Chapter 164: Poison-Sweeping Vanguard Wang Yuque, Mang Xiang, Loyalty! |
Like a long, treacherous game of power, the ambitions of grand cultivators burned fiercely like roaring flames. Wang Yulou had seen the rising smoke from the very beginning, but only today did he see the truth hidden within the flickering flames.
The ten-thousand-year-old monster Mang Xiang and the Immortal Alliance partner Qingrui had already played their hands. Now, Qiu Mile and Xuanzhuan stood before Shen Guang's dharma body, simply waiting for the legendary Immortal Venerable of the West Sea to make his move.
Shen Guang, it is your turn. Make your move!
Dragging in three Demon Kings to smash the West Sea was very domineering, wasn't it? Go on, drag in another thirty Demon Kings, drag in a few Demon Gods, go right ahead!
Trampling freely on the rules set by other grand cultivators feels great, doesn't it? Come on, Qiu Mile and Xuanzhuan are standing right in front of you.
Stomp them to death! Faced with Xuanzhuan's malicious reversal, Shen Guang realized for the first time just how unwelcome he had become as an Immortal Venerable.
Superficial friends like Tianshe and the Whitebeard General were ready to backstab him at a moment's notice. Qingrui, who had been thick as thieves with him in recent years, had long since opened her jaws, waiting to swallow him whole. And Mang Xiang, who appeared weaker than him, had perfectly calculated his greed.
Normally, these grand cultivators would not rashly oppose Shen Guang. But when it came time to strike, they didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Many things seemed unremarkable in isolation, but connecting them revealed an entirely different picture. Immortal Venerable Shen Guang's seven-colored dharma body vanished into thin air following Xuanzhuan's reversal.
Who could have imagined this? How should one put it?
The silver lining was that Wang Yulou was never foolish when it came to major matters. Although he had constantly hedged and hesitated, he had ultimately chosen to obey orders.
Otherwise, he might already be on the path to reincarnation, waiting to become "a good man again in eighteen years."
"Alright, it's fine now. It was all a misunderstanding. You are Xihai Zhongcheng?"
Xuanzhuan returned to the front of the Immortal in Wine House and casually hauled up Xihai Zhongcheng, who had been tied up by Mengbai.
"Yes, True Person. This junior is Xihai Zhongcheng. Many thanks to the True Person for the rescue."
Wang Yulou shook his head. Xihai Zhongcheng had been whipped silly and still couldn't see the crux of the problem. Xuanzhuan glanced at Xihai Zhongcheng's bloody, mangled wounds and spoke to Mengbai and the other Immortal Alliance Stewards with dissatisfaction.
"You have no sense of proportion. How could you beat people so casually?"
Mengbai did not dare show any negligence. Qiu Mile had already sent him a voice transmission explaining the situation.
He understood that in the current West Sea, the ones calling the shots were Mang Xiang and Qingrui. And Xuanzhuan was Mang Xiang's disciple; when he walked outside, he represented Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.
Therefore, no amount of respect toward Xuanzhuan could be considered excessive.
"True Person, it was Mengbai who acted without consideration. This one deserves death."
Xuanzhuan nodded, looked at Xihai Zhongcheng, and then turned his gaze toward Xihai Qingfeng, Xihai Longhu, and the others. Finally, Shen Guang's disciples realized something was wrong. Their Master hadn't given them any instructions before leaving, had he?
What did it mean that he had just left directly? Xuanzhuan spoke.
His very first sentence caused the expressions of everyone attending Wang Yulou's Immortal Ascension Banquet to change.
"It is enough that you know your mistake. When investigating a case, one must pay attention to rules and methods. The rules of the Immortal Alliance are greater than the heavens."
"The West Sea is the territory of the Immortal Alliance. If someone here does not follow the rules, naturally they must be investigated. Even if it is an Immortal Venerable, they must be investigated! They must be dealt with!"
"In the thousands of years of the Immortal Alliance's existence, it is not as if we have never dealt with an Immortal Venerable who disregarded the grand scheme of things. But those of you specifically investigating the case must also firmly grasp the procedural issues during the process. Do you understand?"
He was clearly looking in the direction of Shen Guang's disciples, but he ended up rebuking Mengbai and his men. But that wasn't important. Xuanzhuan had already set the final course of action. Investigate!
Wang Yulou's heart beat rapidly. This time, it seemed Mang Xiang had been reduced to Qingrui's hatchet man—or perhaps he had willingly become her hatchet man. Amidst the shifts in power, such a subversion had actually occurred. No one could have imagined that just a short while ago, Xuanzhuan was still personally emphasizing the essence of the "three patience" to Wang Yulou.
Now, not only was Xuanzhuan no longer practicing patience, but he was acting directly as the primary leader of the investigation. Such a shift was simply terrifying.
The "truth" of the previous moment, driven by interests, had instantly transformed into a joke blowing away in the wind.
"True Person, what do you mean?"
Xihai Qingfeng couldn't hold back anymore. He was the foremost among Shen Guang's disciples.
If he didn't stand up at this time, Shen Guang's forces in the West Sea would truly be reduced to fish on a chopping block!
"Exactly what I said!" Xuanzhuan spoke calmly.
He then ignored the panicked expressions of Shen Guang's disciples and looked at Yulou.
"You do not need to head to the two-sect battlefield immediately. Stay in the West Sea for now and assist Mengbai in sweeping away Shen Guang's forces."
Wang Yulou suppressed his shock. He understood that his beautiful dream of fence-sitting was now completely shattered.
This was also normal. Xuanzhuan and Mang Xiang were not idiots.
He had been too rash in the end. He hadn't expected Shen Guang to lose so pathetically. He was nothing more than a clown.
Wang Yulou merely replied via voice transmission.
"Clearing out Shen Guang's poisonous influence is my inescapable duty. However, True Person, are we falling out with Shen Guang right now?"
Xuanzhuan's expression remained as cold as iron, but his answer was extremely interesting. "Just like that time with Jingyi, Master also just notified me."
"Yulou, you are a smart child. Get to work. This is Master's order."
The sheer volume of information had nothing to do with the length of the words, but rather the story those words carried. The first sentence was an explosion of information: Wang Yulou, you and your Wang Clan are my people.
The second sentence was an equal explosion: the Ancestral Master even guarded against his own eldest disciple, Xuanzhuan. The drastic shift in Xuanzhuan's attitude was simply because he, too, had been kept in the dark by Mang Xiang!
Combined with Mang Xiang allying with Qingrui to enter the game in the West Sea and suppress Shen Guang, the implications were staggering. Namely, the Ancestral Master had the confidence to withstand the pressure of fighting the Sky Serpent Sect on one front while battling Shen Guang on another.
As unwilling as Wang Yulou was to believe it, he had to face the reality before him—a legend like Shen Guang could actually lose to internal strife! The waters of the Immortal Alliance were deep enough to drown a Gold Core Immortal Venerable... He could only sigh. It was truly worthy of being a top-tier faction with over a hundred Immortal Venerables.
What was the vast West Sea? Those Immortal Venerables who dictated Heaven and Earth on the Gathering Immortals Platform were the true essence of the Immortal Alliance.
"Yulou understands. What is the limit? And under what name should I proceed..." Wang Yulou continued to ask via voice transmission.
"The position of the Punishment Court's Seal-holding Director is vacant. Go there first," Xuanzhuan replied. "As for the limit... half of the West Sea goes to the Immortal Alliance, twenty percent goes to Immortal Venerable Qingrui, twenty percent goes to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and leave ten percent for him."
Shen Guang's clownishness was still escalating. Just a moment ago, he had been preparing the Luminous Sect and even planned to rope Wang Yulou in as the sect master.
He hadn't realized he was already standing on the edge of a cliff. In just a few days, Mang Xiang's alliance with Qingrui, and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's alliance with Lotus Immortal City, had forced him onto a path of no return.
The representative of the West Sea's Demon Gods in the Immortal Alliance? If you can't play your chips, you have no value!
Leaving the final ten percent for Shen Guang was purely to prevent him from going completely mad and fleeing to the West Sea. Wang Yulou even suspected that if Shen Guang actually played that hand, dragging in a horde of West Sea Demon Kings and Demon Gods to support him, it might still fall within Qingrui or Mang Xiang's calculations.
"What about Yingxi?"
Wang Yulou hadn't forgotten his Dao Companion. He was even pondering arranging a job as Deputy Director of the Punishment Court for Yingxi.
Old Mu used to be the Director of the Punishment Court. Now that Wang Yulou and Yingxi were succeeding him, they could perfectly utilize the staff Old Mu had left behind.
"Return to the sect. The Zhou family's numerous vassals cannot be allowed to scatter; they must return to the hands of our Behemoth Lineage."
Wang Yulou asked no further, but he still sighed with emotion in his heart.
Old Zhou, oh Old Zhou. With your death, everyone gained a bright future.
To have possessed in the past is still a form of possession—this referred to Shen Guang. This legend of the West Sea had achieved his Dao at lightning speed by acting as a traitor to humanity.
In the end, upon encountering the true power factions of the Immortal Alliance, he was reduced to a third-rate amateur. When he slaughtered Old Zhou, gorging himself until his mouth gleamed and his belly was round, could he have imagined that this day would come?
When he was smug and complacent, exploiting the gap where the Red Lantern Illumination Sect had no time to look west and the Immortal Alliance was under immense pressure from the two-sect war to establish his Luminous Sect, even specifically naming Wang Yulou to be the sect master, did he think he would lose so quickly?
When he repeatedly broke the rules, even controlling Wang Yulou in Clear Stream Market and acting mysterious as he said, 'You possess the aptitude for the Purple Palace,' could he have imagined that Mang Xiang had already placed him on the trading block? He who rises by these means shall perish by them.
Shen Guang was a Golden Core who believed...
"My destiny is my own." He would not perish easily. But the fact that he was plotted against by Mang Xiang and Qingrui, and had killed Zhou Bojiao out of greed, was enough to torment him half to death—Qiu Mile had come precisely for this. By killing Zhou Bojiao, Shen Guang had broken the rules; although Mang Xiang and Qingrui had lured him into doing so, he had ultimately done it himself. By smashing the Western Sea Immortal City, Shen Guang had broken the rules; daring to shatter an immortal city belonging to the Immortal Alliance, was he even still an Immortal Venerable of the Immortal Alliance? By leaking Purple Palace cultivation methods, Shen Guang had broken the rules. Foundation Establishment divine abilities were trivial matters, but recklessly leaking Purple Palace methods was truly a major issue. By establishing the West Sea's Luminous Sect, Shen Guang had broken the rules. The established interest framework of the Immortal Alliance had been painstakingly forged by everyone over a long period of time; on what grounds did Shen Guang dare to destroy it? Pushing further back, during the time at Clear Stream Market, Shen Guang had already failed to follow the rules. Pushing even further back, from the very beginning when he chose to become a traitor to humanity, Shen Guang had never followed the rules.
Not following the rules wasn't the issue. Those superficial remarks by Xuanzhuan were actually false. The truth was that someone who followed the rules could never become a grand cultivator. But this did not conflict with the fact that Shen Guang was being forced to yield his interests due to breaking the rules.
The underlying problem was that Shen Guang had overestimated his own deterrent power, while underestimating Mang Xiang, Qingrui, and the widespread dissatisfaction others held toward him. For example, Shen Guang was even younger than Zhou Bojiao. He was a true grassroots upstart. How could he possibly be welcomed by the veteran grand cultivators of the Immortal Alliance? The essence of internal strife was to wait for the opponent to make a mistake, and then suppress them under the banner of righteousness. Mang Xiang and Qingrui had been afraid that Shen Guang wouldn't make a mistake, so they forcefully used Zhou Bojiao as bait to lure Shen Guang into the trap. Speaking of which, Shen Guang certainly lived up to expectations. He had even planted Mu Changze as a hidden piece, and while killing Old Zhou, conveniently smashed the immortal city as well—he was far too cooperative. Under such circumstances, how could he possibly outmaneuver Qingrui and Mang Xiang?
The overall situation was settled. Shen Guang had conceded. After all, he was a Golden Core who had achieved his status by relying on his united front value. No matter how much the Immortal Alliance disliked him, he still had to remain within it. By staying in the Immortal Alliance, he still held united front value as the special representative of the West Sea's Demon Gods. If he entered the depths of the West Sea and lost his united front value, he would only find it even harder to sustain himself. Therefore, the cruelty of the grand cultivators' struggles was truly terrifying. It was merely a hidden chain of logic based on interests that had yet to be proven, but once discovered by his opponents, Shen Guang was instantly forced into a dead end.
Because fifty percent of the West Sea's future benefits had to be handed over to the Immortal Alliance, True Person Longhu, Jin Shan, had to pinch his nose and accept the old task of clearing out Shen Guang's lapdogs. Back then, he had played the victim in front of Immortal Venerable Qingrui and seemingly dodged the assignment for a time. Yet in the end, just a few days later, this damn task landed in his hands again.
As Jin Shan continued to execute the plan to clear out Shen Guang's poisonous influence in the West Sea, True Person Xuanzhuan departed with Yingxi. Wang Yulou, on the other hand, stepped onto the ruined Dragon Tiger Platform. This place was once the battlefield between the Black Meerkat Demon King and True Person Longhu, Jin Shan, and it had been severely destroyed by the aftershocks of their battle.
Within the Dragon Tiger Platform, Yulou ran into an acquaintance.
"Wang Yulou?"
Jin Mingdu had not attended Wang Yulou's Immortal Ascension Banquet. She had originally maintained contact with him only because of Jin Shan's orders.
But during this recent period, what with the Red Lantern Illumination Sect going to war and the swarm of demons attacking, the Western Sea Immortal City had been in severe chaos. Zhou Bojiao had also died, so Jin Mingdu had naturally distanced herself from Wang Yulou.
After all, their relationship was transparently based on mutual interests. Their affection for each other was mostly just an act.
"Mingdu, it's good that you're alright. I've been worrying about you these past few days. It's so good that you're okay."
Bullshit! Jin Mingdu cursed inwardly.
Still, she smiled and pressed her body against Wang Yulou, shaking his arm as she wheedled, "Senior Yulou~ I want to reach Foundation Establishment too. Whenever you have the time, how about you impart some Foundation Establishment experience to Mingdu?"
What could Wang Yulou say? He could only admit that Jin Shan was indeed no ordinary Purple Palace cultivator, and Jin Mingdu was no ordinary person either.
The iron-hearted nature of the Jin family was not much inferior to Qiu Mile's. Just based on the way Jin Mingdu acted, even compared to the girls in the Bright Moon Night Inn, her coquettishness was top-tier.
Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality. She hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment yet, but she had already been twisted into abnormality by the cultivation world.
But since he could even handle Xuanzhuan, how could Wang Yulou be afraid of Jin Mingdu? While pretending to eagerly accept her throwing herself into his arms, he teased, "You should be close too, right? Just have your family's ancestor find you a Foundation Establishment Pill on the level of the Golden Cauldron Foundation Establishment Pill, and you'll be able to reach Foundation Establishment immediately."
Note, this did not mean Wang Yulou was a scumbag. Mortal standards of moral judgment were meaningless in the cultivation world, where violent deaths occurred at the drop of a hat.
Amidst the conflicts of interests among grand cultivators, even the slightest overflow of risk could easily crush Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators to death. Xihai Zhongcheng, who was almost beaten to death by Mengbai and was now locked in prison, was one example.
Qiu Lianpu, who was crushed into a bloody mist by his own ancestor, was another. Guo Yaoyue, who was erased by Xuanzhuan without the latter even lifting a finger, was yet another.
Wang Yulou didn't know it, but there was actually one more: the Foundation Establishment stage Immortal Alliance Steward killed by Qiu Mile had also been crushed by overflowing risk. Precisely because there were so many examples, Wang Yulou had to proactively accept True Person Jinshan's olive branch and deal with Jin Mingdu superficially.
"The ancestor's intent is for me to wait a bit longer. There's no rush." Saying that, Fairy Mingdu stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Yulou, and whispered in his ear, "Whenever you take me, he'll let me reach Foundation Establishment."
"Then there is indeed no rush."
Wang Yulou's words were so bastardly that Jin Mingdu nearly ground her silver teeth to pieces. What did he mean, "there is indeed no rush"? Was her worth so miserable? She was actively throwing herself into his arms and he refused to accept?
She didn't understand. How could Wang Yulou's body be obtained by just any random female cultivator? Putting on an act with her was giving Jin Shan face. If she wanted Wang Yulou to put in real effort, she shouldn't even talk about it without a dowry of five hundred thousand spirit stones! Was five hundred thousand too much? Not at all. Wang Yulou was the youngest Director of the Punishment Court in the history of the West Sea. He was completely worthy of this meager dowry of spirit stones!
Watching the back of Wang Yulou heading deeper into the Dragon Tiger Platform, Jin Mingdu wanted to chase after him, but then stopped her steps. 'I just won't chase him then! I'll wait for you here—chasing makes me look too cheap, but waiting is acceptable.'
"Wang Yulou, this time is different from the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda case. The truth isn't important anymore. Sigh."
Jin Shan still had that damn half-human, half-ghost appearance. He looked just like a large lump of gold.
When he spoke, it crackled and popped, carrying the sound of ores crashing and scraping together. "Take a seat.
"Over on Mengbai's side, those are Immortal Venerable Qingrui's people. How they investigate is their business.
"As for you, tell me your thoughts, and I'll help you fill in the gaps."
How deeply could reality ravage a grand cultivator? Shen Guang, who failed in the internal strife and had to sit by and watch his disciples get purged, was one example. Jin Shan, who took up this unlucky post and was forced to help the Immortal Alliance clear out Shen Guang's poisonous influence, was another. With the venerable status of a grand cultivator, he could actually say something like, "I'll help you fill in the gaps." Was it because Jin Shan respected Wang Yulou?
No. It was because he hoped these bullshit matters would not involve him too deeply.
"Immortal Venerable Shen Guang has made tremendous contributions to the West Sea. This point is obvious to all. However, the Immortal Venerable is quite busy, so it is perfectly normal that he neglected the management of his disciples."
With Xuanzhuan, of course, he could speak his mind freely. Clearing out Shen Guang's poisonous influence and acting as a poison-sweeping vanguard was all part of what Wang Yulou ought to do.
After all, Xuanzhuan had stated it explicitly—it was the Ancestral Master's intent. Wang Yulou and the Wang Clan were Xuanzhuan's people.
Ancestor Jingyi's grotto-heaven had been snatched by Mang Xiang. Given these facts, it was perfectly reasonable and logical for Wang Yulou to be close to Xuanzhuan.
But facing Jin Shan, Wang Yulou naturally couldn't spout nonsense like an idiot. He didn't understand why Qiu Lianpu had died, but he knew clearly that keeping his mouth shut would save him a massive amount of trouble.
The ones who had threatened Shen Guang and decided to wipe out his wings were Qingrui and Mang Xiang. They had the strength to force Shen Guang to retreat continuously like a stray dog.
The one pushed to the front to lead the charge was Xuanzhuan. He also had the strength to speak boldly about how "even Immortal Venerables are no exception."
Wang Yulou had to recognize his own status clearly. All this talk about being the Director of the Punishment Court was hollow; strength was the only reality.
That was why he characterized the situation as "The Immortal Venerable is good; it's the disciples below who executed things poorly"—this was him taking on only as much of the storm as his abilities allowed. After all, the storm had already been shoved onto his shoulders by Mang Xiang. Wang Yulou had no choice but to bear it. Would he dare not repay the Ancestral Master's grace? Shen Guang killed Old Zhou, and the Ancestral Master immediately labeled Shen Guang as "disregarding the grand scheme". How much face did Wang Yulou have? Could he compare to Shen Guang, who sacrificed millions of cultivators to achieve his Golden Core? Therefore... Poison-Sweeping Vanguard Wang Yuque, Mang Xiang, Loyalty!
"Which disciple, besides Xihai Zhongcheng, do you think has been the most neglected in management?" Jin Shan asked noncommittally.
This was forcing Wang Yulou to provide the purge list himself.
If you don't get blood on your hands, on what grounds are you considered one of our own? On what grounds do you climb higher?
Jin Shan wasn't actually forcing Wang Yulou; he had simply brought Wang Yulou face-to-face with this cruel choice at a standard juncture. The Immortal Alliance's system was one that sucked dry the blood and marrow of the world.
Wang Yulou couldn't be like Feng Jianxian. So, after a moment of silence, he reported a name.
"Zhang Heng. He even set up some Rogue Cultivator Alliance. What is that supposed to mean? Is he trying to replace the Immortal Alliance? I say we start the purge with Zhang Heng!"
Xihai Longhu had given him a thousand mu of land. Xihai Qingfeng had given him Grade Six spirit tea and helped him build the combat arena.
I'm sorry, Old Zhang. Mang Xiang and Jin Shan forced my hand.
If I don't deal with you, Mang Xiang will deal with me.
"Good. We'll start with Zhang Heng. Men!"
As for work, no matter how reluctant you were, you still had to do it. Jin Shan was nominally the Immortal Alliance's highest-ranking figure in charge of the West Sea; he had no room to shirk his responsibilities.
Soon, two Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders entered the hall.
"Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong pay their respects to the True Person!"
Both of these Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders were Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators. They were on the same level as Wang Jingyi, making them top-ranking powerhouses in the West Sea.
"You two will follow Director Wang and investigate Zhang Heng of the Annex City Enforcement Team... hmm, and all the rogue cultivators of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.
Anyone who participated is to be arrested and brought to justice. Yulou, this task is not easy, but it is the easiest one available.
I'm not making things difficult for you, am I?"
Not easy, but the easiest. It sounded convoluted, but it was true. Jin Shan remained apprehensive of Shen Guang and wary of Wang Yulou's father-in-law. This specific assignment was actually alleviating some of the pressure on Wang Yulou. Ultimately, Shen Guang's forces in the West Sea were split between his direct lineage and the periphery. The three elders of the Hall of Benevolence belonged to the direct lineage. As for the Rogue Cultivator Alliance led by Zhang Heng... Put it this way: if Shen Guang's Luminous Sect had successfully been established and Wang Yulou had become its sect master, those three thousand Rogue Cultivator Alliance members would have become Sect Master Yuque's Outer Gate Disciples and Inner Gate Disciples. However, Shen Guang had lost in the internal strife. His planned Luminous Sect was immediately scrapped when Mang Xiang united with Qingrui. Thus, those plans burst like a bubble. Three thousand rogue cultivators might sound like a lot, but their influence was minuscule, and arresting them would be a slow process. By the time Wang Yulou rounded up a decent portion of them, Mengbai and his group would have already finished the truly bitter and difficult work, bringing the whole affair to a close. In the end, the lives of rogue cultivators were barely considered lives at all. Even if they reached the Foundation Establishment realm, it made no difference. It was similar to the divide between disciples within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect:
those with backing and those without were two entirely different matters. Therefore, Jin Shan's arrangement carried no intention of making things difficult for Wang Yulou. "Yulou understands the True Person's painstaking efforts," Wang Yulou said calmly. True Person Longhu nodded, moving on to another topic.
"Mm, take Mingdu along with you. I think you should just take her in. What do you say?"
His purpose in offering Jin Mingdu to Wang Yulou again was different this time. Seeing that Mang Xiang had won, Jin Shan had drawn some conclusions regarding Mang Xiang's Golden Core breakthrough.
Thus, he wanted to make an early investment in a potential future Purple Palace cultivator of the Behemoth Lineage. At worst, the gamble would cost him nothing more than a junior of the Jin family.
If Wang Yulou truly became a Purple Palace cultivator in the future... From this, one could also see the complexity of Mang Xiang's influence on Wang Yulou.
Forcing Wang Yulou to pick a side through the purge operation demonstrated Mang Xiang's ruthlessness. Yet, a mere trace of his lingering prestige was enough to grant Wang Yulou a Dao Companion guaranteed to reach the Foundation Establishment realm—this, in turn, was Mang Xiang's grace.
Was the Ancestral Master detestable? He was.
He wasn't human at all, going so far as to guard against his own eldest disciple. He was beastly enough to treat a junior grand cultivator like Shen Guang as a mere plaything during the internal strife.
Was the Ancestral Master respectable? He was.
Wang Yulou had only been cultivating for a little over twenty years. Even without reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, relying on his reputation as a heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage, he had already reaped a considerable amount of benefits.
If the Wang Clan could follow Mang Xiang and produce a few Purple Palace cultivators in the future—even just one—then the Ancestral Master would be the greatest Ancestral Master in all of Heaven and Earth. Of course, regarding Xuanzhuan's promise of
"ten Purple Palace cultivators,"
Wang Yulou didn't believe a single word of it. Setting aside the fact that Xuanzhuan might have been deceived by Mang Xiang himself, the number
"ten"
alone was ridiculously fake. "Fairy Mingdu possesses the most unique charm of any immortal maiden Yulou has met since arriving in the West Sea.
Moreover, she is a young lady of noble upbringing cultivated by you, True Person. Yulou naturally admires her.
True Person, how about... Mingdu and I get married tomorrow?
The dowry doesn't need to be large. Five hundred thousand spirit stones will suffice."
This little bastard... After experiencing Xuanzhuan's tempering, Wang Yulou was now completely unafraid of grand cultivators—he was certain that the Wang Clan truly held some status within the Behemoth Lineage. They were beasts of burden, but they were also members. As for the mighty rules of the Immortal Alliance, Shen Guang had already provided the answer. As long as Mang Xiang wasn't dead, as Mang Xiang's loyal young general, Wang Yulou could easily use his Ancestral Master's reputation to gamble with Purple Palace cultivators within principled limits. Hearing Wang Yulou's arrogant words, the two Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders standing nearby gasped. A Foundation Establishment cultivator haggling with a True Person like this... Even if they added their ages together and rounded up to a thousand years, they had never seen such a thing. How could they not be appalled? However...
"Two hundred thousand. The immortal city being smashed this time has led to unprecedentedly frequent land transactions. The West Sea's spirit stone crisis has already begun. I fear that this spirit stone shortage is only the beginning. The spirit stone shortage within the
Immortal Alliance, I reckon, is not far off either."
The expressions of the two Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders changed drastically. How did he actually agree to his dowry request?
Moreover, a spirit stone shortage? As men governed by the rules, they had reached Peak Foundation Establishment, yet they still couldn't grasp the true rules of the Immortal Alliance.
However, Wang Yulou's calm expression also wavered slightly, and not because of the two hundred thousand spirit stone dowry. More than two years ago, True Person Hansong had predicted that a spirit stone crisis was likely on the horizon.
Now, that guess had finally been verified.
"Is it because everyone is preparing for internal war?" Yulou asked via voice transmission.
Jin Shan gave Yulou a slightly surprised look. He didn't overthink it, merely marveling at Wang Yulou's boldness.
"Mm, let's hope there won't be any accidents. Yulou is Fellow Daoist Chunze's son-in-law, and he is also a disciple under the tutelage of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.
When he conducts business in the West Sea, he is working for Immortal Venerable Mangxiang. You absolutely must not slight him.
You must obey Yulou's orders just as you would obey mine. If there is any feigned compliance, I will deal with you myself!"
Old Jin was also severely worn out by the situation. He gave a couple more instructions and then shooed Wang Yulou away. "Ancestor, you must come to the Immortal in Wine House tomorrow evening. I'll also invite True Person Haikuo. The immortal city has suffered a disaster, and the Immortal Venerable was publicly... by True Person Mile. The people of the West Sea are panicking. If the two of you step forward to preside over the situation and liven things up, it will do wonders to stabilize their hearts." How should one put it?
The moment the deal was struck, Wang Yulou immediately started calling him Ancestor. Hearing this, Jin Shan felt both disgusted and satisfied.
His mood was incredibly complex. This kind of bastard was indeed worth the Jin family's investment.
In truth, Wang Yulou was just afraid that after hosting an Immortal Ascension Banquet today, and then a wedding banquet tomorrow... If he swung the sickle too fast, his Fellow Daoists might not show up, and Fairy Mingdu would be unhappy...
She was, after all, a Dao Companion guaranteed to reach the Foundation Establishment realm, and she hailed from a Purple Mansion family. He still needed to maintain their relationship properly.
Wang Yulou had repeatedly emphasized to various people that his banquets didn't require congratulatory gifts. However, if they truly insisted on giving them, he couldn't exactly stop them.
As a result, it ended up looking as if he was proactively harvesting them for wealth. Speaking of which, it was quite a helpless situation.
Of course, he also harbored a small, unspoken motive. If the business at the Immortal in Wine House was to thrive, he needed to continuously host high-level events to raise its profile.
If he could pull Jin Shan and Li Haikuo over, the prestige of the Immortal in Wine House would immediately skyrocket. It was akin to hanging photos of celebrities in a hotel.
"Mm... alright. The people's hearts do need to be stabilized,"
Jin Shan agreed. —— Leading the two Peak Foundation Establishment Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders out of the main hall, Wang Yulou saw Fairy Mingdu standing by a distant pillar.
The twilight glow of dusk spilled onto her from the west, casting a graceful silhouette on the ground.
"Fellow Daoist Yuque, where do we start our investigation?" Chen Yongzhong asked.
Yang Duilie did not speak; he was unwilling to kiss the ass of a nobleman who had only just entered Foundation Establishment.
"We wait!"
Investigate my ass. Wang Yulou had never investigated a case before.
He had an extraordinary background, so every time he
"investigated"
a case, it was an earth-shattering major incident. How could such major cases be investigated carelessly?
The West Sea was Shen Guang's territory. Immortal Venerable Shen Guang was currently acting like a turtle grandson under the combined pressure of Qingrui and Mang Xiang.
But his foundations were deep, his power was formidable, and his cultivation was incredibly profound. It was highly possible that he would launch a reprisal.
He would first let Mengbai lead the Immortal Alliance Stewards and Immortal Alliance Emissaries to clear the mines. In the event of Shen Guang's reprisal, it wouldn't hit Wang Yulou first.
For Wang Yulou, waiting was the best choice.
"Wait?"
Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong didn't understand. Did Wang Yulou dare to delay Jin Shan's Sacred Decree?
Glancing at them, Wang Yulou walked toward Mingdu and replied in a tone as placid as an ancient well,
"At least wait until after I'm married. Who goes around killing people today when they're getting married tomorrow?"
Mingdu was shocked by Wang Yulou's words. She didn't understand.
The fairy furrowed her brows, deciding to throw out some sarcastic shade. "Getting married again?
Do you, Wang Yulou, find Dao Companions wholesale? I heard you redeemed a girl from the Bright Moon Night Inn.
Could it be..."
Wang Yulou couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. In all his life, this was the first time he had ever seen someone compare themselves to a brothel girl. Although the people at the Bright Moon Night Inn were all pitiful individuals, the comparison was truly too amusing. Under Jin Mingdu's uncomprehending gaze, Wang Yulou pressed her against the pillar, executing a classic overbearing-CEO move, Xianxia edition. "Mmph—" Although this scheming pair had interacted plenty in the past, it was Fairy Mingdu's first time being pinned down and kissed so fiercely by him.
Her entire being, from the tips of her hair to her toes, resisted. She tried to push him away, but Wang Yulou halted her struggles with a single sentence.
"Don't move. The day after tomorrow, you will begin preparing for Foundation Establishment!"
This statement didn't come out of nowhere. Fairy Mingdu had no idea that her ancestor had already shamelessly forced her onto Wang Yulou.
She still thought Wang Yulou's earlier remark—"then there is indeed no rush"—was mocking her. She never expected that right after saying it, he would ask her ancestor for her hand in marriage.
Because of this, the girl was deeply moved. She even took the initiative to cooperate with his embrace.
Although her technique was incredibly clumsy, proficiency wasn't necessarily a good thing in this regard anyway. In fact, her reaction wasn't strange.
Wang Yulou was now a true heavenly genius. He had forces under his command—extremely flourishing forces at that.
He had a powerful backer above him—one who was about to become an Immortal Venerable. Furthermore, Wang Yulou had once played the knight in shining armor for Mingdu. In the past, whether out of genuine affection or mutual interest, the two had already grown quite close.
With Wang Yulou's bearing and spirit, how many female cultivators wanted to throw themselves into his arms but lacked the chance? A dowry of five hundred thousand spirit stones would just be the starting price!
You say Jin Shan only gave two hundred thousand? How could that be the same?
Old Ancestor Jinshan was a Purple Palace grand cultivator; naturally, he got a discount!
Behind the embracing couple, the completely ignored Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong exchanged helpless glances.
The immortal city had been smashed. The West Sea's legend, Immortal Venerable Shenguang, had been publicly humiliated by Qiu Mile, and his forces were being jointly strangled by Qingrui and Mang Xiang.
The West Sea was already in a chaotic mess. Yet the newly appointed Director of the Punishment Court, entrusted with heavy responsibilities, not only ignored his proper duties, but only cared about making out with a female cultivator.
With the Immortal Alliance behaving like this, could it ever get any better? This was the difference brought about by disparities in standing and breadth of vision.
In the eyes of Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong, Wang Yulou was neglecting his real work. But in Wang Yulou's eyes, there was simply nothing more proper than securing Jin Mingdu.
How could he improve his own strength quickly, smoothly, and efficiently? Marriage alliances!
Marriage alliances! And more marriage alliances!
Old Zhou died, and Old Jin arrived. How was Old Ancestor Jinshan not an ancestor?
In Wang Yulou's heart, Yingxi—whom he had known since childhood and who later became his Dao Companion—was of course important. But pulling in a powerful new Dao Companion to stabilize the gold standard of his "heavenly genius" status was also extremely necessary. Otherwise, with Old Zhou gone, what if his seat as the Director of the Punishment Court became unsteady?
What if Jin Shan didn't support his investigation? One couldn't forget that it was only after Wang Yulou agreed to take in Jin Mingdu that Jin Shan instructed Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong to obey him.
Jin Shan wasn't running a charitable hall. If Wang Yulou's seat as Director was unsteady, and Jin Shan didn't support him, the investigation would definitely not go smoothly.
If the investigation didn't go smoothly, Mang Xiang would be dissatisfied. And if Mang Xiang was dissatisfied...
Little Wang wouldn't even have the chance to cry. Therefore, how was he supposed to firmly secure the Director's seat with his subpar, newly-advanced Foundation Establishment cultivation?
How was he to gain the support of True Person Longhu, Jin Shan? Thinking of this, Wang Yulou raised his head, looked into Fairy Mingdu's alluring, silk-like eyes, and said, "Mingdu, I don't know if that idiot Lian Chengxian is dead or not, otherwise I'd like to invite him over tomorrow too."
"Why mention that fool? Don't bring him up," Mingdu said in dissatisfaction.
As she spoke, she took the initiative to lean in and continue making out. What could he do?
Wang Yulou was doing it all for his work.
True Person Xuanzhuan's departure held extraordinary significance for Wang Yulou and Wang Xianmao.
Because only with this True Person gone did the two finally dare to have a real conversation. Otherwise, with Xuanzhuan's divine abilities, no matter what they said, he could overhear it if he wanted to.
From absolute strength and the ability to perceive information, to the monopoly over resources under restrictive systems, grand cultivators controlled everything. How could they not be apprehensive?
"Patriarch, I have a feeling now that the so-called luxurious mansions in the immortal city are only needed for the convenience of working within the Immortal Alliance. If you truly want to live comfortably, you have to stay far away from the immortal city, far away from those True Persons.
"Over these past thirty years, my happiest days have all been those spent far from conflict. Growing up together with my brothers and sisters on Wang Family Mountain was very happy.
"Going to Clear Stream Market to study the artificing path, although far from the family, taking my first steps into the cultivation world with Yu'an by my side was also happy.
"Arriving at Dripdrop Cave, things started to become unpleasant, but with Senior Martial Sister Lin and Little Fish around, with the ancestor present, and a beautiful Detached Courtyard, life was still considered comfortable. But upon coming to the West Sea, my cultivation base rose faster, and my status rose faster too.
"The price is being dragged forward against my will."
The two flew all the way east out of the West Sea for a full three hundred li before landing on a barren mountain outside the Western Sea Levee. The Patriarch still wanted to brew tea, but Wang Yulou indicated there was no need. His relationship with the Patriarch was too close; there was absolutely no need for empty pleasantries.
"I had the same thoughts as you when I was young," Wang Xianmao said. "At that time, I was a Steward in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Southern Border Outer Courtyard. Later, I returned to the family, and indeed lived freely for a period of time. Speaking of which, I also shouldered the family's responsibilities, but back then I had Big Brother Xianhe and Second Sister above me—that is your Ancestor Jingyi—so I was actually quite relaxed.
"But Yulou, if you think about it, you'll realize that Wunan, and even the Immortal Alliance, operate on a specific set of laws and systems. All scarce methods, pills, resources, and opportunities are monopolized by sects and grand cultivators. The Immortal Alliance is essentially just a tool for the grand cultivators. If we don't get close to the grand cultivators, if we don't get close to the sects, how can our Wang Clan move forward?
"Being dragged forward is an opportunity that many people beg for but cannot get. Looking at it now, the Ancestral Master never intended to truly sacrifice you from the very beginning. He has treated you quite well, Yulou."
Wang Xianmao was spouting pure nonsense.
Whether Mang Xiang was good or not, everyone knew in their hearts. He was just an old beast.
If the people below had value, he used them; if they had no value, he kicked them aside. That was all.
But beneath the Patriarch's nonsense lay a genuine admonition for Wang Yulou. Although Wang Yulou was smart, at thirty-something years old, he still seemed excessively young by the standards of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The Patriarch was afraid that Yulou would develop antagonistic thoughts toward the Ancestral Master. If that happened, Wang Yulou's future path would narrow.
One seemingly correct logic was to cry out against injustice and rebel against a beast that tormented you. But the practical reality was that a backer like Mang Xiang, who was on the verge of achieving the Golden Core realm, was incredibly hard to find.
The established power structures of other Immortal Venerables did not lack vassals like the Wang Clan. Wang Yulou had to correct his mindset in order to seize opportunities during the expansion of Mang Xiang's forces after he achieved the Golden Core.
"Moreover, didn't the Ancestral Master promise to grant our Wang Clan a Purple Mansion opportunity? Back then, Yuan Daoshen found trouble with you time and time again just for a Purple Mansion opportunity.
"Now, this Purple Mansion opportunity has come naturally. This is a wonderful thing."
Yulou shook his head, looking deeply at the Patriarch as he asked, "Do you really believe the claim of 'ten Purple Palace cultivators'?"
The Patriarch fell silent.
Ten Purple Palace cultivators. Could there be an emptier promise than this? For cultivators, how could there possibly be such a coincidental "round number"? Therefore, there was absolutely a problem here!
"True Person Xuanzhuan and I... The Ancestral Master even deceived True Person Xuanzhuan, Patriarch!"
Wang Xianmao sighed deeply and asked in return, "But after the Ancestral Master reaches the Golden Core realm, he will eventually have to expand his forces. He will always need new Purple Palace cultivators, right?"
Wang Yulou actually couldn't figure this point out either.
Here lay the crux of the problem. The promise of ten Purple Palace cultivators sounded fake, but it was true that Mang Xiang would have to expand his forces after achieving his Dao.
Even Mang Xiang allying with Qingrui to swallow Shenguang's interests alive could be seen as a prerequisite for this expansion. This also made complete logical and practical sense.
"The Ancestral Master acts too ruthlessly. He dares to even bite a Golden Core Immortal Venerable like Shenguang," Wang Yulou continued.
"If he truly cultivates a large number of direct lineage Purple Palace cultivators in the future, there will certainly be even greater storms. I believe the family must split off a branch and send them to Hidden Dragon Abbey.
"Uncle Rongsheng is a good choice. The family does not lack his share of Foundation Establishment resources.
"He is inconspicuous. After he reaches Foundation Establishment, arrange for him to take a few dozen clansmen to Hidden Dragon Abbey, preside over the marriage between Yu'an and Ningyao, and then support Hongmei's Foundation Establishment.
"Only in this way can our Wang Clan avoid the danger of capsizing."
Wang Xianmao pondered for a moment and reminded him, "After the Ancestral Master achieves his Golden Core, he can expand in the West Sea. You are currently the de facto number one person of the Behemoth Lineage in the West Sea. Although Yan Keren and I have higher cultivation than you, we have lost our potential. I don't think there will be greater storms. It was precisely because Shenguang stirred up so much trouble after achieving his Dao that he suffered today's backlash."
Playing it safe after achieving one's Dao was the choice of a normal grand cultivator. Shenguang was the prime example of someone who suffered backlash for stirring up trouble.
"Patriarch, the Ancestral Master is a wily old grand cultivator," Wang Yulou said.
"His five previous failures at achieving the Golden Core were completely faked. True Person Xuanzhuan meant that if he attempts to achieve his Dao this time, he will inevitably succeed.
"Moreover, while going to war with the Sky Serpent Sect, the Ancestral Master also suppressed Shenguang in the West Sea, fully displaying his confidence. Combining these two threads, the problem emerges: The Ancestral Master chose this exact point in time, when the Immortal Alliance's internal conflicts are at their most intense, to achieve his Dao.
"Did he proactively orchestrate this timing? What exactly will these so-called ten new Purple Palace cultivators be used for?"
At different stages of cultivation, the height at which Wang Yulou stood varied. Now, he had gradually begun to understand the power games of the Immortal Alliance and could see where his own path lay.
But this didn't mean the path was easy to walk. The more he understood, the more cautious he became; every step had to be taken steadily.
This was true for Wang Yulou, and it was true for the Wang Clan. In his view, as Mang Xiang's Dao achievement drew near, the plan to split the Wang Clan had also reached the point where preparations had to begin.
This was a necessary contingency for the sake of the family.