Chapter 137: What Kind of Trash Are You? Since When Is It Your Turn to Dictate the Rules of the Immortal Alliance! |
The Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom was not particularly large. Ultimately, it was merely a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.
Even including those with different surnames, they barely numbered two hundred people. Of those two hundred, over ninety were at the Qi Induction stage.
This number included both the youth constrained by the limits of heaven and earth, unable to quickly break through to Qi Refining, and those whose poor innate talent prevented them from progressing further. The number of Qi Refining cultivators was actually greater than those at Qi Induction.
Because of this, the Wang Clan was able to sustain its massive array of family businesses.
Their reach stretched from the Hidden Dragon Market at the border between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect, all the way to Lotus Immortal City and the West Sea—thousands of miles away from Wang Family Mountain—along with various businesses in other areas like Clear Stream Market.
The footsteps of the Wang Clan members spread across many corners of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's sphere of influence. They had even stepped beyond the sect's territory to establish a firm foothold in the West Sea and Lotus Immortal City.
There were seventeen Wang Clan members stationed on the front lines of the West Sea, led by Wang Rongwen and Zheng Yan. The former was a leader of the direct lineage, while the latter was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a different surname.
Yulou was only halfway through his meal at the Taste-Knowing Bistro when more than half of these people gathered.
"Ancestor, Clan Elder Zheng and Clan Elder Rongwen are both operating deep in the West Sea, west of the outpost. They won't be able to rush back anytime soon."
Thus, he had been appointed as the manager of the Taste-Knowing Bistro in the West Sea's Subsidiary City.
"Where is Jiahui? I understand why Rongwen isn't here, but why is she absent as well?"
Ancestor Jingyi put down her chopsticks, looking somewhat displeased. Wang Yulou merely focused on his food and did not speak.
Wang Jiahui was similar to Wang Rongsheng; her aptitude was poor, so she had left the family early to venture out into the world. However, she was far more willing to gamble than Uncle Rongsheng.
In the West Sea, she had gambled her way to a late Qi Condensation cultivation base. Currently, she was the third-in-command of the Wang Clan in the West Sea, serving as the manager of the Western Sea Immortal City's Taste-Knowing Bistro.
"Well, the situation with Sister Jiahui's Dao Companion is a bit special. An ancestor in his family is a disciple under the tutelage of True Person Hansong, so... so..." Wang Rongchuan answered hesitantly, leaving Wang Jingyi somewhat speechless.
A Foundation Establishment ancestor in Wang Jiahui's husband's family was a disciple under the tutelage of the West Sea's local Purple Palace True Person Hansong. Relying on this connection, Wang Jiahui had been causing trouble, seemingly intending to poach the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan's foundation.
"Yulou, what do you think?" As soon as Ancestor Jingyi asked this, everyone in the hall turned to look at Wang Yulou.
Many of them were hearing this name for the first time. Wang Yulou was not exactly a well-known figure.
The Wang Clan did not have the idiotic habit of broadcasting the emergence of a Qilin child to the world. Therefore, his unique status was only known to the Wang Clan's higher-ups and a dozen or so people in the core circle.
Looking at this unfamiliar young man, the present Wang Clan members only felt that his bearing was extraordinary, as calm and deep as an abyss. Hearing Wang Jingyi call him 'Yulou,' their hearts stirred.
Yu, the Yu generation. Yulou.
Wang Yulou. Why did a mere junior have the right to sit there and watch them report their work to Ancestor Jingyi?
"Since you're here, Ancestor, just deal with her promptly. See which clan laws and rules she has violated, and punish her accordingly. True Person Hansong couldn't possibly interfere with the domestic affairs of a disciple's family."
With just a single sentence, Wang Yulou made everyone acutely aware of his ruthlessness. The corners of Wang Rongchuan's eyes twitched slightly.
He squeezed out an awkward smile and said dryly,
"Sister Jiahui hasn't exactly violated the clan rules, it's just..."
"Just that you're trying to sow discord?" Wang Yulou shot back with a smile, simultaneously lifting the Breath-Concealing Art on his body.
His cultivation base at the seventh layer of Qi Refining was instantly revealed—hiding three layers wasn't a big deal.
"No, no, Yulou, I didn't mean it like that." As he spoke, Wang Rongchuan's heart tightened severely.
Just a moment ago, when he saw Wang Yulou at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, he had already been secretly astounded. Only now did he realize that Wang Yulou's cultivation base at the fourth layer of Qi Refining was entirely fake.
This junior of the clan's Yu generation was already at late Qi Condensation!
"Alright, Yulou.
"You make the decision on how to handle Wang Jiahui. As for the rest of you, listen closely.
"Yulou will be taking up a post at the Western Sea Immortal City's Information Gathering Court. I intend for him to concurrently serve as the Chief Steward of the Wang Clan in the West Sea.
"If you face any difficulties with the businesses you manage, or in your cultivation and daily lives, you can go to him for help.
"Correspondingly, whatever demands he has, you must cooperate fully. You are not allowed to disobey him by relying on your seniority. Do you all understand?"
When Ancestor Jingyi finished speaking, everyone submitted. No one would dare disobey Wang Jingyi, the strongest expert of the Wang Clan.
However, when they looked up again, the gazes they cast upon Yulou were full of scrutiny—a subtle kind, of course. These Wang Clan members who had been stationed in the West Sea for a long time had all seen the world.
Even if they hadn't before, they would quickly gain experience upon arriving in the West Sea. Therefore, with a young leader suddenly parachuting in, they inevitably harbored their own thoughts.
"Do any of you know where the private residence of Elder Feng Disha of Dripdrop Cave is located within the Immortal Alliance?"
Wang Yulou didn't have much else to say. Three days later, he would take these Wang family members to crash his own wedding banquet, and they would naturally understand the situation.
He just needed to contact Feng Disha as soon as possible to finalize the arrangements for himself, Wang Xianzhou, and another Wang Clan member in the West Sea. It would be best if they could avoid any interference.
Yulou originally hadn't expected his path of cultivation to be so full of twists and turns. When he snatched two spots for the Western Sea Demon Hunt from Old Yuan, his goal was for the two people he inserted into Dripdrop Cave to further solidify his foundation there upon his return from the West Sea.
Looking back now, many of his strategies and measures from back then were completely redundant; he might not even have needed to marry Lin Ying. Information was simply too important.
"Feng Disha? There aren't many people surnamed Feng. Are you talking about Feng Jianxian?"
Wang Rongchuan was the first to reply.
"Oh? He goes by that title?"
Wang Rongchuan—who was still worried about being caught trying to smear a competitor—saw that his answer had piqued Yulou's interest, so he quickly continued to curry favor. "Yulou, you might not know this, but this broken sect, Dripdrop Cave, is truly a bit wicked.
"Feng Disha is no ordinary person. Once, using his Golden Liquid Magic Sword, he knocked out a black dog Great Demon with the sheer stench of a single sword strike.
"When he tied up that Great Demon and brought it to the demon-processing court in the Western Sea Immortal City to be dealt with, it cursed him the entire way. Senior Feng's title as the Golden Liquid Sword Immortal spread widely across the West Sea for a time.
"During that period, sword cultivators were so ashamed they wanted to shove their flying swords back into their storage bags. Later on, a True Person spoke up, saying that since he was doing it for demon hunting, 'Golden Liquid Sword Immortal' was too unseemly, and he should be called Feng Jianxian instead.
"However, when we say it, we're usually referring to the 'Feng' that means 'crazy'."
Smoking a dog demon with a Golden Liquid Magic Sword... the 'Feng' that meant crazy.
Wang Yulou chuckled. He took out a folded piece of yellow hemp paper from his robes, channeled his spiritual energy, and tossed it to Wang Rongchuan.
"I came from Dripdrop Cave, and Senior Feng is an elder of my sect.
"Uncle Rongchuan, please take this letter to his residence for me. Regardless of whether he is there or not, at least set up a time for me to meet him."
Feng Disha was an elder of Dripdrop Cave, but he was also the descendant of True Person Feng, who had long remained secluded from the world within Dripdrop Cave. Unable to stand being ostracized by both sides during the intense internal conflicts of Dripdrop Cave, Feng Disha left Droplet Cave Heaven and came to the West Sea.
Nominally, he was in charge of all matters at Dripdrop Cave's West Sea Outer Courtyard. In reality, he had been brushed off with a position akin to the head of a guesthouse or the steward of Dripdrop Cave's stationed outpost in the West Sea.
With True Person Feng largely absent for a long time, and lacking disciples at the Purple Mansion True Person level to prop up the sect's facade like Chiming Xianzun had, it was not surprising that this happened. Old merits were no match for new prominence.
This principle was pretty much the same everywhere. Hearing Wang Yulou's words, Wang Rongchuan's face grew even more awkward.
He carefully received the letter with both hands and hurriedly went off to deliver it. Feng Disha's residence was also located in the West Sea's Subsidiary City.
As somewhat of a local fixture in the West Sea, Wang Rongchuan naturally knew where this 'well-known figure's' mansion was located. Living in the immortal city was terribly difficult, but living in the Subsidiary City was manageable if one just gritted their teeth.
Therefore, the vast majority of less wealthy cultivators lived in the Subsidiary City. Most of the land within the immortal city belonged to the Immortal Alliance; it was only rented out, never sold.
Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators were reluctant to rent larger courtyards. In the past, before Shen Guang Immortal Venerable established the West Sea's Subsidiary City, Qi Refining cultivators were forced to live in large communal dorms within the immortal city.
Cave dwellings outside the immortal city could be built at will. If you constructed a cave dwelling yourself in the desolate wilderness, nobody would charge you rent to live there.
The only minor problem was that from time to time, demonic beasts would come looking for a midnight snack. Ending up in the belly of a demonic beast was never a pretty sight.
Shen Guang had expanded the West Sea over the last two hundred years, and his influence on the region was comprehensive. During his tenure, he had established fourteen outposts.
The furthest one was located seven hundred miles beyond the Western Sea Levee. Seven hundred miles—this was equivalent to pushing the front line between humans and demons forward by seven hundred miles.
Because of this, the West Sea truly moved toward prosperity, and the Western Sea Immortal City's Subsidiary City was gradually established. Walking along the streets of the Subsidiary City, Wang Rongchuan pondered over Wang Yulou, the newly appointed Chief Steward of the Wang Clan in the West Sea.
The Western Sea Immortal City was the bustling hub of the West Sea. Including the Subsidiary City, there were over thirty thousand cultivators here, the majority of whom were above the Qi Refining stage.
Nearly twenty thousand Qi Refining cultivators made for good cannon fodder to fill the lines during demon hunts. However, if they were to cause trouble, it would disrupt the Immortal Alliance's grand scheme.
Naturally, lowly Qi Refining cultivators could not resist grand cultivators. But without these Qi Refining cultivators holding the front lines with their lives, the demonic beasts might invade the hinterlands of Wunan.
This was where the real trouble lay. Therefore, the Immortal Alliance's law enforcement forces in this place were exceedingly powerful.
The Immortal Alliance Emissary's West Sea Mobile Headquarters was an institution directly under the Immortal Alliance, managing all Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators.
The Immortal Alliance's West Sea Punishment Court was directly under the Immortal Alliance. In terms of management, it obeyed the penal institutions of the Western Sea Immortal City and managed all Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators within the city's system.
The Immortal Alliance's West Sea Subsidiary City Law Enforcement Hall held a lower rank. It was considered a local law enforcement force subordinate to the Western Sea Immortal City, with its jurisdiction limited to the Subsidiary City.
However, in many situations, it was actually the most ruthless—this was one of Shen Guang Immortal Venerable's foundational power bases. Because of this, whenever West Sea cultivators saw law enforcers wearing the magical robes of the Subsidiary City Law Enforcement Hall, they would instinctively act with extreme caution.
However, this did not mean the Immortal Alliance Emissaries could not throw their weight around in the West Sea. The people of the Immortal Alliance were the celestial dragons of Wunan; this remained true no matter where one went.
Even though Wang Yulou had come under the tutelage of Zhou Bojiao and joined the Information Gathering Court, he could only be considered half a member of the Immortal Alliance. Compared to the Immortal Alliance Emissaries, who answered directly to the Alliance, he still fell slightly short.
Wang Rongchuan, tasked with delivering a letter, was heavy-hearted. However, when he noticed a pack of white-clad Immortal Alliance dogs wearing rhino-horn belts up ahead, he hastily halted his steps.
Looking closer, he saw that those white-skinned Immortal Alliance dogs—no, Immortal Alliance Emissaries—were surrounding a small street stall, making things difficult for the stall owner.
"This seventh-grade Black Heart Marrow is only produced in the sixth-grade spiritual environment, the Black Water Pit. But the West Sea does not have a Black Water Pit. Speak, where exactly did a rogue cultivator like you obtain this Black Heart Marrow?"
A jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary continuously interrogated the rogue cultivator running the stall. The implication behind his words could not be more blatant.
The expressions of the spectating cultivators were peculiar; one by one, they suppressed the hatred in their hearts with great difficulty. Black Heart Marrow and Black Jade looked extremely similar.
The rogue cultivator running the stall had clearly misidentified it, which was why he had placed the Black Heart Marrow out for sale.
Normally, upon acquiring a seventh-grade spiritual material, he could have simply gone outside the Military Merit Court and found a broker to exchange it for military merit—similar to how Wang Yulou had sought out Wu Faxian in Dripdrop Cave to exchange spirit stones for merit points.
Now, because he had misidentified it and placed the Black Heart Marrow on his stall, he had been targeted by the Immortal Alliance Emissaries instead. That jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary clearly wanted to bully this rogue cultivator for his ignorance and weakness, using his authority to oppress him.
It was no different from daylight robbery. After taking a few glances, Wang Rongchuan shook his head inwardly and planned to take a detour to leave.
"I don't know anything about Black Heart Marrow, let alone a Black Water Pit. This is Black Jade that I found in the belly of a snake demon. Give it back to me."
The rogue cultivator explained with an anxious face, reaching out to snatch his spiritual material back from the jade-faced cultivator's hands. However, the jade-faced cultivator's movement technique was elegant.
He smoothly dodged the grasp, then slashed out with his sword, cleanly severing the rogue cultivator's hand.
"How dare you launch a sneak attack on an Immortal Alliance Emissary! Take him away!" he shouted sternly, suppressing the joy in his heart.
The robbed rogue cultivator wore a sorrowful look and actually began to laugh tragically in a daze. Perhaps he was laughing at his own pitiful and lamentable life, or perhaps he was laughing at how disgraceful the Immortal Alliance Emissaries were.
A spectating Foundation Establishment cultivator finally couldn't watch any longer and leaped directly down from the second floor of the Bright Moon Night Inn by the side of the road.
"Young Master, don't!"
Two Moon Splendor Sect female cultivators inside the Bright Moon Night Inn saw their customer acting foolishly and hurriedly rushed to the window to stop him. Were those people from the Immortal Alliance even human?
Even demonic beasts weren't as wicked as them! But the female cultivators' attempts to stop him were ineffective.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had chosen to uphold justice landed right between the Immortal Alliance Emissaries and the robbed cultivator, shouting loudly:
"Hold on! Robbing a rogue cultivator of his spiritual material in broad daylight—are you even human?"
However, the evildoing jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary was not only unafraid of this Foundation Establishment cultivator who had descended from the sky, but instead asked sinisterly:
"Senior, does this have anything to do with you? Could it be that you are also involved in the smuggling case of the sixth-grade spiritual environment, the Black Water Pit?"
The crime he had just pinned on the rogue cultivator was 'launching a sneak attack on an Immortal Alliance Emissary'—no more, no less, it was exactly enough to claim that rogue cultivator's life.
Now that a blind Foundation Establishment cultivator had jumped out to uphold justice, he immediately slapped the grand crime of 'participating in the smuggling case of the sixth-grade spiritual environment, the Black Water Pit' onto the intervening cultivator. The Immortal Alliance guarded against Foundation Establishment cultivators even more fiercely than they guarded against demons. This kind of crime was also fatal.
"The Black Water Pit isn't as black as the hearts of you Immortal Alliance Emissaries! Don't you just want to rob his spiritual material?
"Don't you just want to know where he got the Black Heart Marrow? And you even had to sever his hand and frame him for a crime.
"Now that this old man has stepped forward to stop you, you actually dare to indiscriminately claim that I'm suspected of smuggling sixth-grade spiritual materials! Outrageous!
"Shameless!
"You've completely thrown away the face of the Immortal Alliance!"
This Foundation Establishment cultivator wore a Heavenly Inner Auspicious Water magical robe with a light blue base adorned with cyan-gold embroidery. Among the jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary's colleagues, someone recognized his identity and said, "Aren't you that Golden Liquid Sword Immortal?"
"What, drank too much golden liquid? Did it fog up your brain? Do you want to go sober up in the Immortal Suppressing Pass?"
These words were far too vicious. Feng Disha was angered to the point that his face turned pale, and he immediately began arguing with the Immortal Alliance Emissaries.
As for Wang Rongchuan, the moment he saw Feng Jianxian step forward to protect the person, he knew something was wrong, so he jogged all the way back to the Flavorful Bistro to find Wang Jingyi and Yulou. — Inside the Flavorful Bistro, the little stone turtle was focused on devouring the donkey intestine tips.
Not only did Zhou Yingxi like this dish, but the little stone turtle also inexplicably enjoyed it. Ancestor Jingyi had already dismissed the rest of the Wang Clan members.
With just the two of them alone, they naturally could talk openly about many things. "...The advantage of 'balancing reason and emotion' that a family retains, while simultaneously using blood relations as a bond to unite as one—these advantages are of great use during the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages.
"But for Purple Mansion cultivators, the family model and family provisions are no longer enough. You need to establish a sect.
"The Gu Family's situation is special. Their tea mountains grow varieties from north of the Wunan Cliffs, which possess a unique flavor.
"Therefore, Qiyuan Zhenren can rely solely on the Gu Family. I've digressed.
"In short, Yulou doesn't feel much pressure in his heart. Our Wang Clan has already discarded the vast majority of rules found in ordinary mortal families.
"Elders, juniors, and the like—as long as their hearts are united for the sake of the family, they are all fellow travelers on the same path.
"Even if a few individuals among the elders can't wrap their heads around it for the time being, as long as Yulou handles matters fairly, they will slowly be able to accept it."
What a cultivation family gained were the advantages of 'balancing reason and emotion' and 'bloodline unity' under the family model. As for the other feudal domestic disciplines, to cultivators, they were practically a joke.
Seeing that Yulou was so clear-headed, Ancestor Jingyi was no longer worried. She nodded in satisfaction and asked,
"How do you plan to deal with Wang Jiahui?"
This seemingly problematic manager of the immortal city's Flavorful Bistro was Yulou's elder, and her Dao Companion's family background was special. Wang Jingyi's question was a test of how Yulou would handle the situation.
Directly handing Yulou a small-scale faction—this was something she and Wang Xianzhou had the courage to do, but ultimately, there was still some lingering worry.
"Aunt Jiahui... I will investigate first. If the claims are true, she will return what must be returned, and after that, she will be kicked out of the family."
Balancing reason and emotion, after all. Wang Yulou did not believe that clan rules needed to be rigidly enforced.
All rules were merely means; the objective was the core. As long as the objective could be achieved, the rules...
Those who rigidly adhered to conventions and only recognized the importance of rules could only ever serve as beasts of burden under the Immortal Alliance's management.
Those who did not understand the boundaries of the rules might not always be trapped by them, but even if they luckily broke through their restrictions for a time and reaped massive benefits, they would still, at some future moment, step into a realm that the rules strictly forbade.
Wang Yulou believed that recognizing the true nature and boundaries of rules was also a necessary path to becoming a grand cultivator.
"But Wang Rongchuan looked very anxious. A problem has occurred on Feng Disha's end," Ancestor Jingyi said, frowning.
Yulou shook his head and firmly repeated the thought he had previously mentioned to the ancestor. "Ancestor, you saw it too."
The West Sea was filled with Shen Guang Immortal Venerable's command tallies. Clearly, even though the Immortal Venerable had been in the Immortal Alliance for many years, he had never forgotten the place where he rose to power.
"Dripdrop Cave is the same for me. Even though I have become Perfected Man Fujiao's disciple, the faction I left behind in Dripdrop Cave still needs to be managed. I absolutely cannot give it up easily."
Since Yulou could think of this, Ancestor Jingyi naturally wouldn't object. "But Xianzhou is here to protect your Dao," she said.
"With him by your side, what reassures me the most is that he can lead by example and guide you through the West Sea's complex situation. If you want to send him back to Dripdrop Cave, I can agree to it. I will even persuade Xianzhou and the Patriarch."
"But dispatching someone else works too. I think Rongsheng would be a good choice, and if not, Rongwen is fine as well."
"Isn't Yuchen also in Dripdrop Cave?"
"There's no absolute need to make Xianzhou go back," Ancestor Jingyi added earnestly.
Whether Wang Rongsheng could reach Foundation Establishment was still up in the air. Arranging for him to go to Dripdrop Cave and help Yulou stabilize his faction's foundation was just right.
As for Wang Rongwen, it would be a bit of a pity to send him to Dripdrop Cave. However, since his younger son, Wang Yuchen, was already there, it was a suitable arrangement.
"Ancestor, if Old Ancestor Xianzhu knew about my situation, he would be very bitter," Yulou said.
"I don't want to make him suffer like that. The bitterness in his heart is similar to yours."
"You both hold it in and never speak of it, but I can see it. Furthermore, I have grown up."
"The West Sea's situation is complex, but it's nothing more than braving the storm."
"With Perfected Man Fujiao around, I won't be in any real danger."
Hearing this, Wang Jingyi fell silent.
Xianzhou was her younger brother. Many years ago, the two of them had spent over a decade together in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; their relationship was incredibly close.
No one knew better than Wang Jingyi just how strong Wang Xianzhou's temperament was and how high his aspirations reached. Even if she harbored bitterness in her heart, she was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Moreover, she had currently formed a two-vein Dao Foundation, leaving a glimmer of hope for the Purple Palace. But what about Wang Xianzhou?
Wang Xianzhou had placed all his hopes on Yulou, counting on him to go further and witness the splendor of the world in his stead. But now...
She sighed internally.
"Alright. However, I will dispatch Uncle Rongjiang here. I can't let you fight alone."
"Ancestor..."
"Say no more. You don't know this, Yulou, but our family currently has six Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Xianmao and I no longer lightly draw resources from the clan, but the remaining four still need provisions. The pressure is enormous."
"Having Uncle Rongjiang come to the West Sea to assist you will also help our Wang Clan establish a foothold here sooner rather than later. You managed things successfully in Clear Stream Market."
"In Dripdrop Cave, you pulled together a two-faction force in less than ten years."
"Here in the West Sea, you have Zhou Bojiao above you and over a dozen Wang Clan members below you. Yulou, it is time for you to fully display your talents."
Yulou nodded slightly, his heart profoundly stirred. Yes, his cultivation base was already at the tenth layer of Qi Refining.
The next step was Foundation Establishment. It was indeed time to show what he could do.
But before he could answer, Wang Rongchuan rushed into the room, looking frantic. "Ancestor, Yulou, Feng Jianxian is acting foolishly again!"
"I went to deliver the letter, but on the way, I encountered Immortal Alliance Emissaries robbing a rogue cultivator of his spiritual materials. Feng Jianxian just happened to be drinking nearby..."
"Unable to stand by and watch, he jumped out to intervene and got into an argument with several Emissaries!"
"I figured the letter probably couldn't be delivered anymore, so I hurried back to report."
Wang Yulou and Wang Jingyi exchanged a glance, both realizing that this was a rare opportunity. It didn't matter whether True Person Feng lived or died.
Feng Disha was Dripdrop Cave's nominal person in charge in the West Sea. Although his outer courtyard only managed Dripdrop Cave's marginalized figures—after all, anyone sent to the West Sea had been cast aside—
if Wang Yulou could pull him to his side, the Jade Palace Faction within Dripdrop Cave would not disappear, even after Yulou was no longer physically there. Dripdrop Cave's West Sea Outer Courtyard could serve as a unique human resource pool.
Properly sifted and selected, it held tremendous potential. As Yulou's cultivation base and status rose, the Jade Palace Faction would have an excellent chance to continue developing despite his departure.
In other words, Dripdrop Cave had the potential to become one of Yulou's foundational power bases, much like what the Subsidiary City was to Shen Guang Immortal Venerable. Feng Disha had to be won over!
"Lead the way!"
"You lot are really something! At such a young age, you already know how to victimize others."
"The Immortal Alliance belongs to all cultivators, not just to you."
"The Alliance's tenets explicitly state that it exists to serve all cultivators, not to force all cultivators to serve you!"
From far away, Wang Yulou could hear Feng Disha's furious voice. This Dripdrop Cave elder seemed somewhat naive, actually taking the empty slogans the Immortal Alliance used as a facade for the truth.
Such a person was a true rarity in Wunan, even rarer than the legendary sixth-grade spiritual environment, the Black Water Pit. The moment his words rang out, many spectating rogue cultivators cheered in support.
"Well said!"
"Mighty is Feng Jianxian!"
"Good job, Feng Jianxian!"
Most Foundation Establishment cultivators prioritized self-preservation above all else. In fact, all cultivators were thoroughly versed in the principles of playing it safe.
With Feng Disha acting so public-spirited and righteous, how could the onlookers not be moved? Empathy was human nature.
The cultivators' anger toward the Immortal Alliance had been brewing for far longer than a day or two. No one was a fool.
Over time, people naturally recognized the cycle: the Immortal Alliance exploited the sects and families, while the sects and families in turn exploited the bottom-tier rogue cultivators.
The Immortal Alliance's rules supposedly protected the Qi Refining cultivators. Yet, few of those Qi Refining cultivators realized that without the Immortal Alliance, they would simply be meat on the chopping block.
Instead, they believed that if the Immortal Alliance collapsed, they might be able to rise through the chaos—this wasn't strange; it was merely human nature at work.
Because the Immortal Alliance's rules had shielded Qi Refining cultivators from direct exploitation by Foundation Establishment cultivators for so long, the bottom-tier cultivators came to view this protection as a given right. Rather than being grateful for the Alliance's grace, they focused entirely on its faults.
"What kind of trash are you? Since when is it your turn to dictate the rules of the Immortal Alliance?!"
The jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary first threw out a dismissive insult to humiliate Feng Disha, then hurriedly scanned the crowd for the onlookers who had just cheered.
"Who was cheering? Who was cheering? Step forward! Step out right now!"
As an Immortal Alliance Emissary, he wasn't afraid of Feng Disha's foolish heroics. The man was nothing more than a bastard supposedly under the tutelage of a Purple Palace cultivator.
If True Person Feng of Dripdrop Cave were still alive, would his descendant have been reduced to acting as a beast of burden in the West Sea? What the jade-faced Emissary actually feared was that a hot-blooded Foundation Establishment cultivator like Feng Disha rebelling against the Immortal Alliance would trigger a dangerous trend.
Therefore, he immediately sought out the people in the crowd who had echoed the sentiment. They were all rogue cultivators secretly harboring malicious intent!
They had to be severely weeded out!
"You don't need to look anymore. Today, you will either arrest me and completely fabricate a major 'smuggling sixth-grade spiritual materials' case, or you will return the Black Heart Marrow to him!"
Feng Disha was tall and robust. Although he was famous for his Golden Liquid Magic Sword, he was, first and foremost, a formidable sword cultivator.
Standing there, he resembled an unsheathed sword. The fury in his eyes made the jade-faced Emissary's heart tremble. Gritting his teeth, the Emissary shouted, "Fine, the criminals have outed themselves!"
"One is you, Feng Disha, and the other is this rogue cultivator distributing stolen goods! You all heard it—you will have to testify for me in the future!"
"He jumped out and confessed to the major crime of smuggling sixth-grade spiritual materials himself!"
Feng Disha's expression instantly changed. He hadn't expected this brutal and greedy jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary to actually push for his death.
Pointing at the jade-faced rogue cultivator—no, this Immortal Alliance Emissary was worse than a rogue cultivator; he should be called a black-hearted Emissary—Feng Disha opened his mouth to retort.
"You—"
"Enough!"
Important figures always made their appearance last. Seeing that the situation was ripe, Yulou spoke up and stepped out from the crowd.
As he walked, he pulled a Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple magical robe over his shoulders—the low-grade spiritual artifact-level Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe. He had just temporarily borrowed it from Ancestor Jingyi.
Ancestor Jingyi naturally hadn't refused. She just hadn't expected that Yulou, accepting the fate designed for him by Mang Xiang and Zhou Bojiao, would actually make such a flamboyant entrance.
Fate was traditionally determined by heaven. However, grand cultivators substituted the will of heaven with their own power, ensuring that fate was determined by them instead.
But Wang Yulou's attitude was to let it be. If he couldn't change it, he would endure it.
Endure first, work hard to develop, and wait for an opportunity! The chance to reach the Purple Palace properly was nowhere in sight for now, but that wouldn't stop Yulou from borrowing the title of a Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple to thoroughly stir things up in the West Sea.
It was just that... Wang Yulou's 'dance' was somewhat strange.
Legend had it that there was a type of dance where the dancer's clothes would slip off as they moved. But Yulou treated the cultivators to the exact opposite—a clothes-donning dance.
The way he pulled on the magical robe while walking was highly disheveled, but the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe was simply too dazzling. Far too dazzling.
Ten Thousand Nights Everbright. The Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe that only a Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple could wear was truly that extraordinary.
Yulou didn't control the magical robe's effects, nor could he. Against the robe's black base and red embroidery, small golden lanterns emitted a faint, mesmerizing glow.
A pale red spiritual resonance wrapped around his entire body—a truly majestic aura. Even many Foundation Establishment cultivators would be reluctant to wear a spiritual artifact-grade magical robe.
Though the Red Lantern Illumination Sect seemed like a Left-Path Sect, it was still recognized by the Immortal Alliance as one of the Ten Sects that intimidated Wunan.
When Wang Yulou revealed his cultivation base at the tenth layer of Qi Refining, Wang Rongchuan's spine completely softened. His identity was confirmed; he was indeed someone from the Wang Clan.
"Who are you?" asked the jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary warily, his heart blacker than the sixth-grade spiritual material, Black Water Pit.
He recognized the magical robe of a Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple. But weren't the Core Disciples of the Ten Sects all supposed to start at Foundation Establishment?
Tidying his cuffs, Yulou discovered that spiritual artifact-grade magical robes were indeed excellent. This Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe was originally Wang Jingyi's custom-made version, but after he put it on, it naturally adjusted to fit his physique.
Aside from being exceptionally expensive, this Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe was flawless. Lowering his sleeves, Yulou first gave a discreet nod to Feng Disha, then looked at the Immortal Alliance Emissaries and stated proudly:
"Under the tutelage of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang, Wang Yulou."
Posturing and face-slapping. But Wang Yulou had stepped forward to help Feng Disha posture—to help him slap the faces of these Immortal Alliance Emissaries.
Speaking of which, Yulou had never actually experienced the feeling of being humiliated, only to turn the tables and slap faces in return. In a sense, this was the price of having walked too smooth a path of cultivation.
As soon as Wang Yulou announced his name, the tyrannical Immortal Alliance Emissaries were somewhat at a loss, and the spectating rogue cultivators immediately grew curious about his background.
"Immortal Venerable Mangxiang?"
"Idiot, it's True Person Mangxiang of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect!"
"Wrong, that person is about to attain Golden Core. Naturally, he should be called Immortal Venerable."
Heh, these grand cultivators were really quite interesting. A Purple Palace grand cultivator wasn't called a grand cultivator; he was called a True Person.
A Golden Core True Person wasn't called a True Person; he was called an Immortal Venerable. This Mang Xiang hadn't even reached the Golden Core yet, and he was already being called an Immortal Venerable.
"Then what will a real Immortal Venerable be called in the future? Great Immortal Venerable? Tell me, is that hilarious or what? Hahaha."
"..."
The idiotic speech concluded, and the rogue cultivators around him instantly backed away. Idiots and fools were scattered throughout the cultivation world, after all.
Yulou encountered many people on a daily basis, but someone this pure was a rare sight. He turned his head and calmly looked at the hilarious guy without saying a word.
Gulp. The hilarious guy forcefully suppressed his terror, his heart beating so rapidly it threatened to jump out of his chest. He gave Yulou an uneasy smile, then hurriedly dropped to both knees, raised his hands, and began slapping his own face left and right.
Thump! Slap!
"I deserve to die!"
Slap!
"I will never spout nonsense again!"
Slap!
"I—"
"Get lost already!"
Wang Rongchuan tactfully stepped forward. Acting as Yulou's attendant, he chased the great genius off.
Yulou nodded at him, and Wang Rongchuan smiled, bowing as he retreated.
"Let's end it here for today. How about it?"
Yulou looked back at the Immortal Alliance Emissaries, directly indicating that he was taking charge of this matter. Without entering into karma, whence would the reward come?
Great karma yielded great rewards; minor karma yielded minor rewards. If a cultivator had the grand ambition to reach the absolute summit, they should not fear karma.
Yulou might have currently lost the opportunity to reach the absolute summit, but that didn't mean he was going to give up entirely. Remaining calm in the face of favor or disgrace, knowing when to yield and when to stand firm—these were all merely methods.
Pretending to be a turtle grandson was a method; pretending to be a beloved disciple under Mang Xiang's tutelage was also a method. Methods were simply the bridge leading to the objective.
It all rested within a single thought. As long as the heart remained unclouded, the path would always be right beneath one's feet.
"Very well, Fellow Daoist Yulou. Since you've said so, I, Qiu Lianpu, will let these bastards who disrespect the Immortal Alliance off the hook."
"However, Fellow Daoist Yulou, it would be best if you didn't associate with people like Feng Disha. The Golden Liquid Sword Immortal... Hmph, and to think he's a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" the jade-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary replied indifferently, giving Yulou a peer's bow.
'Qiu Lianpu... he should be a clan member under the tutelage of True Person Qiu of Lotus Immortal City,' Ancestor Jingyi, holding down the fort from the shadows, reminded Yulou.
Wang Yulou did not speak. He merely gave Qiu Lianpu a slight nod, maintaining a high and mighty posture. Qiu Lianpu did not mind Wang Yulou's arrogance; he was Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's disciple, after all.
He glared at Feng Disha and prepared to leave with the Black Heart Marrow, but Feng Disha was unwilling to let the matter rest.
"You can't just leave like this. Leave behind the Black Heart Marrow you stole from him!" Feng Disha demanded.
Rising up at the sight of injustice and stepping forward to speak out for what was right, all just to help a complete stranger reclaim the most basic interests that rightfully belonged to him—Yulou finally understood the kind of person Feng Disha was.
He was just a pitiful person who never should have become a Foundation Establishment cultivator. After reaching Foundation Establishment, a cultivator stood higher.
Standing higher and seeing things more clearly, even the stupidest person would awaken. And after awakening, what greeted them was immense suffering.
Why did Yuan Daoshen fight so fiercely with Zhuo Yinsheng? Why had he harmed Wang Yulou three times?
Bitterness. The boundless bitterness of a sea of suffering.
In a sense, the seemingly maddened Old Yuan had also just been struggling. Everyone was struggling.
Everyone was enduring out of selfish motives. Even Wang Yulou, who had transmigrated here, had gradually and hypocritically integrated into these cannibalistic rules.
But Feng Disha had not been refined by this cruel world—he was actually trying to be a good person.
"Wang Yulou, is this your intention as well?"
Qiu Lianpu ignored Feng Disha and looked at Yulou instead. From the perspective of the descendants of Immortal Alliance families, Foundation Establishment cultivators were merely slightly larger ants.
There were only two types of people in this world: the people of grand cultivators, and the ants and expendables. The former included grand cultivators, along with their minions and tentacles; the latter included so-called Foundation Establishment cultivators.
He believed that he and Wang Yulou were the same kind of people.
"No, this is my intention!"
A gentle yet powerful voice approached from afar. A rather unusual seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared above everyone's heads.
"Senior Chunze, long time no see."
Mu Chunze walked through the air, arriving at Yulou's side in just two steps. He looked Yulou up and down and spoke with a smile.
"Yulou, I guessed that this magical robe would look spectacular on you, hahahaha."
Patting Yulou's shoulder, Mu Chunze looked at the Immortal Alliance Emissaries, his tone carrying a slight sternness.
"Immortal Alliance Emissaries do not need to investigate smuggling in the Western Sea Immortal City. That is the work of our Punishment Court. Only when everyone sticks to their own duties will there be no problems. You little Daoists had best not cross the line in the future." As he spoke, Mu Chunze's voice lowered, and his threatening intent became even more apparent. "Otherwise, if you run into the Subsidiary City Law Enforcement Hall, even if they beat you to death, Qiu Lianpu, True Person Qiu won't be able to do a thing about it."
"Lianpu, wouldn't you agree?"
Kid, you've overstepped your bounds! Mu Chunze had first pointed out that everyone should keep to their respective duties, then warned that the Subsidiary City Law Enforcement Hall would dare to kill an Immortal Alliance Emissary.
In truth, this was a reminder to Qiu Lianpu that his greed might instead give Shen Guang's lackeys an opportunity to expand their influence.
"Senior Mu, today was Lianpu's momentary oversight."
Mu Chunze was a local powerhouse in the West Sea. This cheap father-in-law of Wang Yulou possessed profound cultivation.
Not having seen him for seven or eight years, his deer antlers had grown another large section. Now that he had taken office alongside Zhou Bojiao, he had immediately become the seal-holder of the Punishment Court upon arriving.
In the Western Sea Immortal City, aside from the eleven True Persons, it was people like Mu Chunze—Foundation Establishment cultivators with actual power—who held sway. Facing him, Qiu Lianpu naturally did not dare to act presumptuously.
"Here, Fellow Daoist, this is your Black Heart Marrow. Oh, right, and your hand."
"Go back and wash it off, and it can be reattached."
"A misunderstanding. Today was all just a misunderstanding."
Seeing that the rogue cultivator stall owner only had one hand left, Qiu Lianpu placed the Black Heart Marrow onto the severed hand, then shoved the severed hand into the stall owner's good hand. It looked quite like a beautiful scene of amity between an Immortal Alliance Emissary and a rogue cultivator.
It would have been even better if the rogue cultivator's tears weren't flowing like a small stream.
'Senior Martial Sister Jingyi, Yulou, I still have matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first.'
Mu Chunze had naturally noticed Wang Jingyi hiding in the crowd to hold down the fort for Yulou. Seeing that Ancestor Jingyi wasn't stepping forward, he sent a sound transmission to greet them, then escorted the several out-of-bounds Immortal Alliance Emissaries away.
Feng Disha had no right to recklessly criticize the Immortal Alliance, but Mu Chunze was different. He was the seal-holder of the Immortal Alliance's West Sea Punishment Court; reprimanding a few out-of-bounds Immortal Alliance Emissaries was practically a game to him.
Qiu Lianpu had been blinded by greed over the Black Heart Marrow the rogue cultivator brought out, vainly attempting to find the Black Water Pit. That was why he had caused today's disturbance and given Mu Chunze a chance to strike. With the opportunity handed to him, it was impossible for Old Mu not to lash out.
Knocking sense into these Qi Refining Immortal Alliance Emissaries would also display his courage to the old veterans within the Punishment Court. After Yulou and Feng Disha agreed to meet tomorrow morning at Dripdrop Cave's West Sea Outer Courtyard, they also left.
Yulou's residence had not yet been settled. Ancestor Jingyi intended to arrange a good place for him, but there were simply too many good places in the Western Sea Immortal City, making the choice somewhat troublesome.
With no more spectacle to watch, the crowd dispersed. The rogue cultivator who had survived this ordeal put away the Black Heart Marrow, crouched down, and used his only remaining good hand to gather up the goods from his stall.
A shadow fell over his stall. Feng Disha looked down, took out a spirit pill, and handed it to him.
"Run far away. Do not return to the West Sea in the short term. Eat this Meridian-Connecting Pill right now, and your hand can still be reattached." Having said that, he turned and walked toward the adjacent Bright Moon Night Inn.
The rogue cultivator kowtowed three times heavily toward Feng Disha's back. When he raised his head again, his forehead was bruised beyond recognition.