Eight Hundred

Song Yulou smiled bitterly, knowing that faced with irrefutable evidence, the other party had no chance of believing him.

Li Weiyi was puzzled, feeling that Song Yulou's condition was strange, and looked at Yao Qingxuan: "Does he have Death Spirit Fire planted inside him?"

Yao Qingxuan shook his head. "If the Dao Sect were to plant the Death Spirit Fire in him, the Third Palace Master would definitely notice."

Li Weiyi said, "This is too abnormal! How could the Dao Sect not control someone as important as Song Yulou? Patriarch Song, did you hand over your clothes, soul threads, blood, hair, birth date and time, etc., to the Dao Sect?"

Song Yulou, anxious and without reservation, said, "I did need Lingxiao Venerable's birth date and blood, to refine my unique Rice Sect Life Tablet. Lingxiao Venerable is none other than Six Thoughts Zen Master."

"The Rice Cultivation Life Tablet only requires blood; your birth date and time are not needed." Li Weiyi looked at Yao Qingxuan: "Master, do you know the Six Thoughts Mind Curse?"

Yao Qingxuan said, "You suspect that Song Yulou was cursed by the Dao Sect, which controlled his mind at a specific time. So he didn't even know what he did? He thought he had deceived the Dao Sect, but in reality, the Dao Sect only used him as a tool."

"That's quite possible!" Li Weiyi said.

Yao Qingxuan fell into deep thought, "The Six Thoughts Mind Curse is just a legend. Because it is too sinister, those who practiced this mantra were purged by various parties and have long since disappeared in the era of the Six Thoughts Heart Demon. Moreover, the methods of Gu curses often harm the user before harming the user, and the conditions for casting the spell are extremely harsh."

Song Yulou, possessing exceptional intelligence, immediately said, "If I were mind-controlled and helping them steal the Formation Script patterns, Six Thoughts Zen Master would definitely become suspicious if I couldn't arrive on time. Trust me this once, modify a portion of the Formation Script patterns in the book, and let me deliver it."

Li Weiyi shook his head. "First, the Daojiao sect can't possibly place all their hopes on you alone. Only after you disappear will their other trump cards come to light."

"Secondly, the Rice Cult approached you at least several years ago, right? At that time, you were very important to them because it would have been difficult for the Rice Cult alone to break through Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain."

"But right now, with the Demon Country Crown Prince arriving, Kirin Zhuang invincible, Netherworld of the Departed eyeing us, you, as a pawn, are no longer so important!"

Song Yulou's pupils suddenly turned gray, and after a moment they returned to normal, but his eyes were completely different from before. He struggled desperately, but could not break free of the seals and chains on his body.

"There was definitely something wrong." Yao Qingxuan noticed the change in his eyes just now.

The Old Zhuo approached and said, "Perhaps there really is a powerful figure using curses to control his mind. It's terrifying, practically impossible to defend against. Even the array of the Transcendent Mansion can't withstand this kind of curse attack?"

The Old Zhuo reapplied the seal.

Li Weiyi stuffed Song Yulou into a cloth bag. "I don't think it's necessary to kill this person. It's best for the Jiu Li Tribe not to offend the West Sea King and the Third Palace Master, lest their misdeeds come to light and cause a great disaster in the future. I'm moving him now; we can't keep him here indefinitely."

Li Weiyi threw the cloth bag into the car and was about to drive away when Yao Qingxuan stopped him.

"What are you doing back here? I'm furious!" she said.

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "I will definitely be back before noon tomorrow, and I will give you both an explanation then."

Yao Qingxuan remained unmoved and continued to block his way.

"I returned hoping that all the hermits, including you, Master, could leave Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain alive. Many sacrifices could have been avoided."

Li Weiyi drove past Yao Qingxuan and left the mansion.

Yao Qingxuan did not stop him anymore. Even if he were tied up and sent out of Lingxiao City now, he would still come back.

The Old Zhuo activated his Nightwalker's Robe and followed them, becoming invisible.

The Cooking Elder walked up to Yao Qingxuan and whispered, "He's back to get married. His bride might be that girl from the Jiang family. He's having Yin Er prepare a new house for him!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this news, Yao Qingxuan felt dizzy and desperately wanted to bring Li Weiyi back.

This is utterly ridiculous!

Li Weiyi drove to Qingyun Workshop, where the West Sea Royal Mansion was located. As dawn broke, the ward gates were already open.

With a whip spurred, the carriage headed towards Minglun Alley in the southwest corner of the neighborhood, stopping in front of the gate of the Old Zhuang's residence.

Li Weiyi's face at this moment was the same as when she first came here. She jumped out of the car and went up to knock on the door.

After a while, the door opened.

Old Zhuang, shirtless and wielding an iron hammer, was covered in sweat, clearly having gotten up early and was forging magical artifacts. He quickly glanced around, then limped over to fetch the horse and pulled the carriage inside.

The formation was activated upon entering.

Old Zhuang put down the hammer and said, "Why haven't you left yet? Many Imperial Court departments are after you."

Li Weiyi said, "I will keep my promise."

Old Zhuang was slightly moved. "Are you leaving? For how long?"

"This afternoon, before the city gates close, you, Zhuang Yue, and all my men must leave the city. You will have a place in Lizhou," Li Weiyi said.

Old Zhuang asked, "So urgent?"

"Very urgent."

Li Weiyi then said, "Grandpa Zhuang, please bring Zhuang Yue and Jiang Ning here immediately. I'm very busy; I must see them before noon."

Old Zhuang rode away on horseback, heading towards Luantai.

Li Weiyi arrived at the noodle shop next to the gate of Minglun Alley, ordered a bowl of soup noodles, and waited quietly.

Regardless, he still wanted to take Jiang Ning with him.

He didn't know Zuoqiu Hongting had left Lingxiao City, but he had already sent Yin Er to contact the people of Zuoqiu Hidden Gate, hoping they could all evacuate before the war started.

When Zhuang Yue and Jiang Ning arrived at Minglun Alley, it was already an hour later.

In the courtyard, Jiang Ning's eyes were full of resentment. "I received news that you appeared in Fuzhou. Since you left, why did you come back?"

"I heard you were attacked. Have you recovered?" Li Weiyi felt a strange sense of guilt as she thought about her upcoming marriage to Zen Sea Observing Mist. She suddenly felt that she no longer had the right to care about her.

Jiang Ning felt a warmth in her heart, and the reproach in her eyes disappeared. "I'm alright! Do I look like someone who's been seriously injured?"

Zhuang Yue stood behind Jiang Ning, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Li Weiyi looked at her. "Zhuang Yue, you speak!"

Zhuang Yue immediately retorted angrily, "Xie Chucai was absolutely driven by love turned to hate, and he was extremely ruthless. Miss almost lost her life. Today is the first time she has left Luantai since being injured."

"If I encounter him again, I will definitely kill him," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning said, "His condition is very strange. He seems to have lost his mind and turned into a monster."

"Ignore him! Jiang Ning, you, Zhuang Yue, and Grandpa Zhuang must leave the city today, preferably now. Don't go back to Luantai to pack your belongings, don't alert anyone, leave immediately," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning, with her keen intuition, stared intently into Li Weiyi's eyes. "Give me a reason."

Jiang Ning only knew that the Sui Sect was backed by a cult and posed a huge threat, but he was unaware of the attack on Lingxiao City.

Li Weiyi stopped lying to her. "Because we won't be able to leave tomorrow!"

"Why?" Jiang Ning asked.

Li Weiyi looked at Zhuang Yue and Old Zhuang, who were also staring at him, and then told them everything he could.

Zhuang Yue turned pale with fright. "How dare they? The Great Palace Master is still at the top of the Phoenix Pavilion, and the Third Palace Master is in charge of the formation. They can kill any number of demons and monsters."

Jiang Ning turned around and walked towards the gate.

Li Weiyi dodged and blocked her path. "With our cultivation levels, there's only so much we can do. We've already given it our all. There's no point in staying any longer."

Jiang Ning had been listening attentively and knew all too well how critical the situation was.

She tried to appear calm. "Li Weiyi, I am truly grateful to you. I don't know how to express my gratitude, but you should understand me. I cannot leave alone. I am Dao Seed Realm Martial Cultivator. If all the Dao Seed Realm Martial Cultivator in the Imperial Court choose to flee in the face of war, who will fight?"

"To put it another way, if I, today, cannot steadfastly face danger and calamity, and cannot uphold the beliefs I have always cherished, and adhere to the responsibilities I must uphold, then if we were to come together in the future, and face hardship and setbacks, I would abandon you at the first moment. Do you want me to be that kind of Jiang Ning?"

Can you understand me?

When Li Weiyi heard her last sentence, it felt like she had been hit with a stick.

Jiang Ning knew that this parting might be forever. She stepped forward and hugged Li Weiyi, resting her pretty face against his chest. "I'll stay at Luantai. I can help you with tomorrow's operation. My staying isn't without value. You've done enough for the Imperial Court. Take Zhuang Yue and Grandpa Zhuang, and get out of the city quickly."

"Good!"

Li Weiyi touched Jiang Ning's head with his palm, and a burst of spiritual light erupted from his palm, knocking her down with a single finger.

I had expected it; given her personality, she would never leave.

Zhuang Yue glared and snapped, "What are you doing?"

"If you don't behave, I'll knock you out too," Li Weiyi said.

Throughout, Old Zhuang remained the most composed. He smiled and said, "I only have two years left to live anyway, so I'm not going! If I can fight a glorious battle before I die, that would be truly satisfying. Don't try to persuade me otherwise. You young people have your own future, with unlimited potential, but this old man has his own view on life and death."

Li Weiyi smiled and said, "There are two things I need to ask of Grandpa Zhuang. First, there's a person in the carriage. Keep a close eye on him and make sure the bag isn't opened. Tomorrow, the moment all the government offices in the city open, take him to the West Sea Royal Mansion."

"Alright, leave this to the old man," Old Zhuang said.

Li Weiyi asked, "The second thing is, how many veterans live in Qingyun Workshop?"

"Eight hundred of them are capable of fighting, all of whom were once the most elite and skilled warriors," Old Zhuang said.

"Eight hundred it is. Gather them all today. Tell the outside world that they are heading to Shenming Pass, returning to the Xihai Camp, and facing the national crisis together." Li Weiyi asked, "Grandpa Zhuang, do you think they will respond to the call?"

"Little Li, you're underestimating us, aren't you? Yesterday, the battle report from the Western Territory reached Lingxiao City, and some old brothers have already stepped forward to call for a return to the Western Territory battlefield. There are many who have responded," Old Zhuang said with a smile.

Li Weiyi said, "Alright, gather everyone outside Danyue Ward at dawn tomorrow. The information I mentioned earlier must not be leaked."

"Plant the Death Spirit Fire in me," Old Zhuang said.

Li Weiyi pointed out a wisp of Death Spirit Fire, which entered Old Zhuang's body.

It's not a lack of trust, but a fear of something unexpected happening.

After leaving Song Yulou with Old Zhuang, Li Weiyi put Jiang Ning in the car, then drove out of Minglun Alley.

Zhuang Yue bit her lip, lifted the back curtain of the car, and looked at Old Zhuang had followed her to the gate of Minglun Alley, to say goodbye. When she reached the corner, the tears in her eyes finally fell.

Throughout the entire ordeal, she never uttered a single word of advice, remaining calm and rational, as if to tell Old Zhuang that she had grown up and could take care of herself from now on.

Li Weiyi listened to the crying coming from the car, looked up, and saw the sun getting higher and higher.

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