The Second Palace Master Has Arrived

Zhuang Yue said, "Exactly! We told him not to come to Qiuzhou City, but he insisted on coming. The Qianlong Lantern Festival hasn't even officially started yet, and he's already almost died twice in Soldier Ancestor Marsh."

"You're so concerned about my safety? You knew about both of my near-death experiences?" Li Weiyi said with a smile.

Zhuang Yue turned her face away, not wanting to pay him any attention.

Li Weiyi sighed and explained, "It has nothing to do with the Qianlong Lantern Festival. I was born with a fire element in my destiny, and water brings me misfortune. But after midnight tonight, as we enter the new year, my fortune may change."

That's utter nonsense!

However, from the Arctic Ocean expedition to the several near-death experiences in the Sui River, and then to the two near-death experiences of Soldier Ancestor Marsh mentioned by Zhuang Yue, Li Weiyi really had some doubts, perhaps he was indeed restrained by water.

He even felt that he should be more careful when encountering people whose names contain the water element, such as Yang Qingxi.

Zhuang Yue was amused by him and giggled nonstop.

Jiang Ning was at her wit's end and considered taking extreme measures.

Li Weiyi said, "I'm just wondering, how did Fairy Yu know that I would be heading towards the Xuantian Stone Wall from this street at this time, and how could she have blocked me so precisely?"

"Do you have people from your Jiu Li Hidden Gate?" Jiang Ning asked.

For Jiang Ning, it wasn't hard to guess that Yin Thirteen was a hidden member of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate.

It's like having your hand all out in the open.

Outside the carriage, the Old Man driving spoke in a youthful voice, "Angels mustn't harm me! My loyalty to the Jiu Li Hidden Gate comes first, and only then to the Imperial Court."

The Old Man was, of course, Yin Thirteen in disguise.

Jiang Ning suddenly said, "The Second Palace Master has arrived in Qiuzhou City."

"What?"

Li Weiyi was terrified.

The Second Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace is known as the second most powerful person in the world, second only to Yu Yaozi.

The Second Palace Master is now practically indistinguishable from the number one person in the world. After all, Yu Yaozi hasn't made a public appearance for a long time, and the Second Palace Master has the final say on almost all matters, big and small, in the Imperial Court.

Jiang Ning said, "I've said what I should have said! I've even said what I shouldn't have said! Li Weiyi, I'm giving you two choices."

"First, inside this carriage, you can't escape once I make a move. I will seal you away, and Yin Thirteen will immediately take you away from the city. Whether you go back to Lizhou or Fuzhou, it will be safer than the upcoming Qiuzhou city."

Seeing that she wasn't joking, Li Weiyi immediately became wary, circulating his internal energy rapidly. "I choose the second path!"

Jiang Ning said in a more serious tone, "The second route! This carriage will travel all the way to the foot of the Xuantian Stone Wall, where martial arts practitioners from all over the world gather, and countless elders are watching. When you and I get off the carriage, guess what everyone in the world will think?"

Li Weiyi was extremely troubled. "Riding in the same carriage as Fairy Yu will surely make me a thorn in the side of countless martial artists. At this crucial moment of the Qianlong Lantern Festival, I'm afraid I'll die a terrible death. You're willing to risk your life to force me to submit... Sigh, why kill a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own? What grudge do you hold against me?"

Jiang Ning had already thought everything through, "It doesn't necessarily mean you'll suffer heavy losses! You can join the Imperial Court; the Second Palace Master has always admired exceptional geniuses."

"Is there no third way?" Li Weiyi asked.

Jiang Ning said, "No."

"How ungrateful! My young lady wanted to help you, she wanted to save you," Zhuang Yue said.

Li Weiyi cupped his hands and said weakly, "I appreciate Fairy Yu's kindness, but I've gone to great lengths to repay this favor."

Jiang Ning frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed, and said calmly, "You have a quarter of an hour to consider! In another quarter of an hour, we'll be very close to the Xuantian Stone Wall. Once the streets get crowded, we won't have any choices left."

Li Weiyi certainly didn't want to leave, much less be coerced by Jiang Ning into joining the Imperial Court.

The Imperial Court was almost entirely composed of eunuchs. Furthermore, there was the perverse rule that Luantai Angel were forbidden from sharing a room with men, clearly indicating it was far from a benevolent place.

More importantly, the Imperial Court is indeed besieged on all sides; who knows how much longer it can hold out...

Thinking of this.

A sudden realization dawned on Li Weiyi, and she instantly understood everything. She relaxed and smiled, "I think I understand!"

"Understand what?" Jiang Ning asked, puzzled.

Li Weiyi said, "The Qianlong Lantern Festival is approaching, and you've taken such a great risk to see me, so you must have a reason to see me. If you don't see me tonight, it might be too late tomorrow?"

"Continue," Jiang Ning said.

Li Weiyi said, "Everyone knows that the Du'e Temple is holding the Qianlong Lantern Festival in Qiuzhou City to promote the Zuoqiu Courtyard. The large number of young martial artists from the Imperial Court have come here not to support the Zuoqiu Courtyard, but to destroy it."

"I boldly predict that once midnight tonight, after the Qianlong Lantern Festival officially begins, the younger generation of martial artists in the Imperial Court will take action against the Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Jiu Li Tribe. Moreover, it will certainly be a swift and ruthless attack, and by tomorrow dawn, the streets may be filled with corpses and rivers of blood."

Seeing that Jiang Ning did not immediately refute.

Li Weiyi knew he had guessed correctly, and his scalp tingled and his back was covered in cold sweat.

He finally understood the significance of Jiang Ning's earlier statement, "The Second Palace Master has arrived." It meant that the Imperial Court was not afraid of Zuoqiu Courtyard turning against them, and the younger generation of the Imperial Court could go ahead and do whatever they wanted.

Li Weiyi asked, "Was it the Second Palace Master's order? Or Ge Xiantong's strategy?"

Jiang Ning didn't answer, but sighed softly, "You really only have two paths to choose from now! Shall I help you choose one?"

No, I have a third way.

Li Weiyi said, "If the younger generation of the Imperial Court chooses to massacre the Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Jiu Li Tribe tonight, it will be a grave mistake. All of you young Imperial Court artists who participated in the Qianlong Lantern Festival will be doomed."

The words were forceful and resounding, striking Jiang Ning's mind like a hammer blow.

She said, "Are you trying to tell me that this is Zuoqiu Courtyard's territory, and that Zuoqiu Courtyard has far more Five Seas Realm martial artists than other forces, so we are no match for them? Then you are sorely mistaken!"

"In the Five Seas Realm, the human wave tactic is effective! Even against me, against experts of the level of Eastern Dragon, Western Pig, Southern Tiger, and Northern Sword, they will be overwhelmed by sheer numbers."

"But for figures like Ge Xiantong and Phoenix-born Unicorn-young, no matter how many martial artists there are at the Five Seas Realm, they can still overwhelm them. The human wave tactic is useless against them."

Li Weiyi had never seen Ge Xiantong and Phoenix-born Unicorn-young, so he didn't know their combat strength, but he trusted Jiang Ning's judgment.

He said, "No matter how strong Ge Xiantong is, he will definitely get injured. Do you really think that Cangli and Zuoqiu Ting, people of their caliber, wouldn't be able to hurt Ge Xiantong if they fought to the death?"

"Ge Xiantong was injured the moment Phoenix-born Unicorn-young killed him."

"Jiang Ning, you have made a fatal mistake of being blinded by a single leaf! You thought that by choosing the Zuoqiu Courtyard, the Du'e Temple would make the Zuoqiu Courtyard a target of public criticism."

"But the real target of public criticism has always been your Imperial Court."

"Your imposing appearances can indeed intimidate people, and Ge Xiantong is even known as the number one in the world. But if the number one in the world is injured, and your imposing appearance is damaged, it will immediately attract countless predators and be besieged by all forces."

"What did you use to prevent the Phoenix-born Unicorn-young then?"

Although Jiang Ning wore a veil and had a serene gaze, her emotions, like turbulent waves, rose and fell slightly along with her full breasts, clearly indicating that her heart was not calm.

Zhuang Yue felt that Li Weiyi's words made perfect sense, her expression changed drastically, and she couldn't help but want to speak.

Li Weiyi pressed his advantage, adding, "If I were you, I wouldn't attack Zuoqiu Courtyard and the Jiu Li Tribe tonight. Instead, I would secretly contact them, either forming a temporary alliance or setting Killing Trap to eliminate the biggest threat, Phoenix-born Unicorn-young. Once the situation is under control and all the powerful enemies are eliminated, it won't be too late for us to settle the score."

Jiang Ning said, "Are you kidding me? The Imperial Court has allied with Zuoqiu Courtyard? Zuoqiu Ting would trust us?"

"It's not an alliance, it's a covert rivalry."

Li Weiyi continued, "You shouldn't be connecting this to the overall situation of the world! This is just the Qianlong Lantern Festival! Do you know the meaning of 'all's fair in war'?"

"The less people believe something, the more likely it is to be used to kill off Phoenix-born Unicorn-young."

"The Zuoqiu Courtyard, dominated by the School of Diplomacy. Zuoqiu Ting understands better than you how to form alliances and how to break stalemates and create favorable situations."

"Go back and tell Ge Xiantong that in the struggle for supremacy, the most important thing is the result, not the process. Even the most vehement enemies can become temporary allies in the face of crisis. If he is arrogant and stubborn, then someone will naturally collect his corpse."

"For Phoenix-born Unicorn-young, his flesh must be the most delicious."

Zhuang Yue's beautiful eyes sparkled, then she muttered softly, "I feel like you're more arrogant than anyone else!"

Jiang Ning digested what Li Weiyi had said. The Imperial Court certainly had many arrangements and backup plans, and was very confident, but it was impossible for them to defeat all the martial arts practitioners in the city.

Li Weiyi knew that her third path had a chance of success; now, it was up to Jiang Ning to decide what to do after careful consideration.

After a long pause, Jiang Ning said, "I have to admit, you might be right. But it's too difficult to implement. Sometimes, allies without trust are more terrifying than enemies."

Li Weiyi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled down, and a smile appeared on his lips. He looked at the Provincial Governor's Official Robe she was wearing and asked the question he had wanted to ask when she got into the carriage, "How is your cultivation of the Dragon Awakening Art going? Can you control the Dragon Soul Power within the Provincial Governor's Official Robe?"

"How did you know I was cultivating the Dragon Awakening Art? Did Zuoqiu Ting tell you? Were you investigating my strength for her?" Jiang Ning asked with a smile, her eyes slightly cold.

Li Weiyi cried out in protest, "I only asked that because I saw that your cultivation seemed to have improved again and your aura was very oppressive. Now you can release them, or there will be more people!"

Jiang Ning's Seventh Sea Field has not yet been fully cultivated; it is still in the stage of expansion and energy accumulation, so his cultivation level is naturally constantly improving.

"To be honest, I really didn't want to let you off the carriage! It's such a pity that someone as talented as you can't be used by the Imperial Court." In fact, what she really meant was that you had to be eliminated.

Suddenly, an idea struck Li Weiyi, and he laughed, "Fairy Yu doesn't think I can't break your moves, does she? Do you know what kind of reputation Yang Qingxi has now? You don't want to follow in her footsteps, do you?"

Jiang Ning frowned, wanting to kick him out of the car. She shouted, "I've never seen anyone as eager to die as you! Since you've chosen to stay, you should hide yourself better and not be used by someone like Zuoqiu or Ting, or pushed into the limelight. Get out of the car!"

"Thank you for letting me go Fairy Yu."

After Li Weiyi got out of the car, the smile on his face quickly disappeared, and his expression became extremely solemn.

What the Imperial Court will decide tonight remains to be seen, as Jiang Ning is not the one with the decision-making power.

Li Weiyi walked forward at a leisurely pace. The streets were becoming increasingly crowded, making them impassable.

Looking up, at the end of Qiankun Avenue, the brightly lit buildings suddenly disappear, as if reaching the end of civilization. A majestic ancient mountain shrouded in clouds and mist rises abruptly from the ground, with steep slopes, vast area, and numerous cliffs and waterfalls.

All vision is filled by the world-renowned Ancestral Mountain, "Peach Plum Mountain," its imposing presence a legend that there are mountains within mountains, leading to unknown spaces.

On the cliff halfway up the mountain, a thousand meters above the ground, thick magical energy gathered into clouds, shrouding the mountain peak in swirling mists. No one knew what mysterious scene lay behind the clouds.