Chapter 397: Saint Infant Dies, Demon Child Emerges

Li Weiyi gazed at the distant Third Palace Master, unable to discern her features. Under the dazzling light, he could only see a blurry, slender figure, like a deity descending.

The psionic energy fluctuations were intense, an existence whose power covered the entire world.

Countless martial cultivators on the ground, intimidated by that aura, knelt down in unison.

Among the lush trees of the six demon mountains, various structures like temples, stone pagodas, and caves were visible. Some buildings were extremely ancient and grand, enveloped in the shimmering light of array formations and mist of scriptures, serving as demon god mansions left behind by the ancient Emperor's Six Thoughts Demonic Heart.

Only a few ancient halls of the demon god mansions remained as old sites. Their roof tiles were dark, walls were adorned with devilish bas-reliefs, and columns were made from the bones of ancient immortal beasts. Demonic energy coexisted with Buddhist light within them.

"Welcome, Third Palace Master, to the Zen courtyard! An old acquaintance wishes to invite you for a small drink and has been waiting for a long time."

Zen Master Six Thoughts, a monk appearing to be about thirty years old with an eight-star ascetic mark on his head, a benevolent face, and hands clasped, stood in the Zen courtyard, which was formerly a demon god mansion, and bowed towards the sky.

"Whoosh!"

The Third Palace Master, enveloped in wisps of luminous mist drawn from the Nine Heavens Grand Array, descended into the Zen courtyard. Her gaze fell upon the pavilion to Zen Master Six Thoughts' right, where a solitary lamp hung from a pillar in the dim night.

Beneath the lamp were three figures.

The elder from the Sacred Dark Family stood at the forefront, observing the Third Palace Master in the center of the Zen courtyard.

The transcendent from the Li family and the transcendent holding the formation flag from the Imperial Court stood in confrontation across a lake, the water of which had frozen into ice.

The only one seated was a figure who appeared quite young, wearing a jade crown and a green hairpin. His body shimmered, sometimes appearing insubstantial, sometimes solid. Holding a chess piece, he gazed intently at the board and softly sighed, "I came to Lingxiao originally to meet Yu Yao, but unfortunately, she has locked herself in her palace. Third Palace Master, would you play a game with me?"

The Third Palace Master was greatly shaken. Although she had a faint suspicion, seeing this person personally appear in Lingxiao City and the Six Thoughts Zen Courtyard still caught her off guard.

He appeared young, but in reality, he was thousands of years old, a prominent figure from the Demonic Kingdom whom even the First Palace Master, Yu Yaozi, deeply feared.

With the power of the Nine Heavens Grand Array covering her, the Third Palace Master smiled, unafraid of anyone in Lingxiao City: "Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's game on the chessboard, or is it here in Lingxiao City?"

All the Everlasting Realm grand figures of the Imperial Court gathered by the lake, channeling streams of earth vein energy.

After the Third Palace Master descended into the Zen courtyard, the spiritual light dissipated. Night once again enveloped the land, and everything returned to calm.

"It's incredible that even the Third Palace Master was alerted. It seems Li Weiyi has caught her attention."

"Li Weiyi represents the Lingxiao Living Realm. Does that old guy from the Sacred Dark Family think Lingxiao has no transcendents if he tries to intervene?"

The martial cultivators who had been kneeling, watching the battle, stood up one after another.

Most people did not realize the gravity of the situation, thinking that the Third Palace Master's arrival was merely to support Li Weiyi.

"Xie Chucai is already very strong, capable of defeating a cultivator at the seventh heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, and his nurtured dark true spirit is extremely eerie. Unfortunately, he encountered a Lingxiao prodigy who is legendary in both psionic cultivation and martial arts cultivation, destined for defeat today."

"The Seven-Clawed Flaming Heavenly Dragon Dao Heart Manifestation of the Jiuli Divine Hermit is truly against heaven's will. It is said that even Ge Xiantong only has a Five-Clawed True Dragon."

Lu Wensheng of Leixiao Sect sneered, "The higher one's martial arts talent, the faster one dies. Not only is it envied by heaven, but also by people. The more glorious one is in the Dao Seed Realm, the more lonely one will feel when seeing peers successively entering the Everlasting Realm."

This remark resonated with many.

Now that the dust had settled, the Lingxiao Living Realm had regained its honor, and Li Weiyi was deemed to have lost his value.

Many envious individuals came forward, with some saying, "I really don't understand why this conflict, clearly a lovers' quarrel over a woman, was elevated to such an unwarranted level? Li Weiyi cannot represent the Lingxiao Living Realm, nor is Xie Chucai the foremost prodigy of Du'e Temple."

"If Li Weiyi had not relied on his martial arts, he likely wouldn't have been a match for Xie Chucai. Psionicists, in the same realm, are always inferior to martial cultivators."

"Cultivating the Dao in the Fengfu Acupoint, no matter how brilliant, is futile."

Zhuang Yue, standing beside Jiang Ning, heard the discussions behind them and gritted her teeth in anger. She turned around and retorted furiously, "Who says cultivating the Dao in the Fengfu Acupoint definitely prevents one from entering the Everlasting Realm? There are legends where it has been achieved."

Tai Shi Yu said, "Little Li's martial arts are just for fun. His psionic talent is no less than that of a young emperor. Xie Chucai would have definitely lost to him without relying on his Dark Spirit God. If you're so capable, why didn't you intervene earlier?"

Lu Cangsong had been secretly observing the movements of the martial cultivators in the Six Thoughts Zen Courtyard and sensed danger: "Li Weiyi exposed countless trump cards tonight just to show off; I'm afraid his life won't last long."

"He doesn't seem like someone who would put himself in danger just to show off," Qin Qian added. "Senior Brother, you've never been wrong, but this time, I think you've misjudged."

"He saved you, and I can understand your fondness for him, so I won't argue with you," Lu Cangsong said, trying his best to appear magnanimous. He immediately added, "Something is wrong; we need to leave the Six Thoughts Zen Courtyard quickly."

Besides Leixiao Sect, several other martial cultivators sensed the strange atmosphere and immediately descended the mountain and left.

A force from the Imperial Court ascended the mountain, some wearing official robes, others casual clothes.

They were under secret orders to apprehend Li Weiyi or kill him. Therefore, they had made dual preparations.

One of the middle-aged men in casual clothes, with a cold glint in his eyes, smiled and said, "The Yellow Dragon Sword that summons lightning, and the Battle Spear that mobilizes starlight, are all rare treasures in the world. This Jiuli Divine Hermit is extraordinary, holding a great secret."

Tai Shi Yu, Jiang Ning, Ge Xiantong, the Song siblings, and others all looked over, realizing the lethal power of their words.

Another figure in an official robe said, "The Six Aspects of Burning Karma is a great art of the evil cult. From the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival until now, only two years have passed, and one of those years he was trapped in the underground immortal mansion. To cultivate the second layer of the Six Aspects of Burning Karma to mastery in such a short time, there's only one reasonable explanation: the rumors are true; he must be a divine son of the evil cult. Lord Jiang, his suspicion is too great. I must take him back for questioning."

No one had heard the Third Palace Master's earlier whispered message to Li Weiyi.

"Clang!"

Jiang Ning drew her Startled Feather Sword: "I've always been strictly business, believing right and wrong, and reason, are more important than anything else. But tonight, anyone who dares to touch him will learn that there are times when Jiang Ning kills without regard for right or wrong or reason."

Tai Shi Yu swept his gaze over the group behind them: "The people behind you are very powerful, aren't they? But with me here, no one can touch him. My Tai Shi family fears no one."

The real confrontation began.

The most intense and perilous moment arrived. Beneath the calm surface, dangerous undercurrents surged.

On the mountaintop, Li Weiyi employed all his methods, but Xie Chucai remained tight-lipped.

The Third Palace Master personally transmitted a message, telling him to interrogate Xie Chucai, indicating that the Imperial Court had not found what they were looking for in the Six Thoughts Zen Courtyard and were at a stalemate and disadvantage. A breakthrough had to be made through Xie Chucai.

If they returned empty-handed tonight, Li Weiyi's life-and-death gamble and exposed trump cards would lose their value.

The Imperial Court, in this struggle, would also certainly fall into a passive position.

Xie Chucai lay sprawled on the ground, his bones shattered in countless places, blood flowing from his nose and mouth. He grimly chuckled, "Whether I speak or not, I will die. But dying by your hand, I would be very happy. Do you know why?"

Li Weiyi stared at him indifferently, realizing Xie Chucai harbored a great fear in his heart.

There must be a powerful figure in the Six Thoughts Zen Courtyard who terrified Xie Chucai so much that he dared not utter a single word. If he spoke, his death would likely not be the only consequence.

The Third Palace Master dared not act rashly; she needed to find evidence, which might be related to that powerful figure.

Who exactly was this person, terrifying to such an extent?

Xie Chucai said, "Dying by your hand, the Sacred Dark Family will certainly avenge me, which means you will also die. The price you'll pay will be beyond your imagination. So, having you as my grave-fellow, I'm truly delighted."

Li Weiyi shouted down the mountain, "Go to Taichang Temple and fetch a scoop of Child-Mother Spring water!"

Xie Chucai merely frowned for a moment before his expression returned to normal. Some fears were ten, even a hundred times greater than the Child-Mother Spring.

In Li Weiyi's mind, a long-unheard voice rang out: "I'll do it!"

It was the taciturn Dao Protector Wife.

She was actually roused.

Perhaps the enemy's methods were too despicable, aimed entirely at women and children, which even prompted her to intervene.

Li Weiyi's mind raced. He immediately released his psionic energy field and Dao Heart Manifestation, enveloping a small area around himself to isolate it from the outside.

He walked over and squatted beside Xie Chucai, deliberately saying, "Drink the Child-Mother Spring, and you'll wish you were dead. Tell me, what is the truth behind the Child-Mother Spring and the Ghost Infant incident? I swear by the name of the God of Jiuli that I will spare your life."

Li Weiyi leaned his ear close to Xie Chucai's mouth, subtly pressing his finger against Xie Chucai's glabella.

From his fingertip, spiritual light and a chilling aura surged, rushing into Xie Chucai's sea of consciousness.

Moments later.

The taciturn Dao Protector Wife's voice resonated in Li Weiyi's mind: "He knows too little, just six words: 'Holy Infant dies, Demon Child emerges.'"

Li Weiyi's eyes widened. He quickly processed the shock in his heart and slowly stood up.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Xie Chucai, who lay on the ground with a dazed expression: "Don't worry, I am a man of my word. Since you told me, I will not kill you."

Stripping off Xie Chucai's blood-soaked clothes, taking the silver knife and the ten magical artifacts, Li Weiyi strode down the mountain. Instead of relief from knowing the answer, he felt an even stronger sense of crisis.

Xie Chucai's eyes were dazed and terrified. He had no idea what had just happened, only feeling his vision blur and his mind confused. He roared, "No! I didn't tell him anything at all! He's trying to frame me..."

Xie Chucai's body was immobilized, his five limbs severely injured.

Li Weiyi reached the mountain ridge and rendezvoused with Tai Shi Yu, Jiang Ning, Ge Xiantong, Xing Yuenu, Shi Jiuzhai, and others.

"You actually spared his life? The repercussions will be endless!" Ge Xiantong exclaimed.

Li Weiyi said, half-truthfully, half-jokingly, "I promised him. One must keep their word. Of course, I'm only saying such high-sounding things for your benefit. The real reason is that the Jiuli Clan and I cannot afford to offend the Sacred Dark Family."

Tai Shi Yu nodded in understanding and asked, "What did he know?"

"He only told me six words; he dared not say more. 'Holy Infant dies, Demon Child emerges,'" Li Weiyi replied.

Xing Yuenu exclaimed in surprise, "The Holy Infant is already dead?"