Chapter 138: Body Locked, Temporarily Taking the Posture of a Hidden Abyss; Shackles Broken, Soaring Upward Like a Rainbow Piercing the Sun! |
Feng Disha was a special case; his appearance left Yulou somewhat quiet. Yulou thought of his past self.
When he first stepped into the cultivation world, he had faced a similar situation. The result was Gao Jian whipping a rogue cultivator to death in the middle of the street while the Immortal Alliance turned a blind eye—even getting annoyed because blood splashed onto their clothes.
He had naively thought that was the limit for Immortal Alliance Emissaries. Only now did he understand that their power was actually this immense.
Because of this, the ruthlessness Old Ancestor Xianzhu revealed at times was no longer surprising. However, Yulou naturally wouldn't enjoy the Old Ancestor's protection while secretly cursing him for being a bastard.
How did that saying go? Certain eras forced men to become ghosts, while others turned ghosts into men.
The rules of the cultivation world were laid bare. Neither Wang Xianzhou nor Wang Yulou had a True Person ancestor.
The Wang Clan was too weak; they had no right to act with the reckless disregard Feng Disha displayed. Furthermore, Feng Jianxian had almost stumbled today.
"Yulou, what do you think of Feng Disha's behavior?"
Wang Jingyi had never cared too much about Yulou's specific cultivation progress. In her eyes, cultivation before Foundation Establishment wasn't true cultivation; it was purely an introductory stage that ground down time and resources.
The improvement of one's cultivation base was a form of cultivation, and learning how to become a "qualified" cultivator was also a form of cultivation. There was no distinction of high or low between the two.
It was merely a matter of different stages and focuses. Wang Yulou was still young and needed to focus on the latter.
Once his aptitude was sufficient, the former would take priority. In Yulou's view, there was a certain inevitability to Feng Jianxian reaching this point today.
True Person Feng was a True Person, so Feng Jianxian could enjoy his protection. Even if he offended people for interests that weren't his own, he wouldn't face any dangerous consequences.
But as his cultivation base increased, continuously offending people meant he would inevitably hit a wall and bash his head until it bled. If True Person Feng were still managing the family, he couldn't possibly sit back and watch Feng Jianxian become what he was today.
'What was real? What was fake? What was right? What was wrong? What was discipline and guidance? What was the hidden truth? In Wunan, there were no demonic cultivators. The winners were all Immortal Venerables. In a cultivation world where strength reigned supreme, incompetent kindness held little value. If Feng Disha truly wanted to save people, to save more people, his most rational choice would be to put all his effort into improving his cultivation base, reach the absolute peak of the cultivation world, and then cleanse Heaven and Earth. Kindness did not directly equal justice. Justice itself was defined by people; only the winner's justice was justice. Meaning itself had no meaning; only the winners could bestow meaning.'
"Feng Disha's appearance today isn't so simple; he might be faking it," Wang Jingyi reminded him.
"I told you three things before. The third was that the West Sea is a mix of fish and dragons, and the human heart is hard to predict.
"If Feng Disha is truly an incompetent, weak, and kind-hearted person, then the story of him using the Golden Liquid Magic Sword to smoke out and knock out the black dog Great Demon becomes very suspicious. If that story is true, it shows that he isn't rigidly bound by methods and possesses true great wisdom.
"The Golden Liquid Magic Sword might seem laughable, but a win is a win. Being unconstrained in his methods and possessing wisdom, yet still unwilling to submit to the rules governing Wunan and even the entire Immortal Alliance—then this person's character is worth befriending."
Wang Jingyi's words weren't entirely pleasant to hear, but Yulou realized he had actually been foolish in his assessment of Feng Disha.
"Ancestor, you are right to remind me," Yulou said. "I haven't seen such a person in a long time, and for a moment, I actually forgot to consider whether his actions were real or fake."
Wang Yulou's astuteness and wisdom lay precisely here. It was just a small mistake, but he could listen to the Ancestor's opinions and was willing to reflect; this was true intelligence.
Ancestor Jingyi slightly raised her chin, pointing toward a grand mansion in front of them, and smiled. "Hahaha, let's not talk about him anymore. You just need to grasp it yourself. This Gu Family Tea House isn't just a tea house. We'll be staying here temporarily tonight."
"Weren't we looking for a residence? Wait until tomorrow?" Yulou asked, puzzled.
"True Person Qiyuan of the Tea King Gu Clan is a fascinating man. He didn't join any sect, but he manages the Gu Family very well. Spirit tea is the Gu Family's specialty, so he opened Gu Family Tea Houses across many immortal cities under the Immortal Alliance's jurisdiction. It's called a tea house, but in reality, it's a place for intelligence exchange.
"If you arrive at a place completely in the dark, you can enter a Gu Family Tea House to gather information and temporarily take shelter. The Gu Family won't sell their guests' accommodation information. By staying in a Gu Family Tea House, as long as you aren't being directly hunted by a True Person from the Immortal Alliance, you can safely leave through the Gu Family Tea House's secret passages. Let's go, we're going in."
Ancestor Jingyi gave a brief introduction and then led Yulou into the grand mansion. It was called a tea house, but this establishment actually took up a massive plot of land within Western Sea Immortal City and was built to look like an estate. Carved beams and painted pillars were only ordinary sights; it was the embellishment of spirit flowers that made it extraordinary.
Entering the Gu Family Tea House's gates, they were received by a female cultivator at the first layer of Qi Refining. Yulou cast a brief glance and understood that this was another Qi Refining cultivator who had broken through her bottleneck using a Great Breakthrough Elixir. A similarly leveled Qi Refining cultivator in the Wang Clan could serve as the head manager of the Flavorful Bistro in Clear Stream Market, or the head manager of the Flavorful Bistro in the Subsidiary City. Yet in the Gu Family Tea House, she could only serve as a disciple maid greeting guests. The prominence of the Gu Family, a Purple Mansion lineage, could be glimpsed just from this.
"Two seniors, are you here to drink tea or listen to music?" The maid gave a graceful smile, curtsied, and then asked in a gentle tone.
Ancestor Jingyi didn't even move; she simply explained openly to Yulou.
"Drinking tea just means drinking tea, but if you answer 'drink one bowl,' it means you plan to stay here for one night. Answering 'drink ten bowls' means ten days. The accommodation fee at the Gu Family Tea House isn't considered low, but you stay in peace, so it's worth it. As for listening to music, it corresponds to buying and selling intelligence.
"There are three types of coded phrases here. Saying 'I want to hear the new tunes composed by the Gu Family' corresponds to buying intelligence. Saying 'I heard a nice tune elsewhere, I wonder if the Gu Family Tea House has it' means selling intelligence. Saying 'The tune I want to hear might not necessarily be here' means you are looking to communicate directly with the local manager.
"Don't use the last phrase casually. Calling it out means a starting price of one hundred spirit stones—the Gu Family Tea House manager will pour tea for you, and whether you drink it or not, you have to pay. As for what can be negotiated and whether your goal can be achieved, that has nothing to do with the spirit stones spent on this tea."
Hearing the Ancestor's explanation, Yulou increasingly understood the difference between rogue cultivators and those with established backgrounds. Just walking through the doors of the Gu Family Tea House came with so many rules and nuances. If it weren't for the Ancestor explaining it personally, how could he have known this?
The receiving female cultivator was somewhat stunned. Having been a greeting maid for so many years, this was her first time seeing someone explaining the secret codes right on the spot. But the Wang Clan members were like this; they didn't care much about outsiders' perspectives when doing things.
After the Ancestor finished explaining, she looked at the maid and asked with a smile, "What are you still waiting for? Didn't you hear that I want to see your manager?"
"Hahaha, Junior Sister Jingyi, you, ah, you... isn't this secretly cursing us? Let alone a pot of spirit tea, even if you come to drink every day, I won't charge you any spirit stones, alright?"
A hearty, generous voice drifted from far to near. The owner of the voice, in Yulou's eyes, appeared directly in front of the screen wall by the mansion gate. He pointed a finger at Wang Jingyi, shaking his head with a slightly helpless smile.
"Brother Qilang? How did you get assigned to the West Sea?"
Clearly, Wang Jingyi knew this Gu Qilang. She addressed him directly by name, even adding the word "brother." The relationship between the two was probably quite good. Yulou noticed that the Ancestor was actually pleasantly surprised.
"This is no place to talk. Let's go, we'll drink some spirit tea that doesn't cost spirit stones, hahaha."
Gu Qilang clearly wasn't very satisfied with Wang Jingyi's sarcastic undertones, emphasizing once again that she wouldn't have to pay. However, their relationship was undoubtedly out of the ordinary.
Wang Jingyi completely ignored his teasing, smilingly stating that she wouldn't drink it if it wasn't sixth-grade. At the same time, Ancestor Jingyi pulled Yulou along, secretly transmitting a message.
'Gu Qilang is a close friend of my deceased husband. Yulou, you have another elder in the West Sea now. Brother Qilang is trustworthy.'
The Gu Family Tea House was a tea house in name, but it had long lost its original appearance. Inside the Western Sea Immortal City's Gu Family Tea House, there were only individual small courtyards. Cultivators drank tea in private; there was absolutely none of that foolishness of sitting in a grand hall with one table per person. To put it bluntly, the Gu Family Tea House was running an intelligence business. Spirit tea was just an accessory.
The group arrived at a side courtyard deep within the Gu Family Tea House and sat down to chat.
"Jingyi, I didn't expect you wouldn't know yet. That good Ancestral Master of your family requested a dharma edict from Qingrui Xianzun in the Immortal Alliance. The various vassal sects and families under the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's tutelage will dispatch a total of three thousand Qi Refining cultivators to the West Sea to serve as fodder for demonic beasts. Because of this, my ancestor transferred me over from Lotus Immortal City. Perfected Man Fujiao taking office in the West Sea is likely not a simple matter. Your Ancestral Master is incredibly calculating; no one can see through it."
With his very first sentence, Gu Qilang dropped a massive piece of news. What deep meaning lay behind Zhou Bojiao taking a master and then assuming office in the West Sea, few people could currently understand. But Mang Xiang clearly had some scheme in the West Sea. This much could be seen from Qingrui Xianzun's dharma edict.
Yulou fell somewhat silent. With one order from a grand cultivator, three thousand Qi Refining cultivators were entering the West Sea. How many of them would return alive in the end?
"How many disciples did Dripdrop Cave send over?" Wang Jingyi suppressed the unease in her heart and asked.
Gu Qilang pointed at Yulou and teased, "Fifty. Hasn't your Wang Yulou come as well? Yuan Daoshen probably never expected that Zhou Bojiao would take your Ancestral Master as his master. With Perfected Man Fujiao here, Yulou naturally won't be in any danger in the West Sea."
Too professional, far too professional. He even knew the specific details of Dripdrop Cave's internal strife. The Gu Family truly lived up to their reputation as intelligence brokers. Gu Qilang, the manager of the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea, was indeed extraordinary. With just a few words, he made Wang Yulou feel a bit uneasy. 'Could he know even more? Stop scaring me, Brother Lang.'
"In a few days, Yulou will marry Yingxi from Perfected Man Fujiao's family, which counts as entering the Ancestral Master's tutelage," Ancestor Jingyi said. "Perfected Man Fujiao conveniently arranged a position in the immortal city for him. I figured I needed to find him a decent residence, which is why I came to your tea house to ask around. I didn't expect you to be here personally. You must put some thought into this."
Wang Yulou first had his cultivation base forcibly elevated by Danri, and now he was marrying Zhou Bojiao's daughter? Gu Qilang suppressed his shock, smiled, and humorously replied,
"The spirit tea is free, but you'll have to shell out spirit stones for a residence."
Wang Jingyi was the one who had initially snarked about the Gu Family Tea House charging extortionate rates, so she couldn't very well blame Gu Qilang for throwing it back at her. Thus, Ancestor Jingyi could only glare at her old friend. With a slight smile, she pulled a sum of spirit stones from her storage bag.
"Take this deposit of five hundred spirit stones first. Until Yulou and I find a residence, we'll be staying here."
Gu Qilang's face stiffened. He replied with slight dissatisfaction,
"Jingyi, we haven't seen each other for forty years, and you're already acting this distant. That's not right, is it? You and Yulou can stay as long as you please. As long as Yulou has any news in the future, just sell it to me more often, hahaha."
It seemed generous, but it wasn't entirely pure generosity. The first half of Gu Qilang's words carried the teasing, intimate closeness of friends, while the second half felt serious and solemn. Yulou once again witnessed the extraordinary nature of seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators. In fact, ever since he entered the cultivation world, every seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator he had met had been no fool. Idiots could be pushed into the Foundation Establishment realm by large clans, but it was exceedingly difficult for them to become seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators who could stand alone. From Mu Changze, Wang Xianmao, and Jiang Baobian, to Yuan Daoshen, Wang Jingyi, Zhuo Yinsheng, Guo Baichi, Lin Mengyao, and Gu Qilang before him—all of these seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators, whether in their grasp of human relations or their cultivation bases and divine abilities, were incredibly formidable.
"Let's stick to paying spirit stones. Don't go leading Yulou astray; spreading information recklessly will lead to trouble." Ancestor Jingyi shook her head, rejecting her old friend's "good intentions."
Problems that could be solved by spending spirit stones were naturally best solved with spirit stones.
"Jingyi, you treat me too much like an outsider," Gu Qilang said. "Yulou is your junior, and he is also my junior. Gathering intelligence is merely my official duty.
"As for staying... let alone one or two days, I say there's absolutely no need to pick a residence for Yulou. He can just live here, for as long as he wants.
"As for intelligence, Yulou can sell it if he wants to. If he doesn't, I absolutely won't ask. How about this, Yulou: if there's ever a time I ask reckless questions, just report it truthfully to your Ancestor Jingyi and have her hack me to death with a single sword strike!"
'Just report it truthfully to your Ancestor Jingyi and have her hack me to death with a single sword strike!'
Gu Qilang really was a fascinating character, completely refusing to treat himself as an outsider. It felt quite similar to how Wang Yulou treated Lin Mengyao.
Back then, before he and Lin Ying were married, he had respected Lin Mengyao like his own blood ancestor every day, managing to pull in quite a bit of support that way. Status wasn't something you gave yourself, but you could control your own posture.
The secret to relationships, aside from the intrinsic value of both parties, lay in one's posture. Wang Yulou was clearly a future rising star of the Behemoth Lineage.
Gu Qilang wanted to rope him in and get close, so naturally, he was willing to adopt an accommodating posture. At the same time, Gu Qilang was the manager of the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea.
Ancestor Jingyi considered that since Wang Yulou was mingling in the West Sea, there might come a time when he would need Gu Qilang's help. Therefore, facing Old Gu's posture, it was truly hard for her to say, "You seem to be treating yourself a little too much like family."
This was exactly Gu Qilang's level of skill.
"A residence still must be chosen," Ancestor Jingyi insisted. "After Yulou and Zhou Yingxi get married, he can't very well bring Zhou Yingxi to live here with you. Brother Qilang, take out the information you have on residences currently for sale. We'll pick out a few suitable ones today and go inspect them on-site tomorrow."
How does one become a qualified intelligence broker? Gu Qilang had already extracted three pieces of information from Wang Jingyi's words. First, the union between Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi was not a patrilocal marriage where he married into her family—it was not the same situation as Mu Changze's. Second, they were buying a residence, not renting one—the Wang Clan might develop a presence in the West Sea. Wang Jingyi's earlier display of not knowing the Ancestral Master's layout might have been an act; Patriarch Mangxiang's plans were massive. Third, Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi's wedding would likely happen within ten days or so. Otherwise, Wang Jingyi wouldn't be in such a rush to set general targets today and go inspect them tomorrow.
Gu Qilang sent out a voice transmission, and moments later, a Gu Family assistant came over carrying the relevant materials. The manager of the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea summoned a special spiritual artifact. Amidst shifting spiritual resonance, the layout of Western Sea Immortal City and its Subsidiary City unfolded before them. The streets and buildings within the immortal city and Subsidiary City appeared in a hazy form on the sand table constructed from spiritual resonance.
Gu Qilang lightly activated a dharma technique, and over seventy pale red spots revealed themselves on the azure sand table.
"These seventy-plus mansions are all for sale. Look here, there are twenty-seven in the immortal city and forty-five in the Subsidiary City. Big and small, they vary greatly. In terms of price, the ones in the immortal city are more expensive, and they aren't easy to liquidate. My recommendation is to just buy a place in the Subsidiary City. If you want to take it off your hands in the future, you can still sell it quickly."
Gu Qilang wasn't purely giving advice; he was also probing the true thoughts of Wang Jingyi, who might know Mang Xiang's objectives.
Buying in the immortal city versus buying in the Subsidiary City carried different meanings—completely different meanings.
"How much is this place selling for?" Ancestor Jingyi asked, pointing at a red-glowing mansion.
The spiritual resonance sand table instantly morphed. The selected residence rapidly expanded, transforming from an inconspicuous tiny dot into a small courtyard roughly the size of a plate.
The scenery inside the courtyard was hazy, but the general surroundings were quite clear.
"This place is the seventeenth house on the second avenue of West Sea Ward in the immortal city. Most of the residents in West Sea Ward are foreign rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators. The courtyard is small, and the selling price is relatively cheaper—eighty thousand spirit stones is enough."
Hiss... eighty thousand spirit stones.
Wang Yulou drew a sharp breath. The property prices within the immortal city seemed suspiciously high.
"How big is it exactly?"
Wang Jingyi, on the other hand, didn't panic in the slightest. Eighty thousand spirit stones to buy a safe immortal city mansion that could be passed down might seem expensive, but it was also market price.
"Five and a half zhang wide, seven zhang long. Two courtyards, eight rooms, and one hall, with an attached small garden. A standard Foundation Establishment residence that can easily house several dozen people."
"Housing several dozen people is a bit cramped. What about that one?"
Housing several dozen people is a bit cramped? Pondering the intelligence he had just probed out, Gu Qilang smiled and continued his introductions.
"The second house on the seventh avenue of Myriad Laws Ward in the Subsidiary City. A good place; it's right next to the branch compound of the Annex City Enforcement Team. Seventy thousand spirit stones, six zhang wide and ten zhang long. Two courtyards, ten rooms, one hall, and a single water pond. It's also a good choice."
Yulou thought to himself that the immortal suburbs truly couldn't compare to the immortal city's inner ring. Its area was obviously double the previous place, yet the price was still a chunk cheaper.
"Hmm... how about this: introduce both the most expensive and the cheapest options."
Ancestor Jingyi changed her method of questioning, confusing both Yulou and Gu Qilang.
"The most expensive... the most expensive is right here."
The spiritual resonance sand table shifted like spinning stars, dragging the view straight to the very center of Western Sea Immortal City.
"The former site of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda, the fourth unit on Fengtian Street in the Western Sea Immortal City. This place isn't for living, but for opening a shop. There is no set price; the specific selling price needs to be negotiated with Xihai Qingfeng, the manager of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda. I'm guessing it starts at at least four to five million spirit stones."
The former site of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda, Xihai Qingfeng, four to five million spirit stones.
Wang Jingyi shook her head to show she wasn't considering it. Gu Qilang wasn't surprised.
If the Wang Clan could truly afford it, he would have to directly report to Gu Qiyuan—Ancestor, something major might have happened.
"The cheapest is in the rogue cultivator ward in the Subsidiary City. I don't even know whose household this used to be. Five thousand spirit stones is enough. A standard rogue cultivator ward courtyard that is two zhang wide and three zhang long. It's on the smaller side, but it's cheap and has great liquidity; it's actually very easy to sell."
Yulou nodded inwardly. Sure enough, even old, run-down, tiny properties in the regional center cities of the cultivation world had good liquidity.
What should this be called? A rogue cultivator's first mansion in the immortal city?
"Start introducing from the third most expensive. We'll look at them one by one; we can't buy something too cheap."
Although she was starting from the third most expensive, Wang Jingyi's extravagance still made Gu Qilang slightly startled.
"The third most expensive..."
Gu Qilang introduced them, and Wang Jingyi listened, occasionally asking for Yulou's opinion. She finally selected eight places of interest, agreeing to go look at them tomorrow.
Old Gu was reliable. He arranged for the two of them to stay in the second cheapest courtyard within the Gu Family Tea House. The implication was obvious—you really can stay for free, I'm not joking.
However, neither Wang Jingyi nor Wang Yulou had any intention of taking advantage of this small favor.
"Ancestor, those mansions you selected are all very expensive. Didn't you say that our Wang Clan was almost unable to supply the cultivation resources for a few Foundation Establishment cultivators?"
The setting sun hung dim and heavy. Yulou and Ancestor Jingyi sat facing each other across a stone table in the courtyard.
"It will be fine if you pay the spirit stones. Don't you still have a sum of spirit stones?"
Wang Jingyi's words left Yulou somewhat puzzled.
"I can pay, it's just..."
The spirit stones, naturally, belonged to the family; they were merely sitting temporarily in Yulou's storage bag. Yulou still understood this big-picture perspective.
The family had not treated him thinly, so he naturally couldn't be vague or hesitant at a time like this.
"Hahaha, Yulou, when you and Zhou Yingxi get married, Zhou Bojiao must pay for your Foundation Establishment resources!" Ancestor Jingyi laughed. "All those spirit stones you saved up previously can be used to buy a mansion. If Zhou Bojiao won't cough up the resources, just wait slowly; we are in no rush.
"Of course, if Zhou Bojiao is truly stingy and holds out for twenty years without mentioning your Foundation Establishment resources, the family will arrange Foundation Establishment resources for you."
"So that was how it was." Realization dawned on Yulou. 'Right, I've suffered such a great grievance to act as a stepping stone for Zhou Yingxi. You, Zhou Bojiao, as my master and ancestor, shouldn't you help me achieve Foundation Establishment sooner rather than later?' Towards the Wang Clan, Wang Yulou's loyalty was beyond words. Towards Zhou Bojiao, this new ancestor and new master, that was another matter entirely. "Ancestor, regarding the spirit stones in my hands: the one hundred thousand that Old Yuan paid in compensation is one sum. I exchanged Dripdrop Cave merit points for another sum before coming to the West Sea, and adding the income from River Bend Fishing Port and the Exchange Gathering, it totals one hundred and fifty thousand. I originally wanted to use these spirit stones to exchange for another life-extending pill for Old Ancestor Xianzhu. However, looking at the current situation, with three thousand Qi Refining cultivators entering the West Sea, earning another big sum shouldn't be difficult if I put in a little effort. I can shell out one hundred and forty thousand spirit stones. What do you think?" Of the one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, the majority were originally prepared by Yulou for his cultivation.
High-speed cultivation required a heavenly amount of resources, and the diminishing marginal utility of spirit pills was severe. In the end, True Person Danri had forcibly elevated his cultivation from the sixth layer to the tenth.
Because of this, Old Ancestor Xianzhu no longer needed to follow by his side, and the cultivation resources he had saved up back then were spared. "No need.
"Paying one hundred thousand is about enough. We can't appear too wealthy either.
"One hundred thousand is already sufficient to buy a good mansion within the immortal city. Here's the plan: you go meet Feng Disha tomorrow, and then report to the Information Gathering Court.
"Tomorrow, I will go with your Uncle Qilang to inspect the few selected candidates on-site and pick the three absolute best out of them. The day after tomorrow, you can personally decide on the specific one.
"We'll resolve the matter of the residence as soon as possible."
After Zhou Yingxi and Yulou married, Yulou definitely wouldn't be marrying into her family; Zhou Bojiao didn't have that much face. Thus, Yulou needed a decent mansion for the newlyweds to live in. Moreover, as the manager of the dozen or so Wang Clan members in the West Sea, Yulou's mansion could also serve as their residence. Therefore, it was only proper for it to be a little bigger and more expensive. The Ancestor's arrangement was very thorough. Yulou nodded in agreement, but he had noticed a bizarre detail today. "Ancestor, why is Gu Qilang from the same generation as True Person Qiyuan?"
Ancestor Jingyi nodded in satisfaction. Yulou was indeed astute and paid attention to the details.
"Our family's genealogy dictates that male clan members take on a generational character every hundred years, while female clan members are named freely. However, the genealogical naming order differs between families.
"Qingrui Xianzun achieved the Dao as a female cultivator; in her family, women have generational characters while men do not. You are also aware of the Zhuo Family in Dripdrop Cave.
"Only seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators are allowed a generational character; ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators like Elder Zhuo Chi do not have one. True Person Gu is a fascinating man with quite a talent for management.
"The Gu Family's generational characters can be bought. The status of a Gu Family disciple can also be bought and promoted.
"Although the Gu Family is a clan, it actually possesses the structure of a sect. For example, you could buy a 'Tong' generational character and become a True Inheritor or Elder of the Gu Family.
"If you make contributions, you could even be promoted to the 'Qi' generation. This strategy is very interesting.
"One could say that it is entirely by relying on this special model and their specialty spirit tea that the Gu Family has developed to where it is today."
The cultivation world was indeed exceptionally brilliant, and the grand cultivators truly all blazed their own extraordinary trails. Gu Qiyuan Zhenren's model of "selling generational characters" was filled with limitless creativity. Yulou felt a surge of pressure.
Mang Xiang, Shen Guang, Gu Qiyuan, Gong Jiusheng, Hong Li, Zhuzhao, Qingrui—these grand cultivators were truly extraordinary. How should he strive so that he could stand alongside them, or perhaps even stand higher?
"What's wrong? Did you think of something?" Seeing the boy fall somewhat silent, Ancestor Jingyi asked.
Wang Yulou smiled, stood up from the stone stool, and opened his arms. Facing the heavy setting sun, he bared his true heart in a rare display.
"Ancestor, you once said that every Purple Mansion True Man blazes their own extraordinary trail, and all Gold Core Immortal Venerables are legends.
"Yulou was just thinking: could the cages of Wunan and even the Immortal Alliance, and the special predicament I currently face of losing the orthodox opportunity for the Purple Palace, be the beginning of some sort of legend?
"This cage is so sturdy, so tight, and the restrictions placed on me by the Ancestral Master and Perfected Man Fujiao are so massive. The path forward for Yulou will be very, very difficult.
"But didn't every legendary Gold Core Immortal Venerable, every extraordinary Purple Mansion True Man, walk up from the most difficult of paths? Shen Guang Immortal Venerable, starting as a rogue cultivator with five spirit roots, carved out his own path to enlightenment through slaughter in the West Sea.
"Every other True Person and every Immortal Venerable experienced situations more difficult than my current one, and they smashed their way through too. As the saying goes, body locked, temporarily taking the posture of a hidden abyss; shackles broken, soaring upward like a rainbow piercing the sun.
"No matter how hard the road ahead, Yulou will walk it with hope in his heart!"
Wang Jingyi remained motionless for a long time. She wanted to say, Wang Yulou, you have the aptitude for the Purple Palace. But she felt those words were inappropriate. She couldn't agree with Wang Yulou too much. His path would not be easy to walk. If she gave him too much hope, and in the future he ended up like Xianzhou... "Take it slowly, Yulou. Don't rush. You are our family's most extraordinary Qilin child. Even if... Go get some rest." Yulou bowed respectfully and didn't say anything more.
Family, self, sect, Ancestral Master, Immortal Alliance. This cultivation world was far too complex; the only thing he could determine was himself.
Regarding the person Feng Disha, Yulou was very interested. First among the reasons were matters of interest.
This wasn't shameful. The prerequisite for not speaking of interests was having a surplus, and Wang Yulou had no surplus.
Every Immortal Alliance cultivator owed the Immortal Alliance infinite gratitude. As a child of the Wang Clan, a vassal of Mang Xiang, Yulou owed an extra debt of gratitude to Mang Xiang.
Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay. Having enjoyed the conveniences of being under the tutelage of Mang Xiang, he had to bear the price; he couldn't dodge it.
Aside from matters of interest, Yulou also inwardly admired Feng Jianxian's moral fortitude in speaking out against injustice. So much so that he subconsciously forgot to keep his guard up and directly formed a preconceived positive impression of Feng Disha.
Therefore, in the morning, before the agreed-upon time, Yulou arrived early at the entrance to Feng Disha's mansion. Perhaps due to the Feng family's legacy, Feng Disha's residence was located in the best sector of the Subsidiary City.
It was large, beautiful, and extremely lavish. Yulou had only stood at the door for a moment when the main gates opened from the inside.
Feng Jianxian, dressed in a Dripdrop Cave elder's Heavenly Inner Auspicious Water magical robe, walked out with a smile. "I know about your situation.
"Old Yuan is a bastard, but now that you've come to the West Sea, you're safe. Yesterday, when you walked out wearing the Red Lantern Illumination Sect True Disciple magical robe, the face of that little animal from the Qiu family completely changed, hahaha.
"You helped me out so much. Come, I'll take you to a good place and properly thank you."
Elder Disha was a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator. His cultivation base was restrained yet deeply concentrated, but he actually used the tone of a peer to converse with Wang Yulou. Clearly, he truly was just a man of temperament. "Elder, Yulou dares not claim credit. Moreover, I am not yet a Red Lantern Illumination Sect True Inheritor. Even if I truly become a True Inheritor, I will still feel grateful for Dripdrop Cave's kindness." Following Feng Jianxian's lead, Wang Yulou started spouting nonsense.
He couldn't possibly abandon his identity as a Dripdrop Cave disciple. Anyway, Dripdrop Cave was a vassal of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; it was just that being a Red Lantern Illumination Sect True Inheritor offered a broader sky.
No matter where he went, he was still contributing to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
"Oh? Then where did you get the Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe?" Feng Disha asked suspiciously. "My family's Ancestor Jingyi brought me over; she is a Red Lantern Illumination Sect True Inheritor. Elder Feng, Yulou sought you out this time for two—"
Feng Jianxian waved his hand and directly summoned a flashy golden artifact flying carriage. However, he didn't pilot it himself, instead having his spirit beast, the Black Dragon Steed, pull it.
"Who discusses business on the main street? Hop on, Martial Uncle will take you to broaden your horizons."
Yulou naturally had no reason to refuse, so he boarded Feng Jianxian's golden flying carriage. Pulled by the Great Demon Black Dragon Steed, the golden flying carriage raced down the Subsidiary City's streets with an utterly ostentatious air.
Feng Jianxian deliberately had the Black Dragon Steed control its speed so that he could greet cultivators he knew as they went along. As half a West Sea native, Feng Jianxian's face still carried quite a bit of weight in these parts of the West Sea.
Public-spirited and eager to help—aside from lending spirit stones, anything else was negotiable. After all, being public-spirited didn't mean being a limitless charity.
Given cultivators' needs for spirit stones, even if Feng Jianxian had five million spirit stones, it wouldn't be enough to lend out.
"Look, the Bright Moon Night Inn, an enterprise of the Moon Splendor Sect's West Sea outer courtyard. It's full of immortal maidens from the Moon Splendor Sect. Yulou, take your pick later; today's my treat!"
On the flying carriage, Feng Jianxian grandly pointed at the Bright Moon Night Inn's beautiful gatehouse, indicating to Yulou that he would foot the bill for today's expenses. The corner of Yulou's mouth twitched slightly, but he found it somewhat amusing inwardly.
Feng Jianxian was truly generous. The Moon Splendor Sect's pleasure houses were top-tier in Wunan; the consumption level was far higher than the Hundred Beauty Pavilion.
"Elder, you can choose as you please. Yulou will pass; I have a Dao Companion waiting at home."
Even back when he went to the Hundred Beauty Pavilion, it was merely to freeload spirit tea, not because he actually liked going there. Wang Yulou wasn't a sex fiend.
Moreover, he was about to marry his fourth Dao Companion. All four "cars" at home were luxury among luxury cars, so why would he need to ride a public bus?
"Haha, alright then. We'll just watch songs and dances and listen to plain zithers today."
The two got off the carriage. Feng Jianxian gave instructions for "four mares" to the approaching Moon Splendor Sect outer male disciple, and the Black Dragon Steed instantly became overjoyed.
"Old Feng, next time if there are four more, I'll call my brother over to be your horse too!" the Great Demon Black Dragon Steed said excitedly. "You've said that seven times already, and I've never seen you actually call him over. Scram!"
Kicking the Black Dragon Steed's rear, Feng Jianxian then turned to look at Yulou. "You don't know, Yulou.
"We come to the Bright Moon Night Inn to exchange pointers with the female immortals of the Moon Splendor Sect. Of course, some male cultivators like to exchange with the Moon Splendor Sect's male disciples.
"In short, this kind of exchange is mutually beneficial. For the Moon Splendor Sect cultivators, it's a process of cultivation.
"When you exchange with them, they actually thank you instead. So..." Yulou once again firmly refused.
"I have a Dao Companion waiting at home. Elder Feng, please feel free." Feng Jianxian gave a thumbs-up and said, "Good! I, Old Feng, like fellow Daoists like you who remain steadfast and loyal. Come, let's go inside and talk."
Walking into the Bright Moon Night Inn, Yulou's vision instantly dimmed. The dim environment didn't mean chaos; the Bright Moon Night Inn's dimness instead gave off a sense of tranquility.
Pleasure houses typically reeked of worldly desires, but the Bright Moon Night Inn was meticulously crafted, from its interior decor to its overall atmosphere. Therefore, it wasn't a standard pleasure house at all—it was just incredibly expensive!
And how could it not be? The immortal maidens and male hosts here were all outer disciples of the Moon Splendor Sect.
These outer disciples could only be promoted to the inner sect if they performed well at their respective Bright Moon Night Inns across the lands. It seemed harsh—having to work in a pleasure house after joining a cultivation sect—but the Moon Splendor Sect didn't discriminate based on a disciple's background or spirit root.
As a result, more than a few people were willing to join.
"Young Master~ You've arrived, and brought this little gentleman too. Please, head upstairs to a private room. Girls, come out to greet them~"
Seeing a regular customer like Feng Jianxian enter, the Moon Splendor Sect deacon in charge of the Bright Moon Night Inn hurriedly stepped forward to welcome him. This female cultivator wore a rather shabby magical robe and wobbled slightly as she walked.
She was an older, seasoned Moon Splendor Sect disciple. Her voice naturally carried a seductive charm, instantly causing the sword qi at Feng Jianxian's waist to flare up out of control.
Wang Yulou blinked. After confirming he hadn't seen it wrong, he cursed himself inwardly as a moron for actually wanting to befriend such an idiot.
Just as he was pondering an excuse to leave, Feng Jianxian smiled bitterly.
"Yulou, I practice the Virgin Boy Sword. You don't understand; I come to the Bright Moon Night Inn purely to enjoy the atmosphere. It has nothing to do with matters between men and women."
Wang Yulou's respect instantly swelled. Well, well, well.
Visiting the Bright Moon Night Inn every day, yet practicing the Virgin Boy Sword and cultivating all the way to becoming a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator without breaking his vows. Shen Guang slaughtered his way out of the West Sea to become an Immortal Venerable, and Zhou Bojiao headed to the front lines with a half-dead body—both men were formidable.
For Feng Jianxian to rampage with his golden liquid for two hundred years and still return a virgin was equally far from simple. As vast as the cultivation world was, geniuses were as numerous as carp crossing a river, but an eccentric talent like Feng Jianxian was truly one of a kind.
"Martial Uncle Feng's realm is lofty and profound. Yulou falls far short."
Feng Jianxian patted Yulou's shoulder, laughed heartily, and waved to the Moon Splendor Sect female disciples. "Haha, all of you disperse.
"This young master is only listening to zither music today. Just have Huai Die come over.
"And change today's spirit wine to seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar. Bring two pots first!"
"Martial Uncle, this..."
"Ah, Yulou, listen to me. I can still afford this little bit of spirit wine."
The two went upstairs and entered a private room. The Bright Moon Night Inn's errand boys came in to arrange tea pastries, side dishes, and spirit fruits.
Yulou took a glance; there were actually quite a few seventh-grade spirit fruits, and even the worst tea pastries were made from eighth-grade spirit materials. The Bright Moon Night Inn only sold wine.
Different grades of Moon Splendor wine corresponded to different grades of spiritual food. The seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar was extremely delicious, and these seventh-grade spiritual foods were incredibly tasty as well.
Seeing Yulou didn't understand, Martial Uncle Feng thoughtfully explained before sighing with emotion. "Yulou, your Martial Uncle might be speaking lightly here, but that Qiu Lianpu's heart is too wicked. Yesterday, you essentially saved my life—and that's no joke. A great grace needs no thanks; it's all in the wine. Today we're drinking well!"
Yulou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had originally come to Feng Jianxian to discuss a matter, but he hadn't expected the man to treat him to wine at the Bright Moon Night Inn instead.
What was all this about?
"Old Feng, you bastard! When you treat me to wine, we only drink eighth-grade Moon Dew Nectar. But when you treat someone else, you bring out the seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar? What, am I, Xihai Hu, really so unworthy?"
The door to the private room was pushed open. The one walking in wasn't the Huai Die that Feng Jianxian had ordered, but a thick and fat, hulking man wearing an Annex City Enforcement Team demon-eradication magical robe, his arm wrapped around a Moon Splendor Sect female cultivator.
Feng Jianxian belonged to the tall, elegant, and handsome category. Although his long hair was half-white, his appearance was young and dashing.
With his golden carriage and Great Demon Black Dragon Steed, he fit the image of a wealthy young master whose heart had not aged with his body. This thick, fat man, on the other hand, who appeared to be an enforcement disciple of the Annex City Enforcement Team, was entirely different.
He looked like a fat tiger that had gained sentience—dark and plump, appearing only slightly smaller than the three-hundred-jin Hongmei. The demon-eradication magical robe of the Annex City Enforcement Team draped over him looked like a bedsheet.
However, this thick, fat man who called himself Xihai Hu was also at the Foundation Establishment realm, making him Yulou's senior. Thus, the moment he entered, Yulou hurriedly stood up—the Annex City Enforcement Team was Shen Guang Immortal Venerable's direct lineage, after all.
Feng Jianxian held Yulou down, pressing him back into his seat, and immediately started blasting Xihai Hu. "Fat Tiger, Yulou saved my life yesterday.
"He certainly deserves to drink seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar. You, on the other hand—which widow's door were you tearing down at the time?
"I waited for you for half a day! That bastard surnamed Qiu was about to drag me off to convict me, and you still didn't show your damn face.
"That idiot Qiu Lianpu handed us an opportunity right as he took office. If you had gone, beating him to death right then and there would have been so satisfying."
Yulou wore a polite smile, but he was deep in thought. Xihai Hu was from the Annex City Enforcement Team, under the tutelage of Shen Guang. Qiu Lianpu was an Immortal Alliance Emissary directly under the Immortal Alliance, hailing from True Person Qiu's family under the tutelage of Qingrui Xianzun. This place, the West Sea... it was quite interesting.
"Screw you, you're the one tearing down widows' doors!" Xihai Hu fired back. "I don't know which son of a bitch spread that rumor. I've been transferred by the Second Elder to run errands in the South City Expansion Department. The southern city expansion has a thousand interconnected matters; who has the time to look after you? You love to play the hero, Old Feng, without even checking how much face you actually have." Xihai Hu plopped his butt down next to the two of them. "But this kid here—what's his background?"
He settled the female cultivator he had brought beside him. Her petite figure made her look like a tiny baby next to the massive Xihai Hu.
Seeing Xihai Hu ask about Yulou, Feng Jianxian introduced him.
"Yulou is a disciple of Dripdrop Cave. His family runs errands for Ancestral Master Mangxiang. Yesterday, he came out wearing his family Ancestor's Core Disciple magical robe and saved my life."
Xihai Hu frowned and looked at Yulou. Yulou instantly felt a massive pressure, as if he were being stared down by a vicious tiger.
Feng Jianxian was about to ask what was wrong in confusion when suddenly, Xihai Hu's dark face split into a grin.
"Heh, Old Feng, you don't know. He's not like us; he married a good Dao Companion."
Yulou was startled. What did that mean?
Feng Disha also looked at Yulou. He knew Yulou was married to Lin Ying, but how did Xihai Hu know?
Thinking of this, his hand fell onto the hilt of his sword. Yulou was a junior of Dripdrop Cave, and he was the one who had saved his life.
If Xihai Hu dared try anything... even if it cost him his life, he would slaughter this vile spawn!
"Yesterday, I was surveying the southern city's earth veins with the Second Elder," Xihai Hu explained. "Elder Qingfeng sent a voice transmission to the Second Elder saying that the daughter of Perfected Man Fujiao's family was going to marry someone named Wang Yulou, and invited him and the Second Elder over to watch the ceremony.
"We were even guessing that this was Perfected Man Fujiao's first flex of authority after taking office. I didn't expect to meet the main man himself today.
"Yulou, you are that Wang Yulou, right?"
"Perfected Man Fujiao's first flex of authority after taking office..."
Xihai Hu knew how to talk. He had some respect for Zhou Bojiao, but not much.
He did call him Perfected Man Fujiao, which counted as respect, but the underlying tone of his words made it hard to tell whether his intentions were good or bad. Just as Yulou was unsure of how to answer, a clear, silver bell-like voice drifted in from outside the private room's door.
"Young Master Feng~ May your little Die come in?"
The arrival of Miss Huai Die broke Yulou's awkwardness. Feng Jianxian smiled.
"Just stand at the door and play your zither. I'm afraid that if I see you, I'll completely forget today's main business, hahaha."
"Young Master Feng only knows how to bully his little Die~"
The gentle tones of the zither began to play, and Yulou smilingly replied to Xihai Hu's earlier question. "Senior Haihu guessed correctly. I am indeed the Dao Companion of a woman from the Zhou Clan. The grand wedding will likely be held in a few days."
Wang Yulou was probing. Even though he had his suspicions, it wasn't appropriate to ask directly.
Xihai Hu was amused by Wang Yulou's form of address.
"Hahahaha, my surname is Xihai! We are all surnamed Xihai. Don't call me Haihu; it sounds damn weird."
Feng Jianxian also smiled and pointed at Yulou. "Shen Guang Immortal Venerable opened the Charity Hall in the Western Sea Immortal City to take in orphans who lost their parents.
"After raising them, he selects those with excellent spirit roots and bestows the surname Xihai upon them. Little Brother Haihu...
"Hahaha, that kills me... His surname is Xihai, and his name is Hu.
"So, you should call him Big Brother Hu."
Feng Jianxian called Xihai Hu 'Fat Tiger' because they were on good terms. How could Wang Yulou dare to call Xihai Hu 'Big Brother Hu'? This man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. "Senior Xihai Hu, I apologize for my impoliteness."
Wang Yulou put on a look of sudden realization and played the obedient junior. The massive Xihai Hu curled his lip, looked at Feng Jianxian, and spoke.
"I told you these cultivators from within the Immortal Alliance don't understand the West Sea. Senior, senior—look how cheerfully he calls me that.
"Wang Yulou, the West Sea doesn't care about your cultivation base; it only cares about connections. You are Old Brother Feng's little brother.
"Calling me Big Brother Hu is perfectly appropriate. Calling me senior just rubs me the wrong way."
Wang Yulou couldn't tell truth from falsehood here. If someone took Xihai Hu's forthrightness at face value, they would be an absolute idiot. Yulou hadn't forgotten Ancestor Jingyi's warning—the people in the West Sea were as cunning as demons! He thought it over for a brief instant, then flashed a smooth smile. He raised his wine cup, looked at Xihai Hu, and loudly declared, "Big Brother Hu, it was my fault for not understanding the rules. A penalty cup, I'll drink a penalty cup."
Feng Jianxian, however, just pointed at Xihai Hu and started cursing.
"Fat Tiger, have you forgotten the time I saved your life? Back then you were calling me 'benefactor' left and right, and now you're just calling me Old Brother Feng? You really are a piece of trash."
Xihai Hu shot Feng Jianxian a sideways glance, sneered, and raised his wine cup to clink against Yulou's. "Old Feng, neither of us owes the other anything.
"As for you, Yulou, how does that little lady from the Zhou Clan look? Is she pretty or not?"
Was Zhou Yingxi pretty or not? Yulou drained his cup in one gulp, set it down, and tried hard to recall Zhou Yingxi's appearance. In the end, he smiled bitterly and replied, "Brother Hu, to be honest, I haven't even seen what she looks like yet..."
Well, of course he hadn't seen her. She wore a veil every single day.
Although Wang Yulou had seen her in profile from both the left and the right, he truly hadn't seen her full face. For all he knew, Zhou Yingxi might have a pig's snout, which was why she wore a veil every day—it was hard to say.
"Hahaha, Yulou, then you'd better take a good look on the night of your wedding!"
Feng Jianxian was amused by Wang Yulou's words. "Sigh, if you ask me, when marrying a wife, you absolutely shouldn't marry one from a large clan.
"Bad tempers, too much bullshit, and if there's a falling out, they have an ancestor to back them up. Yulou, you're marrying a woman from the Zhou Clan.
"Your future days probably won't be easy, but they might not be hard for too long either, hahaha."
Wang Yulou understood Feng Jianxian's words, but what surprised him more was the Shen Guang lineage's lack of concern regarding Zhou Bojiao, Mang Xiang, and the others. Xihai Hu was a member of the forces Shen Guang Immortal Venerable had left in the West Sea. His particular attitude was actually very revealing. Coupled with the news from Gu Qilang that the Ancestral Master had sent three thousand disciples into the West Sea... Add to that the fact that Perfected Man Fujiao, Zhou Bojiao, and Haikuo Zhenren, Li Haiping—two True Persons from the Red Lantern Sect Faction—had been appointed as the Treasure-Wielding True Person and the Border-Guarding True Person respectively, taking up two of the positions among the Three True Persons of the West Sea.
Could the surging winds and clouds over the West Sea actually become the driving force he needed to break his shackles?
"You went too far with that joke," Xihai Hu interjected. "With Perfected Man Fujiao enjoying eternal life, Yulou will be able to walk a smoother path. You owe a penalty cup for that too."
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Feng Jianxian let out a hearty laugh and poured himself another cup of Flowing Splendor Nectar. Being penalized with Flowing Splendor Nectar was completely acceptable to him. After all, he was the one footing the bill anyway.
"But really, Yulou, when are you getting married? Perfected Man Fujiao wouldn't send an invitation to an idle person like me, but you are the groom; you can invite me over! He may be a powerful Purple Mansion True Man, but if I drag all the disciples from the Dripdrop Cave West Sea Outer Courtyard over, I can bolster your prestige too!"
Feng Jianxian's suggestion was somewhat lacking in reliability, but Yulou actually agreed with the sentiment. The Dripdrop Cave West Sea Outer Courtyard was a good thing.
Shen Guang Immortal Venerable taking in a bunch of little beasts of burden surnamed Xihai served as an excellent example for Yulou. One had to have forces under their command to stand firm and hold their ground.
Compared to the vast West Sea, Dripdrop Cave might seem a bit shabby, but things always had to be taken one step at a time.