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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 82 (226): [Clash of Major Powers]
(82nd of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Night had fallen, and the wind whipped the clouds across the sky.
It was a perfect night for killing.
The Inner City walls of Qiu Prefecture City stood fifteen zhang tall, constructed from ten-thousand-jin blocks of blue-iron stone. A four-zhang-wide walkway ran along the top, with watchtowers every five li and battlements every three zhang.
Led by Zuoqiu Ting, the four ascended the three-story watchtower. In the biting evening wind, they surveyed the Inner and Outer Cities.
The Thundercloud Sect's stronghold, the Thunder Pool Hall, was perched atop a low hill outside East City's outer walls. Daoist-style buildings covered the hillside, spanning dozens of acres. At the summit stood a nine-tiered purple Formation Tower, crackling with lightning and surrounded by circling electric birds, making it an unmistakable landmark.
"Whoosh!"
A young Great Spiritual Master from the Imperial Court, his brow radiating Spiritual Light, used the Beast Taming Technique to control a several-meter-long black-feathered Exotic Beast carrying Thunder Law Profound Ice on its back. The beast swooped down from mid-air, aiming to destroy the formation.
A ten-foot-long golden feather arrow shot from a plaza within the Thunder Pool Hall, piercing the Exotic Beast in mid-air. The beast dissolved into a mist of blood and scattered feathers.
"Boom!"
The Thunder Law Profound Ice crashed to the ground, leveling an area dozens of yards wide.
Lu Cangsheng, clad in a black robe, stood atop the highest building beneath the Nine-Tiered Formation Pagoda, observing the scene below and issuing orders.
Immediately, the Hundred-Character Scripture Spiritual Artifact Heavy Crossbow on the plaza swiveled and fired another ten-foot-long golden feather arrow. Like a golden meteor, the arrow pierced the night sky and struck a Calamity Fire Realm Great Spiritual Master five miles away, who instantly exploded into a bloody mist, leaving no intact flesh behind.
With one attack and one defense, the battle reached a stalemate.
The Imperial Court's next wave of attacks was even more ferocious.
Eight Spiritual Artifact War Chariots, approaching from eight different directions in the sky and on the ground, charged forward with overwhelming force.
As the chariots raced across the battlefield, the air vibrated, and the entire city domain trembled.
"Whoosh!"
Within the Thunder Pool Hall, the Nine-Tiered Formation Pagoda swelled violently, its height increasing tenfold to become a thousand-meter-tall purple mountain that enveloped several miles of land, completely destroying all eight war chariots.
The Thunder Law Profound Ice within the chariots was fully activated, transforming into eight Thunder Seas that unleashed their fury.
Lightning flashed continuously across East City, some bolts shooting straight into the clouds, others arcing horizontally across the sky.
This large-scale clash between Martial-Mystic Cultivators was comparable to a battlefield confrontation, the destructive power unleashed far exceeding the Five Seas Realm level.
From the third-tier watchtower atop the Inner City wall, Qi Xiao surveyed the scene, then glanced at the Top Three invitation in his hand: "Six out of ten of the Imperial Court's top Martial-Mystic Cultivators have arrived. Many First-Tier, Second-Tier, and Third-Tier figures are already present, yet after half an hour of fighting, they still can't break through the Thunder Pool Retreat's defenses."
Shi Shishi remarked, "Lu Cangsheng's Turtle Shell Divine Technique is truly peerless!"
Zuoqiu Ting, with one hand behind his back, exuded an elegant aura as he smiled: "In terms of defense, no one among the younger generation can match Lu Cangsheng. Moreover, the Thundercloud Sect understands the Thunder Law Profound Ice better than any other force. They naturally know how to resist it and how to detonate it prematurely."
Li Weiyi, clad in a black Daoist robe with his hair bound by a wooden hairpin, possessed a striking yet relaxed air of mystery: "That Formation Tower is no simple matter. The energy it unleashed just now felt like even Ge Xiantong himself would have been repelled. Was it crafted by a Formation Master below the level of Spirit Sense Master?"
Zuoqiu Ting replied, "The Thundercloud Sect dispatched ten young Calamity Fire Realm Great Spiritual Masters to Qiu Prefecture City. Using the Fourth-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact, the Thunder Tower, as its foundation, they spent three months constructing this Nine-Tiered Formation Pagoda. Its defensive strength far surpasses any formation a Great Spiritual Master could set up in such a short time."
Hundred-Character Scripture Artifacts vary in power depending on the number of scriptures inscribed within. They are classified into nine grades:
'One hundred to two hundred scriptures: First-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact!'
'Two hundred to three hundred scriptures: Second-Grade!'
'Three hundred to four hundred scriptures: Third-Grade!'
.....
In the Thunder Pool Hall square, the heavy crossbow shrouded in a cloud of Spiritual Qi, with over a hundred scriptures flashing across its surface, was a First-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact.
Li Weiyi, unfamiliar with the world's Spiritual Artifacts and warfare, asked, "If the Thundercloud Sect can activate a Fourth-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact, why doesn't the Imperial Court use Fifth-Grade or Sixth-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifacts? Or even Thousand-Character Scripture Spiritual Artifacts?"
Qi Xiao laughed heartily: "Brother Weiyi, we're Martial-Mystic Cultivators in the Five Seas Realm. With the grade and quantity of Spiritual Qi in our bodies, it's difficult for us to effectively activate Hundred-Character Scripture Artifacts."
"Only top-tier Martial-Mystic Cultivators who have cultivated Sixth-Level Qi can fully unleash the power of a First-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact."
"As for a Second-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact, with my cultivation, I can only activate a portion of its power, perhaps sixty or seventy percent."
"The higher the grade, the harder it is to activate. While the power does increase, the difference is limited."
"For example, if I were to wield a Fourth-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture War Sword, I could only unleash one or two tenths of its power. It would boost my combat strength slightly, giving me a chance to challenge a Inheritor."
"Give me a Thousand-Character Scripture Spiritual Artifact, and I'd dare to go head-to-head with a Inheritor."
"But what if it's stolen?"
"Our Qi Clan, a powerful clan and noble family of Li Prefecture, possesses only three Thousand-Character Scripture Spiritual Artifacts, each a treasure passed down through generations."
"Is it worth turning yourself into a fat sheep for such a small boost in combat power?"
"Besides, at our Five Seas Realm cultivation, activating high-grade Spiritual Artifacts takes considerable time. You might not even have activated the artifact before someone's sword cleaves off your head, just like Yu Zi."
"In individual combat, it's best to use a familiar Spiritual Artifact."
"Heavy artifacts and grand formations are only necessary for clashes between major powers."
"The Thundercloud Sect's Fourth-Grade Shocking Thunder Pagoda and Nine Grand Formations require the combined efforts of ten Calamity Fire Realm Great Spiritual Masters and a large number of Earthfire Realm and Heavenly Fire Realm Great Spiritual Masters to unleash their full power, transforming into a thousand-meter-tall formation mountain peak. The mental power consumption is undoubtedly immense."
Zuoqiu Ting said, "The Imperial Court's Thunder Law Profound Ice is nearly exhausted. They should be about to activate a high-grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact. Look, the Imperial Court's Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators are gathering in large numbers."
Qi Xiao asked, "Young Master Ting, what level of Spiritual Artifact are we preparing to use for our attack on the Governor's Manor and the Far Western Ashlands headquarters?"
"Keep this confidential," Zuoqiu Ting said.
Li Weiyi secretly considered the grades of the Spiritual Artifacts he carried.
The "Corpse Garment Soft Armor" he wore closest to his body was likely the lowest grade, not reaching the level of a Thousand-Character Scripture Spiritual Artifact. He could already activate its faint blood-red scriptures and unleash some of its power even in the Surging Spring Realm.
He couldn't yet sense the scriptures within the Ghost Banner, indicating it was of a higher grade. Its primary offensive capabilities came from its ice-cold power and the Ghost General sealed within.
The "Evil Camel Bell" was likely a First-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact, and he dared not reveal it because it involved the Forbidden One, Yu Tuonan.
Master Coffin had mentioned the "Black Iron Seal" before, saying it was a treasure of the Thundercloud Sect, to be used only in life-or-death situations.
Li Weiyi realized he was the "fat sheep" Qi Xiao had mentioned. Using the Black Iron Seal would dramatically boost his combat power, making defeating an Inheritor effortless. However, he knew it would also bring him endless trouble after the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.
The Yellow Dragon Sword, on the other hand, was his most comfortable weapon. It had grown stronger alongside him, like a custom-made blade perfectly suited to his abilities.
Li Weiyi pondered whether he should recruit more Martial-Mystic Path experts to jointly activate the Black Iron Seal, delivering a decisive blow to Luansheng Linyou at a crucial moment.
"Whoosh!"
A wave of Spiritual Artifact arrows soared into the night sky, resembling a brilliant river of stars arcing toward the Thunder Pool Hall.
Simultaneously, the Imperial Court's Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators completed their assembly on the streets.
Led by nine Seventh Sea Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators, nearly a hundred Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators channeled their Spiritual Qi into a cauldron-shaped Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact.
The cauldron-shaped artifact erupted in crimson light, spinning as it rose from the ground. It grew larger and brighter with each passing moment.
After ascending ten meters, the cauldron-shaped artifact expanded to the size of a house, engulfed in flames. Five hundred and thirty-five scriptures shimmered across its surface, illuminating all of East City.
The dark clouds in the sky were dyed crimson by the cauldron's radiance.
"Whoosh!"
From the Thunder Pool Hall, a golden crossbow bolt a meter long shot forth. Its sonic boom echoed like thunder.
The cauldron-shaped artifact merely trembled slightly. The air rippled, scattering countless scriptures and unleashing a surge of energy that shattered the bolt into several pieces.
The cauldron-shaped spiritual artifact soared into the sky, radiating immense power like a blazing sun.
"Activate the Formation Tower at full power!" Lu Cangsheng roared.
"Boom!"
The Nine-Tiered Formation Pagoda transformed once more into a thousand-meter-tall mountain of purple lightning, colliding head-on with the cauldron-shaped spiritual artifact.
The hill where Thunder Pool Hall stood shook violently, buildings collapsed, and cracks appeared in the mountainside.
Fortunately, they withstood the blow, and the formation remained unbroken.
Qi Xiao remarked, "The Imperial Court is pulling out all the stops! Ultimately, war is about people. The more Martial-Mystic Cultivators they have, the more powerful the spiritual artifacts they can activate, and the deeper their foundation. The disparity in strength between the two sides is vast. Thunder Pool Hall's formation will inevitably be breached sooner or later. Once the formation falls, the battle will likely become a one-sided slaughter!"
"The Thundercloud Sect isn't weak," Shi Shishi countered, "After all, they were once the masters of the Lingxiao Realm. The Imperial Court will pay a heavy price to take them down."
Zuoqiu Ting nodded: "Knowing that the Imperial Court forces led by Ge Xiantong were coming to East City, Lu Cangsheng didn't immediately flee and abandon the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. Clearly, he has something he's relying on."
Li Weiyi chuckled: "Perhaps Lu Cangsheng guessed that the Zuoqiu Clan would definitely come to his aid."
"I think he's just unwilling to part with that Immortality Pill ticket!" Qi Xiao said.
Shi Shishi replied, "It's a Immortality Pill! Who would willingly give that up?"
"Whoosh!"
Nearly a hundred more Imperial Court Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators, wielding a hammer-shaped Fifth-Grade Hundred-Character Scripture Artifact, rose from another district and attacked the Thunder Pool Hall.
...
....
A terrifying aura, enough to make one's heart palpitate, emanated from the Inner City.
A silver, shuttle-shaped Spiritual Artifact plummeted straight from the clouds, surrounded by countless scriptures.
It pierced through the Dragon Sect Stronghold's defensive Formation like a hot knife through butter, crashing into the ground and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
"Boom!"
The powerful shockwave spread across dozens of miles, reaching the city walls.
Zuoqiu Ting, Li Weiyi, and the other two immediately looked in that direction.
The Dragon Sect Stronghold was the residence of an ancient Immortal Realm Giant, covering a vast area and boasting formidable defenses. However, suppressed by the Dispel Rune, all its defensive Formations crumbled under the silver shuttle's attacks. Buildings within the stronghold collapsed in droves.
The attackers were from the Far Western Ashlands.
The silver, shuttle-shaped Spiritual Artifact had been propelled by over two hundred Five Seas Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators.
They were a massive, imposing force, hailing from various factions, each a dragon among men.
Luansheng Linyou stood atop a tall building several hundred meters from the Dragon Sect Stronghold. His long hair fluttered in the wind as he gracefully reached out to the void, retrieving the silver shuttle-shaped Spiritual Artifact and holding it in his palm.
"Whoosh!"
The silver shuttle-shaped Spiritual Artifact melted, transforming into a liquid silver mask that settled on his face.
He then issued the order to besiege the Dragon Secr, leaving no one alive.
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END OF CHAPTER
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