li Weiyi asked nervously.

Zhuang Yue caught up to him within ten feet. Her injuries were severe, and her breathing was erratic. She gritted her teeth and retorted, "Didn't you tell me that if I couldn't beat you, I should run away with you?"

"I didn't tell you to run this way," Li Weiyi said, frustrated.

Zhuang Yue was even more frustrated than him, saying, "You didn't explain yourself clearly! I thought you wanted me to come along so we could escape together."

In Zhuang Yue's view, "Sima Tan" was a very responsible and fearless hero, so she thought that when he shouted that line, he meant "If we die, we die together; if we escape, we escape together."

"Whoosh!"

Shi Shishi resembled a large, fat bird, swooping over the two men's heads before landing with a thud in front of them, kicking up dust at its feet.

Li Weiyi slid forward two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) before finally coming to a stop.

Zhuang Yue stopped a short distance behind him, knowing she was unlikely to escape alive today. She exuded a cloud of magical energy, preparing for battle.

Shi Shishi chuckled, "Brother Sima, are you also a member of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate?"

"I don't understand what you're saying, but you'd better be careful, Dharma King Shi Shi. My Sima Tan may not be as good as yours, but I have another identity."

Li Weiyi opened the Insect Tube, and a Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor flew out from inside.

"Insect Tamer!"

"Sizzle!"

The Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor its two-inch-long body, grows rapidly, its wings and membranous wings reaching three feet in length, transforming into a giant moth radiating iridescent light.

Its six claws appear to be forged from metal, with hooks as sharp as spears.

This Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor is the eldest of the seven little ones, and she is good at bluffing.

When Li Weiyi first encountered it in the Cang King's Tomb, it appeared in this enormous form, releasing an aura of power akin to that of Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator, which nearly intimidated even his three masters.

Li Weiyi had already communicated with it using telekinesis. There was no need to release the aura of the Longevity Realm level, as that would be too fake and easily arouse suspicion. The Fifth Realm of the Five Seas was sufficient.

Its three-foot-long body, with a metallic and glassy texture, slowly crawled toward the Shi Shishi, emitting a loud "chirp chirp" that echoed across the plains.

Shi Shishi's expression changed instantly, and he quickly retreated to create distance.

Zhuang Yue sensed the terrifying aura of the Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor and exclaimed in shock, "Is this its true strength?"

"Nature."

Li Weiyi stood with his hands behind his back, looking confident and smug.

Zhuang Yue held her breath and asked, "What about the other six tubes?"

"Why use all Seven Mysterious Insects to deal with a seriously injured child?" Li Weiyi said calmly.

The other six were not bluffing at all and could not release the aura of a powerful being.

"Strange insects? And there are six of them?"

Shi Shishi instinctively felt something was amiss, but the giant moth approaching him had a powerful and dangerous aura. Just as he was considering whether to retreat, he suddenly saw white feathers surging in from afar, and a beautiful figure spreading her wings and coming towards him. His expression changed again.

"Brother Sima, it would be great if you, such a powerful Insect Tamer, could join our Earth Wolf King Army. We'll meet again someday."

Shi Shishi leaped, burrowed underground, and disappeared.

Li Weiyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly put the Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor back into the Insect Tube. He walked to the place where Shi Shishi had just disappeared. The ground was solid; it hadn't been hollowed out.

"This earth escape technique is really powerful." He said.

Zhuang Yue said, "Hmph, they're nothing but a bunch of rats, otherwise they would have been wiped out by the Imperial Court army long ago."

White magical feathers drifted down, and Jiang Ning's feet touched the ground. The white wings on her back disappeared, and she walked towards the two of them.

She was tall and graceful, dressed in emerald green, with a full and alluring bust, and her body shimmered with iridescent light. She possessed the flawless beauty unique to a woman with Pure Immortal Body, and every inch of her skin was crystal clear and smooth.

Although both are Pure Immortal Body, their temperament and beauty differ greatly.

Even with her face veiled, Jiang Ning would still stand out among women with Pure Immortal Body, like a true goddess or fairy appearing in the mortal realm.

"Young lady, you are Shi Na'er's adopted son Shi Shishi."

Zhuang Yue stepped forward, bowed, and reported.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, her ethereal eyes gazing at Li Weiyi like clear blue waves, deep enough to see through all the mysteries of the world. "Did he save you?"

Zhuang Yue responded and stepped forward to thank Li Weiyi.

Li Weiyi was surprised. It was truly a rare thing for the martial arts cultivators of Luantai, who claimed to be celestial beings, to lower their proud heads and thank him, a mere mortal martial arts cultivator.

However, the verbal thanks without any substantial expression of gratitude did not meet Li Weiyi's expectations.

"No need for thanks, my main purpose is to find these seven little ones." Li Weiyi didn't want to get too involved with them and was about to leave.

The Insect Tube on its back was blown open.

Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors flew toward Jiang Ning, some landing on her shoulders, some on the tips of her hair, and some circling around her, even appearing affectionate and joyful.

A rare, indulgent smile appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes as she took out a rare Crimson Haze Exotic Medicine from her fragrant sleeve and fed it to them.

"You..."

Li Weiyi tried his best to maintain his composure and did not immediately forcefully summon back the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors.

Zhuang Yue's eyes were strange. Taking this opportunity, she used her magical energy to transmit her thoughts to tell Jiang Ning about the performance of the Phoenix -Phoenix Wing Moth Emperor.

Jiang Ning was secretly surprised. It seemed that these seven little creatures were even more extraordinary than she had anticipated. Upon returning to Lingxiao City, she would have to thoroughly examine the ancient texts and the <Exotic Insect Ranking>.

Given her proud nature, she would never commit murder to steal insects, but her desire to subdue Sima Tan and make him her own was even stronger.

She tried to make her tone friendly. "I've read extensively since I was a child and consider myself knowledgeable, but I know very little about these seven. What kind of strange insects are they?"

"The Five-Colored Spirit Moth"

Li Weiyi revealed the name of a Commander-class Mysterious Insect that his Spirit Tablet Master had already devised for him.

Jiang Ning said, "The Five-Colored Spirit Moth ranks fifth among the Commander-class Mysterious Insect on the <Exotic Insect Ranking>. Once they reach adulthood, seven of them working together are enough to challenge Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator. More importantly, they possess a certain degree of ability to summon swarms of underground insects. Sima Tan, with your talent, if you were to cultivate in Lingxiao City, you would certainly receive special training. Do you have any intention of serving the Imperial Court?"

It was through Jiang Ning that Li Weiyi truly felt the unparalleled charm and aura of a Pure Immortal Body, which was beyond the reach of mortals. It made people feel that she should not be burdened by worldly affairs at all, but should escape the mortal world to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao.

For someone like her to take the initiative to communicate with cultivators of lower realms, rather than using a commanding tone, already shows that she has shown enough sincerity.

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty, but I am unfamiliar with the rules of the Imperial Court and dislike being restrained. I am afraid I can only be an ungrateful scoundrel. But I can guarantee that I will never join the rebels or become an enemy of the Imperial Court."

It is important to stay away from the Imperial Court.

It's also important to keep Jiang Ning calm, lest she see him as a threat and eliminate him in the bud.

Being rejected was not surprising, and Jiang Ning could understand. But Sima Tan's combat strength displayed at the same level was indeed extraordinary, comparable to the young Ancient Son of Heaven, not to mention that he also controlled seven five-colored spirit moths.

Then there's the intellect and resilience he displayed in the Five Seas Realm.

As long as he doesn't die, he will surely rise rapidly within ten years and become a shining new star in the Southern Territory.

She tried to persuade him further, "You're not called Sima Tan, are you? Your Disguise Art has many flaws."

"The angel has extraordinary eyesight. I admire him!"

Li Weiyi gave an awkward smile, then quickly realized something, and the image of Zuoqiu Ting flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

I see.

Zuoqiu Ting must have also used Disguise Art, which is why his face is exactly the same as the Dragon Gate inheritor, and the sense of incongruity in his body is very strong.

Using the Disguise Art to change one's appearance into another person is an extremely difficult task, requiring a very high level of cultivation, observation skills, and mastery of disguise. At least Li Weiyi is far from being able to do it yet.

Even with Zuoqiu Ting's cultivation level, he could only disguise himself as a creature that resembled a strange creature.

Jiang Ning continued, "You are not what everyone suspects, that you are from the Ash Region of the Far West. You are the true member of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate!"

Within the Five Seas Realm, Li Weiyi risked her life to protect the young martial artists of the Jiu Li Tribe. In her view, only members of the Jiu Li Tribe could bear such responsibility and commitment; how could the people of the Ash Region possibly make such a sacrifice?

If they are not cultivators openly recognized by the Jiu Li Tribe, they can only be from Hidden Gate.

The Luantai (a high-ranking official in charge of overseeing the world) naturally has files on the Jiu Li Hidden Gate, so Jiang Ning knows that the Jiu Li Hidden Gate truly exists.

Li Weiyi felt that Jiang Ning was bluffing him, so he flatly denied it.

Jiang Ning believed her judgment was correct. "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it! What I value is your talent, potential, and character. Yes, the Great Palace Master did have her faults back then, and Xiao Tian Order caused you too much harm. I can understand your prejudice against the Imperial Court."

"But there are many hidden stories about what happened back then. I believe that the Great Palace Master was once diligent, loving, kind, pure, and radiant will return. Darkness and prejudice are only temporary. She has the ability to correct her mistakes."

"Ha ha!"

A familiar and hearty laugh rang out.

Zuoqiu Ting and Li Ling slowly walked up a small hill not far away and appeared before the three people below.

Giant Creature Dragonfly appeared alongside the two of them.

Zuoqiu Ting lightly waved his folding fan, exuding elegance and charm, and laughed loudly, "Jiang Ning, how dare you speak ill of the Great Palace Master? How many heads do you have to chop off?"

Jiang Ning observed Zuoqiu Ting for a moment, recognized him, and said in a melodious voice, "If you've made a mistake, you've made a mistake. What's there to be afraid of saying? But my respect and admiration for the Great Palace Master will never change. She only lost herself temporarily, caught in an inner whirlpool, which led to her grave mistake."

"But don't forget, a thousand years ago, who was it that carved out a bright and clear sky for the world amidst the deadly calamity that befell the Netherworld?"

"At that time, the Three Hundred Prefectures of Lingxiao suffered defeat after defeat, with tens of millions of dead and wounded every day. All the armies and martial artists were powerless to resist. When the clouds of the departed souls surged by, an entire state would be turned into darkness and death."

"When the world was in its most perilous and desperate moment, it was the Great Palace Master who, alone with his sword, stood at the forefront, repelling the Departed Spirit Army dozens of times."

"Traveling ninety thousand miles in a single day, they carved out a circle amidst the boundless clouds of Departed Soul and the dark night of the Netherworld, which is why the current Twenty-Eight Prefectures of Lingxiao exist."

"But everyone has forgotten all of this, forgotten that it was under the leadership of the Great Palace Master that the Lingxiao Shengjing prospered again over the past thousand years. Forgot that it was because the Great Palace Master was in charge that the four Netherworlds and the Departed Spirit Fiend were deterred. Forgot that without the Great Palace Master, there would be no Lingxiao Shengjing as we know it today."

"Without the Great Palace Master, your Zuoqiu Courtyard would have ceased to exist a thousand years ago! Do you acknowledge that?"

Zuoqiu Ting nodded solemnly and sighed, "I naturally acknowledge the Great Palace Master's achievements. But a thousand years of achievements were all destroyed in a single day by the Three-Year Xiao Tian Order. How many people died in those three years? How much bloodshed and humiliation was inflicted? I have always believed that if the number one person in the world is not restrained, he will become the number one calamity in the world."

Jiang Ning said, "What about these ten years of war? The number of dead was far greater than in those three years, wasn't it? When heroes rise up in rebellion, it brings ten years of calamity to the common people."

"How many are true heroes? How many are truly for the sake of the common people? I think most are just trying to satisfy their own ambitions and interests, just like the current crisis brewing in Lizhou."

Zuoqiu Ting said, "If the Great Palace Master doesn't admit his mistake, then someone has to correct it."

Jiang Ning said, "We should give her some time."

"Giving them three years is incredibly generous of the people!" Zuoqiu Ting said.

Jiang Ning said, "So, your Zuoqiu Courtyard is finally going to be drawn into this grand game of chess?"

Zuoqiu Ting stared into her eyes for a long time, then smiled and said, "I won't tell you! At least so far, the Zuoqiu Courtyard has been more than benevolent and righteous to the Great Palace Master and the Lingxiao Palace."

With Jiang Ning's personal confirmation, it was clear that Zuoqiu Ting was indeed the successor of the Zuoqiu Courtyard, which eased Li Weiyi's worries somewhat.

However, the two debated so fiercely, their words so sharp, that it seemed they were about to come to blows.

A clash between inheritors of the same lineage is truly terrifying.

Fearing being caught in the crossfire, Li Weiyi forcibly retrieved the Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors and quickly retreated to the side. He then approached Li Ling and asked, "Didn't you go to Thirty-three Li Mountain?"

Li Ling was intrigued by the heated debate between the two in the distance and smiled, "I'll come back to find you."

"Looking for me again?" Li Weiyi asked in surprise.

Li Ling said, "The latest news is that an old monster in the Longevity Realm has figured out a special method to send martial artists in the First Realm and Second Realm stages of the Five Seas Realm into Thirty-three Li Mountain. Zuoqiu thinks we still need to ask you for help."

"With the power of the Zuoqiu Courtyard, finding Pure Immortal Body expert at the Second Realm of the Five Seas Realm shouldn't be difficult, so why keep targeting a mortal martial artist like me who has just entered the Five Seas Realm?" Li Weiyi said.

Upon hearing this, Zuoqiu Ting said from afar, "It is extremely difficult for martial artists to enter the Second Realm of the Five Seas Realm. The Zuoqiu Courtyard can only send one person in at most. Although you are new to the Five Seas Realm, your combat strength is already among the best in the Second Realm, so you are naturally one of my top priorities."

Li Weiyi no longer refused outright as before. With the help of Zuoqiu Courtyard's influence, going to Thirty-three Li Mountain was definitely safer than going alone.

Jiang Ning had no intention of fighting Zuoqiu Ting. As he left, he looked at Li Weiyi and said, "If you change your mind, you can come to me anytime. The Imperial Court is still the strongest force in the world."

Zhuang Yue clasped her hands in farewell and followed Jiang Ning, disappearing into the distance at the edge of the grassland.

"Splash!"

Zuoqiu Ting his folding fan and clicked his tongue in regret. "Jiang Ning is Luantai Angel, a disciple of a palace master, and an Inheritor-level of the Hundred Meridian Lines All Silver level. Her future is limitless."

"Moreover, I've heard that she's one of the Three Immortals outstanding young immortals in the Immortal Forest, known as the Fairy Yu. Beneath her veil must lie a beauty that surpasses all others. Brother Sima, how could you refuse her?"

"Do you know how many heroes and warriors in the world wanted to follow her, but she didn't even bother to glance at them?"

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "Brother Zuoqiu seems quite interested in Jiang Ning?"

Zuoqiu Ting gently waved his fan, gazing in the direction Jiang Ning had left. "A graceful fairy, who wouldn't love her? It's a pity she's thorny; not just anyone can become her companion. Thinking of this, I feel sorry for Brother Sima."

Li Weiyi's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Although Jiang Ning is arrogant and prickly, making her difficult to approach, she is still quite upright and honest."

"She didn't kill you, but instead took the rare insect, and that makes her upright? How naive! As a member of the chaotic Imperial Court, if she didn't have extraordinary means, let alone becoming Luantai Angel, even establishing herself would be as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Zuoqiu Ting leaped onto the back of the Giant Creature Dragonfly and laughed, "Let's go. I, Zuoqiu Ting, am not exactly an upright person, but I can guarantee that you'll reap considerable benefits for helping me this time."

The Giant Creature Dragonfly carried the three people, flying dozens of feet off the ground towards the Thirty-three Li Mountain.

Li Weiyi told Li Ling about the predicament of the martial artists in the Spring Realm and asked, "What exactly is the situation on the battlefield in your Five Seas Realm?"

Li Ling said, "With the help of a group of mysterious martial artists, my brother and the others have already fought their way out of the Five Seas Realm. The road from the Five Seas Realm to Yaoguan City should be cleared soon."

Zuoqiu Ting possessed the unique confidence of a scion of a powerful family. "Lizhou is the rear of the southern border and the backing of the Zuoqiu Courtyard. Rest assured, the Zuoqiu Courtyard will not allow Lizhou to descend into chaos and will definitely lend a helping hand."

Li Weiyi scoffed, "If the Zuoqiu Courtyard truly wanted to help the Jiu Li Tribe, they would have acted fourteen years ago! What you need is a Lizhou rife with internal strife, but not one that collapses completely, not a powerful and stable Jiu Li Tribe. I suspect that even if you do act, it will be after the Jiu Li Tribe is severely weakened. In fact, if the Jiu Li Tribe fails to withstand this turmoil and collapses, you might even turn your attention to supporting the Sui Sect and the Three Chen Palace."

Zuoqiu Ting stood at the forefront, conjuring a cloud of magical energy to envelop the three of them. A strange glint flashed in his eyes as he sighed, "Li Ling, you'd better hurry up and have your father recruit him as a son-in-law to the Li family. If Jiang Ning manages to abduct him, the Jiu Li Tribe will suffer a huge loss!"

Li Ling said sourly, "Whether he can be kidnapped or not, some people care about Yao Yin. Being a son-in -Yao Li Tribe might be more appealing."

Li Weiyi smiled bitterly, suddenly feeling a strong sense of oppression and suffocation, as if his heart and lungs had been suddenly squeezed, making it difficult to breathe.

Look up.

A terrifying black shadow, with giant red wings, a dragon's head, and a snake's tail, flew through the celestial clouds and mist in the sky, casting a huge shadow on the ground. The area covered by the shadow was large enough to contain several small hills.

Zuoqiu Ting remained calm. "It's just a Demon Cultivator at the Longevity Realm passing by. That's normal. The opportunities in this Immortal Realm space of Immortal Burial Town are too great, attracting many old monsters here."

"I heard that even the Four Extremes Ape King has come!" Li Weiyi said with some worry.

Zuoqiu Ting said, "It's nothing. It's just the killing of a sixth-generation descendant. My Zuoqiu Courtyard's Old Ancestor has also arrived, and he can keep it in check."

Half a day later, we arrived at the end of the grassland.

On the horizon, Thirty-three Li Mountain came into view, shrouded in clouds and mist, majestic and magnificent.

A look of surprise flashed in Li Weiyi's eyes.

Happy New Year to everyone!