Zuoqiu Cangwu

Six months ago, Zuoqiu Cangwu reached the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm and successfully took over the reins of Zuoqiu Ling. He was the only candidate who could support this super sect during the Longevity Forbidden Martial Order.

He was fifty-five years old, but he looked only about Thousand Character Armor. He had never taken off his armor for the past five years.

Before becoming the head of the family, he spent thirty years in the Secret Realm Department and knew that danger lurked everywhere. Apart from the armor on his body and the knife in his hand, no one could be completely relied upon.

Upon hearing that Li Weiyi had come to visit, Zuoqiu Cangwu immediately put down his important military affairs. "Quickly, invite him in!"

The person who led Li Weiyi into the council hall was Zuoqiu Cangwu, the daughter of Zuoqiu Qingying.

She was in her early thirties, but because her psychic abilities were unparalleled among the younger generation of the Zuoqiu Courtyard, she was already a Mind Master and looked to be only about twenty years old, extremely young.

Zuoqiu Cangwu stood up and smiled, "Weiyi, you look completely recovered. It's been half a year, and everyone was very worried. Before our Zuoqiu went to Tianya Ridge to fight the Demon Race, he repeatedly told me to take good care of you. So, what are your plans for the future?"

Li Weiyi bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Patriarch. I am fine now. I have come here to see the Old Ancestor. If it weren't for his treatment half a year ago, I might already be dead."

At the request of the Hidden Lord, the Confucian Dao Ancestor put on a few elaborate performances half a year ago.

The Six Desires Talisman on Li Weiyi's body was dissolved by the Old Ancestor with a casual wave of his hand.

For the Jiu Li Tribe, matters that would normally require the assistance of nine high priests could be resolved by Chao Dan with a mere wave of his hand.

Zuoqiu Cangwu's expression turned serious, then he smiled wryly, "You are Hongting's husband, so naturally you are a core member of the Zuoqiu Courtyard. It's alright to tell you. Our Old Ancestor isn't at Peach Plum Mountain right now; he's most likely on some battlefield. Is there something you can tell me first? Is it very important?"

"It's nothing serious! I just want to request a Spiritual Platform Blazing Star Stone Fragment; I'm willing to pay for it."

Li Weiyi didn't have high hopes, after all, more than a thousand years had passed, and even if there were still a few dozen coins, most of them would have been used up.

Zuoqiu Cangwu looked bewildered and asked Zuoqiu Qingying, "Does your sect's treasure vault contain such resources?"

Zuoqiu Qingying pondered, "I have a vague recollection; it seems to be an extremely precious treasure for cultivators."

"Go to the treasury immediately and search. If you find it, retrieve it quickly." Zuoqiu Cangwu then looked at Li Weiyi and smiled, "Taking the path of a Mind Master is the right thing to do. Rebuild your confidence, and with those seven Marquis-level rare insects, you will still be a top figure in the world in the future."

After Zuoqiu Qingying left, Li Weiyi bowed again to express his gratitude.

Zuoqiu Cangwu pulled Li Weiyi down to sit. "Just like Hongting, you can call me Thirteenth Uncle. As for me... well, how do I start?"

"Thirteenth Uncle, please speak freely," Li Weiyi said.

Zuoqiu Cangwu's awkward smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. "Right now, the two biggest issues for the Zuoqiu Courtyard are undoubtedly the war with the Demon Race faction and the unsettling events at the Underground Immortal Mansion on the border of Qiuzhou and Fuzhou."

"Coffin Mountain, Tianya Ridge, and Night City —the three major battlefields in the Southern Territory—are seeing frequent victories. Wiping them out is just around the corner."

"But the strangeness of the Underground Immortal Mansion has spread from underground to the surface. Half a month ago, I went to check it out. On the Qiubei Plain, mounds of graves and tombstones have emerged from the ground, covering a vast area of a thousand miles, growing and spreading wildly like bamboo shoots."

"It is said that in just half a month, they have advanced dozens of miles towards Qiuzhou city."

"Next year, these ancient, vanished graves and tombstones are estimated to have grown to the outskirts of Qiuzhou city, covering the banks of Soldier Ancestor Marsh Lake."

Li Weiyi had also heard of this, and found it utterly unbelievable.

Half a year ago, the great battle of transcendence opened up the Underground Immortal Mansion Entrance at the border of Qiuzhou and Fuzhou. At that time, countless martial artists went to explore it, including some Longevity Realm Giants.

The strange incident occurred four months ago. It is said that a Longevity Realm Giants, violated a taboo, causing a catastrophe.

After a major earthquake, across thousands of miles of land in the prefecture, the Departed buried for millions of years have sprung up in the form of tombstones and burial mounds.

Later, the disease spread to Qiuzhou, causing widespread panic.

After the strange change, even the Longevity Realm Giants could no longer enter the Underground Immortal Mansion!

Zuoqiu Cangwu said, "These are certainly not things we can solve on our own; we must wait for the transcendents to take action. What we can do is to investigate the situation inside the Underground Immortal Mansion as thoroughly as possible, so that we can assist the transcendents and reduce the risks."

"The greatest danger to the Underground Immortal Mansion lies in the spirits of the dead and swarms of ferocious insects."

"Currently, Commander-class Mysterious Insect and Insect Tamer have suffered severe losses and are in extremely short supply."

Li Weiyi asked, "Does Thirteenth Uncle want me to go to the Underground Immortal Mansion with the team?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu shook his head and laughed, "I wouldn't dare let you take such a risk. If anything goes wrong, Hongting will definitely hold me responsible. I was thinking of... borrowing the insect!"

Li Weiyi remained silent.

The act of "borrowing" in this world is not as simple as it seems.

Zuoqiu Cangwu did not urge Li Weiyi, allowing him to consider the matter at his own pace.

Zuoqiu Qingying returned and used her telepathic power to say something to Zuoqiu Cangwu.

Zuoqiu Cangwu frowned and said coldly, "It was my idea not to tell Elder Qi?"

Zuoqiu Qingying glanced at Li Weiyi and stopped transmitting her voice. "Elder Qi said that no matter who it is, they must act in accordance with the rules of the Zuoqiu Courtyard. Without rules, anyone could embezzle funds and empty the Lineage's wealth. He must guard the treasury closely."

"The last Spiritual Platform Blazing Star Stone Fragment is left. It might be of great use in the future. To buy it, you'll need at least two million Spring Coin."

Zuoqiu Cangwu was startled. "Why doesn't he just rob me? I've cultivated diligently for decades, fought countless battles, and traveled to all the secret realms. Now, even if I sell all my possessions, I can only afford to buy a small, broken stone from him. But, leave this matter to Thirteenth Uncle. I'll go and talk to him personally tomorrow."

"Thank you very much, Thirteenth Uncle. I'll take my leave now."

Li Weiyi got up and left.

Sitting in his chair, Zuoqiu Cangwu's eyes suddenly became incredibly deep as he muttered to himself, "Was I too hasty? But it's already been half a year!"

Zuoqiu Qingying asked, "He didn't agree?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu nodded. "After all, they are seven Marquis-level rare insects. Even I wouldn't easily let them go."

Zuoqiu Qingying sneered, "He clearly wants to pursue the path of a Mind Master, but half a year ago, he was only Great Mind Master in the Earth Fire Realm. It's clear he's destined to never reach the Mind Master level. The second path is also a dead end."

"For the past six months, the entire Zuoqiu Courtyard has been fighting, either venturing into the Demon Race battlefield or risking their lives to explore the Underground Immortal Mansion. Yet he acts as if it's all perfectly normal, staying in Peach Plum Mountain enjoying the peaceful life. I think he's truly wasted his life!"

"Having seven Marquis-level rare insects following him is a complete waste of talent."

"Father, you must help me seize them. With the seven Marquis-level rare insects in hand, I will surely be able to stand on equal footing with Chaoran in the future."

Zuoqiu Cangwu pondered for a moment and said, "He is still the Hidden Person of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate. We can't rush this matter. Here's what we'll do: you go and befriend him. Make sure everyone knows that you were there for him during his lowest point, helping and taking care of him."

"Therefore, it makes perfect sense that he committed suicide again to give you the Seven Mysterious Insects. Zuoqiu Ling, Zuoqiu Hongting, and the Jiu Li Tribe cannot find any fault with it!"

"How many Spiritual Platform Blazing Star Stone Fragment are left?"

Zuoqiu Qingying said, "Actually, the Spirit Platform Blazing Star Stone was used up a thousand years ago. We deliberately set a price he couldn't afford. That way, we could slowly manipulate him."

Li Weiyi slowly descended the mountain from the Fourth Heaven of Peach Plum Mountain, preparing to meet Yin Er.

When he descended to the Second Heaven, the seven phoenixes flew back and landed on his shoulder. They went from being invisible to the size of a speck of dust, and then from the size of a speck of dust to nine inches long.

This is its Innate Dao Technique!

Its body shrinks, entering a state of invisibility. As long as one doesn't get too close, it's difficult for martial artists below the Longevity Realm to detect it.

Qi Feng told Li Weiyi about the conversation between Zuoqiu Cangwu and Zuoqiu Qingying.

The little guy was furious; as he spoke, his eyes bulged and his mouth moved incredibly fast.

Li Weiyi stopped and gazed at the boundless night sky, letting out a long sigh, "Seven Marquis-level rare insects—the temptation was indeed too great. Even the head of the Zuoqiu Courtyard was tempted. It seems I won't be staying at Peach Plum Mountain for long!"

North City, on the wide Li Shui River.

A three-story ship, adorned with bone lanterns, sails silently southward.

On the ship, Li Weiyi and Yin Er sat in the second-floor cabin, which was equipped with an array.

Yin Er is rather short, with a thin face, and looks to be in his thirties or forties. He is in charge of all the secular affairs of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate and currently resides in Qiuzhou City.

This was the third time the two had met in the past six months.

In July, the weather is hot.

The banks of the river were bustling with activity, and traffic was heavy.

Yin Er, extremely adept at reading people, drank alone and chuckled, "What's wrong? You seem a little down?"

"It's nothing... I'll have a drink too."

Li Weiyi looked out the window and sighed.

Yin Er was slightly surprised. This was the first time Li Weiyi had ever asked for wine; he had always kept his distance from it before.

Li Weiyi took the wine cup handed to him by Yin Er and asked, "Second Brother, what level of cultivation do you have?"

"Me? My talent is average, Second Heaven the Dao Seed Realm, with no hope of immortality, so leave worldly affairs to me!" Yin Er laughed.

Li Weiyi said, "Even Zuoqiu Cangwu, a top figure in the Dao Seed Realm, is still in charge of worldly affairs."

"He had no choice. The worldly affairs of the Zuoqiu Courtyard needed a top expert to support them. Face and substance are not the same thing," Yin Er said.

Li Weiyi drank another cup, her expression slightly serious. "How's the investigation into Qi Xiao's matter going?"

"Hidden Five is investigating, and we've already made some progress."

Suddenly, the sound of water breaking and people boarding the deck came from outside. Yin Er chuckled, "Just say it, and he'll be here! You can talk to him yourself..."

Yin Er chose the river as the meeting place because the river water could wash away all traces.

After all, Hidden Five's identity is special and must not be exposed.