In a unique battle of reinforcent, Yulou had obtained the tail of the iron crocodile dragon, but his harvest did not stop there. During that night's battle, Wang Yulou's performance had been far too outstanding.
With two high-stage Qi Refining cultivators present on the battlefield, he had actually managed to claim the largest share of rit points. Although this achievent relied partly on the effectiveness of his magic artifact and the coordination of his fellow Daoists, the core reason remained unchanged.
Without his top-grade Jade Blade, crafted from eighth-grade corundum, it would have been utterly impossible for a low-stage Qi Refining cultivator like Wang Yulou to pierce the Alligator Dragon Iron Armor.
And without the coordination of his fellow Daoists and martial siblings creating the perfect opening for his attacks, he could never have safely and steadily delivered those three strikes. Ultimately, it was because Wang Yulou was fierce enough to discern the opportunity and decisive enough to seize it.
Following this battle, both Zhang Xuewu and Cui Dingyi suffered a trendous psychological shock. On paper, Splendid Pool Palace disciples and Azurewater Palace disciples were separated by only a single tier, and their cultivation bases were not that far apart—after all, everyone was in the Qi Refining stage.
Yet in reality, the difference between them was as vast as clouds and mud. Ji Yuan possessed genuine strength, Lin Ying possessed a powerful background, and Wang Yulou possessed both an extraordinary background and imnse individual strength.
No matter how corrupt this cultivation version of the caste system might seem, the individuals it selected were indeed vastly superior to mud-legged rogue cultivators like Zhang Xuewu and Cui Dingyi. This was the natural result of a rigorous screening chanism, combined with the vastly different scales of resources backing them.
However, despite revealing a hidden trump card and displaying such formidable power, Yulou did not alter his deanor toward Zhang Xuewu and Cui Dingyi. Regarding this, Zhang Xuewu rely felt that Fellow Daoist Yulou was exceptionally amiable, but old Cui found the situation incredibly difficult to swallow.
Young, of extraordinary birth, possessing transcendent talent, formidable strength, and a mind as deep as an abyss—when these traits were combined, any envy Cui Dingyi felt was completely swallowed by sheer terror.
He knew Wang Yulou was targeting him, yet Wang Yulou made no direct moves, rely urging him to build the tower efficiently and repair the watergate properly. Faced with this, Cui Dingyi could only comply.
Despite his lofty status as a Town Guardian Cultivator, he found himself reduced to the work of a re construction foreman.
—
As for old Cui, Wang Yulou was naturally in no hurry. He knew that impatience would achieve nothing. It would take ti for Li Changming to produce results, and Wang Yulou's own cultivation also required ti.
Ti was on Yulou's side; old Cui, after all, was aging. Returning to his residence in Riverbend Fishing Village, Yulou channeled all his energy into studying the tail of the iron crocodile dragon.
The iron crocodile dragon evolved from the Iron-Armored Crocodile, making it a rare beast within the Small Demon Realm to awaken a draconic nature. A draconic nature was a complex concept.
Draconic whiskers, draconic scales, and draconic claws could all be considered manifestations of it. Other elents like draconic blood, a draconic tail, or draconic horns could similarly be viewed as external signs of this nature.
The unique aspect of the iron crocodile dragon lay in the fact that it possessed three distinct physical manifestations of this draconic nature. The Alligator Dragon Iron Armor corresponded to draconic scales.
The alligator dragon tail corresponded to a draconic tail. The alligator dragon claws corresponded to draconic claws.
Of course, these were rely correspondences; they did not an the traits were identical to those of a true dragon. The draconic manifestations on the iron crocodile dragon were rely rudintary characteristics, still countless miles away from a genuine dragon.
Even so, it was more than enough to stir anyone's desires. Otherwise, Yulou would not have temporarily unleashed his full power to reveal his top-grade magic artifact, the Jade Blade.
Ji Yuan and Lin Ying were both deeply wary of the mysterious entity raising the iron crocodile dragons in secret. Consequently, they had mutually agreed to yield the rights to the tail, allowing the outsider Wang Yulou to reap a massive advantage for nothing.
However, looking at the alligator dragon tail, which was approximately six feet long, Yulou found himself sowhat at a loss—he lacked the ans to process this material properly. Among beast materials, spiritual bones were the most common, and teeth, horns, and claws could generally be classified under the sa category.
Thanks to their generations of raising spiritual donkeys, the Wang Clan possessed a highly refined mastery over the artificing path utilizing bone thods. Yet, the portion of the alligator dragon tail that qualified as spiritual bone was minimal.
The most critical components were the iron crocodile dragon's back tendon, the Alligator Dragon Iron Armor, and the alligator dragon fascia. Unfortunately, the back tendon inside the tail was too short, making it exceedingly difficult to process.
Aside from that, the alligator dragon tail weighed over four hundred pounds. The alligator dragon at within it was of exceptional quality, making it a pri ingredient for refining essence-blood pills and various other beast-at dicines.
Yulou was not particularly well-versed in alchemy, so he had no choice but to send soone to the rit Hall to invite Wu Faxian over. Though he shared no deep friendship with old Wu, they were at least acquaintances.
An alligator dragon tail could not be preserved indefinitely. Yulou intended to exchange the alligator dragon at and the difficult-to-process back tendon for rit points, hoping to clear his outstanding debt to the Azurewater Palace as soon as possible.
Upon receiving the ssage brought by the Qi Gathering cultivator from Riverbend Fishing Village, Wu Faxian rushed over in a flurry of activity. Inside Yulou's residence, Wu Faxian stared open-mouthed at the massive alligator dragon tail, his teeth aching with envy as he asked.
"Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, is this truly the tail left behind by one of those three iron crocodile dragons?"
Those three iron crocodile dragons had plagued the shores of Beautiful Water Lake for many years, launching over a dozen attacks on the fishing villages built along the lakeside, treating each raid like an open buffet.
Wu Faxian had never imagined that Wang Yulou could actually sever an alligator dragon tail, especially considering he had only recently entered the Qi Refining stage.
So many high-stage Qi Refining disciples of the Azurewater Palace had found themselves utterly helpless when faced with the coordinated attacks of the three iron crocodile dragons, yet Wang Yulou had actually succeeded. Wu Faxian beca increasingly certain that cultivating a good relationship with Wang Yulou was absolutely worthwhile.
What did a small loss in profits matter? This young man might very well beco the future pillar of Dripdrop Cave.
"Senior Brother Wu misinterprets the situation. I severed it alongside Senior Brother Ji and Senior Martial Sister Lin. However, there are so unsavory details involved. Please listen to my explanation."
Yulou gave a brief overview of the unexpected events from the previous night, causing Wu Faxian to instantly lose his composure.
"Are you saying those three iron crocodile dragons might actually be raised by soone in secret?"
Yulou nodded with a grave expression. No matter how formidable a beast in the Small Demon Realm might be, it was impossible for it to naturally learn to communicate in human speech.
The only logical explanation was that soone was raising them from the shadows. If one considered the veiled hints Elder Zhuo Chi had dropped previously, the factors involved beca incredibly convoluted.
It was highly probable that the figure behind the three iron crocodile dragons was a certain Foundation Establishnt cultivator within Dripdrop Cave.
"Indeed. However, you need not worry. That person cannot possibly cause trouble for the Azurewater Palace rely because its rit Hall accepted a few beast materials," Yulou added reassuringly.
While there was a clear disparity between the disciples of the Azurewater Palace, Clear Spring Palace, and Splendid Pool Palace, within the system of Dripdrop Cave, these three departnts were the most powerful entities. Among them, the Azurewater Palace directly managed all inner disciples.
Even if the person backing the iron crocodile dragons turned out to be the sect master or a veteran Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Dripdrop Cave, they could not lightly target Yulou or the Azurewater Palace over such a trivial matter.
Yulou was not a mber of Dripdrop Cave's direct lineage, and he had shown no intention of competing with them for resources. No one was willing to needlessly offend the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom—it simply wasn't worth the cost.
As the administrative body for inner disciples, it was perfectly reasonable and compliant with sect regulations for the Azurewater Palace to purchase a small amount of iron crocodile dragon at during its normal operations. Naturally, no one would use this as an excuse to stir up trouble.
"Fair enough. In that case, Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, what is your estimated price for this alligator dragon tail?"
Wu Faxian understood Yulou's underlying point. If soone was plotting in the shadows, it was far above their station to interfere.
Yulou had effectively learned from Ancestor Jingyi and the other elders. The cultivation world and the grotto-heavens were riddled with far too many problems; how many could he possibly hope to manage?
Regarding the issue of the three alligator dragons, he had already dispatched a transmission talisman to report the matter to his martial uncle, Elder Zhuo Chi. This was the absolute limit of what he could do.
Anything more would be a burden Wang Yulou could not bear.
"This tail weighs about four hundred pounds. Once processed, the at should amount to roughly two hundred and twenty pounds. How does a price of two hundred spirit stones sound?" Yulou asked tentatively.
Although the alligator dragon tail was heavy, the bulk of that weight resided in the Alligator Dragon Iron Armor. Even though these scales only covered the upper section of the tail, they weighed a full two hundred pounds. While the alligator dragon at appeared plentiful, its actual weight was not as imnse as it seed. Two hundred spirit stones translated to forty rit points. He considered this opening bid to be entirely reasonable.
"Absolutely not," Wu Faxian screwed up his face and began to plead poverty. "The market price for demon beast at is firmly established. Two hundred spirit stones is the retail price we use when selling it to others. Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, I naturally wish to offer you a higher price, but the rit Hall employs nurous deacons. My word alone cannot finalize such an arrangent."
He naturally desired to secure a profit for himself, and the rit Hall was not a charitable institution; it required a profit margin to contribute to the sect's general revenue.
"Then what do you deem an appropriate amount?"
Yulou remained unbothered. Business was business; as the seller, it was only natural for him to quote a high price and wait for the counteroffer.
Inspecting the alligator dragon at closely, Wu Faxian pondered for a long mont before speaking. "The iron crocodile dragon does possess a draconic nature after all. We can purchase it at a rate of three spirit stones for every five pounds. I can directly convert this into rit points for you. Two hundred and twenty pounds equates to one hundred and thirty-two spirit stones, which amounts to twenty-two rit points... Bah, let us call it twenty-five rit points. Surely that is sufficient?"
As he uttered the figure of twenty-two rit points, Wu Faxian noticed Yulou's expression darken slightly, prompting him to hastily tack on an additional three points.
"Thirty points, flat. If that is unacceptable, I will simply commission soone to leave the grotto-heaven and sell it at Clear Stream Market!" Yulou spoke with absolute confidence. He was intimately familiar with the operations around Clear Stream Market.
If he could transport this alligator dragon at to Flavorful Bistro, old Tang could easily generate a profit of four hundred spirit stones from it.
"Leaving the grotto-heaven is far too troubleso, and this alligator dragon at commands such a price only while it remains fresh. How about this: twenty-seven points! Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, you and I felt an instant affinity upon our first eting. Your elder brother here has already quoted the absolute highest possible price. I truly cannot offer a single point more."
Wu Faxian grudgingly conceded a fraction, raising his offer by the equivalent of one and a half Spirit Rice Essence Cultivation Pills.
With a grand wave of his hand, Wang Yulou chose not to haggle further. One could not claim every last bit of profit without allowing one's Daoist friends to make a living; such greed would only leave a cultivator entirely isolated in the world.
"Twenty-eight points. If you agree to that, we can proceed to discuss the matter of the alligator dragon's back tendon."
Hearing this, Wu Faxian assud an expression of imnse financial pain even as a small smile played at the corners of his eyes. He agreed to the terms and imdiately transferred the rit points to Yulou on the spot. However, the back tendon within the alligator dragon tail proved far too short.
Once extracted, it asured barely two feet in length, ultimately fetching a re fourteen rit points. On the other hand, regarding the Alligator Dragon Iron Armor, despite Wu Faxian dropping several broad hints, Yulou showed absolutely no intention of selling it.
That material was a genuine treasure. The two high-stage iron crocodile dragons had relied on their iron armor to shrug off countless magic artifacts and spells. Yulou intended to keep them for his own future use in artifact refining. After all, one could never possess too much of a resource like the Ruyi Golden Radiance.
Only by constantly engaging in artifact refining and talisman crafting could he accumulate a greater store of Ruyi Golden Radiance, thereby allowing him to fully exploit the miraculous capabilities of that mysterious hidden assistance. An alligator dragon was a treasure from head to toe.
The at and back tendon had yielded forty-two Azurewater Palace rit points, while the remaining iron armor could be used for artifact refining and the fascia for crafting talismans. However, Yulou had no desire to refine artifacts at the mont.
Stowing away the remaining materials, he tilted his head to gaze toward the sky. Beyond Droplet Heaven, the sun hung high in the sky, and the fabled Immortal Venerable's Manor drifted amidst the clouds, appearing and disappearing in a display that truly exuded the grandeur of an immortal sect.
The news had already been relayed to Elder Zhuo Chi, but would anyone actually co to deal with those three rampaging iron crocodile dragons? Furthermore, calculating the ti, He Laosan should have nearly arrived at Wang Family Mountain.
I wonder how the clan will respond to my request for assistance? Seated before the statue of the Immortal Venerable, as wisps of green incense smoke drifted through the quiet chamber, Yulou comnced his daily cultivation.
Since he could not perform bloodline tracing for the ti being, he would focus on properly cultivating his Gui-water spiritual energy to raise his cultivation base. Swallowing a single Qi Transformation Pill worth five spirit stones, his cultivation speed would be enhanced roughly threefold over the next five days.
During the fierce battle against the iron crocodile dragon the previous night, rely unleashing the full power of his top-grade magic artifact for three strikes had completely drained his spiritual energy.
If his cultivation base were higher—even just at the mid-stage of Qi Refining—Yulou was confident he could have completely grounded and slain the weakest of the iron crocodile dragons. — White Mao Fishing Port.
Following the demon beast raid, the administrative system of Dripdrop Cave naturally did not remain idle. The Grotto Heaven Patrol Team arrived at White Mao Fishing Port before the sun had even risen.
Their first task was to assess the damage caused by the demon beast attack—though one should not misunderstand; this ant compiling a tally of how many cultivators had perished. No one paid any heed to the mortals. They were like wild grass; once cleared away, a new generation would naturally grow back after a few years. Their second task was to evaluate whether anyone had fled the battlefield or committed other violations of sect law during the struggle to repel the demon beasts.
A Town Guardian Cultivator was expected to hold their post and persevere until the absolute end. Unless the situation degenerated to a point where containnt was completely impossible, they were forbidden from retreating. This mandate extended even to the Qi Gathering stage disciples of the Clear Spring Palace.
Yulou's assessnt had been entirely accurate; life within the grotto-heaven was far too comfortable. These rules, which appeared cold-blooded and were indeed cold-blooded in practice, were deliberately implented by Dripdrop Cave to forge and temper its disciples. Unfortunately, the three iron crocodile dragons from the previous night had been exceptionally ferocious.
Of the three Qi Refining Town Guardian Cultivators stationed at White Mao Fishing Port, one had perished and another was severely injured. Only Ji Yuan remained completely unscathed, while the Qi Gathering stage disciples had suffered catastrophic casualties, with over half of their number wiped out.
"Junior Brother Ji Yuan, Yuan Laosi failed to arrive at his post. Why did you not report this matter to us imdiately?"
The captain of the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team, Wang Yaohai, was a veteran Qi Refining cultivator whose cultivation base had already attained the Peak Qi Condensation realm. Upon receiving the reports from his subordinates, he suppressed his simring anger to question Ji Yuan directly.
Ji Yuan's expression remained entirely composed, though he let out a quiet sigh within his heart. Why must everyone make things so difficult for ? Lin Ying makes things difficult for , the patrol team makes things difficult for , yet I have already perford every duty within my power.
"Senior Brother Wang, from last night until this very mont, I have not rested for even a single breath. Witnessing White Mao Fishing Port suffer such a devastating blow, and seeing my forr martial siblings perish one after another, my heart is consud by profound grief. To the point where... I temporarily forgot the matter regarding Fourth Brother Yuan. I crave your forbearance."
Ji Yuan's face was etched with sorrow, his voice pausing after every few words, stretching a brief explanation into a lengthy display of exhaustion. 'Senior Brother, I have done my utmost. I have been faithful to my duties and my post.' 'Senior Brother, my strength is limited. I am rely a retainer of the Yuan Clan; I beg you not to press too hard.'
Seeing Ji Yuan adopt such a stance, the anger in the heart of Patrol Captain Wang Yaohai gradually dissipated. Indeed, it was impossible for Ji Yuan to openly report Yuan Laosi for dereliction of duty. Let it go, let it go.
"Junior Brother Ji, you have accumulated rit by repelling the demon beasts. The sect's rewards will be assessed and distributed appropriately by the Droplet Heaven Elders' Council once our investigation findings are submitted. With so many casualties, you may head to the Splendid Pool Palace and Clear Spring Palace to request replacents for the vacant positions yourself. Over the coming period, you will need to expend considerable effort to restore White Mao Fishing Port to its forr prosperity as quickly as possible."
Having finished speaking, Wang Yaohai turned around, preparing to mount his spiritual bird, a Blue-Tailed Duck, to depart. The Blue-Tailed Duck was one of the signature spiritual birds bred by Dripdrop Cave. Within the Droplet Cave Heaven, where water-attributed spiritual energy was dominant, it possessed respectable combat capabilities and excellent flight speed. Consequently, it had been selected by the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team for daily use.
"Senior Brother Wang, how does the sect intend to handle Fourth Brother Yuan?"
Ji Yuan could not restrain himself from asking. Wang Yaohai offered a cold, mocking smile as he replied.
"How would we ever dare to handle soone from the Yuan Clan? Only if we secured the backing of another Foundation Establishnt cultivator might we stand a chance of bringing him to justice."
He was not mocking Ji Yuan, but rather expressing his profound sense of helplessness regarding certain individuals and affairs within Dripdrop Cave, utilizing sarcasm to vent his inner frustration. Ji Yuan refused to report Yuan Laosi, and Wang Yaohai was equally familiar with Lin Ying, that female cultivator from the Lin family. He was absolutely certain that Lin Ying would not report Yuan Laosi either. Furthermore, although he had never personally t Wang Yulou, he knew the young man was a disciple of an external great clan, making it even less likely for him to entangle himself in the internal politics of Dripdrop Cave.
Therefore, Wang Yaohai was already certain that even if they personally traveled to Wood Gully to investigate, they would fail to uncover any useful evidence—the emphasis being on 'useful.' All three Azurewater Palace disciples possessed their own reasons to withhold testimony against Yuan Laosi. Relying solely on the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team, whatever evidence they uncovered would ultimately amount to nothing.
Above the skies of the Wunan Basin sat the Immortal Alliance, and above the skies of the Droplet Cave Heaven sat the Droplet Heaven Palace and the Immortal Venerable's Manor. In essence, they were exactly the sa thing. It was rely that within Dripdrop Cave, the scale of these dynamics had been slightly reduced.
—
Two days later, Yulou was inspecting the construction progress of the watergate. The labor force for the Riverbend Village watergate project consisted primarily of mortal martial artists, supplented by a few Qi Gathering stage cultivators who provided assistance. Cui Dingyi, who possessed a five-elent spirit root, would occasionally lend a hand himself, utilizing low-tier earth-attributed spells to resolve so of the more troubleso tasks.
However, as he gazed upon the massive silhouette of the watergate, whose primary frawork had already been erected, Yulou felt a slight headache coming on. Turning to Cui Dingyi, he questioned, "Old Cui, your approach is incorrect. It is possible that Chu Ran failed to explain the matter to you clearly. Let ask you a question first: is this watergate actually useful?"
Wang Yulou was precisely the type of leader people found most vexing—failing to provide clear specifications when assigning a task, only to begin nitpicking during the final review. In truth, after witnessing the scene where Wang Yulou effortlessly severed the alligator dragon's tail, Cui Dingyi had beco thoroughly submissive. Whether it was constructing the magnificent high platform or building this watergate ant to serve as a record of political achievent, he had executed both tasks with utmost dedication.
Yet, when faced with Wang Yulou's query, he did not dare to flaunt his hard work or rits, choosing instead to reply with absolute humility. "It is bound to be useful. I am advanced in years now, and there are tis when my mind fails to keep pace with your vision, Fellow Daoist Yulou. I humbly request your guidance."
The local tyrant of Riverbend Fishing Village? No, whoever dared to call Cui Dingyi a local tyrant would face his imdiate wrath! He was rely the most compliant subordinate in Riverbend Fishing Village!
Yulou scanned their surroundings before leaning in slightly to whisper to Cui Dingyi. "In truth, it is useless..."
The mont those words were uttered, despite Cui Dingyi's imnse capacity for forbearance, the gaze he directed toward Yulou turned distinctly peculiar. 'I strained my back to construct the entire main frawork, and now you tell it is useless? Then why the hell did you order to build it in the first place?'
"...Or rather, I am uncertain whether it will yield any results; I rely wished to attempt it as an experint. However, you have constructed it on such a massive scale. If it ultimately starts with a bang and ends with a whimper, it will reflect very poorly on us, wouldn't you agree?"
"What Fellow Daoist Yulou says is entirely correct! I shall imdiately arrange for modifications, dismantling a portion to reduce its scale."
Wang Yulou smiled and tapped old Cui playfully on the shoulder. This old fellow had been far too obedient recently; Yulou actually found himself missing the days when the man would secretly hatch minor sches from the shadows. At the very least, such behavior allowed him to discern exactly what Cui Dingyi was plotting. Now, with old Cui constantly spouting phrases like 'imdiate rectification' and 'aligning entirely with Fellow Daoist Yulou's core vision,' Wang Yulou felt a twinge of guilt whenever he contemplated striking down the man's hidden influence.
"There is no need for dismantling; leave it as it is. A larger scale is not without rit; at the very least, it appears grand and magnificent, which will instill a sense of security within the inhabitants of Riverbend Fishing Village. Co, accompany to inspect the high platform."
The watergate was rely a casual piece placed upon the board; Yulou himself possessed no certainty regarding its ultimate success. He rely viewed it as a proactive pilot project; regardless of the outco, he would suffer no loss.
"The high platform is nearing completion. I intend to encrust the exterior walls entirely with gold bricks. I wonder what your thoughts are on this matter, Fellow Daoist Yulou?"
The mont these words left his mouth, the gaze Zhang Xuewu directed toward old Cui altered completely. 'Your sycophancy has reached an utterly transcendent level. Is such an extre asure truly necessary?'
Cui Dingyi was indeed a fascinating individual. When he had been subtly opposing Wang Yulou, his thods had been exceptionally sophisticated; yet now that he had chosen to submit entirely, the speed with which he adopted a posture of total sycophancy was equally remarkable. Utilizing gold to manufacture bricks—only he could have conceived such a notion!
"Gold bricks? Let us forgo that. It is better for to maintain a low profile," Yulou replied, waving his hands repeatedly in refusal.
He was a cultivator; when Cui Dingyi sought to test him with re gold bricks, his resolve remained entirely unshakable. Of course, had old Cui offered to pave the high platform entirely with spirit stones, Yulou would certainly not have refused. However, given old Cui's financial capacity, had he actually managed to procure such a vast quantity of spirit stones, it would have served as definitive proof that he was guilty of possessing an imnse amount of assets from unexplainable sources.
"Fellow Daoist Yulou's perspective is flawed. This high platform is constructed to repel demon beasts, to facilitate imdiate reinforcents, and to ensure the absolute security of Riverbend Fishing Village. We understand your desire for a low profile, but the Town Guardian Cultivator's Manor will be situated atop this very platform. It represents the authority of the sect and the majesty of the Immortal Venerable. Building it with appropriate grandeur serves to manifest the dignity of the Immortal Venerable himself."
Although a blunt fellow like Zhang Xuewu was no match for old Cui in a duel of wits, he possessed an unyielding spirit when it ca to the art of flattery, delivering his words with an eloquence that surpassed even the finest songs. Yulou remained entirely baffled as to how the dignity of an Immortal Venerable had suddenly beco intertwined with the residence of a re Qi Refining stage cultivator. Considering the possibility that the Immortal Venerable might not have completely perished yet, Zhang Xuewu's remarks were doubly inappropriate.
"Gold entails an imnse expenditure, and I have no desire for such extravagance. Fellow Daoists, utilizing ordinary stone will suffice," Yulou continued to decline.
"The expenditure for gold bricks is by no ans substantial. We need only apply a layer of gold to the outward-facing surface of the bricks, thereby achieving the visual effect of a golden platform with a minimal outlay of resources." Old Cui made it clear that he was entirely committed to this act of flattery! The last ti he had perceived Wang Yulou's underlying animosity toward him had been precisely because of the disputes surrounding the construction of the high platform. Consequently, in his eyes, completing the high platform with absolute splendor represented the premier opportunity to repair the fractured relationship between them.
"A minimal outlay... precisely how much would that entail?" Yulou inquired, a trace of curiosity finally surfacing within him.
"A re dozen or so spirit stones, which I shall personally provide. Fellow Daoist Yulou led us to successfully repel the iron crocodile dragons, allowing old Zhang and myself to receive a share of rit points through the system of the Immortal Venerable's Blessing. How could I, Cui Dingyi, ever dare to forget such benevolence?"
Exchanging spirit stones for ordinary gold naturally yielded imnse purchasing power. This was the precise reason why those independent cultivators who had abandoned all hope of further advancent could comfortably live out their remaining years within the mortal realm. So long as they managed to accumulate spirit stones within the cultivation world—even a single piece—it would suffice to sustain a long and luxurious life amidst the mortal population.
"Old Cui, the high platform is already constructed perfectly well as it stands. As for the matter of the gold bricks, I shall simply pretend you never ntioned it. Do not speak of it again." Leaving behind these words, Wang Yulou turned and retraced his steps toward his residence.
Zhang Xuewu believed he had successfully decoded the hidden aning behind Wang Yulou's parting words. Turning toward old Cui, he teased, "The mont to demonstrate the sincerity of your intent has arrived, old Cui. You must weigh your options with utmost care."
Nodding with a completely expressionless face, Cui Dingyi had naturally grasped Wang Yulou's underlying aning as well. 'It can be done, but do not speak of it to . I know absolutely nothing about it!'
When old Cui had initially proposed the preposterous concept of the Golden Platform, he had been absolutely certain that Wang Yulou would refuse it. Yet he had never anticipated that this hypocritical fellow, Wang Yulou, would prove to be so sanctimonious. There was no alternative; the mutual trust between the two n was far too deficient, forcing Yulou to utilize this thod to test the exact quality of his loyalty.
—
Elder Zhuo Chi's response arrived far later than Yulou had initially anticipated. After reporting the detail regarding the alligator dragons being raised by a human hand, that Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Dripdrop Cave acted as though he had never received the transmission talisman, completely ignoring Yulou for nearly three weeks. Consequently, until Elder Zhuo Chi's disciple, Fan Zhugao, arrived to pay a visit, Yulou had assud his martial uncle had entirely forgotten the matter.
Although Fan Zhugao was Elder Zhuo Chi's disciple, the two n represented absolute polar opposites in terms of physical appearance. Elder Zhuo Chi was short and rotund, whereas Fan Zhugao was exceptionally tall and slender. Elder Zhuo Chi possessed a thoroughly unremarkable countenance, while Fan Zhugao's striking appearance would easily qualify him to serve as a premier host within the Beautiful Pavilion. This particular senior brother possessed a cultivation base that had already attained the late Qi Condensation stage, yet when facing Yulou, he displayed not a single shred of the arrogance typical of those with superior strength, adopting instead an attitude of imnse caution.
"Junior Brother Yulou, my master alongside several other seniors conducted a thorough investigation. They have roughly narrowed down the identity of the individual raising the iron crocodile dragons from the shadows, but this suspicion alone is insufficient to bring that person down. For the ti being, the only course of action available to us is to wait, while executing our utmost to gather a greater store of definitive evidence."
"Is that individual also a Foundation Establishnt cultivator?" Yulou inquired.
"Yes. The number of Foundation Establishnt seniors residing within the grotto-heaven is substantial; Master has already exerted his absolute utmost efforts. Furthermore, Junior Brother Yulou, Master specifically commanded to instruct you: do not attempt to hold your post at all costs when a demon beast raid occurs. You are a disciple of an external great family, and there are many instances where you can afford to display greater flexibility."
Fan Zhugao's initial remarks had been entirely standard, but upon hearing the concluding warning, Yulou instantly discerned the underlying subtext. 'Splendid, truly splendid. Within Dripdrop Cave, the status of an external guest is indeed a tier higher, isn't it?' How many tis had Elder Zhuo Chi instructed him that he could simply flee whenever danger materialized?
"Elder Zhuo's benevolent intentions are fully understood by Yulou. Senior Brother Fan, the spiritual fish dumplings of our Riverbend Fishing Village are exceptionally delicious and savory. You have traveled a great distance to deliver this news and relay these instructions, enduring imnse hardship. Allow your junior brother to host a spiritual fish feast in your honor. Senior Brother Fan must absolutely not decline."
Fan Zhugao had originally intended to politely decline, but under Yulou's enthusiastic insistence, he ultimately relented and accepted the invitation. One was the beloved disciple of Elder Zhuo Chi, while the other was a prominent mber of the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom; fostering closer ties between them was a mutually beneficial arrangent. The network of connections maintained by cultivators was invariably established in this precise, gradual manner.
With Qin Churan accompanying them to serve the al, the two n partook of spirit wine and sampled the spiritual fish, enjoying an exceptionally pleasant and lively gathering. As the drinks flowed and the al progressed, Fan Zhugao set down his cup, inquiring of Yulou, "Junior Brother Yulou, this individual is?"
"Little Qin, one of my people," Yulou explained briefly, though a trace of confusion surfaced within his heart.
"I see. Very well, are you aware of the recent developnts regarding Yuan Laosi?" Fan Zhugao inquired, his tone suddenly dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.
"I am aware. The Grotto Heaven Patrol Team traveled here specifically to question twice regarding the events of that night."
When facing the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team, Yulou's responses had naturally been thoroughly flawless. However, regarding the specific actions of Yuan Laosi, he had consistently claid complete ignorance. The Yuan Clan was the preeminent family within Dripdrop Cave, second only to the three Violet Palace clans. When Elder Zhuo Chi had initially arranged two potential posts for Yulou, the superior position had been aggressively usurped by a mber of the Yuan Clan. This detail alone offered a clear testant to the imnse authority and sheer arrogance wielded by the Yuan Clan.
"You did not speak out of turn, I trust?" Fan Zhugao asked, noticeably startled by Yulou's revelation.
"Naturally not. I rely dispatched a transmission talisman to Elder Zhuo." Yulou adopted an expression of complete innocence. He had never entertained any notion of making a futile effort by hitting a stone with an egg.
Fan Zhugao exhaled a long breath of relief before explaining. "That is for the best. Yuan Laosi is scheduled to be executed by the sect shortly. Had you uttered any words detrintal to his case, the mbers of the Yuan Clan might very well have directed their resentnt toward you following his demise."
Both Yulou and Qin Churan sat utterly dumbfounded by this revelation. 'Executing Yuan Laosi? He was the fourth son of the premier Foundation Establishnt family within Dripdrop Cave!'
"I harbor no fear of their resentnt, but Yuan Laosi rely indulged in a period of debauchery alongside his subordinate Qi Gathering and Qi Refining cultivators. Even if his actions delayed vital reinforcents, such a transgression should under no circumstances warrant imdiate execution."
The Yuan Clan's discipline over its younger generation was evidently thoroughly deficient. As the Town Guardian Cultivator of Wood Gully, on the very night White Mao Fishing Port had been subjected to the demon beast raid, Yuan Laosi had been leading every single cultivator under his command in a massive, chaotic orgy. This egregious neglect had completely paralyzed their ability to provide reinforcents, causing them to be flagged by the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team.
"The true motivations harboring within the hearts of the seniors are not for the likes of you and to discern. We need only exercise utmost caution to ensure no missteps occur."
After bidding farewell to Fan Zhugao, Yulou pondered the matter in solitude, a lingering sense of unease persisting within his mind. The mysterious figure raising the iron crocodile dragons had permitted those three beasts to treat the villages along the shores of Beautiful Water Lake as a human at buffet for many years. Yet Dripdrop Cave had consistently failed to intervene, with Elder Zhuo Chi offering the hollow justification of insufficient evidence. If one recalled Elder Zhuo Chi's previous remark that 'demon beasts must exist after all,' Yulou could not avoid arriving at so thoroughly sinister conclusions.
On the other hand, the Yuan Clan, despite its status as the most powerful Foundation Establishnt family within Dripdrop Cave, proved entirely incapable of shielding even a single direct descendant of its lineage. On the surface, it appeared that Yuan Laosi deserved death—and indeed he did—but the fact that his execution was actually going forward carried profound implications. This outco served as a definitive indicator that the existing distribution of power and interests within the Droplet Cave Heaven was currently undergoing a fundantal shift.
The keen observation of such structural transformations was a core lesson drilled into every young mber of the Wang Clan during their upbringing. Massaging his temples, Yulou sat in the central hall, remaining imrsed in deep reflection for a long ti. He could afford to delay no longer. He had already exerted his absolute utmost efforts regarding the elevation of his individual cultivation base, but the process of cultivation was an incrental journey that yielded no instantaneous breakthroughs. If he wished to enhance his ability to preserve his own life amidst the impending transformations, he must begin by focusing on structural organization. As the undisputed leader of Riverbend Fishing Village, Wang Yulou still possessed nurous avenues of action available to him in this regard.
Having cleared his thoughts, Yulou spoke with absolute decisiveness. "Chu Ran, go and invite Fellow Daoist Zhang Xuewu to my residence imdiately!"
Upon arriving at Yulou's residence, Zhang Xuewu was escorted into the quiet chamber where Yulou was currently engaged in his cultivation. The statue of the Immortal Venerable, ticulously carved from ninth-grade white elm spiritual wood, appeared thoroughly lifelike. The azure incense smoke drifting through the room gradually coalesced into the shape of a coiled azure dragon. The dragon appeared eager to soar into the high heavens, yet it remained firmly bound by the smoke rising from the three stalks of spiritual incense, trapped in its original position.
Zhang Xuewu offered a solemn, deep bow, appearing to pay reverence to the Immortal Venerable, while simultaneously appearing to pay reverence to Wang Yulou. Wang Yulou did not turn around as he spoke calmly.
"Xuewu, I have already secured comprehensive information regarding every single Qi Gathering cultivator stationed within Riverbend Fishing Village. Among them, a full third are loyal retainers of Fellow Daoist Cui. Of the remainder, half maintain absolute neutrality, while the other half have been subjected to old Cui's clandestine suppression. I intend to completely restructure the organization of the Riverbend Fishing Village patrol team, temporarily reducing our current patrol radius. This adjustnt will allow a greater number of individuals to secure free ti to train in coordinated demon-slaying formations. Are you willing to take charge of this endeavor?"
On the surface, it appeared as though he was delegating the personnel authority he had recently seized to Zhang Xuewu, but Wang Yulou had already thoroughly gauged Zhang Xuewu's actual capabilities—the man was a complete simpleton. Though his cultivation base appeared respectable, he possessed no high-quality magic artifacts, had failed to master any powerful secret inheritances, and was entirely an outsider lacking any deep foundations. Rather than wasting concern on him, it was far more prudent to maintain a strict watch over old Cui, that genuinely deep-rooted local viper!
"Since Fellow Daoist Yulou reposes such trust in , I am naturally entirely willing!" In his past conflicts against old Cui, Zhang Xuewu had consistently relied on wild, uncoordinated flailing, failing entirely to grasp the correct thodology. Despite possessing a superior cultivation base compared to Cui Dingyi, he had consistently found himself thoroughly suppressed at every turn.
Wang Yulou, however, was cut from an entirely different cloth. The mont he assud office, he had rely instituted five basic requirents, yet through those seemingly mild asures, the absolute authority of Riverbend Fishing Village had been effortlessly gathered into his hands. This was a display of genuine capability. Toward Yulou, aside from imnse anticipation, the only sentint remaining within Zhang Xuewu's heart was total admiration.
"Go then. Chu Ran will instruct you on the exact identities of old Cui's retainers. Assign every single one of them to lead the outward patrol squads. Of the remaining cultivators, half shall enter a rotation cycle with them, while the other half comnce intensive training. Once the training yields sufficient proficiency, recall the half currently on rotation, and dispatch the newly trained forces to continue rotating alongside old Cui's people. Through this thod, we can gradually grind old Cui's faction down until they are completely eliminated."
"Completely eliminated?" Zhang Xuewu repeated those final words, a trace of confusion coloring his voice.
Wang Yulou opened his eyes, gazing directly upon the statue of the Immortal Venerable, whose features were etched with a gentle smile and an expression of profound compassion, as he spoke with absolute tranquility. "They shall either perish, or they shall submit!"
Ruthlessness is necessary to stand firm. If one wished to forge ahead and avoid being reduced to a re casualty of the era, one must invariably possess a certain asure of unyielding determination and raw boldness. Those fairy tales where everyone lived in perfect harmony, cultivating alongside one another in blissful peace before smoothly ascending to immortality together, belonged neither to this brutal world nor to the reality of Wang Yulou. As though sensing the absolute resolution embedded within Yulou's words, Zhang Xuewu's heart tightened instantly. He offered a deep bow once more, demonstrating his absolute submission.
"Understood. We shall scatter them across the frontier, and grind them down completely!"
"Go, then. Xuewu, Dripdrop Cave is by no ans as vast as you imagine. My ultimate future resides within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Immortal Alliance. You possess the potential to keep pace with my strides, so perform your duties with utmost dedication."
Following Zhang Xuewu's departure, Yulou mounted his flying boat and soared out of his residence, charting a course toward the Azurewater Palace. Throughout the journey, his mind remained entirely occupied by his recent arrangents. With Qin Churan overseeing the operation as a supervisor and Zhang Xuewu serving as the executioner's blade, given that the total number of Qi Gathering cultivators within Riverbend Fishing Village amounted to barely over twenty individuals, this strategy was more than sufficient. It should yield no major complications. When executing any enterprise, there existed no plan or strategy that was entirely foolproof, much like that watergate whose ultimate utility remained completely unverified. Yet Yulou possessed absolute confidence. When he had initially engineered their investnt into the racetrack, they had nearly found themselves financially trapped; yet under his subsequent managent, the racetrack had gradually transitioned into solid profitability. The ergence of complications was an absolute inevitability, but the current Wang Yulou was entirely certain that he possessed both the confidence and the determination to confront any problem directly. Perhaps this was the precise reason why the clan had dispatched all these younger generation descendants to undergo trial and tempering in the wider world.
Upon reaching the rit Hall, before he had even crossed the threshold, the booming voice of Wu Faxian reached his ears, currently pitch-marketing a product to a fellow disciple. "This iron crocodile dragon at is fundantally distinct from ordinary beast at. The iron crocodile dragon is a rare draconic species among the beasts of the Small Demon Realm! Do you grasp the implications of a draconic species? It ans it carries the genuine bloodline of a true dragon! Partaking of this alligator dragon at will allow your body to receive the subtle refinent of a draconic nature. If consud over a long period, it can even permanently alter your spiritual aptitude!"
"Very well, what is the asking price?"
"A re two spirit stones per kilogram! This is an exclusive rate offered solely because of the excellent relationship between us..."
Yulou instantly realized that down the road, he must absolutely spend a few years embedded within the rit Hall; the environnt was simply teeming with opportunities to amass a fortune. The purchase price had been settled at two spirit stones for every three pounds, yet the retail price was set at two spirit stones for every pound... Suppressing the wandering thoughts in his mind, Yulou adjusted his facial expression slightly before stepping firmly into the rit Hall.
"Old Wu, precisely how many spirit stones did you just quote per pound?"
The vibrant smile plastered across Wu Faxian's face froze instantly, as though soone had abruptly hit the pause button. He blinked at Yulou in profound embarrassnt. A brief mont later, having hastily ushered that fellow disciple out of the hall, Wu Faxian adopted a slightly obsequious expression as he invited Yulou to take a seat.
"Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, just now..."
"There is no need for explanations; I understand entirely. My purpose in coming today is to secure your assistance with a specific matter."
When it ca to magnanimity, Wang Yulou had never lacked a grand perspective.
"Ha ha ha! Please speak freely, Fellow Daoist Jade Palace. So long as it resides within my capability, I shall certainly exert my utmost efforts."
Seeing Yulou produce a storage bag and place it firmly upon the table, Wu Faxian fell into imdiate confusion.
"This is?"
Yulou pointed toward the storage bag, explaining calmly. "Settle my outstanding balance. Through my recent slaying of the two demon beasts and our subsequent transaction, I have already cleared one hundred and fifty-seven rit points with the Azurewater Palace. The remaining balance shall be paid entirely in spirit stones, utilizing our established exchange rate. Senior Brother Wu, I shall trouble you to process this."
'Settle the balance?' Wu Faxian's mind operated with imnse speed, prompting him to ask imdiately. "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Yulou has discovered so specific resource within the rit Hall that you wish to exchange your points for?"
"No. I rely desired to clear my outstanding debt first. If I wish to exchange for resources in the future, can I not simply execute the transaction through you, Senior Brother Wu?"
rit points did not simply materialize out of thin air. Since Yulou lacked a sufficient balance of points to execute a direct exchange, he could only continue to utilize his spirit stones to cover the difference. As for the unfavorable exchange rate... he would simply console himself by pretending he had accidentally destroyed two additional magic artifacts during a refining attempt. Framing the loss in that manner made his heart feel considerably lighter.
"Understood, understood. I wonder what specific item Fellow Daoist Jade Palace intends to procure today?" Recalling the staggering threefold profit margin he had just commanded while selling the alligator dragon at, Wu Faxian added another sentence generously. "For this particular transaction, I shall calculate your exchange rate at a premium tier, though this offer is strictly limited to this single occasion!"
Wang Yulou was caught completely by surprise, before quickly responding, "A mid-grade refining furnace, specifically the Green Ear Water-Fire Furnace. Senior Brother Wu, I shall trouble you."
"The mid-grade Green Ear Water-Fire Furnace?" Wu Faxian muttered the na under his breath as he began scanning the inventory records embedded within his jade slip. A brief mont later, his face assud an expression of profound, utter misery. The entry for the Green Ear Water-Fire Furnace read clearly: 600 rit points.
Six hundred rit points equated to three thousand spirit stones. When calculated against their exchange rate, the discrepancy amounted to a full two hundred spirit stones in pure loss for him. He had purchased two hundred and twenty pounds of alligator dragon at at a rate of two spirit stones for every three pounds, and was retailing it at six spirit stones for the sa amount, yielding a total anticipated profit of barely three hundred spirit stones... Wu Faxian directed a thoroughly resentful glare toward Yulou, appearing as though he wished to manifest sword qi from his eyes to skewer the young man a dozen tis over.
"Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, has anyone ever inford you that you possess an exceptionally terrifying talent for pricing?"
"The spirit stones are all contained within this pouch. Please verify the count." Ignoring Wu Faxian's aggrieved expression entirely, Yulou gestured for him to conclude the transaction with utmost speed. His singular desire at this mont was to secure the refining furnace as quickly as possible, so he could return to comnce his artifact refining.
A decade ago, a Green Ear Water-Fire Furnace could have been purchased for a re eight hundred spirit stones, yet its current price had inflated nearly fourfold. This refining furnace was exceptionally costly; unless he managed to recoup his investnt quickly, Yulou's mind would find no peace. Bidding farewell to Wu Faxian, who had effectively transford into a resentful widow, Yulou boarded his flying boat once more and charted a course back toward Riverbend Fishing Village. At this mont, he actually found himself missing He Laosan slightly. Though that creature was exceptionally eccentric, its flight speed was undeniably swift, and it required no active spiritual control from Yulou during transit.
'Sigh, he has been gone for so many days without a single word returning. Could it be that so complication has arisen within the clan?' Recalling the urgent manner in which the Patriarch had practically banished him to Dripdrop Cave, the anxiety within Yulou's heart deepened further. Compared to the overall security of the Wang Clan, the minor threat posed by an old fellow like Cui Dingyi appeared to be nothing more than a complete farce in Yulou's eyes.
However, the mont Yulou guided his flying boat back into the courtyard of his residence, he discovered that He Laosan was already present, casually sipping water from a trough.
"Old Three, where is the letter from the Patriarch?" He Laosan did not bother to spare Yulou a single glance, continuing his leisurely drinking. This display sent a wave of acute anxiety through Yulou. His profound concern for the clan's situation, combined with the acute physical tornt he endured while cultivating the Gui-water spiritual energy during his bloodline tracing, required direct assistance from the family. Furthermore, he required the Patriarch's explicit guidance on how to permanently handle old Cui. He had been cultivating within Dripdrop Cave for only a brief period, yet a cascade of complications had already materialized, leaving him with the distinct impression that a dangerous undercurrent was surging through the entire grotto-heaven. To navigate this labyrinth, he must absolutely review the Patriarch's letter first to discern the correct direction. Yet this wretched bird chose this precise, critical juncture to put on haughty airs!
"The letter is currently in my possession. However, whether you choose to review it or not matters very little at this stage, ha ha ha."
Yulou spun around in profound astonishnt, his gaze falling upon the individual currently seated at the absolute head of the central hall. In an instant, his shock dissolved into sheer delight, and every trace of unease vanished from his heart completely. "Ancestor Wang Xianzhou! Why have you co here?"
Wang Xianzhou accepted the spiritual tea offered by Qin Churan, taking a delicate sip before revealing a brilliant smile. "Indeed. I have traveled here specifically to provide you with the necessary backing!"
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