Chapter 270

Half a year ago, Zuoqiu Cangwu reached the Ninth Heaven of the Dao Seed realm and successfully took over from Zuoqiu Ling; he was the only candidate who could support this super gate during the Longevity Martial Prohibition Order.

He was already fifty-five years old, but he looked to be about thirty, and he had not taken off his Thousand-Character Armor for five years.

Before becoming the family head, he had spent thirty years in the Secret Realm Department and knew that danger was everywhere. Except for the armor on his body and the blade in his hand, no one was completely reliable.

Hearing that Li Youyi had come to visit, Zuoqiu Cangwu immediately put down the military affairs in his hands: "Hurry, invite him in!"

The one who brought Li Youyi into the Council Hall was Zuoqiu Cangwu's daughter, Zuoqiu Qingying.

She was in her early thirties, but because her mental power talent was the best among the young generation of the Zuoqiu Gate, she was already a Spirit Mentalist and looked to be about twenty, extremely young.

Zuoqiu Cangwu stood up and smiled: "Youyi, looking at your complexion, you have fully recovered. It's been half a year, and everyone was very worried. Before our Zuoqiu Longevity Order went to Tianya Ridge to fight the demon race, he gave me a thousand instructions to take good care of you. How is it? What are your plans for the future?"

Li Youyi bowed: "Thank you, Family Head, for your concern. Youyi is fine. I came here this time to seek an audience with the Old Ancestor. If it weren't for his treatment half a year ago, I might have already turned into three feet of yellow soil."

At the Hidden Lord's request, the Confucian Old Ancestor had put on quite a show half a year ago.

The Six Desires Talisman on Li Youyi's body was dissolved by the Old Ancestor with a wave of his hand.

For the Nine Li Clan, a major event that required the nine great priests to be moved was solved by the Transcendent with a wave of his hand.

Zuoqiu Cangwu's expression turned solemn, and then he smiled bitterly: "You are Hongting's husband, so naturally you are a core member of the Zuoqiu Gate; it's fine to tell you. The Old Ancestor is not on Taoli Mountain right now; he has mostly gone to a certain battlefield. Is there anything you can tell me first? Is it very important?"

"It's not a big deal! I just want to request a fragment of the Spirit Platform Flame Star Stone; I can pay to buy it."

Li Youyi did not hold much hope; after all, more than a thousand years had passed, and even if there were dozens of pieces, most of them had probably been consumed.

Zuoqiu Cangwu looked blank and looked at Zuoqiu Qingying: "Does the gate treasury have this resource?"

Zuoqiu Qingying pondered: "I have some impression; it seems to be an extremely precious cultivation treasure for mentalists."

"You go to the gate treasury immediately to search; if there is any, take it quickly." Zuoqiu Cangwu then looked at Li Youyi and smiled: "Walking the path of a mentalist is correct. Rebuild your confidence, and with those seven monarch-level strange insects, you will still be a top-tier big shot in the world in the future."

After Zuoqiu Qingying left, Li Youyi bowed and thanked him again.

Zuoqiu Cangwu pulled Li Youyi to sit down: "Just like Hongting, just call me Thirteenth Uncle. As for me... sigh, how should I put it!"

"Thirteenth Uncle, please speak freely," Li Youyi said.

Zuoqiu Cangwu put away his awkward smile, his expression solemn: "Currently, for the Zuoqiu Gate, the two biggest things are undoubtedly the war with the demon race faction and the strange changes in the underground immortal mansion at the border of Qiuzhou and Fuzhou."

"In the three major battlefields of Coffin Mountain, Tianya Ridge, and Night City in the Southern Territory, we are reporting frequent victories, and sweeping them away is just around the corner."

"But the strangeness of the underground immortal mansion has spread from underground to the surface. Half a month ago, I went to check; on the Qiubei Plain, mounds and tombstones have emerged from the ground, already a thousand miles wide, growing and spreading crazily like bamboo shoots."

"It is said that in just half a month, it has advanced dozens of miles toward Qiuzhou City."

"Next year, these tombstones and mounds that perished in ancient times will probably grow outside Qiuzhou City, covering the banks of the Bingzu Marsh."

Li Youyi had also heard of this matter and only felt it was inconceivable.

Half a year ago, the Transcendent battle broke out the entrance to the underground immortal mansion at the border of Qiuzhou and Fuzhou. At that time, countless Wu Xiu went to investigate, including some Longevity realm giants.

The strange change happened four months ago; it is said that a Longevity realm giant in the Southern Territory touched the taboos inside, causing a monstrous disaster.

After a major earthquake, the deceased buried for millions of years in thousands of miles of Fuzhou land grew out in the form of tombstones and mounds.

Later, it spread to Qiuzhou, causing panic.

After the strange change, Longevity realm giants could no longer enter the underground immortal mansion!

Zuoqiu Cangwu said: "These are certainly not things we can solve; we must wait for the Transcendents to take action. What we can do is to investigate the situation inside the underground immortal mansion as clearly as possible to reduce the risks for the Transcendents."

"The greatest danger in the underground immortal mansion is the deceased spirits and the fierce insect swarms."

"Currently, commander-level strange insects and insect controllers are suffering heavy losses and are in short supply."

Li Youyi said: "Thirteenth Uncle wants me to go to the underground immortal mansion with the team?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu shook his head and smiled: "I wouldn't dare let you take risks. If something goes wrong, Hongting would definitely not be done with me. I want to... borrow insects!"

Li Youyi was silent.

The "borrowing" in this world is not as simple as borrowing.

Zuoqiu Cangwu did not urge him, waiting for Li Youyi to consider it slowly.

Zuoqiu Qingying returned and used mental power to transmit a message to Zuoqiu Cangwu.

Zuoqiu Cangwu frowned and said coldly: "Didn't you tell Elder Qi that it was my intention?"

Zuoqiu Qingying looked at Li Youyi and stopped transmitting: "Elder Qi said that no matter who it is, they must act according to the rules of the Zuoqiu Gate. Without rules, anyone could line their own pockets and hollow out the family wealth; he must keep a close eye on the gate of the treasury."

"There is only one fragment of the Spirit Platform Flame Star Stone left, and who knows what great use it will have in the future. To buy it, it will cost at least two million Spring Coins."

Zuoqiu Cangwu was startled: "Why doesn't he go rob someone? I have cultivated for decades, fought many battles, and traveled through secret realms; now, if I sell all my belongings, it's only enough to buy one small broken stone of his. Youyi, leave this matter to Thirteenth Uncle; I will go talk to him personally tomorrow."

"Then thank you, Thirteenth Uncle. Youyi will take his leave first."

Li Youyi got up and left.

Zuoqiu Cangwu, sitting in the chair, had eyes that instantly became extremely deep, and he muttered to himself: "Was I too hasty? But it has been half a year!"

Zuoqiu Qingying said: "He didn't agree?"

Zuoqiu Cangwu nodded: "After all, they are seven monarch-level strange insects; if it were me, I wouldn't let go easily either."

Zuoqiu Qingying sneered: "He clearly wants to walk the path of a mentalist, but half a year ago, he was only a Great Mentalist of the Earth Fire realm; it can be seen that he is destined to be unable to cultivate to the Spirit Mentalist level. The second path is also a dead end."

"For the past half year, the entire Zuoqiu Gate has been struggling, either going to the demon race battlefield or risking investigating the underground immortal mansion. But he has an 'it's only natural' attitude, staying on Taoli Mountain enjoying the quiet years; I think he is truly ruined!"

"The seven monarch-level strange insects following him is a complete waste of talent."

"Father, you must help me take them over. By mastering the seven monarch-level strange insects, your daughter will surely be able to stand on equal footing with the Transcendents in the future."

Zuoqiu Cangwu pondered and said: "He is also a Divine Hidden Person of the Nine Li Hidden Gate; this matter cannot be rushed. How about this: you go and befriend him, and let everyone know that when he was at the low point of his life, it was you who stayed by his side, helping and taking care of him."

"In this way, if he... commits suicide again and gives you the seven strange insects, it would be very reasonable. Zuoqiu Ling, Zuoqiu Hongting, and the Nine Li Clan would not be able to find any fault!"

"How many fragments of the Spirit Platform Flame Star Stone are there really?"

Zuoqiu Qingying said: "Actually, the Spirit Platform Flame Star Stone was used up a thousand years ago; I deliberately offered a price he couldn't afford. Only then can we slowly manipulate him."

Li Youyi walked slowly down the mountain from the Fourth Heaven of Taoli Mountain, preparing to meet Hidden Two.

When he reached the Second Heaven, Seven Phoenix flew back, landed on his shoulder, changed from an invisible state to the size of a speck of dust, and then from the size of a speck of dust to nine inches long.

This is its innate Dao technique!

Shrinking its body and entering an invisible state, as long as one is not too close, Wu Xiu below the Longevity realm find it difficult to detect it.

Seven Phoenix told Li Youyi about the conversation between Zuoqiu Cangwu and Zuoqiu Qingying just now.

The little guy was furious; when it told him, its eyes bulged, and its speaking speed was extremely fast.

Li Youyi stopped, looked at the boundless night sky, and sighed: "Seven monarch-level strange insects, the temptation is indeed too great, even the head of the Zuoqiu Gate has evil intentions. It seems Taoli Mountain is not a place to stay for long!"

North City, on the wide Lishui River.

A three-story boat covered in bone lanterns sailed quietly southward.

On the boat, Li Youyi and Hidden Two sat in a cabin on the second floor where an array had been set up.

Hidden Two was shorter, with a thin face and looked to be in his thirties or forties. He was responsible for the worldly affairs of the entire Nine Li Hidden Gate and was now permanently stationed in Qiuzhou City.

In the past half year, this was their third meeting.

In July, the weather was hot.

Both sides of the river were bustling with noise and excitement, with heavy traffic.

Hidden Two was very good at observing people, drinking and eating by himself, and smiled: "What's wrong? Your mood seems a bit low?"

"It's nothing... give me a cup too."

Li Youyi looked out the window and sighed.

Hidden Two was slightly surprised; this was the first time Li Youyi had taken the initiative to ask for wine, as he had previously kept his distance from it.

Li Youyi took the wine cup handed over by Hidden Two and asked: "Second Brother, what level of cultivation are you at?"

"Me? My talent is average, Second Heaven of the Dao Seed realm, with no hope for longevity, so I am responsible for worldly affairs!" Hidden Two smiled.

Li Youyi said: "Others like Zuoqiu Cangwu, a top figure in the Dao Seed realm, aren't they also responsible for worldly affairs?"

"He has no choice; the worldly affairs of the Zuoqiu Gate must be supported by a top expert. Face and substance are different," Hidden Two said.

Li Youyi drank another cup, his face slightly solemn: "How is the investigation into Qi Xiao's matter going?"

"Hidden Five is investigating; there are already clues."

Suddenly, the sound of water breaking and people boarding the deck came from outside. Hidden Two smiled: "Speak of him, and he arrives! You can talk to him yourself..."

The reason Hidden Two chose the river surface as the meeting place was because the river water could wash away all traces.

After all, Hidden Five's identity was special and must not be exposed.