Ascending the Jade Palace Chapter 109: Even if Wang Yulou Were a Dog, the Sect Master

The clear, transparent stream flowed quietly through the lush, dense forest. Beneath the water's surface, two small fish swam together side by side.

Suddenly, a grey stone on the riverbed jerked violently, instantly swallowing both fish into its belly.

As it turned out, that grey stone at the bottom of the water was actually a little turtle in disguise.

Despite lacking any guidance from its parents, this little turtle possessed formidable hunting instincts, likely a product of its innate talent and bloodline.

Wang Xianzhou had certainly made a huge profit. Exchanging a mid-stage Mixed Demon Realm turtle for this naturally gifted spiritual beast born with demonic heritage was an incredible bargain.

"Why did you sneak out here?"

Bai Xiaoyu, who was leading Wu Faxian to visit Wang Yulou's secluded cultivation residence, noticed the little turtle nearby and stepped forward in surprise.

Seeing her approach, the little turtle twisted its body and tried to scramble back toward Yulou's courtyard. However, its four stubby legs were rather slow compared to the speed of a Qi Induction cultivator.

Bai Xiaoyu pinched its tail, scooped it out of the water, and cradled it in her hands.

"Oh? Is this a spiritual beast you're raising?"

Wu Faxian's interest was piqued when he saw the highly intelligent-looking turtle.

It seed quite energetic. Perhaps he could buy it and flip it for a profit!

"No, I just help Senior Wang feed it sotis. I didn't expect it to wander out on its own today."

Feeling a bit disappointed, Wu Faxian smiled and said, "Are we almost there?"

In truth, with his divine sense, he could have easily located Yulou's courtyard with a quick scan, but doing so was incredibly rude.

There were rules cultivators had to follow: if you bumped into soone while flying, you revealed your presence, and when visiting soone, you never swept their ho with divine sense.

Of course, one could choose to ignore these rules, but the consequences were unpredictable.

"Yes, it's just up ahead."

Carrying the little turtle by the scruff of its neck, Bai Xiaoyu led Wu Faxian all the way to Yulou's courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, three Post-natal Realm martial artists were unleashing a barrage of attacks on Wang Yulou, whose skin had turned a dull grey.

Don't misunderstand—he was practicing the Stone Armor Art.

His ancestor had prepared twenty mandatory spells for him, covering five different attributes, to ensure he had a comprehensive system of offensive and defensive magic for magical combat.

However, due to the nature of his spirit root, Yulou had to expend far more effort practicing the three non-water and non-fire spells.

Sensing Wu Faxian's arrival, Yulou, who had been taking the beating with his eyes closed, finally opened them.

"Alright, that's enough for today. You may leave."

The three martial artists quickly stopped their attacks and scurried away.

Outside the courtyard, Wu Faxian was grumbling inwardly as he climbed the stone steps.

Little Wang, you certainly have a taste for the extravagant. First, you built a golden mountain, and now you've moved straight out of Riverbend Fishing Village.

When it ca to making a fuss, all the Town Guardian Cultivators of the Dripdrop Cave combined couldn't hold a candle to him.

But what did Wu Faxian know? His short-sightedness prevented him from understanding the deeper intricacies of cultivation.

High-level cultivators considered the relationship between their natural talents and their environnt in everything from their daily cultivation to major breakthroughs and even their choice of residence.

These factors had a tangible impact, not only on the cultivator's physical condition but also on the location chosen for artifact refining or concocting high-grade spiritual pills.

Although Yulou was only at the Qi Refining stage, paying a little attention to the compatibility between his cultivation environnt and himself would naturally bring so benefits.

Especially now, as he faced a bottleneck. Sotis, moving around was better than sitting still; a change of scenery might just trigger an opportunity for a breakthrough.

"Senior Brother Wu, it's been a while! Co quickly, I just acquired a pot of rank-eight Monkey Spiritual Wine today and was just waiting for an honored guest to share it with."

Hearing Yulou's voice, Wu Faxian sped up and leaped to the edge of the cliff where the courtyard was located in just two bounds.

"I'll pass on the wine. We have important business to discuss today. Though I must say, Yulou, you even set up a formation array for this courtyard.

This foolish brother also wants to set up a formation array at ho. I wonder if you could spare so ti to help ?

Of course, I won't shortchange you on the paynt."

The formation array around the courtyard had been temporarily set up by Ancestor Xianzhou. It was barely passable—at best, it could block a Qi Refining attack if soone was controlling it, but stopping a Foundation Establishnt attack was absolutely impossible.

Coincidentally, that was exactly what Wu Faxian was looking for. As a solitary cultivator without any major faction backing him, how could he afford a formation array that burned nine spirit stones a week?

He couldn't afford the expensive ones, so he needed cost-effectiveness.

"Hahaha, you might not know this, Senior Brother Wu, but this was set up by my clan uncle. It uses our family's special formation discs, so it's not for sale. My apologies."

Yulou took the little stone turtle from Xiaoyu and invited the two into the courtyard.

His courtyard was built on the edge of a cliff halfway up the mountain, a place Ancestor Xianzhou had discovered while exploring. It gathered various types of spiritual vitality, making it a nexus of natural energy.

By cultivating here, Yulou might just stumble upon a breakthrough.

Of course, Riverbend Fishing Village, situated right next to Beautiful Water Lake and officially selected by the sect, also boasted excellent spiritual energy conditions.

It simply ca down to choice. Yulou needed a breakthrough; he needed a change of pace, which was why this courtyard existed.

"It's fine, it's fine. If all else fails, I'll just hire two junior brothers from the sect to set it up."

The three of them sat by the stream, which had been converted into a simple tea table. Though rough and unrefined, it carried a strong sense of rustic charm.

"It's just that you don't know, Junior Brother Yulou. Everything about the sect is great, except for how well they sche against their own disciples.

Asking fellow disciples to set up a formation array requires rit points for every little thing.

Sigh, I'm not afraid of you laughing at , but even though I oversee the rit Hall, I can't afford to spend rit points myself."

Before his seat was even warm, Wu Faxian dove straight into the main topic of his visit.

"I'm saying the sect sches against its disciples and everyone is struggling. Fellow Daoist Yulou, what are your thoughts?"

Bai Xiaoyu couldn't understand their conversation. She rely dipped her finger in the Monkey Spiritual Wine to feed the little stone turtle. But whenever the turtle stretched its neck out to drink, she would pull her finger away.

Once the turtle retracted its head, she would hold her finger out again. In short, she was teasing the poor creature to the point of depression.

"Indeed, everyone is struggling."

Yulou smiled faintly and began to sche alongside Wu Faxian.

As a mber of the Wang Clan, fully backed by Ancestor Xianzhou and wielding absolute control over Riverbend Fishing Village, his cultivation speed of three layers in three years was nothing short of miraculous.

No matter how you looked at it, Wang Yulou's situation had absolutely nothing to do with 'struggling'.

However, those comparisons were only based on looking downward. Yulou was looking higher and further ahead.

A man without distant vision would face imminent sorrow. His life might be comfortable now, but he had to prepare for the future.

"I've discussed your previous idea with a few close Daoist friends, and everyone was highly in favor of it.

However, Yulou, there's a massive problem, and none of us could figure out a solution.

The Azurewater Palace has one thousand and seventy-nine disciples. If we exclude the two hundred older ones, there are eight hundred disciples holding official positions.

Among those eight hundred, the descendants of major clans can easily go out and trade..."

Before Wu Faxian could finish, Yulou softly interrupted.

"I doubt it. The sect master has already executed several major clan disciples, and even one of the Yuan Clan's Foundation Establishnt disciples died.

The atmosphere in the sect is incredibly tense right now, and no one is showing signs of stopping.

When Senior Martial Sister Lin spoke with recently, she ntioned the difficult situation they're currently facing."

Old Wu gave Yulou a deep look and continued his analysis.

"Let's count all eight hundred then. Out of those eight hundred, seventy are constantly away on long-term missions, so we can ignore them.

Over three hundred work within the three palaces. Although their tasks aren't demanding, they are required to stay at their posts long-term and cannot easily leave... Well, of course, I am an exception, hahaha.

Then there are the two hundred Town Guardian Cultivators... Actually, Junior Brother Yulou, you're even more of an exception than I am. Most Town Guardian Cultivators aren't allowed to wander around either."

Wu Faxian awkwardly realized that after all his analysis, the two of them were the only exceptions.

Yulou chuckled, watching the servant silently set out the dishes. Once the servant retreated, he spoke.

"Senior Brother Wu, Xiaoyu isn't an outsider—we'll be getting married soon—so I'll speak frankly.

Excluding those senior brothers and sisters who no longer hold posts, out of the thousand disciples in the Azurewater Palace, seven hundred of them are just like us.

The major clans can only support so many mbers. Senior brothers like Ji Yuan and Wang Yaohai, who can secure a master and achieve Foundation Establishnt, are exceedingly rare.

The two of us might be special cases, but it's exactly because of your broad connections and my suitable background that we can actually pull off this Exchange Gathering!"

The Exchange Gathering was rely a front. Wang Yulou intended to establish his own market to earn an extra portion of resources.

Previously, he and Ancestor Xianzhou hadn't known that Old Cui had the Stone Ancestor backing him. They assud Old Cui had reached the Qi Refining stage by controlling Riverbend Fishing Village and Dripdrop Cave's underground trade network.

It wasn't until Yulou's people ca into contact with fellow disciples involved in the underground trade that he realized just how formidable Dripdrop Cave's three-palace system truly was.

Most cultivators were chained to their posts. The sect rules and the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team hung over their heads like a guillotine, waiting for anyone who dared to break the rules.

Smuggling existed, but not much.

The resources that slipped through the cracks of the Dripdrop Cave system were largely monopolized by the retainers, disciples, and direct lineages of the major clans.

It was a double-layered exploitation: the three-palace rit point system took a cut, and the major clans flagrantly breaking rules to smuggle took another. After these two cuts, there was barely any room left for cultivators without power or backing.

That was why Yulou disregarded differences in position and status, plainly stating, 'Seven hundred of them are just like us.'

Identifying who were friends and who were enemies was a critical question.

Of course, Lin Ying, Ji Yuan, and Fan Zhugao were also Yulou's friends, but there were different kinds of friends.

"But Yulou, if we host the Exchange Gathering on a small scale, it'll be safe, but we won't earn much.

If we scale it up, we'll earn more, but it won't be safe."

Wu Faxian represented the type of person whose courage shrank as they gained worldly experience. However, Yulou understood him; fully considering the risks was an essential step in achieving any great endeavor.

"What grounds would the sect have to object to fellow disciples gathering to share cultivation experiences?"

Yulou was certain that discussing cultivation experiences didn't violate sect rules. Would the Dripdrop Cave Heaven actually stop its disciples from cultivating?

"Everyone is tied to their posts and can't easily leave, Yulou."

Wu Faxian raised another difficulty.

"We'll hold it on a touring basis. Senior Brother Wu, are you familiar with mortal markets?"

In mortal settlents, due to a lack of purchasing power, many villages couldn't sustain permanent shops. Thus, traveling markets were born.

Under the Dripdrop Cave Heaven's double-layered exploitation, cultivators without backing also faced a severe lack of purchasing power.

They might have so resources and spirit stones, but a large portion was consud by their cultivation, leaving them with severely limited surplus wealth.

Therefore, combining this with Dripdrop Cave's restrictive positional arrangents, Yulou's proposed 'Exchange Gathering' was naturally best suited to a touring format.

"If it's touring, who will host it?"

Wu Faxian asked, his eyes gleaming. Wang Yulou's idea was solid, but if outsiders were going to swoop in and steal the profits, why should he take the risk?

Junior Brother Yulou?

Without a shared profit, he didn't know anyone nad Wang Yulou!

Yulou shook his head and replied.

"The retainers of major clans, their disciples, you, or —anyone can host it. Senior Brother, we can't hog all the profits.

Setting everything else aside, the Exchange Gathering will stimulate the resources held by our fellow disciples. Once those resources are circulating, they'll inevitably return to the Azurewater Palace's rit Hall to exchange for cultivation thods.

When that ti cos, you'll be able to earn an extra fee from the rit point-to-spirit stone conversions."

Wu Faxian pondered for a long ti before asking, "How much can we make each year?"

The risk was just too high.

Exchange Gathering, Exchange Gathering... Yulou had chosen an excellent na for his mobile market, but Wu Faxian was still terrified.

"If each person attends once, that's one spirit stone. Twice a year makes two spirit stones.

For seven hundred people, that's one thousand four hundred stones. But in reality, Splendid Pool Palace disciples will participate too, adding thousands more.

Even if we have to give a cut to the local hosts on the touring circuit, we won't earn any less. What do you think, Senior Brother Wu?"

Yulou's expectation for this business was to earn a thousand spirit stones a year for himself. It didn't seem like much—just a month's worth of his cultivation resources.

But two thousand spirit stones was the lifeti savings of many Qi Refining cultivators.

The achievents Yulou had previously attained in Clear Stream Market, utilizing the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's platform and the Wang Clan's resources, belonged to the Wang Clan, not to him.

Now, he was choosing to reach out and snatch the scraps left behind by Dripdrop Cave's double-layered exploitation system. Whatever he grasped would be entirely his own!

"Furthermore, Senior Brother Wu, my mastery of the artificing path is profound, and your talisman crafting skills are exceptional. We have other ways to earn spirit stones, don't we?"

Wu Faxian smiled bitterly.

"Sigh, how can talisman crafting compare to artifact refining? The problem with the grotto-heaven is that it's too safe.

The last ti I went out, Wondrous Peak Mountain and Valley Spirit Sect were fighting intensely.

When I passed by Maoyuan Market, the price of talismans was a full third higher than inside the sect!"

Zhuo Chi believed that maintaining a certain number of demonic beasts was necessary, while Wu Faxian lanted that the grotto-heaven was too safe. The atmosphere in Dripdrop Cave was truly unique, though Yulou naturally had no objections.

Everyone had their own path. There was no need to cause trouble. Showing respect, making friends, and earning cultivation resources together was the right way.

"Senior Brother Wu, rest easy. Once the Exchange Gathering is on track, your chance for Foundation Establishnt will be just around the corner.

Co, Xiaoyu, let's drain our cups and wish Senior Brother Wu an early Foundation Establishnt, so I can start calling him Martial Uncle! Hahaha."

Only then did Wu Faxian recall what Yulou had just said. He had been so focused on spirit stones and resources that he had completely forgotten about Yulou's upcoming wedding.

Yulou was no ordinary person. A terrifying monster who had advanced three layers in three years—barring any accidents, his future was bound to be limitless.

This was exactly why Wu Faxian had always actively courted his friendship. Thinking of this, Wu Faxian hastily replied, "Look at . Yulou, I should be the one apologizing to you. I had so much on my mind just now that my chest felt tight.

What's the exact date? I'll definitely co and present you with a truly respectable gift."

"In seventeen days, Senior Wu! Seventeen days!"

Before Yulou could answer, Xiaoyu chid in eagerly, her eyes sparkling with boundless anticipation.

The Exchange Gathering, the sect rules, the worries and concerns of these two n—none of it mattered to her.

If the sect rules were of any use, why would the Cui father and son have been able to bully her so relentlessly?

All she cared about was...

"Oh?" Wu Faxian paused for a mont.

He then looked at Yulou and laughed.

"Yulou, Xiaoyu is a good girl. Hahaha, I'll definitely be there.

But this older brother can't stay much longer today. I still need to discuss the Gathering with the others.

I'm planning to hold the first session on the first day of next month. You should invite as many friends as possible so we can launch this with a bang."

Yulou did the math—the first of next month was fourteen days away.

"Let's wait until after my wedding. Although this is just a ceremony for taking a concubine, my elders will be attending. By then, many things will be different."

Wu Faxian's eyes lit up. He wasn't very familiar with the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom before, as they were rely a Foundation Establishnt family.

On the grand stage of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, such Foundation Establishnt families were marginal players—re workhorses.

But after learning about the Wang Clan's true situation, Wu Faxian didn't dare underestimate them anymore. This family was a long-term vassal of the Mangxiang Lineage, and at least two of their Foundation Establishnt cultivators had studied under True Persons from that lineage.

Currently, they had two seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators, each capable of supporting a small faction within Dripdrop Cave.

Take the Lin Clan, for example: they had two Foundation Establishnt cultivators, but neither possessed a divine ability.

If a clan like the Wangs sent soone to attend Wang Yulou's wedding, it would naturally serve as a significant endorsent.

"Understood, Yulou. This older brother understands exactly what you an.

Co, let's have one more cup, brothers. Everything is in the wine!"

—

Old Wu left, filled with both imnse anticipation and deep anxiety.

He anticipated building a great enterprise and achieving Foundation Establishnt.

He worried that this so-called Exchange Gathering would end in disaster, and as the frontman, he would be the one to suffer.

But... the desire of a cultivator to achieve the Dao was universal.

Hongi, sitting before the flas of the Golden Light Pavilion, was like this, and so was Wu Faxian at this very mont.

Yulou was using him, and he knew Yulou was using him, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

All his doubts and questioning were rely to calm his furiously pounding heart as he prepared to take this gamble.

"Senior Wang, what exactly is this Exchange Gathering you two were talking about?"

After seeing Old Wu off, Bai Xiaoyu hugged the little stone turtle as she returned to the quiet room with Yulou.

"Still calling Senior Wang?"

Yulou teased in response.

Xiaoyu lowered her head, fiddling with the despairing little stone turtle, and shyly mumbled, "Husband~"

"Hahaha, good, very good. Co, let tell you the story behind this Exchange Gathering."

The two lovebirds embraced. The little stone turtle, freed from the grasp of fate, wiggled its backside and scrambled away as if its life depended on it.

"Dripdrop Cave is a sect, and a sect is an organization. The very existence of an organization relies on its basic operational rules...

But no matter what, it always cos down to taking from the deficient to serve the excessive, and human hearts are incredibly complex...

Therefore, disciples who are trapped by the sect's designed systems—like you and —will fiercely try to find other opportunities."

Grand cultivators were not philanthropists. Favors ca with a price; even the most generous favor was rely a preamble to taking sothing in return.

However, this exploitation couldn't squeeze cultivators so dry that they lost all hope, otherwise, they would simply run away.

Even if the grotto-heaven restricted the disciples' ability to flee, passive sabotage was a wondrous thod of resisting exploitation.

Thus, leaving a certain margin of slack was essential.

Yulou was earning his keep from this margin. He wasn't desperately scraping for crumbs, but rather building a platform in the circulation phase to charge a 'toll'.

Resting her head against Yulou's chest, Bai Xiaoyu playfully tugged at the stubble on his chin and whispered, "Husband, what if Xiaoyu couldn't find an opportunity? What if you hadn't co?"

Tightening his embrace, Yulou rested his chin against Xiaoyu's cheek and replied, "What are you saying? I did co, didn't I?"

However, the girl remained stubborn and asked again, "But what if you hadn't co? What would I have done?"

Yulou fell silent for a mont before sighing.

"You would have had to keep going. The path of seeking the Dao can never be eternally smooth. Sotis, risks and opportunities don't go hand-in-hand... Ha, I an, sotis there are only risks and no opportunities.

The unfairness of fate lies in the fact that it rarely favors those who yearn for it, no matter how desperately they long for it.

If I hadn't co, you still would have overco your difficulties. It would have been much harder, but you would have eventually made it out. I believe in you."

Bai Xiaoyu didn't speak. She just quietly gazed at her great hero.

The young girl's eyes were like a pristine, unpolluted starry sky. No matter how ticulous Yulou's mind was, he found himself unable to read her in that mont.

Was it tender affection?

Hidden longing?

Self-pitying relief?

Xiaoyu possessed a unique aura. It seed that wherever she went, she was always fundantally out of step with everyone around her, like a solitary, otherworldly beauty walking her own path.

Yulou couldn't figure her out.

"Haha, look, the little turtle really did escape."

Bai Xiaoyu pointed at the little stone turtle crawling into the courtyard and said excitedly.

Yulou smiled in relief. Indeed, a worldly person couldn't comprehend pure innocence.

The two of them quietly watched the little stone turtle crawl and crawl, until it disappeared from sight.

Suddenly, Xiaoyu looked up and asked, "Husband, can we escape this cage too?"

"What cage?" Wang Yulou was utterly confused. He didn't understand why Bai Xiaoyu had suddenly turned so serious.

Or perhaps, he had never truly understood this seemingly innocent girl.

"Here, there, and..."

Bai Xiaoyu reached out, pointing first at the ground, then at the sky, and finally at Droplet Heaven Palace—the residence of the Immortal Venerable.

Good lord, Yulou was so frightened that he imdiately clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Dripdrop Cave is perfectly fine! Xiaoyu, you don't realize—the disciples of Wondrous Peak Mountain are the ones truly living in a prison.

They have absolutely no ti to cultivate, and the mont they gain a little power, they're thrown straight to the front lines. In comparison, while cultivating in the grotto-heaven cos with many rules, at least it's safe!"

Faced with Yulou's earnest lecture, Bai Xiaoyu asked, "Then why do you and Senior Wu want to break free so badly?"

Yulou froze. He thought of many excuses, but ultimately chose to be honest.

"Perhaps... we really do want to escape. It's just an attitude we don't dare show to outsiders.

Senior Brother Wu and I have known each other for two years, and we're close friends now, which is the only reason I dared to speak so freely today. And you... well, you're not an outsider either."

After exchanging a few more words, Bai Xiaoyu obediently took her leave.

Yulou needed to cultivate. While his cultivation base couldn't advance any further, body refinent still required his energy.

However, when she reached the entrance to the courtyard, Bai Xiaoyu spotted the little stone turtle desperately trying to crawl downwards.

Using spiritual qi, she scooped the turtle back into her hand.

"Little turtle, stop running. What's so bad about staying with my husband and ?"

The little turtle retracted its limbs, head, and tail into its shell, remaining entirely silent, but cursing profusely in its heart.

—

Sixteen days later, outside the entrance to the Dripdrop Cave Heaven.

A green streak of light approached rapidly from the distance, its brilliance dazzling. The cultivators guarding the grotto-heaven quickly flew up to intercept it.

The one with the highest cultivation base even gripped an alert talisman tightly in his hand. If the newcor ant harm, he could call for backup imdiately.

Although very few would dare provoke Dripdrop Cave within the territory of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the friction between the Sky Serpent Sect and Hongdengzhao had been escalating in recent years. The sect elders had repeatedly warned them to remain vigilant and treat a state of high alert as the standard.

"Do not worry, young Daoists. I am Wang Rongjiang of the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan.

A junior of my clan is getting married within the grotto-heaven, which is why I am here."

As the voice arrived, the streak of light gradually slowed to a halt. Surprisingly, the man was flying on a lush, leafy tree.

Wang Xianmao rode a fruit pit, while Wang Rongjiang rode a giant tree. The latter looked incredibly cool, but apart from its massive size, it was completely useless.

However, to the guarding cultivators, 'big' ant 'good', and 'big' ant 'powerful'. After asking a few basic questions, they let Wang Rongjiang pass.

Foundation Establishnt cultivators had to abide by the rules of the Immortal Alliance, and Dripdrop Cave didn't restrict visits from external Foundation Establishnt experts—especially when Wang Rongjiang was here for a junior's wedding. There was simply no reason to block him.

Storing away his massive tree spiritual artifact, Wang Rongjiang stepped onto an iron fan, adopting the deanor of a transcendent immortal, and flew into the grotto-heaven.

To support Wang Yulou, he had to put on a grand show.

Among his Foundation Establishnt peers, Wang Rongjiang didn't have a cultivation advantage, but he shined in other areas.

After all, he was the most handso man in the Wang Clan, dashing from childhood to adulthood.

After Wang Rongjiang entered the grotto-heaven, the young guards began to chatter.

"The Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan? Have you guys heard of them?"

"Nope."

"Anbei Kingdom... is that even a real country?"

Clearly, the Wang Clan still had a lot of work to do to build their reputation.

However, two hours later, another streak of light approached.

This one was far more extraordinary. While the previous green light had been dazzling, this golden light was shrouded in darkness.

When it was still a dozen miles away, the guards felt the sky inexplicably dim.

As it drew closer, the overwhelming sensation of darkness intensified. By the ti it arrived, the aura radiating from the light had literally turned day into dusk in that area.

The young guards were scared out of their wits—was this newcor really that arrogant?

In reality, this was rely a side effect of Ancestor Jingyi attempting to refine a grotto-heaven; her control over her leaking spiritual aura was currently abysmal.

Back when Yulou first t her in Clear Stream Market, Ancestor Jingyi had looked like an ordinary mortal woman. Aside from a piercing sharpness in her eyes, she hadn't leaked a single trace of spiritual aura.

Now, she appeared far more intimidating, but this wasn't a good thing. Among seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators, this was essentially exposing a weakness.

Of course, considering Wang Jingyi could casually one-shot soone like Jiang Baobian, whether she exposed a weakness or not hardly mattered.

"I'm here to visit a friend. Is your Sect Master Qu around?"

Wang Jingyi halted her light. Standing on her flying sword, she was cloaked in shadows, looking like a small patch of darkness suspended in the sky.

"Senior, may I ask..."

"Never mind, I'll just send him a voice transmission."

Wang Jingyi pulled out a spiritual artifact flying sword, ready to send a ssage to Qu Yunjian, the second uncle of Yuan the Fourth.

"No, no, no, there's no need to trouble yourself! It's just that it's our duty to record the identity of everyone entering the grotto-heaven..."

"Wang Jingyi of Hongdengzhao. A direct descendant of the Wang Clan is marrying within the Dripdrop Cave, so I am here. Oh, and I'm visiting a friend while I'm at it."

Qu Yunjian: Fellow Daoist Jingyi, what do you an by that? Are you saying that I, the esteed Sect Master of Dripdrop Cave, am just an 'oh, by the way' to you?

After Wang Jingyi entered, the terrified young guards huddled together once more.

"Brothers, this Wang Clan is no joke..."

"Obviously! Two Foundation Establishnt cultivators showed up. That ans the Wang Clan definitely has more than just two."

"At least four, right?"

"Hiss... The Yuan Clan has eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators if you count those married in, and they're already the number one clan in the sect. If this Wang Clan was in our sect, wouldn't they outshine even the Zhuo Clan?"

They had actually guessed wrong. The Wang Clan currently had five Foundation Establishnt cultivators.

Wang Xianmao and Wang Rongjiang were both direct lineage Foundation Establishnt cultivators. One was a seasoned expert with a divine ability, and the other was destined to awaken one in the future.

Wang Jingyi, half direct lineage, was currently preparing to break through to the Purple Palace realm.

Tie Qinhuo and another recently recruited external guest elder made up the rest, acting as affiliated partners.

Of course, five was not the limit.

When Patriarch Mangxiang had bestowed his favor, the Wang Clan had accepted it entirely.

Now, they were in a transitional phase—an explosive period of Foundation Establishnt growth.

In the future, Wang Rongyuan and Wang Rongwen had a high probability of reaching Foundation Establishnt. Wang Rongsheng also had a chance, as did other young disciples of the clan.

Earlier, Wang Xianmao had begun aggressively expanding the Wang Clan's financial resources, including opening a new Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Clear Stream Market, precisely to prepare for this upcoming surge of Foundation Establishnt cultivators.

—

River Bend Fishing Port, inside Qin Churan's residence beneath the Golden Platform.

With the help of her maid, Xiao Qin put on the custom-made magic robe Wang Yulou had ordered for her.

It was a brilliant crimson red, dyed using powder ground from rank-eight Vermilion Blood Stones.

Riverbend Fishing Village sat adjacent to the Great Crimson Stream, and the stream got its na from a Vermilion Blood Stone Mine upstream that could be harvested once a year.

As the local tyrant downstream, surely Wang Yulou taking a piece or two of Vermilion Blood Stone a year wasn't asking too much?

Xiao Qin's robe was a mid-grade magical artifact. Aside from the Vermilion Blood Stone dye, it was woven from Water Candle Spiritual Silk.

Water Candle Spiritual Silk was refined from the Water Candle spiritual grass. It was primarily water-attributed but also contained wood properties, making it an exceptional rank-nine spiritual material.

Based purely on material quality, this robe had the potential to beco a high-grade magical artifact. However, not all artificers were like Yulou.

Yulou had his Jade Ruyi. Even if the Ruyi Golden Radiance wasn't fully charged, using just a third or a quarter of its power drastically reduced the chances of an item exploding during refinent.

Robe makers were the highest earners among artificers, as they had to forge restrictions into cloth woven from spiritual silk and threads—a highly difficult task.

Therefore, during the crafting process, they often gave themselves a larger margin for error based on the materials used, prioritizing stability over maximizing potential.

Anyway, it wasn't like normal cultivators wore these robes into magical combat. They were purely social status symbols. The actual grade didn't matter, as long as it was beautiful and comfortable to wear.

"Sister Ran, you are absolutely beautiful..." Qin Churan's maid stared in awe.

Even without a phoenix coronet or formal bridal cape, Qin Churan was already naturally beautiful. Now, adorned in this custom crimson robe, her beauty was dazzling.

If Zhou Yingxi's beauty lay in the elegant mystery of a half-concealed face behind a pipa, then Lin Ying's beauty was a mix of exceptional charm and radiant energy. Among them, Zhou Yingxi was quiet and restrained, while Lin Ying was bold and passionate.

When facing a woman like Zhou Yingxi, one felt a nervous pressure to speak properly; she was a beauty to be admired from afar but never profaned—utterly detached from the mundane world.

That was why, even when Fellow Daoist Yingxi subtly confessed her feelings, Yulou hadn't given any response.

But with Lin Ying, you didn't even need to speak; her eyes did the communicating. She was as passionate as fire, yet not rely fire—she was dangerous.

A clever girl like her, if she had even a sliver of malice, could easily trick countless n into dying for her.

Because of this, Yulou always maintained a degree of caution whenever he interacted with Senior Martial Sister Lin.

Bai Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was entirely unique. To Yulou, she felt like a lotus rising from the water, as delicate as a blooming flower beneath the moon. She seed like a child who hadn't fully grown up, retaining vast amounts of innocence.

But if you looked closer, that innocence seed to be nothing more than a protective coloration. Beneath it hid a heart that Yulou couldn't quite read.

Indeed, how could a girl who had protected herself under the relentless pressure of Cui Dingyi truly be entirely innocent?

But the biggest contrast of all was Qin Churan.

Ah, Xiao Qin. First and foremost, she was undeniably a good girl.

Over the past few years, she had been of imnse help to Yulou, always diligent and incredibly detail-oriented in her work.

It was safe to say that of Yulou's current success in Riverbend Fishing Village, Xiao Qin deserved half a share of the credit—which was extraordinarily high considering her limited strength and status.

However... she was still just Xiao Qin.

In terms of background, she was far inferior to Zhou Yingxi. Even a half-dead Purple Palace cultivator was still a Purple Palace cultivator. Perfected Man Fujiao wasn't entirely dead yet! In an era where grand cultivators didn't show themselves, a dying Perfected Man Fujiao was essentially invincible!

In terms of intellect, she was far inferior to Lin Ying. Lin Ying could casually insult two people while laughing, and then turn around and enjoy tea and wine with Ji Yuan and Wang Yulou, perfectly balancing cultivation and social networking.

In terms of cuteness, she was far inferior to Bai Xiaoyu. 'Cuteness' here didn't just an physical appearance; Bai Xiaoyu had a way of triggering Yulou's protective instincts. Yulou had previously thought his Dao heart was unshakable, but Xiaoyu throwing herself at him recently had left him completely flustered.

Finally, in terms of beauty... well, let's just leave Xiao Qin so dignity.

"Beautiful? Ha, I'll pretend you an that," Qin Churan said with a hint of self-mockery.

The little maid imdiately fell silent.

In front of Yulou, Xiao Qin was an obedient little bird. But when Yulou wasn't around, she was the undisputed second-in-command of River Bend Fishing Port.

What about Zhang Xuewu, you ask?

Temporarily equal—Old Zhang was Yulou's subordinate, and Xiao Qin was Yulou's concubine. In truth, Xiao Qin ranked slightly higher.

If Xiao Qin had a Qi Refining cultivation base, even Old Zhang would have to call her 'Sister Qin'!

Looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, Qin Churan let out a wistful smile.

Growing up without parents and cultivating alone, years had passed, and now she was about to beco soone's wife.

It felt fast, but looking back, it wasn't. Exchanging nearly three years of service to Senior Wang for the status of a quasi-Dao companion was a very worthwhile trade.

But her heart still harbored a trace of reluctance. Her aptitude wasn't terrible; having a three-attribute spirit root was decent.

Yet, she was still so far behind.

Thinking of this, Xiao Qin sighed softly, her expression gradually turning cold.

Here, she didn't need to put on an act.

For so reason, there was little joy in her heart—only unwillingness.

Turning her head, she gazed through the carved window of her boudoir at the majestic Golden Platform.

She stared at it for a long, long ti.

Perhaps... I am just too greedy?

At that exact mont, Yulou, who had been unceremoniously yanked back ho by Ancestor Xianzhou, was discussing with Uncle Rongjiang how to stage another grand entrance into the harbor.

"Uncle, life is hard for out here. You need to..."

"Life is hard, yet you built a Golden Platform?"

"Uncle, that's completely missing the point. The Golden Platform belongs to the people of the River Bend Fishing Port. I rely use it critically in my capacity as the Town Guardian Cultivator."

"Life is hard, yet you're taking two wives at once?"

"Uncle, you have to understand my difficulties! Xiaoyu has extraordinary talent, and Ancestor Xianzhou wanted to marry her to produce a few chubby prodigies for the Wang Clan.

Xiao Qin is my right-hand woman in business and saves an imnse amount of effort. If I don't marry her, I'm afraid she'll marry soone else, and I wouldn't be able to rest easy."

"Hahahaha! Little Uncle, I was wondering why Yulou suddenly wanted to take a concubine. So it was you rushing him!"

"Laugh! Go ahead and laugh! It took you three tries to achieve Foundation Establishnt, Wang Rongjiang. If you'd put even a little effort into your cultivation, would breaking through really have been that hard?"

"Uncle, I'm already paying it back! I'm returning everything I took from the clan's resources, plus a thirty percent interest!"

Wang Rongjiang smiled bitterly, attempting to excuse his embarrassing performance.

A dual spirit root cultivator with a clear Dao heart and a solid foundation had a thirty to forty percent chance of achieving Foundation Establishnt on their own.

With the help of auxiliary spiritual pills to protect the Dao foundation and primordial spirit, the success rate could be pushed above ninety percent.

However, despite the ninety percent chance, it still took Wang Rongjiang three attempts to succeed. It just went to show that luck was entirely unpredictable.

"Forget it. The price of Foundation Establishnt resources has gone up again. A complete set costs a hundred thousand spirit stones now. You used two and a half sets—two hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones! How are you going to pay that back?"

Wang Xianzhou was truly frustrated, like soone who hates iron for not becoming steel.

Tie Qinhuo had attempted Foundation Establishnt twice, only buying life-saving auxiliary pills each ti. Both attempts combined only cost him around seventy thousand spirit stones.

Wang Rongjiang had burned through two and a half full sets of resources. Based on market prices at the ti, he had burned through at least a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones.

Well, actually, it wasn't that much—just the equivalent of fifteen years' worth of Yulou's cultivation resources.

Of course, a heavenly genius racing against ti couldn't be compared to a regular cultivator trying to break through. For Yulou, every minute he saved right now was worth ten thousand spirit stones.

"Uncle Rongjiang, you need to make another grand entrance into the River Bend Fishing Port.

You were far too low-key earlier. Aside from the Ancestor, no one even realized you were here.

That's not exactly ideal. I need your support for my work!"

Seeing Wang Xianzhou scolding Rongjiang, Yulou seized the opportunity to speak up.

Wang Rongjiang gave him a grateful look, and the two began discussing how he could re-enter River Bend Fishing Port to maximize his support for the work.

Ancestor Xianzhou also chipped in with several suggestions and even offered to lend Wang Rongjiang a high-grade magical artifact robe he didn't like wearing anymore, just for the sake of supporting the work.

Is formalism a problem?

Yes!

But formalism—whether aid downwards or upwards—has never disappeared throughout the developnt of human civilization. In fact, it continues to evolve and reach new heights.

Why?

Because it is genuinely effective.

The Golden Platform was formalism physically manifested, and Wang Rongjiang's second entrance into the village to support Yulou's work was formalism perford live.

Thus, just as Qin Churan was staring blankly out the window at the Golden Platform, she was suddenly blinded by a flash of light.

"Is this the River Bend Fishing Port?"

A majestic, echoing voice rang out, shaking the entirety of the River Bend Fishing Port.

The residents tried to locate the source of the voice, but quickly realized there was no need to look.

Uncle Rongjiang, dressed in a pale lotus-pink high-grade magical artifact robe and riding a white high-grade magical artifact flying carriage, was burning his spiritual aura at maximum capacity, appearing in an eye-catchingly dazzling manner.

Wang Jingyi's overpowering aura was due to her inability to control her spiritual energy.

Wang Rongjiang's overpowering aura was the result of him draining every last drop of his spiritual energy just to look impressive.

Yulou was such a perceptive kid, and Uncle Rongjiang liked him imnsely, so he was naturally more than willing to support the work.

Hearing that his clan uncle had arrived, Yulou obediently flew up to welco him. However, Wang Rongjiang suddenly retracted his aura and stared at a patch of dark clouds in the distance.

Wang Xianzhou quickly flew up as well, staring solemnly at the dark clouds.

Soon, however, they all heard Wang Jingyi's familiar voice.

"What are you three standing around like idiots for?"

Yulou and Ancestor Xianzhou exchanged glances, shock evident in their eyes. Ancestor Jingyi had actually co in person to support Yulou's wedding!

"Fellow Daoist Jingyi, is this the little qilin of your Wang Clan?"

Qu Yunjian, who had flown alongside Wang Jingyi, naturally deduced that Yulou was the protagonist of tomorrow's event upon arriving at the River Bend Fishing Port.

He knew the Wang Clan had arranged for a junior to join Dripdrop Cave through the Zhuo Clan, but he hadn't expected this junior's cultivation base to be a re third layer of Qi Refining.

Of course, never mind Qi Refining level three—even if Wang Yulou were a dog, Sect Master Qu would still see him as the Wang Clan's little qilin.

There was no other reason than the fact that Wang Jingyi was simply too fierce. In just a few years, her divine ability had reached grand completion, and she had already begun cultivating a second one.

Qu Yunjian was absolutely certain that within the next two hundred years, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect would gain an incredibly powerful Foundation Establishnt sword cultivator.