Chapter 754: Resigning to Fate |
Although he knew that the Misty Pavilion couldn't make such a grand gesture, even if it wanted to distance itself, he still wanted to clarify the situation.
If they truly viewed him unfavorably, there would be even more trouble, and his current strength was simply no match for it.
He was relieved to learn that it had nothing to do with the Misty Pavilion itself, which had merely been used by others.
As for those who wanted to seize the opportunity to kill him, they were mostly people who had spoken out against Gong Ling Ze's name. He held no personal grudges against these individuals, but he had been implicated in the affair. It was no surprise that he had deliberately stirred up animosity against him.
Hearing that Zhao Xiong Ge was among them, but had been nominated by Sha Ru Lai, Niu You Dao grew curious. "Why?"
Gong Ling Ze replied, "I know Zhao Xiong Ge might be able to help you after you enter. I also want to know why, but Sha Ru Lai gave no answer. I think it's related to the Devil Cult he's now entangled with. I don't need to remind you, do I?"
Niu You Dao nodded slightly, understanding who the other person was referring to, and asked, "How many people were nominated by the Devil Mother and Yun Ji?"
Knowing the truth of the matter, he now wanted to confirm if the Devil Mother and Yun Ji had indeed taken a hit for him.
The reason was simple. The Devil Mother's Yinshan Mountain Trap had always been reclusive. The Qi Kingdom supported the Yan Kingdom's self-defense and even provided many resources. Therefore, there shouldn't have been any reason for the Devil Mother to help him. Yun Ji from Flowing Clouds Mountain was also reclusive, but this time, standing by his side had truly angered the Zhao Kingdom.
The number of nominations could reveal if his involvement was indeed the cause.
Gong Ling Ze shook his head, offering no answer to that question. "I didn't pay any particular attention to them; it was a thousand random names, and I have no impression of how many they nominated. But it doesn't seem like a bad thing for you. They are on your side, and you'll have at least two more helpers in the Secret Realm of Tian Du."
Niu You Dao secretly sighed. Still, that saying held true: the Devil Mother and Yun Ji were usually reclusive; the fact they were moved to act this time meant he was likely more or less implicated.
"Palace Master," Niu You Dao sighed bitterly, "Since the war had already been frozen, you could have stated that I was already a disciple of the Black Gold Cave at that time. As long as I hadn't entered, I could have come up with a solution to the problem."
Gong Ling Ze retorted, "Considering that, who was stalling? Did you think it was so easy to deceive the Imperial Court? The court's methods are clearer than yours, and I can even foresee the consequences of such an argument. When the majority insisted on allowing you to participate, and concrete evidence couldn't be provided for a time, letting you participate became a matter of a few words. This would also ensure you were on the Black Gold Cave's list of participants! Since you can't get off the list for entering the Secret Realm of Tian Du, and my intentions here were exposed again, have you considered the reactions of the Palace of Bliss and Spiritual Sword Mountain?"
"Now, if my Black Gold Cave wants to protect you in the Secret Realm of Tian Du, it's hard to rely on the power of the Palace of Bliss and Spiritual Sword Mountain. And then, to use the full entry quota of the entire Yan Kingdom to protect you... If the Palace of Bliss and Spiritual Sword Mountain were to notice anything, not only would the twelve assigned people kill you, but the Palace of Bliss and Spiritual Sword Mountain themselves wouldn't let you go! What's more, it would bring immense losses to the disciples of the Black Gold Cave who enter because of you. You are a wise man. Knowing the importance of what I said, I didn't dispute it for your own good!"
He spoke in such a way that Niu You Dao could tell, yet he still asked, "Ximen Qingtian, how many people nominated him, and did you pay attention?"
Gong Ling Ze was slightly surprised. "Do you perhaps have a connection with Ximen Qingtian? Can he help you?"
Niu You Dao shook his head. "It's nothing. I don't know him well, I haven't even met him."
"Why ask about him?" Gong Ling Ze didn't believe him and immediately thought, "Ah, yes, your ex-wife seems to have become someone close to Xuan Wei. You could use your ex-wife to see if you can find a way to get Ximen Qingtian's help. If you can get his assistance, you truly could be safer."
Seeking Tang Yi's help? Niu You Dao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, knowing that the other party had misunderstood his meaning, but the connection with Xuan Wei wasn't something he needed to invent.
But he couldn't help but ponder the Shangqing Sect. The tangled web of grievances between him and the sect, and his very identity as a Shangqing Sect disciple, were yet to be fully untangled. Originally, if such a turn of events had come to pass, he would have had to sever his ties and abandon his identity as a Shangqing Sect disciple.
But who could have expected that today, the Shangqing Sect had been taken by him to the Wei Kingdom, and Tang Yi had been forced to openly clarify her relationship with the Shangqing Sect? Now, everyone knew he was no longer a disciple of the Shangqing Sect.
There was also the matter of joining the Black Gold Cave. In the past, to be safe, in case he was swept into the Secret Realm of Tian Du, his delaying tactics had been cautious, yet the outcome was still doomed to failure. It was also a stone he had tripped on himself.
Gong Ling Ze didn't know his thoughts and continued, "Ximen Qingtian must be accounted for. He is one of the few who was nominated by everyone present. Not a single person at the meeting opposed his entry into the Secret Realm of Tian Du!"
"By everyone?" Niu You Dao was greatly surprised. "He was nominated by thirty people? Even the three major factions of the Wei Kingdom nominated him?"
Gong Ling Ze said indifferently, "When it comes to rogue cultivators, the first person everyone present thought of was him. As for rogue cultivators, having too much strength might not be a good thing. Just like when I nominated him then, I have no relationship with him, so why wouldn't I mention him? Is it unusual for the Wei Kingdom's three major sects to nominate him? Do you think the three major sects want an external master to protect Xuan Wei? They want *their own* people to work harder, and I'd prefer to send a master from their own faction to protect Xuan Wei. It's perfectly normal for the three major Wei Kingdom factions to nominate him!"
Niu You Dao pondered, then understood what he meant, and the crux of the matter was precisely that. It wasn't hard to understand. As Gong Ling Ze said, it was perfectly normal!
Gong Ling Ze continued, "It's just that the three major sects of the Wei Kingdom at the time never imagined that Ximen Qingtian would be recommended by everyone. It became a bit of a joke. The publication of that recommendation list revealed much that was interesting. But you don't need to worry about Ximen Qingtian. With his strength, and with so many nominations, he still possesses considerable self-preservation capabilities within the Secret Realm of Tian Du."
That was about the sum of it, and it was about the same once it came to this point.
Gong Ling Ze's attitude hadn't changed, which meant the Black Gold Cave had made its stance clear and would still do its best to protect Niu.
The premise remained the same. The matter of Niu You Dao joining the Black Gold Cave must not be exposed, otherwise, the Palace of Bliss and Spiritual Sword Mountain would not be able to sit idly by and watch the Black Gold Cave's plot succeed.
What needed to be clarified had been clarified, and what had been agreed upon had been agreed upon. Niu You Dao didn't linger and bid farewell.
However, before leaving, Niu You Dao still reminded him, "A year is a year. Before I return, I don't want anyone to arbitrarily extend their hand into the Southern Domain."
Being gone for too long, he was worried that someone might get greedy in his absence. This was also one of the main reasons for his visit.
Gong Ling Ze nodded. "You can rest assured, even if you don't say it, the Black Gold Cave won't allow people to easily change anything. You should still focus on yourself now; do you understand the situation in the Secret Realm of Tian Du?"
Niu You Dao replied, "I may not have eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run. I've heard a little about it. I'll learn more when I return."
Gong Ling Ze said, "Since things are inevitable, then prepare sufficiently to face them. I believe your abilities are not easily overcome. If there's anything unclear, after you enter, you can go to the Black Gold Cave's arrangements there, and they will cooperate with you."
"Very well, farewell." Niu You Dao bowed to everyone.
There was no holding him back here; the current situation wasn't easily publicized, and people wouldn't be easily swayed. Niu You Dao went his way...
With worries swirling around him, and people soaring through the sky, Niu had many thoughts.
In the final analysis of this incident, it was still a misfortune caused by the thousand randomly nominated rogue cultivators, broken by the Misty Pavilion. It hadn't even deigned to deal with him directly, nor did it consider him significant; it merely assigned spots at random and lumped him in. He still couldn't fight back. There was no room for reason. He could only accept his fate.
Faced with such a powerful existence, he made a decision, much like the common people caught in the wars between different countries: one doesn't wage war against such overwhelming forces, and those who are seized are the truly unfortunate ones.
Looking back, he found that Guan Fang Yi was also unusually quiet. Niu You Dao teased, "Matchmaker, I was just wondering. You're quite famous, especially during your early cultivation, not to mention my influence. How could you not be on the list with me? Were you omitted?"
"Can't you tell?" Guan Fang Yi gave him a blank look, then mocked herself, "To them, standing next to you, I'm just a pretty vase. You're the one I used to advance my position. A matchmaker of the Qi Kingdom, vying for fame and envy? Lao Zhu Huang was unlucky. If it were back in those days, things would be just as you wished.
On the other hand, those who might envy me aren't even qualified to be nominated for the Misty Pavilion. Who are the people who *can* be listed in the Misty Pavilion? What reputation do I even have? I don't need anyone to remind me; I simply don't qualify. Even if my candidacy wasn't revealed, these are all masters who are above. They cherish their own standing. Do you have to provoke me and treat me with such disdain? Wanting to use me is one thing. Even a powerful female figure would have to endure being disregarded. Isn't that right? I'm not like you. I'm just a pretty vase; no one cares about me."
"You're spot on." Niu You Dao chuckled, then teased again, "I don't know if anyone else would nominate you, but at least Du Yun San—I can guarantee he definitely wouldn't."
The mention of Du Yun San slightly irritated Guan Fang Yi, and her face darkened. "Niu You Dao, are you looking for a fight?"
Usually, she would retort and quarrel, but this time, she didn't want to argue with Niu.