Parting on the Immortal Plain

The car was dimly lit and silent.

Li Weiyi raised her eyes and looked at Yao Qingxuan.

Yao Qingxuan shook his head, signaling him not to speak lightly, including through telepathy.

The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

The City Protection Array of Lingxiao City was still shrouded in mist, but the city gates were open, and after strict checks, people could enter and leave the city.

Caravans from all over the world, carrying goods such as ores, medicinal herbs, grains, oils, cloth, fruits, and fresh produce, lined up to enter the city.

Li Weiyi and Yao Qingxuan used Disguise Art to follow a convoy transporting supplies to the Western Territory out of the city. The convoy was led by a mid-level member of the Rice Cult.

Shortly after leaving the city, Li Weiyi and Yao Qingxuan quietly left the group.

The Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain are a vast region, rich in magical energy.

Li Weiyi stood atop a sacred hill several hundred meters high. Under the rising sun, he was surrounded by lush green moss, over a foot tall, which rippled like a carpet in the wind, making a rustling sound.

A hundred feet away lies the edge of the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain.

There, the earth transforms into sheer cliffs, with a white sea of clouds stretching to the horizon below.

Despite the vastness of the sky and the expanse of clouds, there is a nearly transparent barrier at the edge of the cliff, connecting the sky and the earth. To enter or leave the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, one must pass through four major passes and four heavenly gates.

This scene added to the already heavy feeling in Li Weiyi's heart. He felt that the world was vast, yet everywhere he looked there were cages and shackles, and he could not truly soar freely.

He looked at Yao Qingxuan was sitting on a boulder at the edge of the cliff. "Can you speak now?"

Yao Qingxuan's long dress cascaded down her legs, her cascading black hair tied back as she gazed at the sea of clouds under the sunlight. "In the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, the Rice Ancestor cannot sense us. As long as we leave the city, Hall Master An can rest assured; he won't follow us."

Li Weiyi asked, "Was Hall Master An really nearby before we left the city?"

"I don't know, but it's possible."

After thinking for a moment, Yao Qingxuan added, "She deliberately let us leave, giving us a way out. If we leave, we can live. If we don't leave, even if she wanted to spare us again, we would still be doomed."

Li Weiyi was deeply shaken. "Where did I go wrong?"

Yao Qingxuan raised her head and glanced at him. "You've done very well! I was destined to die, but because of you, I was able to leave the main altar alive."

"Why is that?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yao Qingxuan said, "This concerns the success or failure of a major event, and involves the lives of hundreds of millions of rice people. Do you think they need evidence to kill us humans? If there is strong suspicion, they can simply eliminate the threat!"

"We're still alive because Hall Master An has been protecting us. Hall Master An needs a reason to protect us, and you've provided one. This is what has happened over the past month."

"Whether a person can live depends not only on loyalty, but also on their value."

"Given our combined value, without Hall Master An, a single word from us could decide life or death for certain members of the Rice Sect. Yet, the sheer size of the Yang Shen Realm and Sui Sect forces even the Rice Sect's Transcendent to act with extreme caution."

Li Weiyi gave a self-deprecating bitter smile, only then realizing that all his tricks relied on Hall Master An's strength. He asked, "Did the higher-ups of the Rice Sect actually suspect the Sui Sect?"

"To the Rice Sect, the two of us are potential problems, while the Sui Sect is definitely a potential problem," Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi said, "Is there something wrong with the Sui Sect itself?"

Yao Qingxuan said, "It's not just a problem! More importantly, the Sui Sect's stance could truly change in an instant."

"Didn't the Rice Ancestor plant the Death Spirit Fire in the Yang Shen Realm?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yao Qingxuan said, "Firstly, if Yang Shen Realm were to be implanted with the Death Spirit Fire, would the Second Palace Master trust him to this extent? Secondly, even if Yang Shen Realm were implanted with the Death Spirit Fire, he could break free after breaking through to the Transcendent Realm. He is very close to transcendence!"

"In that case, it seems that Yang Shen Realm and Sui Sect are indeed difficult to control," Li Weiyi said.

Yao Qingxuan said, "Therefore, the secret of the Demon Race and the Rice Sect's attack on Lingxiao City has not yet been revealed to the Yang Shen Realm and the experts of the Sui Sect."

"Do you know why, despite countless pieces of evidence pointing to the Sui Sect's betrayal, and the Dao Sect's continued distrust of them, they haven't been eliminated immediately? Instead, the two of us are still being suspected?"

Li Weiyi asked, "That's precisely what I don't understand!"

Yao Qingxuan said, "Because even if Yang Shen Realm and Sui Sect betray us, it will only be when the outcome is decided, when the Dao Sect is likely to perish. Right now, everyone can see that the Imperial Court is surrounded by wolves and is in imminent danger. At this time, it would not be wise for him to resolutely side with them."

Li Weiyi suddenly realized, closed his eyes, and said, "I understand! For someone who can stand on both sides, they won't choose a side in advance and completely cut off their other escape route. That's indeed the biggest irrationality!"

After a moment of silence, Yao Qingxuan asked, "What's going on with Sikong Jingyuan?"

Li Weiyi said, "Hidden One the head of the Yang Family; it's his doing."

"This move was excellent. If you continue, you might be able to force Yang Shen Realm and Sui Sect to the Imperial Court ahead of time. You've already played half the game, why give up halfway?" Yao Qingxuan asked.

Li Weiyi felt a strong sense of powerlessness. "I summoned all the Dao Seed Realm hermits and hermit elders to Lingxiao City. I had already made up my mind to incite internal strife within the Rice Sect, while secretly eliminating the hidden forces of the Demon Race and the Rice Sect in the city, turning Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain into their meat grinder, and giving humanity a chance to win."

"But I was still too naive!"

"The Imperial Court is riddled with holes; it is not an impregnable fortress at all, but a dilapidated palace that leaks air from all sides."

"Lingxiao Palace is so weak that it lacks absolute control over Lingxiao City and is unable to suppress the enemies within. Furthermore, many high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court have already defected to the Demon Kingdom."

"What we need to deal with isn't just the Demon Race and the Rice Cult's spies; even if we wiped out the entire Imperial Court, we still wouldn't be able to eliminate them all."

"Is there any point in staying? All our efforts are in vain. I don't want all the Hidden Ones to perish in this doomed burial ground."

The wind picked up!

The grass rustled softly on the hill behind us.

Li Weiyi said, "After everyone leaves Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, I will send someone to inform the Imperial Court of everything the Hidden Gate has found about the various strongholds of the Rice Cult, the problems of the Sui Sect, and the secret of the attack on Lingxiao City. This is my last act of kindness."

"So you've done all this!"

Yao Qingxuan looked thoughtful. "Give me all the pieces you have. I'll finish this game of Lingxiao City for you. Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

A look of disbelief crossed Li Weiyi's eyes. "You want to go back?"

"I didn't want to go back, but you've done so well, and with the trump cards I have, we must at least use this battle to eliminate the Sui Sect. If they profit again in the Battle of Lingxiao City and grow stronger, the Jiu Li Tribe will be in great danger in the future. As for the outcome of the racial war, that's not something we can decide!"

Yao Qingxuan stood up on the boulder at the edge of the cliff and looked at Li Weiyi, who was two steps away.

Li Weiyi said, "Didn't you say that even if you don't leave Lingxiao City, Hall Master An can't protect you?"

"So what?" Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi said, "You have the Death Spirit Fire within you. The Ancestor of Rice can kill you with a single thought."

"The Ghost Flag can temporarily sever the connection between the Death Spirit Fire and the Rice Ancestor," Yao Qingxuan said.

Li Weiyi shook his head slightly, fully aware of the dangers of returning to the city. "What you taught me at the main altar is that one's cultivation level determines the magnitude of one's achievements. This battle at Lingxiao City is beyond our capabilities."

Yao Qingxuan stood with her hands behind her back, her beautiful face, usually as cold as an iceberg, now displaying a serene and spiritual smile she had never shown before, "The principles of this world are easy to talk about, and everyone understands them. But putting them into practice is incredibly difficult... Being governed by principles can allow you to live, even live well. But being governed by your own emotions and desires is what truly allows you to live authentically."

"Give me the Hidden Person Order, and I'll send half of the hermits away. I'll use the other half. It's time for me to experience being Hidden Person!"

Li Weiyi gazed at her, then took out the Hidden Person Order: "I'll go back with you."

Yao Qingxuan snatched the Hidden Person Order from his hand, pressed his fingers in front of his eyes, and withdrew the Death Spirit Fire planted in his body bit by bit.

Then, she walked past Li Weiyi, stepped off the boulder, and was no longer in that tense state, but had the demeanor of the legendary woman in everyone's stories.

Yao Qingxuan said nonchalantly, "I have the Death Spirit Fire planted within me; I'm going to die sooner or later, there's no escaping it. You're different; you've shown me endless possibilities and hope... Please take good care of Yao Yin for me!"

Li Weiyi stared at her departing figure, knowing there was no way to persuade her, and rolled her eyes. "Then give me back the Ghost Flag."

Are you really not leaving me any way out at all?

Yao Qingxuan stopped at the foot of the hill without turning around, took off his storage bag, and tossed it to him. "All the wealth and resources I've collected over the years are in here. I'll buy the Ghost Flag!"

Li Weiyi, like a walking corpse, left Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain alone, his mind a jumble of thoughts, his heart in turmoil, and countless ideas lingering in his mind.

Sometimes she thought that Yao Qingxuan might be exposed and die at the hands of the higher-ups of the Rice Cult. Other times she thought of Jiang Ning, Zhuang Yue, and Grandpa Zhuang, and how she hadn't kept her promise.

Last night's situation was extremely dangerous, with his life hanging in the balance, so he had no way of taking Zhuang Yue with him.

Before long, he thought of Zuoqiu Hongting again, wondering if she had already left Lingxiao City.

Thinking of Taishi Yu, Taishi Bai, Song Lin, Song Qingli, and other friends he had made in the Imperial Court, he thought of the dungeon of the Taichang Temple and the several Ghost Mother were already half-treated.

Tang Wanzhou's voice emanated from the Buddha's Sarira, as if he were saying something, but Li Weiyi couldn't hear it at all, struggling to escape from her own thoughts.

Before we knew it, we had left Nantianmen and arrived at Nanyan Pass.

Walking down the slope, Li Weiyi smelled the aroma of food, and his five senses gradually returned. He stopped and looked at the four-story restaurant next to him. He, who usually had a great appetite, had no appetite at all today.

"This is absolutely terrifying! We must send this message back to the Lei Xiao Sect immediately. Over the past twenty years, many women in Leizhou have also drunk from the Mother-Child Spring."

A group of the Lei Xiao Sect disciples, riding strange beasts, passed by Li Weiyi.

Lu Cangsheng, Lu Wensheng, Qin Qian, and others were among them.

Last night, the horrifying news of the Mother-Child Spring spread throughout Lingxiao City.

After a night of fermentation, the whole truth was revealed, causing great panic. Once the city gates were opened, the news spread like wildfire to all Twenty-Eight Prefectures.