Yuan Daoshen would never forget that day.
One hundred and sixteen years ago, in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
Decades earlier, Yuan Daoshen had arranged for Yuan Zhengju—the most naturally gifted scion across several generations of the Yuan Clan—to join the Red Lantern Illumination Sect as an inner disciple.
This was solely for the spell-combat selection for the Immortal Alliance Emissary position.
Within the system of the Ten Sects represented by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, there existed a hidden, immortal cultivator version of the Nine-Rank System. Every path leading upward was secretly packed with fiercely competing rivals watching like hawks.
The higher a cultivator's cultivation base, the better they understood this reality, and the Foundation Establishnt families knew it best of all.
If the Yuan Clan of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven wanted to break through the constraints of their status and foundation, the best path was to have a disciple win the Immortal Alliance Emissary selection, granting them direct entry into the Immortal Alliance system towering over the Ten Sects.
Yuan Zhengju was the one the Yuan Clan pinned their hopes on to break this deadlock. Fifty years ago, at less than sixty years of age, he had successfully broken into the top ten of the Immortal Alliance selection.
Over a fifty-year wait, Yuan Zhengju had accumulated his power at the Peak Qi Condensation realm. He abandoned his chances of reaching the Purple Palace Realm just to help his family shatter the ceiling limiting their growth.
However, Yuan Zhengju ran into Wang Xianzhou of the Wang Clan. In the penultimate match before the championship, Wang Xianzhou utterly defeated him using a borrowed, specialized artifact.
That artifact was a Jade Buckle refined by True Person Xuanzhuan from the scraps of a sixth-grade spiritual material, Ethereal Orchid Jade. Ard with this Ethereal Orchid Jade Buckle, Wang Xianzhou successively shattered five of Yuan Zhengju's peak high-grade artifacts, cruising easily into the finals.
Having lost five of his artifacts, Yuan Zhengju failed to secure even third place. Relegated to fourth, he could only watch helplessly as the position of Immortal Alliance Emissary slipped through his fingers.
In truth, Yuan Daoshen had never blad Wang Xianzhou, because the top three contestants in that selection respectively hailed from the lineages of Candlelight Immortal Venerable, True Person Mangxiang, and True Person Fujiao of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
In other words, it was not Wang Xianzhou who had eliminated Yuan Zhengju. Rather, the protector behind the Yuan Clan, True Person Jiusheng of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, simply could not compete with the nurous Grand Cultivators of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's direct lineage.
Thus, Yuan Daoshen and Yuan Zhengju could not genuinely direct their hatred toward Wang Xianzhou.
But now, Wang Xianzhou had leaped out once more and directly decapitated the Great Demon crocodile dragon that Yuan Daoshen had ticulously nurtured. This made it incredibly difficult for him to maintain his composure.
How could Old Yuan not feel hatred in his heart?
Yet, despite his curses, he still possessed a brain.
Fight without breaking ties. This strategy was naturally full of compromises, but it could ultimately ease conflicts and opposition, leaving room for the Yuan Clan to maneuver.
Yuan Daoshen knew full well that the current Yuan Clan lacked the qualifications to flip the table. They could only fight without breaking ties.
He dispatched an order talisman, and before long, Yuan Zhengju arrived at his estate.
"What instructions does Uncle-Ancestor have for calling Zhengju here?"
Yuan Zhengju possessed the appearance of an effeminate young man. His most distinctive feature was his hair, which was completely azure-blue, seemingly the manifestation of a divine ability.
"Do you still rember Wang Xianzhou?"
The azure-haired Foundation Establishnt cultivator was caught off guard by his uncle-ancestor's question. He had long since put Wang Xianzhou out of his mind.
His defeat back then was not because he was weak, but because True Person Jiusheng could not possibly stand up for a Yuan Clan wishing to break free from his control.
As his cultivation base grew, Yuan Zhengju beca certain that no matter how strong he had been back then, it would have been impossible for him to truly win.
The only difference was whether Wang Xianzhou blocked him, or so hidden high-level cultivator stepped in to stop him.
"Zhengju naturally rembers. But from what I know, his Dao foundation was ruined due to injuries sustained in spell combat. Now that a hundred and twenty years have passed, shouldn't he be on the verge of passing away?"
Yuan Daoshen spoke in a sinister tone.
"Passing away? He knows he's about to die, which is exactly why he rushed over to cause trouble for us!"
Noticing Yuan Daoshen's deep animosity, Yuan Zhengju hastily asked,
"Wang Jingyi of the Wang Clan visited just a short while ago, and isn't our Yuan Family currently trying to win them over? Why would Wang Xianzhou choose this mont to cause trouble for us?"
Yuan Daoshen was stumped.
He could hardly say, 'Zhengju, since you have no chance of opening a Purple Palace, I must plan for the next generation of the Yuan Clan. Now that a problem has arisen, I need you to go clean up the ss.'
Such words would wound the feelings of his own clansman.
"I raised a Great Demon crocodile dragon. For so reason, it suddenly led its subordinate crocodile dragons to assault the fishing port where that Wang Clan disciple resides.
"But it didn't know that dog Wang Xianzhou was hiding in the shadows, acting as a Dao protector for that Wang Clan kid. The situation is very troubleso now. Wang Xianzhou sent a letter; he is currently an Immortal Alliance Emissary of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, serving under Wu Jinyan.
"If I go to negotiate, there will be no room to maneuver. You also know Wang Xianzhou, which is why I summoned you here."
This was a massive amount of information. Yuan Zhengju pondered for a mont before asking,
"Two questions. A position like the Immortal Alliance Emissary of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven has never existed before. Is it true or false?"
Wang Xianzhou was cunning; the ancestor could not blindly trust his nonsense.
"It's true. Wu Jinyan has good relations with the Wang Clan. When he accepted his post-Foundation Establishnt mission, he used the Wang Clan's connections to secure the position of Monitoring Steward of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven.
"When Wang Xianzhou served as an Immortal Alliance Emissary in the past, he possessed a heroic personality and was highly skilled at winning people over. He made several close friends, a few of whom have already taken up key positions within the Immortal Alliance today.
"Combining these factors with the fact that Wang Xianzhou is already nearing the end of his lifespan, if he is thick-skinned enough to ask for an office, soone will naturally arrange it for him."
Yuan Zhengju fell into a brief silence.
His loss to Wang Xianzhou back then was certainly not just due to that Ethereal Orchid Jade Buckle refined from magic treasure materials, but also because Wang Xianzhou himself was terrifyingly strong.
At that ti, he was over a hundred years old, while Wang Xianzhou was not even sixty.
Now that a century had passed, Wang Xianzhou was actually facing death...
"Uncle-Ancestor, the other question is regarding our Yuan Clan's attitude toward the Wang Family. How exactly should Zhengju manage it?"
'Ancestor Daoshen, stop trying to fool . Outsiders might not know what's going on with that crocodile dragon, but could I possibly be ignorant?
'So nonsense about a Great Demon crocodile dragon losing its mind and leading a pack to attack the fishing port of a Wang Clan scion is fine for tricking outsiders, but there's no need to lie to .'
"They must not be offended. Wang Jingyi is nearly a century younger than , yet she has already begun cultivating her second divine ability. Furthermore, Patriarch Mangxiang is using his Golden Core status to command the various factions.
"A few days ago, Senior Martial Sister Jingyi arrived here to hold a Dao discussion with us, primarily regarding the marriage of that Wang Clan youth. It is evident that the Wang Clan intends to cultivate their own people within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven.
"However, the grotto-heaven is only so large. If the Wang Clan takes an extra bite and the Zhuo Family takes two, our Yuan Family will go hungry.
"I originally intended to use the crocodile dragon's attack to force that Wang Clan scion to flee from battle, thereby ruining the foundation of the Wang Clan's developnt within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven. Looking at it now, I failed to hunt the tiger and ended up injuring myself instead.
"When you go to et Wang Xianzhou, maintain a proper sense of propriety. Do not promise too much. The crocodile dragon is a beast after all; it can simply be dealt with in the form of a sect reward for ritorious deeds."
Yuan Daoshen possessed audacious daring. Believing Wang Yulou to be a chess piece placed by Patriarch Mangxiang to interfere in Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, he had sent ten crocodile dragons with his full strength to conduct the assault.
But now, he did not dare declare to the outside world that he was obstructing Patriarch Mangxiang's strategic placent. He could only claim it was to prevent the Wang Clan from growing too powerful within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven.
Six iron crocodile dragons were dead, and the Great Demon crocodile dragon was mostly crippled. Suffering such a massive loss, he had to swallow his broken teeth and stomach the grievance, even having to placate the main culprit, Wang Xianzhou.
And Yuan Daoshen truly swallowed it down, imdiately bringing in a special figure like Yuan Zhengju to handle it without the slightest hesitation. This proved he was indeed a formidable figure.
Yuan Daoshen was naturally a formidable figure. Were it not so, he could not have led the Yuan Clan to prosperity for so many years, stepping upward bit by bit to beco the number one Foundation Establishnt family within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven.
"Uncle-Ancestor, the matter of Patriarch Mangxiang attaining Golden Core has been rumored for many years, yet he has never been seen to truly achieve it. Why must we remain so deeply wary?
"Could it be that he can simply attain it whenever he wishes, and completely ignore the heavenly Golden Core lightning tribulation?"
Before departing, Yuan Zhengju finally voiced the greatest doubt weighing on his heart.
Mangxiang attaining Golden Core, and the Wang Clan rising in status as a result—that wasn't right. Hadn't Mangxiang still failed to achieve it?
Hearing Zhengju's question, Yuan Daoshen pondered before replying,
"He naturally cannot bypass the lightning tribulation, nor does he possess absolute certainty of success. However, for the ancestor to act in such a high-profile manner, leveraging a grand vow to coerce the sect, everyone throughout the Red Lantern Illumination Sect can only obey his commands.
"Should the ancestor fail at the final hurdle, soone will naturally demand what is owed to us on our behalf. Of course, we won't be able to obtain it either.
"But as long as the ancestor has not yet failed, he remains a quasi-Immortal Venerable. We must not stick our necks out. No matter how Wang Xianzhou humiliates us, we absolutely must not stick our necks out!"
The way Mangxiang continuously issued favors round after round made him look incredibly powerful, didn't it?
It ca with a price. He was gambling with his own destiny; if he lost, he would beco the price itself.
Issuing a military pledge, gambling his own future, and forcing everyone to cooperate with him—this was exactly what Mangxiang was currently doing.
Therefore, Mangxiang could only win. Thus, no one within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect dared block his issuance of favors.
Even Zhou Fujiao, who was likewise in the Purple Palace Realm, could only tremble under the pressure exerted by Mangxiang.
Flying away from Yuan Daoshen's residence, Yuan Zhengju stood in midair. He first bowed three tis toward the statue of the Immortal Venerable inside the Droplet Heaven Palace, then directed a complex gaze toward the River Bend Fishing Port.
'Wang Xianzhou, we haven't t for a century—'
On the other side, within the River Bend Fishing Port, Yulou—having urgently treated Little Fish's injuries—and the old ancestor finally found the ti to sit down and discuss how to face the future.
They had killed six of the Yuan Clan's crocodile dragons and hacked the Great Demon crocodile dragon in half. Under such circumstances, even if Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou had reason on their side, they still had to worry about the Yuan Family acting out in a fit of rage.
Of course, the probability of them directly launching a covert assault was relatively low, since Wang Xianzhou had already revealed his identity.
If Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou died mysterious deaths within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, Ancestor Jingyi and the Patriarch would undoubtedly co to investigate.
So overly clever individuals might think that the Yuan Clan was much stronger than the Wang Clan, while their grand-master was too far away and the Wang Clan too weak. Moreover, Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven was the Yuan Clan's ho turf; how could anyone investigate the Yuan Clan, the number one Foundation Establishnt Immortal Clan in Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven?
Zhuo Yinsheng and Zhuo Chi (excitedly and in unison): "Fellow Daoist Wang, where do you wish to investigate? How do you want to look into it? Let us join you! We won't rest until we break the Yuan Family!"
If Wang Yulou died an unexplained death, escalating the intensity of the struggle would be far too simple. It rely depended on whether the Wang Clan possessed the resolve.
Call upon a True Person, call upon the Immortal Alliance, call upon the Red Lantern Illumination Sect—let's fight.
Any large organization was full of internal factions, and the intensity of internal strife could be even more ruthless than fighting external enemies.
An external war rely required determining a victor. Internally, even total extermination was insufficient; one had to shake the yolks out of the opponent's eggs, thoroughly denounce them, and prevent any chance of a reversal!
Otherwise, there were simply too many historical examples.
"Old Ancestor, there are three urgent matters at hand. First, we must promptly inform Senior Wu to prevent the Yuan Family from acting out of desperation..."
The mont Yulou stated the first point of focus, the old ancestor imdiately realized that even if they could not let Old Wu know every single detail, they should at least notify him.
After all, he had appeared in Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven under the identity of an Immortal Alliance Emissary, serving beneath Wu Jinyan, the Monitoring Steward.
In the future, if things turned troubleso, Wu Jinyan would beco highly critical.
"I'll go right away. Tell the second matter first."
"Let Zhang Xuewu go. Old Zhang is about to beco a son-in-law of the Wu Family, so he should et with Senior Wu more often."
As he spoke, Zhang Xuewu—who had been summoned by Yulou—rushed over in a frantic hurry. The old ancestor took one look and instantly understood that Yulou had already formulated a plan.
"Very well. Furthermore, this way the two of us won't have to separate, making things safer. Yulou, your current growth is almost comparable to how I was back then."
The old ancestor's words actually contained a bit of exaggeration. When he was twenty-seven, he was nowhere near as clear-sighted as Yulou.
Receiving Wang Xianzhou's letter, Zhang Xuewu set off with an anxious heart to et his future father-in-law.
Had the old ancestor's cultivation base been at the Foundation Establishnt stage, a single transmission talisman would have sufficed. A Qi Refining cultivator's transmission talisman could only cover a distance of dozens of kiloters at most, far inferior to a Foundation Establishnt cultivator's.
"The second matter concerns the disposal of the six crocodile dragons. Old Ancestor, we must hurry. Who knows if the Yuan Family will discard all sha!"
The crocodile dragons were raised by the Yuan Family, but because they were sent by Yuan Daoshen to assault Yulou and died as a result, the Yuan Family logically had no right to claim the corpses.
However, face was sothing earned by oneself, not granted by others. There was simply no fixed standard for how high or low a cultivator's bottom line would drop when faced with profit. If the Yuan Family chose to be thick-skinned enough, Yulou could truly only endure it.
Make a scene?
Would the Wang Clan and the Zhuo Family definitely win if a conflict erupted?
The Wang Clan did not fear a fight, but if Yuan Daoshen adopted a firm stance while simultaneously offering room for Yulou and the Wang Clan to develop within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, how could the Wang Clan easily resolve to go to war with the Yuan Family?
It was full of trouble. It was better to cut the knot quickly and turn it into an established fact early on.
Hearing Wang Yulou's words, Old Ancestor Xianzhou instantly realized that if the Yuan Family was determined to be shaless to the very end, they might truly not be able to preserve all the crocodile dragon materials they had gained.
"Correct. This old man will open the furnace tonight. All the at will be refined into Essence-Blood Pills and flesh essence, while the other materials will be carried by Crimson Sparrow to be hidden away first!"
The old ancestor gritted his teeth, speaking with deep resentnt.
"The third point concerns our posture. Old Ancestor, yes, you currently possess the backing of an Immortal Alliance Emissary identity, and we have Senior Wu Jinyan supporting us from above.
But you also know Senior Wu's situation; it's very awkward."
Wu Jinyan belonged to the lucky few who managed to succeed at Foundation Establishnt on their first attempt through pure dumb luck. The family and forces behind him could be completely ignored, and after becoming the Monitoring Steward of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, he was directly absorbed as a guest elder.
No matter how one looked at it, he was not particularly reliable!
"What sort of posture do you an? Begging for rcy like a dog before the Yuan Family?" Wang Xianzhou looked at Yulou with great dissatisfaction.
In reality, his heart was filled with imnse satisfaction.
Yes, this was exactly how it should be. Staying humble in victory and never letting down one's guard—this was a truly precious trait.
Those shallow people who beca arrogant upon succeeding would lose heart just as quickly when encountering difficulties.
As for Wang Xianzhou's look of dissatisfaction, it was purely the old ancestor applying pressure to help hone Yulou's edge.
Playing the opponent, playing the enemy—smoothly putting on an act before Wang Yulou when the ti ca was entirely a display of the old ancestor's skill and experience!
This was a side manifestation of the significance of a family heritage. If you were soone like Wu Jinyan, who would bother putting on an act with you? Gao Jian's whip would lash straight across your face; if it didn't beat you to death, you would still have to endure it and say, 'Fellow Daoist Gao, you truly possess great strength.'
In this wretched world, people like Yuan Daoshen and Gao Jian possessed terrifyingly low bottom lines. If he didn't introduce so intensity, Old Ancestor Xianzhou feared Yulou might not be able to hold out!
True, Wang Yulou had perford exceptionally well in the past—from his Dao heart in cultivation, to his wisdom in business managent, to his interpersonal dealings with others, everything was handled beautifully.
But standing from the old ancestor's perspective, he naturally and greedily hoped to steady Yulou a bit more and elevate him a step further. Consequently, he deliberately put on a show of dissatisfaction when Yulou suggested a compromise!
"Old Ancestor, you must be well aware that fighting the Yuan Clan over this iron crocodile dragon matter yields absolutely no aning.
"Moreover, once it involves too much, our Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom does have Patriarch Mangxiang backing us up, but the ancestor's favors cost as much as they are used, and they even co with interest.
"In the end, even if the Yuan Clan is pushed to the point of collapse, it will still be the Zhuo Family who wins, and I will still have to develop under the Zhuo Family's shadow in the future.
"Ultimately, no matter how much we invest, our foundation within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven is only this small. The amount we can win in the end is simply too little.
"Therefore, we cannot act recklessly. This matter must be t with two distinct postures.
"To the outside world—that is, to the other people within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven who remain ignorant of the truth—we shall claim it was a normal defensive response, entirely reliant on the protection of the Immortal Venerable, treating the crocodile dragons as re beasts.
"Toward the Yuan Clan, we shall appropriately display firmness, but we must clearly define the boundaries. We must absolutely not escalate the situation easily!"
However, after Yulou finished speaking, the old ancestor rely stared at him silently without uttering a word.
The old ancestor's gaze was sowhat complex. Yulou thought he had been too cowardly and spoken incorrectly, causing his heart to beat unsteadily.
Yet, very quickly, the old ancestor stood up and said,
"I will go handle the crocodile dragon materials. We will proceed exactly as you said. Yulou, you have grown up."
Old Ancestor Xianzhou was not well-versed in praising people. The phrase 'Yulou, you have grown up' was his ultimate affirmation of Wang Yulou.
'Yulou, you have grown up, and you can now shoulder the imnse weight of the family's rise and fall.'
A true warrior was not rely soone who could slay generals and seize banners, or squarely face a bleak life. Yulou was likewise a true warrior; he could master his own heart and wisdom, using the best thod to respond to external changes and challenges.
If such a cultivator could not achieve a grand career, what kind of cultivator could ever walk toward longevity?
The reason Wang Xianzhou departed was rely because he felt a bit too overwheld with emotion.
Talents erged from the Wang Clan generation after generation; a new prodigy had risen, one even more outstanding than he had been back then.
Old Ancestor Xianzhou felt gratified, but he also felt a sense of loss. Thus, he wanted to use intense work to numb himself.
However, Yuan Zhengju would not grant Wang Xianzhou any ti to adjust his ntality.
This Foundation Establishnt cultivator of the Yuan Clan silently landed outside the River Bend Fishing Port. He walked slowly, stepping into this small fishing port by the Beautiful Water Lake that had just experienced the crocodile dragon attack.
The mortals of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven had long grown accustod to demon beast attacks. It was just that the crocodile dragons this ti were far too fierce; nine of them had made landfall, devouring over three hundred people in a brief span of ti.
So were weeping bitterly, so were silently shedding tears, so were collecting the corpses of their relatives, and so were clearing debris from the roads under the organization of martial artists.
'Uncle-Ancestor went too far this ti.'
Yuan Zhengju shook his head, directing his steps toward Yulou's Golden Platform.
Even as a Foundation Establishnt elder of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, he had heard of the Wang Clan youth constructing a Golden Platform. Seeing it now, it was indeed quite beautiful.
Despite people continuously passing by Yuan Zhengju, not a single person noticed the presence of this Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
Divine abilities, divine abilities. Every Foundation Establishnt cultivator who mastered a divine ability was an extraordinary entity.
As a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator with profound mastery over water arts, Yuan Zhengju could easily use the abundant water-attributed spiritual energy inside Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven to conceal his figure.
Although Jiang Baobian's Hidden Form in Stillness did not require magical power to execute, it ultimately had limitations; one had to remain completely stationary when using it.
Yuan Daoshen's divine ability, Cloud-Walking Mist-Strolling, could help him maintain a special water escape state at all tis, precisely like the one he was displaying now.
It was only when he walked outside Yulou's estate and saw the crocodile dragon corpses strewn across the ground that he halted his steps.
One, two... six, along with the half-body of the Great Demon.
Facing such a result, Yuan Zhengju of the Yuan Family actually felt a trace of absurdity.
'To lose so spectacularly and then send to negotiate... Uncle-Ancestor, you truly place enough trust in . Sigh.'
No matter how difficult, he still had to negotiate. Just as Yuan Zhengju was pondering how to deal with Wang Xianzhou, Wang Xianzhou rushed out of the estate gates in a frantic hurry.
He walked over to the half-body of that Great Demon crocodile dragon, dragging it along as he prepared to walk back inside the estate.
The old ancestor calculated ticulously: deal with the most expensive parts first. Even if the Yuan Family turned out to be thick-skinned, obstinate, completely shaless, or worse...
As long as he held the half-body of the Great Demon crocodile dragon in his hands, the spiritual resonance consud today would not be considered a total loss.
When Wang Xianzhou engaged in close-quarters combat with the crocodile dragon, the spiritual resonance consud every single instant was worth eight hundred spirit stones, and that did not even include what Yulou had expended.
Combined, the two of them had burned through spiritual resonance worth roughly twenty thousand spirit stones tonight, which was how they managed to keep six and a half crocodile dragons behind.
If one factored in Wang Jingyi's Formless Sword Talisman, it would be even more expensive. Ancestor Jingyi's Formless Sword Talisman possessed extraordinary might; people would buy one even if it were priced at twenty thousand.
How was this massive deficit to be filled?
Could it not only be recouped from the crocodile dragon materials?
"Xianzhou, it has been many years since we last t."
Yuan Zhengju suddenly materialized beside Old Ancestor Xianzhou, startling him to the point where he almost stabbed forward directly with his halberd.
Seeing that it was actually Yuan Zhengju, he stared blankly for a mont before speaking in a cold voice.
"You actually have the nerve to co see , Old Yuan. Your Yuan Family went too far this ti."
Yes, you are at Foundation Establishnt while I am at Qi Refining; there is a gap in our cultivation bases.
But back then, he was nothing more than a defeated opponent. Wang Xianzhou would certainly not show fear.
"You failed to report to the sect, secretly pretending to have a level six cultivation base to enter Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven for three years. You ca for three years and hid for three years—is that not also going too far?"
Yuan Zhengju feigned ignorance of Wang Xianzhou's words, instead bringing up Wang Xianzhou's concealed cultivation base and how his behavior lacked respect for Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven.
If external Foundation Establishnt or veteran Qi Refining cultivators could simply hide their cultivation bases and enter Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven to stir up trouble, how could the interests of the nurous Foundation Establishnt families within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven be guaranteed?
"If you think it's going too far, go report it to the Immortal Alliance. I am an Emissary of the Immortal Alliance; only the Immortal Alliance has the right to manage ."
Wang Xianzhou offered a lukewarm retort, effectively admitting that there might be an issue with his conduct, but he believed that such a problem would at most warrant a light penalty.
Yuan Zhengju was purely bringing up these aningless matters because he knew the Yuan Family was in the wrong.
"Xianzhou, you made a na for yourself using the title of Immortal Alliance Emissary in your youth, and now you are over a hundred years old. Why are you still chanting this phrase?
"Wang Yulou acts as a disciple within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven; he must ultimately submit to the managent of the sect and accept the corresponding tempering.
"For the Wang Family to call soone like you—who is nearing death—to his side for protection, how can such a disciple ever stand on his own once he grows up?"
"He doesn't need to stand on his own; being able to overturn your Yuan Family's ancestral graves is quite enough!"
"You!"
"What about ? Yuan Zhengju, you are incredibly sanctimonious, yet utterly weak at your core. Otherwise, why did you lose to back then?
"You mock for never reaching Foundation Establishnt in my entire life, but haven't you also failed to achieve the Purple Palace Realm in yours? We're all ants, yet you're putting on airs. How laughable!"
"Wang Xianzhou, didn't you just win by borrowing Xuanzhuan's Ethereal Orchid Jade Buckle? To think you're actually bragging about it."
"The top spot went to Candlelight True Person's lineage. I am under the grand-master's lineage, ranked second, and the one under True Person Fujiao's lineage ranked third. We had already agreed upon the placents; what right did you have to co over and snatch a spot?
"You were too cowardly. You didn't dare resist the rankings established by the True Persons, which is why you sat back and watched your own artifacts get smashed to pieces by the Ethereal Orchid Jade Buckle.
"Even if it wasn't , it would have been the sa if you faced anyone else. Whether you acknowledge this matter or not, I owe you nothing."
"Do you an to say you're refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit?"
"What are you yelling for? Keep it up and I'll send you down to have a drink with your ancestors!"
Damn it, to be so thoroughly humiliated by a Qi Refining cultivator, Yuan Zhengju truly could not hold back any longer. He raised his hand, preparing to slap Wang Xianzhou first to clear his head.
Yet the mont he rely raised his hand, Wang Xianzhou directly cast aside the half-body of the Great Demon crocodile dragon and threw himself onto the ground.
Clutching Yuan Zhengju's shin, he wept and begged,
"Old Yuan, I'm kneeling to you! I beg your Yuan Family to let Yulou go!"
Yuan Zhengju looked at Wang Xianzhou pulling at his shin, then looked at his own hand that he had just raised.
He was bewildered.
'If I rember correctly, I should have only just raised my hand, right?'
"That's not right, I didn't even strike..."
"Smack! Smack! Smack!"
Wang Xianzhou delivered three heavy slaps to his own face using his full strength, striking his old face so hard it looked like a dye workshop had opened up, drawing blood instantly.
A white-haired old man, sporting a face that had been beaten out of shape, was hugging Yuan Zhengju's leg while wailing loudly.
When Wu Jinyan arrived, this was exactly the scene that t his eyes.
Even with his composure developed over several years at the Foundation Establishnt stage, he was still trendously shocked.
'Why must it co to this!'
'Why must it co to this!'
'Yulou, you said we need to adopt a posture to prevent the Yuan Clan from shalessly oppressing us.
'But you worry too much. As long as we lower our posture first and pin the Yuan Clan down within the rules of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven and the Ten Sects-Immortal Alliance system, many things will beco easy to negotiate!'
However, Yulou had ultimately only just begun his rise and would have to stand alone in the future; such a face-losing matter was unsuited for him to perform.
It just so happened that Wang Xianzhou knew he was about to kick the bucket, so his so-called face was no longer that important.
Playing the victim ant that even if the matter escalated to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect or the Immortal Alliance in the future, his conduct would allow him to snatch a few chances of victory from his forr colleagues and high-level cultivators within the sect.
It was worth it!
---
Inside the quiet chamber, Yulou had already resud his cultivation.
His artifact refining was mostly complete. As for those newly acquired crocodile dragon materials, the old ancestor needed to process them first before they could further examine how to refine them.
While Yulou was cultivating, Little Fish—who was recovering from her injuries—lay upon the bed, silently watching him.
This man was truly strange; with a beautiful woman lying right beside him, he showed no signs of being affected at all, closing his eyes to imdiately begin his breathing exercises.
Suddenly, Little Fish looked toward the direction outside the estate where Wang Xianzhou and Yuan Zhengju were facing off, hurriedly calling out to wake Yulou from his ditation.
"Husband, sothing has happened outside! Soone from the Yuan Family has arrived and is currently confronting the old ancestor. Go take a look quickly!"
Yulou did not dare delay, rushing out imdiately only to see the old ancestor's face beaten out of shape. He was sprawled on the ground, hugging Yuan Zhengju's leg while wiping tears and snot onto Yuan Zhengju's clothes.
Instantly, Yulou's eyes threatened to split from rage.
'Yuan Clan, how dare you bully people to such an extent!'
In front of the Yuan Clan's Foundation Establishnt cultivator, he forcefully suppressed that imnse fury, squeezing out a sowhat calm expression.
Under extre physical control, Yulou's calmness actually appeared slightly rigid.
'Today, I, Wang Yulou, will endure your hand. In the future, even if I cannot achieve it, the later sons of the Wang Clan will sooner or later exterminate your entire Yuan Clan of Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven!'
This was the first ti Yulou had felt such a desire to compile a kill list. Old Ancestor Xianzhou had protected him, loved him, and sponsored his cultivation for many years.
The phrase 'the candle burns to ash before its tears dry' was vividly illustrated in the old ancestor's path of protecting Yulou.
The old ancestor and Yulou shared no blood relation, yet they were already far closer than ordinary grandfathers and grandsons.
With the Yuan Clan's Foundation Establishnt cultivator humiliating the old ancestor in such a manner, how could Yulou not give rise to killing intent?
The only thing stopping him from drawing his sword was his rationality.
Yulou's rationality made him understand that drawing his sword now would rely be throwing his life away. He had to wait for the right opportunity; only by striking when the timing was perfect could he slaughter the Yuan Clan pigs and dogs all at once!
"Fellow Daoist, please stay your hand! Stay your hand!"
The one who spoke before Yulou was Wu Jinyan, wearing the official robes of an Immortal Alliance Steward.
Seeing Wang Xianzhou being bullied to such an extent, Wu Jinyan felt incredibly anxious. He rely wanted to slack off within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, yet trouble had found its way to his doorstep. Sigh.
For so reason, when Yulou saw this Foundation Establishnt gatekeeper arrive, a sense of security actually erged in his heart—it was not provided by Wu Jinyan himself, but rather by the Immortal Alliance robes upon his body.
Even if the Immortal Alliance possessed ten thousand flaws, it had at least established rules that all cultivators above the Foundation Establishnt stage across the world had to respect. While these rules might fail to bind Grand Cultivators of the Purple Palace Realm and above, they were undoubtedly highly effective against Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
Granted, the starting point of these rules was for the Grand Cultivators to protect the chives from being recklessly harvested by Foundation Establishnt entities.
But at this mont, it exerted a massive effect, at least invisibly suppressing Yuan Zhengju's fury.
"I didn't strike him! He's the one playing foul!" Yuan Zhengju replied, exasperated.
Yuan Zhengju shook his leg, wanting to fling away Wang Xianzhou who was continuously wiping snot onto his official robes. Unfortunately, Old Ancestor Xianzhou's grip was incredibly tight.
In terms of cultivation base, Yuan Zhengju was higher than him, but Old Ancestor Xianzhou had consud far too many nourishing pills to repair his Dao foundation, making his physical body exceptionally strong and his body-refining level much higher than Yuan Zhengju's.
If the two of them cast aside their cultivation bases, artifacts, spiritual energy, talismans, and spells to engage in a face-to-face, flesh-to-flesh duel between n, Wang Xianzhou could likely beat Yuan Zhengju to the point where he would need to wear adult diapers.
'Ten thousand spirit stones if you follow my script, Old Wu.
'Just feign ignorance; I don't ask for much.
'Don't hesitate. Offending the Yuan Clan earns you ten thousand spirit stones.
'Offend the Wang Clan, and not only will you not receive a single spirit stone, but I will also contact rogue cultivators to slaughter your entire family.'
With a single sentence from Old Ancestor Xianzhou, Wu Jinyan instantly realized that he was the true ant, the true idiot.
Did Wang Xianzhou, who was sprawling on the ground and wailing, look miserable?
No, the most miserable one was Wu Jinyan, who had been passively dragged into the dispute and directly threatened with the slaughter of his entire family.
Wang Xianzhou's unscrupulous thods and ruthlessness were vividly displayed in his act of playing weak to seize benefits, and directly threatening the entire family of Wu Jinyan who had kindly spoken up to help.
Yulou's patient restraint and deep heart were a grand disposition, and Wang Xianzhou's unscrupulous thods and ruthlessness were likewise a grand disposition. There was no distinction of high or low between the two; they were rely thods, and they would never rely on them permanently.
If one wished to walk further, there was nothing that could be relied upon for long. The only thing to depend on was oneself.
Old Ancestor Xianzhou could no longer walk further, which was why he was conversely more ruthless than in the past.
'My Dao has reached its end, but Yulou's Dao is still very far away. In that case, I will support Yulou as he walks down it. That is all.'
The previous generation's Wang Clan prodigy Wang Xianzhou, and the new generation's Wang Clan prodigy Wang Yulou—to be served by two generations of the Wang Clan's Qilin children, could Yuan Zhengju's fortune possibly be considered small?
In almost an instant, Wu Jinyan quickly shouted,
"Release the Immortal Alliance Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven Emissary Wang Xianzhou imdiately! To think you would first strike an Immortal Alliance Emissary, then slander him with so nonsense about playing foul—how utterly arrogant!"
'Damn it, these two dogs of the Immortal Alliance are clearly bullying because they know I don't dare take action!'
Yuan Zhengju was furious to the extre. Thinking about how he clearly hadn't struck yet was being slapped with the accusation of beating soone made his blood boil.
Wang Xianzhou's previous taunts about 'overturning ancestral graves' and 'going down to accompany ancestors' still echoed in his ears, causing a wicked fire to burn fiercely in Yuan Zhengju's heart.
In his extre rage, he figured that since he had already been frad anyway, he might as well deliver a few fierce slaps to satisfy himself.
Thus, amidst Wang Xianzhou's delighted gaze, Yuan Zhengju's palm closed in on his face. Yulou lunged forward intending to intercept it, but it was already too late.
But few cultivators who could reach Foundation Establishnt, achieve seniority, and master divine abilities were fools. When his palm was a re inch away from Wang Xianzhou's face, Yuan Zhengju ultimately stopped.
'I can't truly strike. This Wang Xianzhou is soone who is about to die; why bother bickering with him!'
Yet, what caught the lunging Wang Yulou and the standing Wu Jinyan completely by surprise was...
If the mountain will not co to the man, the man can go to the mountain.
If the palm will not co, the face can go toward the palm!
A face could actively lean into it.
Sotis it was using a warm face to press against a cold backside, and sotis it was using a warm face to lean into a heavy slap.
Thus, Wang Xianzhou's face pursued while Yuan Zhengju's hand retracted.
He pursued!
He retracted!
Old Ancestor Xianzhou even used an escape art.
Good heavens, this instantly scared Yuan Zhengju to the point where his soul almost flew away. 'You're using an escape art to pursue at a ti like this?'
'Wang Xianzhou, you are truly sothing else!'
Terrified by Wang Xianzhou's maneuver of pursuing a slap with his face, the seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator directly executed his Cloud-Walking Mist-Strolling divine ability!
In an instant, Wang Xianzhou pursued for dozens of ters, chasing right to the edge of the Golden Platform.
But a Foundation Establishnt cultivator's divine ability was more potent, and Yuan Zhengju directly flew out over several hundred ters.
Halting his figure while still shaken, Yuan Zhengju roared in anger,
"Enough! Stop making a groundless scene!"
The cultivators of River Bend Fishing Port had also noticed the Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven Foundation Establishnt elder in the sky. Under everyone's gaze, Wang Xianzhou shed his previous disheveled appearance. He stood there silently, looking at Yuan Zhengju with a calm and sowhat cold expression.
"As for who is making a groundless scene here, you have already spoken it yourself.
"If the Yuan Family offers an explanation, then we shall resolve it at Droplet Heaven Palace.
"If the Yuan Family refuses to offer an explanation, then we shall resolve it through the Immortal Alliance.
"If the Yuan Family chooses to exterminate us as an explanation, then we shall resolve it through the Red Lantern Illumination Sect!"
Wang Xianzhou possessed imnse confidence, and he had once again taught Yulou a lesson through his words and actions.
What should one do when fearing an opponent's groundless accusations?
Under circumstances where one was fully prepared, one could take the initiative to make a groundless scene first, forcing the opponent to either tear off all pretense and fight openly, or return to the frawork of order to negotiate (use with caution).
Offering an explanation to be resolved at Droplet Heaven Palace ant handling it internally within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven, resulting in the smallest loss for the Yuan Family.
Refusing to offer an explanation to be resolved through the Immortal Alliance ant using the Immortal Alliance's strength to handle it, resulting in a larger loss for the Yuan Family.
If they dared to pull any underhanded tricks and resolve it within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect system, then the outco would be uncertain, and it would beco a battle unto death.
Yuan Zhengju directed a deep look at Old Ancestor Xianzhou, then glared furiously at Wu Jinyan, saying,
"By acting in such a manner, are you not afraid of the Yuan Clan's wrath?"
Wang Yulou stepped forward, taking his place beside the old ancestor as he questioned in a loud voice,
"Wrath? Why should the Yuan Clan feel wrath? Is it your wrath, or the wrath of Elder Yuan Daoshen?
"Our River Bend Fishing Port exerted every effort to defend against the crocodile dragon attack. How exactly did we provoke your wrath?"
Seeing a re mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator dare speak to him in such a manner, Yuan Zhengju laughed out of extre anger.
"Stop twisting words! I am referring to his act of putting on a show to throw mud at !"
He did not dare discuss the crocodile dragons, so he could only focus on the issue regarding Wang Xianzhou's act of framing him.
Evidently, Yuan Zhengju had not truly lost his head; this Foundation Establishnt cultivator remained clear-headed.
"Very well! Elder, you humiliated Old Ancestor Xianzhou, yet you claim he is throwing mud. In that case, let us invite a True Person to distinguish loyalty from treachery!
"True Person Jiusheng is present, and True Person Hongli is likewise here. There are still reasonable True Persons within Dripping Water Grotto-Heaven; let us invite them to judge who is right!"
Wang Yulou spoke word by word, his voice ringing loud.
'Invite a True Person to distinguish loyalty from treachery—checkmate!'
Yuan Zhengju fell silent. He understood that he had been completely out-calculated by Wang Xianzhou today.
As soone who was nearing death, even if Wang Xianzhou truly threw mud at him, it would at most be compensated with his life.
If it reached the point of inviting a True Person to distinguish loyalty from treachery... it would be using Wang Xianzhou's single life to trade for many lives of the Yuan Family.
Right now, Wang Xianzhou wanted to solidify the pretext of being humiliated by him, thereby forcing the Yuan Clan to offer more compensation regarding the crocodile dragon attack on River Bend Port.
'Uncle-Ancestor, why didn't you investigate beforehand? With the corpses of these six crocodile dragons displayed right here, anyone who isn't brain-dead understands what's going on. Sigh!'
"Elder Zhengju, how about this: you co down to negotiate. We must be mindful of the big picture; the big picture is of paramount importance."
Old Wu had played a massive role today. The one stoking the fires from the sidelines earlier was him, and the one currently feigning neutrality while pulling a biased diation was likewise him.
The label of 'paramount importance of the big picture' was slapped right onto Yuan Zhengju's head. If he didn't descend, it would seem as though he were destroying the big picture—how wretched.
Yuan Zhengju knew that he absolutely could not negotiate with Wang Xianzhou today.
Negotiating now would only result in a total loss; there could be no other outco.
Consequently, Yuan Zhengju left behind a final harsh threat before imdiately driving his escape light to depart.
"Wang Xianzhou, for you to pull a groundless scene to such a degree... formidable! I shall return once more within five days!"
In the end, Wang Xianzhou had once again achieved victory in the gaming of interests.
He had spent his entire life winning, yet he had ultimately walked onto a dead end today.
This particular victory was won by using his old life to trade for the lives of the Yuan Clan's nurous cultivators.
Thinking up to this point, Wang Xianzhou smiled with a sense of release, turning his head to instruct Yulou.
"Yulou, do not step to the forefront next ti. I can still shield you for a few more years; you rely need to focus on your cultivation."
'My Dao has reached its end, but Yulou's Dao has only just begun. I must protect him well; that way, he can witness the higher and further scenery on my behalf.'
"Yulou understands all the principles, but Yulou could not bear to watch passively," Wang Yulou replied with a bitter smile.
He naturally understood the old ancestor's aning, and he also understood that he should hide in the rear, as his stepping forward now would not introduce any fundantal difference.
But... if every immortal cultivator were an absolutely rational individual, there would not be so many disputes beneath the heavens.
Whether for profit, due to foolishness, or stemming from emotion, immortal cultivators would always make seemingly blind decisions from ti to ti.
Wang Yulou did not regret it.
"Mhm," Old Ancestor Xianzhou let out a long response, then tossed a jade pendant to Wu Jinyan.
"Rewarding you with a spiritual artifact. Go on, cultivate well; your Wu Family relies entirely on you."
Receiving the spiritual artifact jade pendant rewarded by the Qi Refining stage Wang Xianzhou, the Foundation Establishnt stage Wu Jinyan bead with joy as he bowed in return.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Xuewu almost watched while kneeling.
'This isn't just a thick thigh; this is a super thick thigh! This is a top-tier thigh that directly forced the Yuan Family's Foundation Establishnt cultivator to retreat. I must absolutely hug it tightly!'
(End of Chapter)
User Comments
0 comments from readers