West Sea Royal Mansion

Taishi Bai said, "The world is in turmoil today. Only by uniting can the major forces of the human race defeat the Demon Race and meet the challenge from the evil cult."

"If you've come for Zhuang Yue, I'll do everything I can to help you two become a couple. I admire your loyalty, your courage to love and hate."

"If you are indeed a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Courtyard to Lingxiao City, intending to replace Zhou Bida and infiltrate the Taishi Family, then tell me the truth now, and out of consideration for our past relationship, I will let you leave the city. I will take responsibility for what happened at Luantai; consider it as making you a friend and contributing to the unity of the human race."

Li Weiyi said, "You believe everything I say?"

Taishi Bai smiled, "In chaotic times, there is deceit and treachery, ruthless methods, the annihilation of humanity, and the unpredictability of people's hearts. Perhaps I am someone who easily trusts others and is prone to acting on emotion. But I don't believe that every Zhen Xin will be met with hypocrisy and ingratitude. As long as one Zhen Xin can be Zhen Xin, it is enough to fill me with hope and love for this world."

Li Weiyi felt even more conflicted; it was truly difficult to lie to those who trusted her.

He said, "Please rest assured, Young Master Bai, I am absolutely not a spy sent by the Zuoqiu Courtyard or the Jiu Li Tribe, nor will I ever harm the Taishi Family. I also deeply desire the unity of the human race."

Taishi Bai breathed a sigh of relief, the worry in his eyes dissipating, and he smiled, "Your words are enough! From now on, don't call me Young Master Bai anymore. With your talent and potential, you are absolutely qualified to be my brother."

"Let's not dwell on what has already happened. Right now, there's a way that might get Luantai to compromise."

Li Weiyi asked, "What method?"

Jiang Ning did not ride the strange beast back to Luantai. Instead, he controlled his Dao Heart Manifestation within one zhang and walked silently down the street, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhuang Yue followed behind her, remaining silent throughout.

I don't know how much time passed.

Jiang Ning said, "You've been with me since you were nine years old, haven't you?"

Zhuang Yue said, "Mm!"

Jiang Ning said, "I can't control other people! I can still make decisions about your affairs. But Zuo Ning... I can't quite put my finger on it, I just feel like he has ulterior motives, but he insisted on taking you away with him before he left, and his intention to save you was genuine. If you're determined that he's the only one for you, I can't force you to stop him..."

"Miss!"

Zhuang Yue knelt before her, sobbing, "I... I won't leave. I'll follow you for the rest of my life. Zuo Ning... he... he's a bastard who harms people. Sooner or later, I'll make things clear with him, and I'll make things clear with you too."

"Get up quickly."

Jiang Ning shouted.

A figure flashed in the distance. Ge Xiantong appeared opposite Jiang Ning, complaining, "You asked me to do something, then canceled the operation without even informing me?"

Ge Xiantong was hired by Jiang Ning to deal with Zuo Ning and was in charge of another aspect.

"I've sent someone to inform you!" Jiang Ning said.

Ge Xiantong said, "It seems we missed it! We encountered Li Jiao earlier, which delayed us for a moment."

Li Jiao is Hidden Eleven.

"Li Jiao of the Jiu Li Tribe?" Jiang Ning asked.

Ge Xiantong said, "He saved me at the Qianlong Lantern Festival, and I'm very familiar with his aura. I was originally using my senses to perceive the situation on your side, but I unexpectedly discovered him."

Jiang Ning looked thoughtful. "Li Jiufu is here, and Li Jiao is here too. They are both from the Jiu Li Hidden Gate. Isn't that a bit too unusual?"

"You mean the Jiu Li Hidden Gate is taking action? Or perhaps they're just here to join in the fun of the <Nine Heavens Dao Image Chart>?" Ge Xiantong said.

"Perhaps!"

Jiang Ning transmitted her voice to Zhuang Yue: "Go find Chen Chuan and ask him what the Jiu Li Hidden Gate is up to, and how many hidden people have come. You must intimidate him by saying that we have definite intelligence, and if he doesn't tell the truth, I will report it to the Luantai."

Zhuang Yue's eyes cleared instantly, and she strode away, realizing that the Jiu Li Hidden Gate must be planning something big.

After all, their Hidden Person have all arrived!

Ge Xiantong said, "Tonight is Song Yulou's 60th birthday, and the whole city is in an uproar. He is the number one person below the Longevity Realm in the Lingxiao Shengjing. That Demon Child Senior Disciple Brother from Du'e Temple will definitely challenge him with the <Nine Heavens Dao Image Chart>. This battle is the focus of the world. Do you want to go and watch?"

Taishi Bai said, "During the two days you were in seclusion, three groups of people from the Song West Sea Royal Mansion's Mansion secretly came looking for me, all because of you. If it weren't for the sign saying you were in seclusion, I would have broken the formation by force long ago."

"Why is this...? Is it because of that Ghost Mother? Did she cause trouble?" Li Weiyi asked.

Taishi Bai waved his hand and laughed, "Not only did it not cause trouble, it may have even helped them a lot. Song Qingli has regained some consciousness."

"If that's the case, what are they trying to do? If they're sending a thank-you gift, they can just send it over directly," Li Weiyi said with a smile.

Taishi Bai said, "As far as I know, Song Qingli has the highest cultivation level among all the Ghost Mother. No one knows whether she withstood the strange power due to her powerful cultivation or whether it's related to your battle."

"The Song family sent someone to invite you precisely to confirm this."

"I remember you used a mind-clearing and evil-dispelling spell on the post ship. Is it related to this?"

Li Weiyi shook his head. "I've seen the Ghost Mother and the Ghost Infant; they're practically monsters, their bodies have been mutated. It's definitely not just a matter of consciousness; it's more like they've been poisoned by corpses, strange drugs, or curses. How could a casual spell have that kind of power?"

Taishi Bai nodded. "The Taichang Temple thinks the same way. But since the Song family needs your help, you can take this opportunity to make your demands."

"Can the Song family influence the decisions of the Luantai?" Li Weiyi asked.

Taishi Bai said, "The West Sea King is second only to the Great Palace Master. You must know that the 100,000 West Sea Slaves are the strongest army in Lingxiao Shengjing. It is said that as long as the West Sea Slaves are destroyed, Lingxiao City will not fall."

"More than ten years ago, when West Sea Slaves was at his peak, even the Second Palace Master and Third Palace Master had to be wary of West Sea King."

"In the Battle of Cangyuan, the West Sea Slaves suffered a crushing defeat, with 30,000 dead or wounded, thus ushering in a period of great chaos throughout the land. It can be said that without this defeat, no one in the Twenty-Eight Prefectures of Lingxiao would have dared to rebel."

The Giant Spirit Army of Nanyan Pass, with 8,500 naval soldiers arrayed in formation, their battle formation and fighting spirit condensed into Ancient Immortal Giant, possessed the combat power to confront the extraordinary under the leadership of Taishi Qingcang.

At its peak, half of the 100,000 West Sea Slaves were soldiers of the Five Seas.

Taishi Bai continued, "Song Yulou, the current head of the Song family, is Song Qingli's uncle and the number one expert below the Longevity Realm in the Lingxiao Shengjing. Tonight is his 60th birthday, and he certainly doesn't want any scandals to happen. If you can cure Song Qingli, you will be doing him a great favor. So, as long as the conditions you propose aren't too unreasonable, he will definitely agree."

"You must have heard the secret story of Song Yulou and the Third Palace Master, right?"

"I've never heard of that before!" Li Weiyi said.

Taishi Bai said, "Song Yulou has been the Third Palace Master. This is an open secret in Lingxiao City. Of course, it must never be mentioned in public."

"Smack!"

Li Weiyi slapped his forehead, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information. He really wanted to ask Zen Sea Observing Mist about the standards for accepting disciples back then.

The West Sea Royal Mansion is located in Qingyun Workshop the east of the city.

When Taishi Bai and Li Weiyi arrived, it was already dark, and the neighborhood was packed with carriages of all sizes.

Prominent figures in Lingxiao City, officials from various government departments and prefectures, either came in person to offer their birthday greetings or sent their retainers with gifts.

Taishi Bai and Li Weiyi abandoned their carriage and walked towards the gate of the Prince's Palace, three miles away.

"How strange, Qingyun Workshop is actually the location of the West Sea Royal Mansion. Why did Zhuang Yue arrange to meet here?"

Li Weiyi was very curious and wondered whether he should take this opportunity to go to the address Zhuang Yue had given him. Before his eyes, a carriage bearing the "Zuoqiu" flag was traveling several feet off the ground, as if riding on a cloud bridge, and landed in front of the magnificent and grand palace gate.

A majestic and imposing figure stepped out of the car.

Just from his back, Li Weiyi recognized him as Zuoqiu Courtyard, the previous head of the Zuoqiu Ling family.

Why is he here?

Taishi Bai secretly observed Li Weiyi's expression. "You can't be unaware that Zuoqiu Ling and Song Yulou have been close friends for decades, can you? Among their contemporaries, the two of them are almost invincible; it's a case of heroes respecting heroes."

"I prefer seclusion for cultivation and am rather ignorant about world affairs."

Li Weiyi observed the people traveling with Zuoqiu Ling to see if they could find Zuoqiu Hongting.

"Old Bai, this must be Brother Zuo Ning? My name is Song Lin."

Song Lin, one of the representatives of the fifth generation of the West Sea Royal Mansion, came to greet them personally. He was Song Qingli's older brother and had been waiting for them for a long time.

Li Weiyi returned the gift.

Taishi Bai laughed and said, "There's no need for so much formality with him. Song Lin is like family."

"That's right, we've been fighting since we were kids. Gentlemen, why don't we take care of business first?"

Song Lin was worried and anxious about Song Qingli. He led the two of them quickly into the mansion, avoiding the noisy and chaotic front courtyard and halls. They passed through the covered building and a high courtyard wall that resembled a city wall, and followed the winding mountain path towards one of the sacred mountains within the mansion.

The ancient trees are lush and the rocks are rugged.

The direct descendants of the Prince's Dao Seed Realm all live in this mountain. Some of their residences are hosting private banquets tonight, inviting only their closest friends.

Song Qingli's residence was located halfway up the mountain and was shrouded in an array.

Only one clan elder who has cultivated to the Dao Fruit guards this place.

On the way up the mountain, Taishi Bai told Song Lin about Li Weiyi's situation, hoping that the Song family could step in and resolve the matter.

Song Lin, being the third most powerful figure in the Song family within their sixty-year lifespan, naturally carried considerable weight in his words: "Regardless of whether Brother Zuo Ning can help Qing Li or not, as long as he's willing to lend a hand, the Song family will acknowledge this favor. The matter with Luantai is a minor one. If he can truly help Qing Li, there will be another reward."

The three entered the room.

Song Qingli lay on the bed, her body bound by two magical iron chains, and the purplish-black veins on her skin had faded considerably.

Her eyes were open, her gaze blank, her pupils dark red, but she remained relatively calm.

Song Lin clenched his fists, his face filled with worry. "For the past two days, she has been mostly calm like this, and she doesn't respond no matter how we call her. On rare occasions, she can recognize people. After midnight, she changes again, her cries are shrill and terrifying like a ghost... How could she be like this? Perhaps the Mother-Child Spring really is the Ghost Infant Spring."

"I've heard that those Ghost Mother imprisoned in the Taichang Temple are even eating Ghost Mother —it's utterly horrifying!"

"Brother Zuo Ning... I'm begging you..."

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