Chapter 136: The Endlessly Long Western Sea Levee, The Boundless Rise and Fall Through the Ages |
Looking at the semi-transparent silver cube in his hands, Wang Yulou felt a complex mix of emotions. In the end, he accepted it.
The reward that the Wang Clan had earned after following the Behemoth Lineage for a thousand years had finally landed in his hands.
The family's protection over him had, at this point, reached its true limit.
Somewhere in the unseen, Yulou sensed that what he had accepted was not just a Purple Mansion-tier Divine Ability Treasure Talisman, but the unimaginably heavy burden of the Wang Clan.
Wang Yulou dared to accept it because he believed he could shoulder this heavy burden.
No, to be more accurate, he had to shoulder this burden.
From using the platforms of the Wang Clan and Hongdengzhao to run businesses in Clear Stream Market, opening up new sources of wealth for the family.
To entering Dripdrop Cave, marrying three Dao Companions in succession, and arranging for over a dozen Wang Clan youths to join the sect, opening up a new direction for the family's expansion.
And now, suddenly becoming a pawn of the ancestor.
Just like taking the Sky River Escape that Ancestor Jingyi had given him.
The Sky River Escape treasure talisman represented the "favor" the Behemoth Lineage bestowed upon the Wang Clan, but it also represented the loyalty the Wang Clan needed to pay in return.
Taking the talisman meant taking on a task.
Half an hour later, a giant dragon winding across the earth appeared under the distant sky.
As the flying carriage gradually drew closer, the form of that giant dragon slowly became clear. Yulou gazed at the legendary Western Sea Levee, asking in a tone of confirmation.
"Ancestor, is that the Western Sea Levee?"
The legendary Western Sea Levee had finally appeared before his eyes, and Yulou sought confirmation from Ancestor Jingyi.
Once, the West Sea almost flooded Wunan. It was the Western Sea Levee that blocked the waters of the West Sea.
Through the vicissitudes of time, the sea disappeared, and what replaced the sea was a sea of demons.
Only this ancient Western Sea Levee stands as a witness to the changes here."
Controlling the flying carriage to slowly descend, Wang Jingyi also felt somewhat emotional.
"Perhaps, in the face of the heavens and the earth, cultivators are nothing more than slightly larger mayflies. West Sea, West Sea. Once we cross the Western Sea Levee, we will completely enter the West Sea."
The Western Sea Levee sounded as though it were just a dam, but in reality, it was more magnificent than any mountain range in Wunan.
This levee ran from northeast to southwest, over a thousand zhang tall. Looking at the height alone, it didn't seem too strange, but it was ten thousand li long.
The Wunan Basin cultivation world—being a basin, it was exceedingly low.
The mountain gate of Hongdengzhao sat in a flat wilderness. The Sky Serpent Sect, also known as Heavenly Serpent Valley, and Nine Apertures Valley were both hidden underground. Meanwhile, Great Skymount Mountain, home to one of the three Upper-Path Sects, wasn't very high either. The peculiar locations of these major sects' mountain gates were a true reflection of Wunan.
The ten-thousand-li-long Western Sea Levee was jointly built by the many cultivators of Wunan, solely to prevent Wunan from being flooded by the West Sea.
Yulou, look. This closest section of the Western Sea Levee to us is the rear levee. That slightly lower one in the distance is the front levee.
Back when the West Sea was still a sea, these two Western Sea Levees blocked the demonic beasts in the sea.
Now that the sea is gone, they are blocking a new wave of demonic beasts.
I don't know why, but the demons in this world seem to be endlessly inexhaustible. Don't you think that's strange, hahaha."
Ancestor Jingyi cracked a joke at the end, but Yulou couldn't quite bring himself to laugh.
The power of a grand cultivator could change the heavens and the earth, and the will of a grand cultivator could replace the will of heaven.
Why hadn't Wunan produced the sort of character who would declare, "My destiny is my own"?
The reason lay right here.
The heavens wouldn't pay attention to the clamoring of ants.
Grand cultivators wouldn't pay attention either, but they had blocked all the paths.
Want to climb higher?
Come over here and be a dog first!
Wunan didn't have any minor tournaments, grand tournaments, auctions, beast tides, secret realms, or ancient cultivator ruins.
The auction in Clear Stream Market was held in the Prefecture Cultivator's Manor of Clear Stream Market. An Ning's small grotto-heaven was left behind by a half-step Purple Mansion cultivator.
All the slightly better resources and opportunities were controlled by the powerful grand cultivators through the Immortal Alliance system, entirely unwilling to let even a tiny fraction slip out.
The so-called upward paths were also designed in advance. The Immortal Alliance guarded against Foundation Establishment cultivators even more strictly than they guarded against demons.
Those upward paths bottlenecked every single cultivator, forcing everyone to struggle under the Immortal Alliance's order for the sake of the grand cultivators' cultivation.
Dripdrop Cave's upward paths were bound to the Foundation Establishment elders. Hongdengzhao's upward paths were bound to the Purple Mansion cultivators. And the Immortal Alliance's upward paths were only available to an extremely small minority.
The paths left for the vast majority of bottom-tier cultivators could be counted on one hand. They either came to the West Sea to gamble their lives, or went to the Eastern Desert to gamble their lives.
"Ancestor, the two levees are separated by tens of li. Given the length of the Western Sea Levee, I'm afraid the space left between them is enough to support a Left-Path Sect, isn't it?"
Of course. The West Sea has eight local Purple Mansion families, all under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Alliance's Western Sea Immortal City. Foundation Establishment families and Qi Refining families are even more numerous to count.
Those loose cultivators coming from different regions within the Wunan Basin, after reaching Foundation Establishment in the West Sea, often establish families as well to pass down their bloodline.
This is what created the grand spectacle of the West Sea.
The territory between the two levees is merely a small territory. The bigger territory lies beyond the Western Sea Levee. Let's go. To Western Sea Immortal City."
Immortal cities were the governance nodes of the Immortal Alliance. Lotus Immortal City influenced the Sky Serpent Sect, Hidden Dragon Abbey, and Hongdengzhao. Overseeing it were Immortal Venerable Lianpeng and Immortal Venerable Qingrui, who might actually be one and the same person.
Western Sea Immortal City was a bit more special. It was a major city in the borderlands. Immortal Venerables absolutely could not come here; it had to be overseen by Purple Mansion cultivators, who could stay within the Great Heaven without being struck by lightning tribulation.
Yulou speculated in his heart that this kind of task given to Purple Mansion grand cultivators might also be a method the Immortal Alliance used to maintain liquidity among the grand cultivators.
Grand cultivators all wanted to hide beyond the heavens to extract the world's resources for cultivation while avoiding the loss of their lifespans, yet the Immortal Alliance deliberately demanded that the Purple Mansion cultivators come out.
This way, there was a means to slowly consume the lifespans of those "shut-ins," thereby maintaining mobility at the very top.
Of course, these were all Yulou's speculations.
Western Sea Immortal City was located beyond the front levee. But because the Western Sea Levee was far too long, the distance relative to the levee was even farther than the distance Wang Yulou had traveled all the way from Dripdrop Cave to the Western Sea Levee.
Ancestor Jingyi flew with him for the better part of a day before arriving.
The towering Western Sea Immortal City was not the slightest bit smaller than Lotus Immortal City; it was even significantly larger.
The Immortal Alliance's immortal cities were designed by the grand cultivators. The core appearances were identical, and the formation arrays operating within them were exactly the same, purely to make it convenient for the Immortal Alliance's grand cultivators to control.
But the biggest difference of Western Sea Immortal City compared to Lotus Immortal City was that, to the east of the immortal city, there was unexpectedly a sprawling urban district stretching for over a dozen li, and two layers of city walls had even been erected.
"Ancestor, can a mere Western Sea Immortal City guard a ten-thousand-li-long Western Sea Levee?"
Of course it can't!
So I guess that the Immortal Alliance and the Demon Gods among the West Sea demon swarms must have some sort of secret tacit understanding.
The Immortal Alliance's West Sea frontline hasn't seen any Demon Generals appear for many years.
Moreover, do you know why the Sky Serpent Sect was able to become an Upper-Path Sect?"
The flying carriage stopped in mid-air outside Western Sea Immortal City. Ancestor Jingyi didn't go in, but instead pointed toward the direction east of the immortal city, instructing Yulou.
The time Yulou had been in the cultivation world was ultimately too short, and he lacked much knowledge. Ancestor Jingyi was making use of every second to fill in as many gaps as possible.
"The Sky Serpent Sect also has to take charge of defending a section of the Western Sea Levee?" Yulou guessed.
He thought of the Mountain-Toppling Flood Dragon. That Mountain-Toppling Flood Dragon entered the Sky Serpent Sect from the West Sea and directly became an elder of the Sky Serpent Sect. This matter was simply outrageous.
And the fact that Ancestor Jingyi just emphasized "the West Sea frontline hasn't seen any Demon Generals appear for many years" perfectly aligned with the matter of the Mountain-Toppling Flood Dragon joining the Sky Serpent Sect.
Yes. Under the nominal leadership of the Immortal Alliance, the Sky Serpent Sect is responsible for four thousand li, Withered Wood Hall is responsible for three thousand li, and Western Sea Immortal City guards the remaining seven thousand li.
Within these seven thousand li, four thousand li originally belonged to the border territory of our Hongdengzhao, but it was reclaimed by the Immortal Alliance.
There's been news leaking out, roughly saying that the Immortal Alliance is secretly negotiating with Withered Wood Hall, hoping to reclaim the three thousand li that Withered Wood Hall is responsible for, following the same model they used for Hongdengzhao.
What was that phrasing again—casting a net for ten thousand li, hunting demons with iron-bucket defense.
But at the end of the day, it's the Immortal Alliance fearing that Hongdengzhao and Withered Wood Hall will grow too large.
It's enough that you keep these things in mind. You absolutely must not casually speak of them to anyone else.
If it's weighed and measured, it's considered recklessly discussing the Immortal Alliance. Although they wouldn't necessarily do anything to you, it wouldn't be pleasant."
Wang Yulou, however, noticed a rather unusual numerical coincidence and asked.
"The Sky Serpent Sect started with four thousand li, and our Hongdengzhao also had four thousand li. Ancestor, is there some meaning behind this?"
"Hahaha, smart!"
Ancestor Jingyi was also a fascinating person. She first laughed and praised Yulou, and then spoke with a face full of reverence and solemnity.
For the past three thousand years, Immortal Venerable Chiming hasn't appeared in the world. Whether he is even still alive is open to debate.
One Immortal Venerable constitutes a Left-Path Sect. Two Immortal Venerables or more constitutes an Upper-Path Sect.
Perhaps because of this as well, it has been so difficult for the patriarch to attain Golden Core."
Wang Yulou shook his head slightly, expressing a different opinion.
Ancestor, I guess it isn't that. Great Skymount Mountain is also an Upper-Path Sect, but the intensity of their infighting is clear even to Hongdengzhao twenty thousand li away.
In the end, Upper-Path Sect and Left-Path Sect are merely names. The fundamental issue is a matter of resources.
The patriarch has exhaustively plundered all these years precisely for resources.
And whether or not the patriarch achieves Golden Core, he cannot defy the Immortal Alliance's rules to expand Hongdengzhao's power.
I still believe that there's no such thing as a set quota. It's just that the grand cultivators are not happy to see someone snatching food from their bowls."
The Immortal Alliance served all cultivators, but there was an order of priority for who they served. Serving the grand cultivators first, and the minor cultivators later, was also considered serving all cultivators.
And the Immortal Alliance's rules regarding how one could reach the Purple Mansion were so incredibly vague. How could Yulou not think that the Immortal Alliance's grand cultivators had no intention of letting latecomers get on board at all?
Considering the Immortal Alliance's suppression of Foundation Establishment cultivators, Yulou believed that his guess was probably spot-on.
Upper-Path Sect and Left-Path Sect are not just a difference in name, Yulou. Most Wunan cultivators don't know that the Immortal Alliance also collects taxes from its affiliated Golden Core sects.
Four parts for a Left-Path Sect, three parts for an Upper-Path Sect. Otherwise, why would the sect be so supportive of Patriarch Mangxiang attaining Golden Core?"
Wang Jingyi had already handed the Sky River Escape over to Yulou. The profound meaning behind this surely included an element of supporting him to become the next-generation leader of the Wang Clan.
Therefore, laying bare many secrets to Yulou today was also her way of passing down the true rules of the cultivation world to him.
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is. But no one can confirm the exact condition of Immortal Venerable Chiming. Why wouldn't the Immortal Alliance just give Hongdengzhao the treatment of an Upper-Path Sect?"
Yulou had figured out a lot, but a new question had emerged.
"The fear is that it has been confirmed, just that we don't know."
Wang Jingyi spoke faintly, the implication self-evident.
Because it had been confirmed, the Immortal Alliance wouldn't give Hongdengzhao the quota of an Upper-Path Sect.
But Hongdengzhao couldn't exactly say that their Immortal Venerable Chiming had kicked the bucket.
In short, Immortal Venerable Chiming might still be considered alive.
Could you really say that living on in the hearts of the many cultivators of Hongdengzhao didn't count as being alive?
"What is the lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator?"
"Purple Mansion cultivators have a lifespan. Golden Core cultivators don't look at lifespan; they look at lightning tribulations. As long as they can withstand the lightning tribulation, their lifespan will not end."
At this point, the two spoke no more, both feeling deeply moved.
An immortality that involved getting struck by lightning every seven years didn't seem too carefree, did it?
As the saying goes, it takes ten years to forge a sword.
But a heavenly tribulation every seven years... even if a true Immortal Venerable came, they might not be able to withstand it.
The heavens and earth in this realm were suspiciously too unreasonable. You couldn't blame the grand cultivators for using all their might to undermine the heavens and earth to build their own grotto-heavens.
The flying carriage finally landed in the Subsidiary City outside Western Sea Immortal City. The two switched to walking. Wang Jingyi walked in front, with Yulou following closely behind.
While observing the special scenery of the West Sea, Yulou asked a new question derived from the topic of Golden Core cultivators.
"Ancestor, tell me, are there any Golden Core True Persons in the world who have lived for tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years?"
I guess there should be. Among the cultivators who can reach the Purple Mansion, there aren't many fools left. You could say that they are all incredibly formidable figures who lead their own eras.
Back then, Zhou Bojiao used his Foundation Establishment cultivation to slay a flood dragon Demon General and obtained his opportunity for the Great Dao. Only later was he respectfully addressed as Perfected Man Fujiao.
Before the Wunan Cliffs were fully formed, Gu Qiyuan ventured deep into the heartland of the demon monks, fighting his way across ten thousand li. After narrowly escaping death several times, he ultimately managed to return alive, bringing back news of the demon monks and risking his life to carve out his own opportunity for the Great Dao.
If Purple Mansion cultivators are like this, the stories behind every Golden Core True Person are even more legendary.
Look. Hanging beside the signboard of that shop is the command token of True Person Shen Guang... no, Immortal Venerable Shenguang.
Immortal Venerable Shenguang cultivated from five spirit roots all the way to the Golden Core realm, becoming one of only two Immortal Venerables in the Immortal Alliance to successfully attain the Dao in the last millennium. His story is something that the word 'legendary' alone cannot adequately sum up.
The patriarch goes without saying. Roaming unhindered across Wunan for ten thousand years, founding Hongdengzhao, establishing a lineage with three Purple Mansion cultivators... no, now it's four Purple Mansion cultivators.
There are even some within the sect who believe that the patriarch is only attaining Golden Core now because his lifespan is at its end and he can delay no longer, not because he has only just reached the threshold for attaining Golden Core.
If you use the grand spirit of Immortal Venerable Shenguang and the patriarch to imagine those Golden Core True Persons, you will probably arrive at the same answer as me.
This realm definitely has Golden Core cultivators who have lived for tens of thousands of years. It might not just be one or two, but a whole group of them."
Immortal Venerable Shenguang's command token was very special. It was a glowing, semi-transparent piece of amber stone. Its light was faint and not dazzling, but it carried a sense of warmth.
Yulou also noticed that on the streets of Western Sea Immortal City's Subsidiary City, many shops hung the command tokens of different grand cultivators and sects, and Immortal Venerable Shenguang's were the most numerous.
"Is Immortal Venerable Shenguang's power in the West Sea very great?"
Yes, he rose to prominence from the West Sea. He only joined the Immortal Alliance after reaching the Purple Mansion, and then served as the Immortal Alliance's West Sea Dragon-Tiger True Man for a full two hundred years.
The eight local Purple Mansion families in the West Sea... all eight of them have connections to him."
The Immortal Alliance's West Sea Dragon-Tiger True Man was the number one figure in authority on the West Sea frontline. The second was the Treasure-Wielding True Person, and the third was the Gate-Guarding True Person.
Refusing to enter a grotto-heaven for two hundred years just to develop his forces was one thing; Yulou could understand that.
If Shen Guang, who came from a background as a loose cultivator, didn't personally cultivate his own forces, was he supposed to cultivate using just his head?
What shocked Yulou more was the latter sentence.
"One lineage with nine Purple Mansion cultivators?"
"No, he married daughters from the eight families to squeeze Golden Core resources for himself. If you encounter problems when opening your Purple Mansion in the future, you should learn a thing or two from Immortal Venerable Shenguang."
"Haha, Ancestor, you are unaware. Back then, when Lin and I..."
The two talked along the way, and soon arrived at the entrance of Flavorful Bistro.
Yes, it was Flavorful Bistro again.
The Wang Clan's preparation of donkey meat was indeed superb. Moreover, because the Wang Clan had never stopped sending people to the West Sea for the past millennium, the Wang Clan actually had quite a few properties in the West Sea. Flavorful Bistro was merely one of them.
However, Yulou stood at the entrance and did not go in.
"What is above Golden Core? Is it Immortal Venerable?"
I don't know. Immortal Venerable should be an honorific title, unrelated to cultivation realm.
It's just that, Yulou, you can now be considered to have some understanding of the cultivation world.
Therefore, I guess that there should be a realm above Golden Core, but no one has successfully broken through.
Otherwise, how would a true Immortal Venerable allow something like the Immortal Alliance to exist? They would only turn the Purple Mansion and Golden Core cultivators into servants as well."
Under the Immortal Alliance system, Purple Mansion and Golden Core cultivators could both sit at the table. It was nothing more than the Golden Core cultivators eating the meat while the Purple Mansion cultivators drank the soup.
If there were a true Immortal Venerable, even Golden Core cultivators would have to be dogs.
Just like how Wang Yulou was made into a pawn by Mang Xiang. At that time, Mang Xiang, and even Hongdengzhao's 'Immortal Venerable' Zhuzhao, would also become pawns.
"Understood."
Do you have any other questions? The reason I didn't tell you about many things before was simply that they were too secretive. Spreading them would have no meaning; it would only wear down people's resolve.
Now that you are also at the tenth layer of Qi Refining, Yulou, I can explain to you everything that I know."
Information was priceless. Ancestor Jingyi imparting these secrets to Yulou was purely to allow him to see things more clearly.
The ancestor cared for Yulou. She constantly claimed that Wang Yulou should focus on cultivation first, but in the end, she still chose to let Wang Yulou stand at a higher vantage point to look at the myriad affairs of this realm.
Standing high allows one to see far and walk steadily.
Cultivating blindly makes one an idiot. If you can't read the situation, you won't know how to proceed, and in the end, you might walk right into a dead end.
"Tell me about the patriarch and Hongdengzhao's enemies."
The grand cultivators control everything through the Immortal Alliance. Hongdengzhao has no enemies. The Sky Serpent Sect can be considered half an enemy at most. Since war hasn't broken out yet, there's no need to worry.
It's the patriarch, however..."
"Besides Perfected Man Fujiao, who are the other two True Persons of the Immortal Alliance in the West Sea?"
"Gate-Guarding True Person Li Haiping, and Dragon-Tiger True Person Jin Shan."
Wang Yulou was horrified, and looking at the ancestor again, she was unexpectedly completely stiff as well.
"Ancestor, the West Sea is the frontline of the Immortal Alliance, not Hongdengzhao's border territory. How could Hongdengzhao arrange for two True Persons to be placed here?!"
There is no logic in this. There is no logic in this. The leaders of the Immortal Alliance are not fools.
Wang Jingyi opened her mouth somewhat weakly, realizing that both she and Yulou had guessed wrong!
"The transfer order for Perfected Man Fujiao was told to me by Guo Baichi. Yulou, Perfected Man Fujiao entering the West Sea should have been one of the conditions set when he acknowledged his master. It counts as Perfected Man Fujiao's certificate of surrender."
"Then I am the apprenticeship gift that the patriarch gave to Zhou Bojiao?"
In front of Flavorful Bistro, the ancestor and descendant looked at each other in silence. Though there were no streams of tears, their hearts were equally cold.
Why did Danri insist on having Wang Yulou come to the West Sea?
It wasn't to let Wang Yulou return to Dripdrop Cave, but to breed with Zhou Yingxi!
Zhou Bojiao was already half-dead. The Zhou Clan had arranged a special Purple Mansion technique for Zhou Yingxi.
Borrowing a male cultivator's Dao Foundation to complete her Purple Mansion!
"Yulou, leave!"
Wang Jingyi made up her mind almost instantly.
Yulou was the single best Qilin child in the Wang Clan's millennium of history in terms of both opportunity and innate talent, bar none.
He could not become the price!
Where else can I go?
Moreover, Ancestor, if I leave, what will happen to all of you?"
Having worked as beasts of burden for Mang Xiang for a thousand years, the Wang Clan deeply understood the patriarch's terror.
Kill the entire family?
No, he would slaughter every last donkey foal clean!
He would directly burn Wang Family Mountain to ashes!
The patriarch walked the cultivation world relying on two hands: one was strength, the other was ruthlessness.
Look at the miserable state of Wunan right now. It's precisely the result of the patriarch indiscriminately issuing his 'favors.' Before a single person attained the Dao and allowed their chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven, the patriarch first played a move of draining those chickens and dogs dry so that one person could attain the Dao!
Go change your identity. Go under the tutelage of Withered Wood Hall. You have water and fire spirit roots, and your skill in the artificing path is high. You'll have an easy time getting by no matter what you do there.
Leave right now. Later on, I'll have Rongyuan or Rongjiang send you a copy of all the clan's inheritances."
Seeing that Wang Yulou was about to become the price to be paid, Wang Jingyi absolutely refused to accept it!
"Ancestor, I..."
Just as the two were communicating via sound transmission, a voice that neither was familiar with, yet both remembered, rang out.
"Senior Martial Sister Jingyi... oh, Yulou?"
Zhou Zhuoliang, the patriarch of the Zhou Clan, the massive good-for-nothing fostered by Perfected Man Fujiao.
He nodded at Yulou, then smiled and explained the reason for his arrival to Wang Jingyi.
The ancestor learned that you had arrived, so he sent me to invite you over. Yulou's position needs to be arranged as soon as possible.
True Person Haikuo took office earlier than the ancestor. He is also a True Person under Hongdengzhao, and he has arranged for many disciples of Wondrous Peak Mountain to come to the West Sea to avoid the war.
The current situation is that the longer we wait, the harder it will be to arrange Yulou's position. Our Hongdengzhao can't be too monopolizing in our actions."
Zhou Bojiao took office early, and he even knew that Wang Jingyi had already arrived. The capabilities of a grand cultivator were actually this terrifying!
Recovering her senses, Ancestor Jingyi nodded, perfectly feigning a look of distress without a trace of acting.
Sigh, Yulou's situation is very special. Zhuoliang, you also know that the two True Persons of Dripdrop Cave are fighting fiercely.
Perfected Man Hongli values Yulou, but as a result, Yulou was forced to come to the West Sea by Yuan Daoshen. He was even demanded to report to Feng Disha as quickly as possible.
Feng Disha, Dripdrop Cave's elder in the West Sea, is of True Person Feng's direct lineage. I came to Flavorful Bistro just to fetch half a spirit donkey to bring over and smooth things out.
As for Martial Uncle's side, please inform him that once I take Yulou to see Fellow Daoist Feng Disha, we will head over to pay our respects. How does that sound?"
First, Hongli valued Yulou.
Second, Dripdrop Cave also had three True Persons, along with half an Immortal Venerable.
Third, Liangzhuor, go back and explain Yulou's situation to your ancestor!
Back then, when the Zhou Clan was developing that dual cultivation technique to repair Dao Foundations, they actually contacted the Wang Clan through Wang Jingyi. Wang Jingyi was all too clear about the problems involved.
Yulou truly had a Purple Mansion opportunity. Even if Danri didn't help pull up Wang Yulou's cultivation base, Wang Yulou still had it.
Therefore, Wang Yulou absolutely could not take that bullshit half-baked Purple Mansion shortcut of the Zhou Clan!
After a millennium of legacy, the Wang Clan finally produced a true Qilin child. Having protected him on his cultivation path all the way until now, how could he become someone else's stepping stone?
"The ancestor summoned you personally, Jingyi... you..."
Zhou Liangzhuor wasn't very bright in the head. He suffered from a syndrome common in large clans, similar to Yuan Wu's affliction.
"Yulou, take these gifts and go see Feng Disha. I will first follow Junior Martial Brother Liangzhuor to pay my respects to Martial Uncle Fujiao and discuss how your position will be arranged."
Taking off her Storage Bracelet from her wrist, Ancestor Jingyi calmly handed it to Wang Yulou while simultaneously continuing to deal with Zhou Liangzhuor on the surface.
"Take this Storage Bracelet. The resources inside are enough for you to reach Foundation Establishment. Do not under any circumstances return to Wang Family Mountain or Dripdrop Cave. Go directly to the Sky Serpent Sect's territory, and then transfer to Withered Wood Hall."
Looking at the Storage Bracelet in the ancestor's hand, Wang Yulou did not take it.
That was Ancestor Jingyi's Storage Bracelet. Inside was everything the ancestor owned. The lifelong accumulation of a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator and Hongdengzhao Core Disciple was far more than just 'these gifts.'
Fortunately, Zhou Liangzhuor was quite similar to Yuan Wu, stupid to the point that even Zhou Yingxi disdained him. Otherwise, he probably would have noticed something wrong.
"Ancestor, I cannot leave."
Leave. You have the chance to break through the cage; you shouldn't become the price paid.
Yulou, you are smart, resilient, and you know when to endure and when to strike.
As long as you want to move forward, even without a backer, you still have the opportunity to press on!"
"Ancestor, if I leave, what will you do? What will the Wang Clan do?"
"Someone always has to become the price. It just happens to be our turn now."
Wang Yulou stopped transmitting his voice. Smiling, with weak steps, he stepped forward, walking towards the destiny that Mang Xiang had set for him.
Since the Wang Clan treated him like this, how could he turn the Wang Clan into the price paid?
Wang Yulou couldn't do it. The Patriarch and Old Ancestor Xianzhu hadn't misjudged him; he was still not ruthless enough, not selfish enough.
"Ancestor, Uncle-Ancestor Liangzhuor, let's go see Uncle-Ancestor Fujiao together. Dripdrop Cave's Elder Feng's side is in no rush."
Having not processed what was happening, Zhou Liangzhuor smiled and nodded, then asked if the two of them had a smooth journey.
Glaring at Yulou without leaving a trace, Wang Jingyi held Yulou's hand, transmitting her voice while dealing with Zhou Zhuoliang.
Voice transmission with physical contact was even more secretive and difficult to intercept.
If Zhou Bojiao left the flood dragon corpse he was possessing, he was a weakling. But if he didn't leave the corpse, he would be extremely conspicuous.
The flood dragon corpse couldn't arbitrarily grow or shrink.
Because of this, Wang Jingyi dared to continue communicating with Yulou via voice transmission.
"Yulou, you should have left. Just say that you ran away to avoid the Yuan Clan harming you in the West Sea."
"It won't work, Ancestor."
"Danri didn't issue an explicit decree. We have room to operate."
"The Wang Clan has followed the patriarch for a thousand years. They know our family doesn't lack smart heads."
Wang Jingyi fell silent.
Yes. Danri had once even explicitly told Wang Xianmao to his face that the Wang Clan was unable to produce a Purple Mansion cultivator precisely because they were too cautious, too clever, and lacked decisiveness.
Looking at it now, this True Person who looked like a child was truly a master at playing the pig to eat the tiger.
Out of the words from her mouth, it was very hard to decipher which sentence was true and which was false.
The claim that cultivating Source Vein Gui Water Qi would result in faster cultivation after Foundation Establishment might have simply been to deliver Wang Yulou to breed with Zhou Yingxi!
Zhou Bojiao acknowledging Mang Xiang as his master wasn't decided in a single day either. This matter had long been laying the groundwork for a thousand li.
Perhaps, everything started that day in Beautiful Pavilion.
It might even have been an olive branch extended proactively by the patriarch!
The patriarch needed to attain Golden Core, and he needed Zhou Bojiao—this unlucky fool forced to stay in the Great Heaven long-term—to run errands for him!
"Moreover, Ancestor, a half-baked Purple Mansion is still a Purple Mansion. Yulou doesn't mind. Being able to live for over seven hundred years is already a long, enduring life."
"It's not the same, Yulou, it's not the same. It's all because our Wang Clan is useless and couldn't protect you."
"Ancestor, since stepping onto the path of cultivation, Yulou has never suffered any grievances. The Wang Clan has protected me for so long; it is time for me to contribute to the Wang Clan."
"Yulou, you have true potential for the Purple Mansion. If you weren't born into the Wang Clan, if you weren't given to Zhou Bojiao by the patriarch, perhaps you would achieve a true Purple Mansion in the future."
"Ancestor, say no more. If you keep talking, I'll regret it, hahaha."
Yulou was originally joking. However, Ancestor Jingyi replied:
"I will kill Zhou Liangzhuor right now. You use a Hundred-Li Carefree Talisman to run first, and then use the Sky River Escape. You can still get away!"
Even though it was a voice transmission and he couldn't hear the tone, Yulou could feel the decisiveness and persistence in her words.
Ah? No need, no need, Ancestor. Yulou actually thought about it before; marrying into the Zhou Clan isn't bad.
Senior Chunze married into the Zhou Clan, and hasn't he done quite well for himself?
I'm not leaving. This is good for me, and good for our Wang family. It's just tough on Senior Martial Sister, Little Fish, and Chu Ran, sigh."
Wang Jingyi didn't speak. She drew out her Formless Sword.
She was always decisive in her actions.
Compared to a half-baked Purple Mansion, Wang Jingyi much preferred that Yulou attain a true Purple Mansion.
Just as she was about to thrust her sword at Zhou Liangzhuor to force Wang Yulou to give up his compromise, Yulou held Ancestor Jingyi back with another sentence.
"Ancestor, I have another theory—is the patriarch really willing to give the Zhou Clan a Purple Mansion cultivator?"
"You mean to say?"
I am the bait, and Zhou Bojiao took the hook.
But as for the future, when the patriarch truly becomes a Golden Core cultivator, anything is possible.
With a grand cultivator like him, no decision he makes would be strange."
Yulou was purely spouting nonsense. He didn't have even the slightest bit of certainty.
But he wasn't a child anymore. He couldn't cry and tell Wang Jingyi, "Ancestor, I'm scared."
He needed to say, "Ancestor, it's fine, it's a minor issue. We don't need to be afraid."
Because the ancestor could no longer protect him. Old Ancestor Xianzhu couldn't protect him, Patriarch Xianmao couldn't protect him, and Ancestor Jingyi couldn't protect him either.
Wang Yulou couldn't do something as bastardly as forcing these ancestors to die with him.
"Stop. Let's pass the hurdle right in front of us first!"
The group happened to arrive in front of Western Sea Immortal City's main gate. Ancestor Jingyi stopped her voice transmission, her mind heavy with worry as she brought Yulou into the immortal city.
Wang Jingyi heard the intent to comfort in Yulou's words, but she also thought of her own path to the Purple Mansion.
Cultivating immortality was difficult. Being a vassal to Mang Xiang was even more difficult.
Or rather, being a vassal to any grand cultivator was difficult.
Yet leaving these grand cultivators who monopolized resources, cultivation methods, and upward paths meant losing opportunities.
Yulou could run. After running away, it would simply be finding another grand cultivator's mountain to bow to... the Immortal Alliance was like this, and other places most likely wouldn't be much different.
Grand cultivators had the strength to monopolize resources and upward paths; they would inevitably make choices similar to those of the Immortal Alliance.
As for Yulou bowing to another mountain, whether the new grand cultivator he bowed to would be a second Mang Xiang, and whether they would also treat Yulou as a price to be traded for benefits... he could only gamble.
The Wang Clan understood Mang Xiang's temperament. If they switched to another grand cultivator, how would things turn out?
Therefore, Ancestor Jingyi's subconscious strategy of making Yulou run was not the best strategy.
A half-baked Purple Mansion... half-baked it was, then. After all, he would still be able to live for over seven hundred years.
Wang Yulou had not yet reached Foundation Establishment. These matters were still very distant.
First accepting the patriarch's arrangements and waiting for future changes was indeed the only choice.
The Immortal Alliance's Western Sea Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence—Zhou Bojiao had already taken office early.
Led by Zhou Liangzhuor, Yulou and Wang Jingyi saw the flood dragon lying in a pool in the mansion's backyard.
"Wang Yulou, where do you want to take up a position?"
This half-dead True Person completely ignored Wang Jingyi, directly asking Yulou.
"Yulou has just arrived in the West Sea and doesn't quite understand the Immortal Alliance's positions in the West Sea. I wonder if Uncle-Ancestor Liangzhuor could explain a thing or two?"
Cursing "good-for-nothing" in his heart, Zhou Bojiao did not speak.
Zhou Liangzhuor hurriedly began to speak.
The organizations on the Immortal Alliance's West Sea frontline are led by the Immortal Alliance's three True Persons of the West Sea. Below them, in order, are eleven direct-affiliate pavilions and courts of the Immortal Alliance, including the Dragon-Tiger Platform, Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Gate-Guarding Pavilion, Military Merit Court...
Further down, there are fifty-seven direct-affiliate duty departments of Western Sea Immortal City, including the Subsidiary City Law Enforcement Hall, Subsidiary City Administration, Subsidiary City... as well as fourteen levee patrol squads, fourteen levee repair squads, and fourteen West Sea outposts.
It's just that True Person Haikuo took office early, and he arranged for many Wondrous Peak Mountain disciples into different positions. Therefore, Wang Yulou, the ancestor can actually only arrange for you to go to three of the direct-affiliate pavilions and courts.
Namely the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Information Gathering Court, and Punishment Court. Among these, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and Information Gathering Court are relatively relaxed. The Punishment Court is extremely busy; the West Sea is rather chaotic."
The eleven Immortal Alliance direct-affiliate pavilions and courts corresponded to the three grand cultivators dispatched by the Immortal Alliance and the eight Purple Mansion cultivators raised locally in the West Sea.
The duty departments corresponding to the Subsidiary City were also numerous, considered the best choices besides the direct-affiliate pavilions and courts.
The levee patrol squads, repair squads, and outposts were dispatch units of Western Sea Immortal City, and were a bit more grueling.
Of course, these units also had their headquarters within Western Sea Immortal City. If Wang Yulou wanted to go there, it would naturally be easy to arrange.
But Zhou Liangzhuor had already brought up the "Spirit Treasure Pavilion," which was the pavilion directly under the jurisdiction of the West Sea's Treasure-Wielding True Person, Zhou Bojiao. Wang Yulou actually had no choice.
Difficult, difficult, difficult. Yulou hesitated somewhat.
Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle Danri had Yulou come to the West Sea to gain experience and temper his cultivation base. He cannot stay by your side forever, as that would defeat the purpose of gaining experience.
I think the Information Gathering Court that Junior Martial Brother Liangzhuor recommended is quite good. The West Sea is too chaotic, and the Punishment Court is too busy, so let's choose the Information Gathering Court. Yulou, what are your thoughts?"
Yulou, it's not difficult.
I, Wang Jingyi, can still block some wind and rain for you!
"The Punishment Court actually works too. I want to go to the frontlines to temper myself properly. A precious sword's edge is sharpened by grinding, after all." Yulou said with a face full of resolute determination.
Ancestor, catch!
"You foolish boy. If the Punishment Court were a good place, Li Haikuo would have shoved his people in there long ago! Tempering yourself doesn't mean willingly throwing yourself into danger!"
Suppressing the relief in her heart, Wang Jingyi scolded angrily, even looking as though she wanted to physically smack Wang Yulou.
Under the pressure of Mang Xiang and Zhou Bojiao, the ancestor and descendant had very little room to maneuver, but they managed to maneuver nonetheless.
He could not stay in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion!
Junior Martial Brother Haikuo's situation is also troublesome. Wondrous Peak Mountain and Valley Spirit Sect are already fighting to the point where they can't stop. Many people have entreated him, which is why he arranged for so many Wondrous Peak Mountain disciples to enter the immortal city to avoid the war.
However, you don't necessarily have to limit yourselves to these three. You can also choose other pavilions and courts where Junior Martial Brother Haikuo has already arranged his disciples. It's just a trivial matter."
Zhou Bojiao took the initiative to speak, which counted as an explanation—Li Haiping had given him many gifts, essentially giving him a cut.
Of course, he had to be called True Person Haikuo now.
During this wave of selling offices and titles, Zhou Bojiao and Li Haiping had grown rich together.
"How could we dare to trouble Martial Uncle? Let it be the Information Gathering Court."
As she spoke, Wang Jingyi looked at Yulou again, pointing at him and saying sternly:
"You still want to go to the Punishment Court? It seems you really want a beating!"
Perfected Man Fujiao let out a rare laugh, looking as though he had somewhat recovered from his half-dead state.
Hahaha, it is a good thing for young people to be enterprising; there's no need to be overly harsh.
However, Yulou is not young anymore. I wonder if he has a marriage arranged?"
However, with a single sentence, Zhou Bojiao shattered the facade.
There was no map to be unfurled; it was all daggers.
Wang Yulou was precisely the apprenticeship gift that Mang Xiang had given him!
To breed with Zhou Yingxi, to be her stepping stone, to achieve a half-baked Purple Mansion, and to enjoy seven hundred and twenty years of lifespan.
The patriarch's favor, sigh.
Plotting for seventeen years. This was the realm of a grand cultivator.
"Yulou married three Dao Companions in Dripdrop Cave. However, because Dripdrop Cave's Perfected Man Hongli thought highly of Yulou and was afraid that it would affect his cultivation, she placed a magic seal on his body, rendering him unable to perform matters between men and women."
Wang Jingyi took the initiative to explain with a peculiar expression.
Perfected Man Fujiao, why not just let Yulou off?
"Oh?"
A slightly puzzled "oh" came from the flood dragon's body. The dragon head lifted from the water and approached Yulou.
Looking at that water vat-sized dragon eye, Yulou pursed his lips in slight nervousness and embarrassment—just play the fool, what else could he do?
"The magic seal is gone."
Zhou Bojiao's words gave Yulou a slight shock. Hongli's magic seal was actually broken by Zhou Bojiao just like that. How terrifying...
"Three Dao Companions do not matter. If he marries Yingxi, I can take him in as my disciple. Jingyi, what do you think?"
What use was it not choosing the Spirit Treasure Pavilion? Zhou Bojiao didn't even bother pretending.
The desperate maneuvering of Wang Yulou and Wang Jingyi was as laughable as mayflies trying to shake the heavens and earth.
Cultivators were mayflies before the heavens and earth, and the Wang Clan were also mayflies before grand cultivators like Mang Xiang and Zhou Bojiao.
They had you dead to rights!
"If Martial Uncle can take Yulou as a disciple, Jingyi is naturally willing. It's just that..."
Wang Jingyi still wanted to fight for a chance.
"Just what?"
Zhou Bojiao suddenly asked in a cold voice.
"It's just that Yulou already has three Dao Companions. Jingyi is afraid it would be a grievance to Yingxi."
Wang Jingyi suppressed the turbulent thoughts in her heart and spoke respectfully.
"Splash~"
The dragon head smashed back into the pool water, and Zhou Bojiao said:
"It is no grievance. They will marry in three days. We will hold it right here. This matter is settled."
Silence.
An incredibly beautiful girl being forcefully thrust upon him... how could such a thing actually turn out to be a bad thing?
One could only say that the cultivation world was vast and full of all kinds of bizarre things, and Wang Yulou just had to be the one to encounter it.
——
Following the ancestor all the way out of Western Sea Immortal City, the two ultimately returned to Flavorful Bistro.
Western Sea Immortal City had two Flavorful Bistros. The one inside the immortal city was larger, while this one in the Subsidiary City was smaller. However, without communicating, the ancestor and descendant tacitly came here.
The Subsidiary City was farther away from the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence.
Seventeen years of laying down the pieces. Ancestor, from seventeen years ago when True Person Danri checked my spirit root in Clear Stream Market, the patriarch had already placed me on the chessboard.
Now, it's nothing more than pushing the piece into the game."
Wang Yulou calmly gave his judgment.
Now everything was clear. He had also become a price to be paid, so there was no need to be careful anymore.
No matter how ruthless Zhou Bojiao and Mang Xiang were, forcing me to be a stepping stone, they couldn't possibly demand that I raise my hands high, crying and claiming how moved I was, right?
Wang Jingyi shook her head and said:
Let's eat at Flavorful Bistro first, and then secure your residence in the West Sea. Tomorrow, we will go see Feng Disha and explain that you'll be taking a post in the Information Gathering Court.
By becoming Perfected Man Fujiao's disciple, you will instantly step into the ranks of Hongdengzhao's Core Disciples. This is a blessing that many people couldn't beg for even if they tried."
Child, do not give up hope!
Wang Yulou's action of directly laying bare the "truth" actually carried a hint of resigning to his fate.
He had clearly consoled the ancestor earlier, saying that Mang Xiang might not truly give the Zhou Clan another chance for a Purple Mansion cultivator. But at that time, Yulou had not expected Zhou Bojiao to be so utterly undisguised.
It was a brutal and entirely indifferent manipulation of Wang Yulou's destiny.
Seventeen years after stepping into the cultivation world, this was the first time Yulou had encountered such a despairing predicament.
He was a gift picked out by Mang Xiang, a gift given to Zhou Bojiao.
How could he not be disappointed?
Ancestor Jingyi saw Yulou's disappointment. Her heart ached, aching incomparably.
Therefore, she chose to use words that implicitly meant "we must be good," to convey the true intention of "play the fool and do not give up hope."
Yulou, you must pretend to be obedient, pretend to be resigned, pretend to be docile. Keep pretending.
And then, wait for an opportunity.
Wang Yulou understood the ancestor's meaning. He lowered his head and said:
"Ancestor, Yulou... is hungry."
Ancestor, Yulou understands.
Wang Jingyi had heard Yulou say "Yulou understands" many times in the past.
Those firm, earnest, confident, and joyful "Yulou understands" still echoed in her ears, but now...
Ancestor Jingyi looked up at the sky, and when she looked back at Yulou, her eyes were already red.
"Good child. Let's go. We're going to eat some braised donkey meat."
(End of Chapter)