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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 62 (206): [The World's Situation Condensed in One City]
(62nd of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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"First, Martial-Mystic Cultivators who have received invitations and those assisting them must be under thirty years old and below the Dao Seed Realm or Spiritual Master cultivation Levels."
"Second, military formations are strictly prohibited within the city. However, Combined Formations, insect swarms, runes, spiritual artifacts, and other such techniques are unrestricted."
Military formations, honed through years of training, accumulate spiritual energy, fighting spirit, and battle intent, even condensing into a unique Battle Technique Intent.
This is fundamentally different from Combined Formations formed by a few or a dozen Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
If armies were allowed to participate, there would be no point in holding the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.
"Third, Qiu Prefecture City will serve as the arena for this Hidden Dragon Competition. Once a Martial-Mystic Cultivator crosses the boundary of the outer city wall, they are considered to have forfeited their chance to compete and will not be allowed back in. The South City lacks an outer city wall; its boundary will be marked by the protective Formation light veil over the Bing Juze Lake."
"Fourth, many residents have chosen to remain in the city. Martial-Mystic Cultivators must not indiscriminately kill innocents or attack those without invitations without valid reason. Violators of this rule will be executed by the twelve Patrolling Immortal Envoys."
"The twelve Patrolling Immortal Envoys are disciples of the Du'e (Calamity Crossing) Temple behind me. For the next fifteen days, they will patrol the entire city, overseeing compliance with the rules and wielding the authority to expel or kill those who violate them."
A young voice, clear and resonant amidst the murmurs, cut through the air: "Your rules are too vague! Various factions will undoubtedly enlist numerous young Martial-Mystic Cultivators and Great Spiritual Masters to aid them. How will you judge? Are we to be arbitrarily attacked without cause? Can I strike first before they even deploy their formations? If two sides are already hostile, can I take the initiative?"
It was Shi Shishi's voice.
The chubby young man stood on the right side of Xuantian (Profound Heaven) Plaza, near the outer edge.
Li Weiyi pondered for a moment, then wove through the crowd toward the source of Shi Shishi's voice.
The Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master chuckled: "This rule is meant to prevent you from wantonly killing innocents. The Crossing Calamity Temple's Patrolling Envoys have already studied all of you. They have their own judgments on right and wrong."
"At this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, the stronger you are, the more you may seem to gain, but the more you'll be targeted. You can only face challenges head-on; there's no hiding. The weaker you are, the more choices you have."
The announcement continued: "Martial-Mystic Cultivators participating in the Hidden Dragon Competition who seizes all Dragon Seed Tickets or Dragon Bone Tickets from any of the four territories - East, South, West, or North - will receive an additional reward of one Immortality Pill. Furthermore, they will be granted the opportunity to cultivate at the Calamity Crossing Temple, where the Temple Master will personally use the temple's most precious treasure to reshape their Meridian Veins, Wind Mansion, and Ancestral Field, forging the strongest possible cultivation foundation."
These words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
A mysterious First-Class expert from the Northern Territory asked, "Reshaping the Meridian Veins... can it forge Golden Meridians?"
The Calamity Crossing Temple Immortal Master smiled: "The Calamity Crossing Temple's most precious treasure, combined with the Temple Master's personal intervention. You can weigh the value of these two rewards yourselves; I trust you have your own judgment."
Once a Martial-Mystic Cultivator breaks through to the Five Seas Realm, their Meridian Veins solidify.
While methods might exist to reverse this process, the difficulty increases exponentially with each minor realm advancement, much like the transformation of a Pure Immortal Physique.
The Immortal Master's words undoubtedly offered top-tier geniuses with Hundred Silver Veins a chance to further refine their foundation.
Golden Meridians, revered as the Dragon Meridians within a Martial-Mystic Cultivator's body, were highly praised even by Master Guan.
As a Martial-Mystic Dharma powerhouse ranked among the top ten in the Lingxiao Realm a thousand years ago, Master Guan had only forged eighteen Golden Vein Meridians in the Spring Surge Realm. After that, the Meridian Veins solidified, making it impossible to compensate for any foundational deficiencies.
Hidden Lord had also said that forging nine Golden Meridians placed one among the elite of Hundred Silver Veins Inheritors.
The Golden Spring's role wasn't crucial.
The number of Golden Meridians a Martial-Mystic Cultivator could forge primarily depended on their innate physical constitution.
Those with fewer than a hundred Meridian Veins couldn't even dream of forging a single Golden Meridian.
Each additional Golden Meridian might not significantly boost combat power, but it served as a foundational pillar, continuously benefiting cultivation in the future. Its importance was self-evident.
And this was just about the Meridian Veins!
Top-tier Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators held equally high expectations for the reconstruction of the Wind Mansion and Ancestral Field.
"Twenty Dragon Seed Tickets are held by the top twenty Martial-Mystic Cultivators - those in First-Tier and Second Tier."
"Twenty Dragon Bone Tickets are held by the top twenty Martial-Mystic Cultivators - those in First-Tier and Third Tier."
"Whether you want to collect all the Dragon Seed Tickets or all the Dragon Bone Tickets, you must defeat all ten First-Class Martial-Mystic Cultivators. They're the key."
...
The First-Tier experts from each territory were buzzing with discussion, captivated by the rewards promised by the Calamity Crossing Temple's Immortal Master.
But after careful analysis, they realized the task was nearly impossible.
Only Snow Sword Tang Ting of the Northern Territory might stand a chance.
The Northern Territory was dominated by a single power, and only the Imperial Court could stop them.
The Calamity Crossing Temple's Immortal Master said, "This trial tests the top Heavenly Pride's cultivation and combat prowess, their ability to rule, and their persuasive skills. As long as on the night of the Lantern Festival, all young Martial-Mystic Cultivators in that territory holding Dragon Seed Tickets or Dragon Bone Tickets submit to you and support you - regardless of the means you use - it will count."
"Of course, if your combat prowess is strong enough to seize control by force, that would be even better."
The voice of Long Dian from the Dragon Palace echoed from a jade carriage parked by the street: "To subdue all the powers of an entire territory! Is such extraordinary ability the mark of the Hidden Dragon you seek to restore order to the world?"
"The chance is high, but not guaranteed."
The Calamity Crossing Temple's Immortal Master continued, "Subduing an entire territory may prove impossible for anyone, or it may be achieved by more than one person. In this competition, the individual with the most dazzling overall abilities will be crowned the Hidden Dragon, their name placed above Luan Sheng Lin You and Ge Xiantong."
In the deepening night, Luan Sheng Lin You's voice, resonant and awe-inspiring, echoed through the city: "What if I want a definitive answer?"
The Calamity Crossing Temple's Immortal Master gazed down at a courtyard-style building within the city walls: "The Calamity Crossing Temple issues eighty Dragon Bone Tickets and eighty Dragon Seed Tickets. Anyone who obtains over forty of each type will no longer be considered a Hidden Dragon, but a True Dragon."
"The rewards for a True Dragon will surpass all expectations."
"The Calamity Crossing Temple will fully support him, assisting him in becoming the future master of the Lingxiao Realm. This opportunity is also available to you, Luan Sheng Lin You."
"Boom!"
These words sent shockwaves through Qiu Prefecture City, stunning everyone present, including the venerable elders and transcendent figures of the major powers.
This was the first time the Calamity Crossing Temple had explicitly stated its position!
Fortunately, this was the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, not the True Dragon Lantern Festival.
The conditions the Calamity Crossing Temple's Immortal Master had outlined for becoming a "True Dragon" were nearly impossible to achieve.
To secure the allegiance of half the city's strongest individuals would require the power to sweep through all major powers and unify Qiu Prefecture City.
Conquering a single realm was difficult.
Unifying the entire world was even harder.
Lu Cangsheng, the Inheritor of the Thundercloud Sect, murmured to himself, "This city is a microcosm of the world's situation. Its inhabitants represent the people of the Twenty-Eight Prefectures. The external enemies, represented by Luan Sheng Lin You, and Yu Yaozi, represented by Ge Xiantong, are also present. The next fifteen days will undoubtedly be a rehearsal for the struggle for dominance in the world. The dragon and the snake will clash, and only the victor will be crowned king."
"Isn't the Zuoqiu Sect's advantage a bit too overwhelming? They'll have an endless supply of troops in Qiu Prefecture City," Qin Qian said.
Lu Cangsheng replied, "What use are low-level troops? If Zuoqiu Ting and Cang Li, the top figures, can't hold their ground, their entire force will collapse instantly! We have less than fifteen minutes until the New Year's Temple Bell rings. We must return to the Thunder Pavilion before then."
Qin Qian was utterly in awe of Lu Cangsheng. Even before the rules were announced, he seemed to have foreseen them, mobilizing all the Great Spiritual Masters to fortify the Thunder Pavilion into an impenetrable fortress.
How many other leaders of major powers possessed such foresight?
Those who had foolishly hired Spiritual Masters to set up formations were utterly ridiculous.
In her eyes, Lu Cangsheng was the only true Hidden Dragon contender.
.....
On Xuantian (Profound Heaven) Plaza, young Martial-Mystic Cultivators from various Major Powers quickly dispersed.
They knew that once the Calamity Crossing Temple's competition rules were announced and the temple bell rang, a frenzy of looting and killing would erupt.
Even though all the Martial-Mystic Cultivators who had received invitations were already retreating rapidly, many were still targeted and tracked. The moment they had released their Spiritual Qi beams earlier, they had been locked onto by rival factions.
"Shi Shishi!"
A group of top experts from the Earthwolf King's Army were swiftly retreating.
Shi Shishi, leading the way, perked up at Li Weiyi's spiritual energy transmission.
Li Weiyi, clad in a Nightwalker's Garment with his hood pulled up, stood in the shadows of a street: "Bring your people. Want to join me for a heist tonight?"
Since a bloody battle between the Imperial Court, the Zuoqiu Sect, and the Jiu Li Clan was inevitable tonight, Li Weiyi planned to seize the opportunity to strike at the Sui Sect, settling old scores along with new ones.
Shi Shishi replied through spiritual energy transmission: "Can't. Ninth Master of your Jiu Li Clan has assigned us a mission. He said the Imperial Court and the Jiu Li Clan are going to war tonight. The Earthwolf King's Army is under immense pressure, tasked with both distracting the Sui Sect and keeping an eye on Night City."
"Oh!" Li Weiyi said.
That was quite a coincidence!
Li Weiyi and six young Martial-Mystic Cultivators from the Earthwolf King's Army gathered together and boarded a war chariot pulled by four Snow Wolves, racing toward South City at breakneck speed.
On the chariot...
Shi Shishi pointed at a tall, bronze-skinned woman with a Pure Immortal Physique: "This is Tao Yanyan, the strongest Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivator under thirty in our Earthwolf King's Army. She's ranked sixth in the Southern Territory's Top Three, and she's the Eldest Master's adopted daughter!"
To make it into the Top Three, her combat prowess must be extraordinary.
Li Weiyi looked at Tao Yanyan, who sat opposite him like a towering mountain. Her arms were as thick as his thighs. Having never seen a Pure Immortal Physique before, he was deeply shocked.
He clasped his hands and said, "I've heard much about you."
Tao Yanyan's voice was deep and steady, giving off a sense of composure: "Dharma King Shishi often says Young Master Li is a loyal friend, like a brother to him. Since we're all family here, there's no need for formalities."
"He even gifted me a Dao Lotus," Shi Shishi chuckled, "That's more than just a brother - it's like he's my second adoptive father."
After his laughter subsided, Shi Shishi pointed at another Pure Immortal Physique woman sitting to Tao Yanyan's right: "This is Bai Shu, Sixth Brother's disciple, a Great Spiritual Master in the Calamity Fire Realm who specializes in Talisman Techniques. She's the third strongest among us, second only to Tao Yanyan and me!"
"Bai Shu of the Love Painting Pavilion?" Li Weiyi asked in surprise.
Bai Shu had a slender, graceful figure and wore daring attire, her chest a vision of pure white and roundness. Sitting beside Tao Yanyan, her beauty was even more striking.
She removed her veil, revealing a delicate face that looked no older than eighteen or nineteen.
Her eyes, like rippling pools, sparkled as she giggled softly: "Oh my, you know my background? It seems Young Master Li is a regular at the Love Painting Pavilion (Boat). Why have you never asked me to keep you company? Are you too stingy to spend the money?"
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END OF CHAPTER
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