Up on the Dao Discussion Pavilion, after Wang Yaohai sent his young lackeys away, the remaining group sat down to review the successes and failures of the inaugural Exchange Conference.
"Yulou, today's Exchange Conference reached a total transaction volu of nearly thirty thousand spirit stones. That should be considered a success, right?"
Old Fan had always been ticulous, and he had been calculating the total transaction volu just now.
"The issue now is that we only collect an entry fee from those attending, which is just one spirit stone per person. If we could take a small cut from this total transaction volu—not much, just one percent—it would increase our inco fivefold!"
Wu Faxian's tone carried an underlying excitent. Seventy people ca today, bringing in over sixty spirit stones from entry fees. One percent of the thirty thousand spirit stones total transaction volu would be three hundred spirit stones, which was exactly five tis more. Three hundred and sixty spirit stones, even split among them, would give Wu Faxian dozens of stones, roughly equivalent to a dozen rit points. That was equal to his inco from half a year's worth of sect missions. Most importantly, this was practically free money!
"Old Wu, let's not ntion this matter again. Since we set the rules ourselves, we naturally cannot break our own word to enrich ourselves."
Yulou first criticized Wu Faxian with a serious expression, and then said with a faint smile, "Although the process wasn't completely flawless today, the final outco was quite good. However, if we view the Exchange Conference as a long-term enterprise for our collective developnt, today is rely the beginning. As for the future, we must continue to work hard and cannot afford to let our guard down!"
Everyone voiced their agreent. The group chatted a bit more about procedural issues, set the date for the next Exchange Conference, and then dispersed one after another.
After sending everyone off, Yulou did not leave the Dao Discussion Pavilion, which was used to keep watch. Instead, he stayed behind with Little Fish to brew spiritual tea. The beautiful woman brewed tea with her pristine hands, presenting a peerless, exquisite scene amid the mountains.
"Husband, if it's as you said, and we only let Wu Faxian handle things alone when the next Exchange Conference is held, what if it starts with a bang and ends with a whimper?"
White Lizard couldn't understand Yulou's handling of the situation. In her eyes, this Exchange Conference had gone exceptionally well, so Wang Yulou should naturally seize the benefits from it as quickly as possible. How could he really leave the opportunity to Old Wu, who was just positioned to take any potential bla?
"Many Splendid Pool Palace disciples ca today, did you notice?" Wang Yulou asked with a smile.
"Of course I noticed, but what does that have to do with them?" Little Fish was puzzled.
"Little Fish, actually, you should be able to figure out that these people are highly unusual, highly unusual indeed. Among them, many probably ca on their own accord, like the one who bought my three Water-Attribute Qi Cultivation Pills. But there are also so who ca on behalf of others!"
White Lizard's face crumpled slightly. What did he an by 'you should be able to figure out'? Wasn't he just calling her silly? Her husband really knew how to tease her.
"Therefore, for future Exchange Conferences, there's actually no need for to attend. Whether you go or Zhang Xuewu goes, what difference does it make compared to going?"
"Ah? ?"
Perhaps thinking about having to face so many Azurewater Palace disciples, a strange look appeared on White Lizard's face.
"Yes, you. On one hand, you can gather more insights and experiences regarding cultivation. On the other hand, you can make connections with more senior martial brothers and senior martial sisters of the sa sect. I am already in a position where I have completely fallen out with the Yuan Clan. For many things moving forward, I must think carefully about how to respond when the Yuan Clan makes a move."
Seeing that White Lizard really seed sowhat worried, Yulou added, "Don't worry, there won't be any dang—"
"Alright, I'll go. Husband, you underestimate Little Fish. It's just that those people all have higher cultivation bases than , so I was a bit nervous."
"Hahaha, my fault, my fault."
As the two sampled the tea and conversed, they chatted for a long ti until Yulou's guest finally arrived.
"Junior Brother Yulou, I wonder why you invited to et in private?"
The newcor was precisely Wang Yaohai, whom Yulou had just elevated earlier today. At the ti, Wang Yaohai had only cared about being touched by Yulou's favor, completely failing to realize that this favor would have to be repaid.
The favors of Mang Xiang accumulated interest upon interest, the favors of Dripdrop Cave were tangled from birth, but Wang Yulou's favors were much gentler; one simply repaid whatever amount was owed. Therefore, Yulou had long harbored the ambition to beco a grand cultivator, though he usually kept it well hidden. In the records of history, this belonged to the category of displaying respect on the surface while secretly harboring different intentions, with one's eyes fixed on the golden throne.
Claiming kingship slowly; those who constantly shouted that they possessed a Purple Palace opportunity definitely died earlier than those who preferred to act without speaking.
"Does Senior Brother know where my Alligator Dragon Essence Blood Pills ca from?" Yulou extended his hand to invite Wang Yaohai to sit, and then asked with a smile.
"Wasn't it from that ti two years ago..."
Senior Brother Yaohai's information wasn't very well-inford, as he still thought the essence blood pills Yulou sold today were refined from that iron alligator dragon's tail.
"Not at all. Just the night before last, ten iron alligator dragons launched a night raid on River Bend Fishing Port!"
"Is... is this true?"
Hearing this, Wang Yaohai's first thought was that Wang Yulou was playing a joke. Ten of them, how could there be so many. If there really were that many, on what basis are you, Wang Yulou, still alive? Relying on the protection of an Immortal Venerable? Stop talking nonsense!
"Yes, and among them was a Great Demon alligator dragon. It was hiding in the shadows to launch a sneak attack back then, and I almost lost my life."
Yulou gazed calmly at Wang Yaohai, asking with a slightly innocent tone of confusion, "Brother Yaohai, tell , why did these ten alligator dragons gather together, and why did they specifically choose to attack River Bend Fishing Port?"
Wang Yaohai was terrified. Ten alligator dragons attacking River Bend Port, with a Great Demon alligator dragon acting to kill Wang Yulou. This kind of matter was sothing he shouldn't be listening to! It was like an abyss, crouching in so indescribable form, and now, Wang Yulou was pulling Wang Yaohai right to the edge of that abyss.
"I... then how did you survive?"
Wang Yaohai didn't know how to answer. The insiders with brains within Dripdrop Cave Heaven probably all knew that the iron alligator dragons were raised by the Yuan Clan. As a disciple of the Yuan Clan's external-surna Foundation Establishnt cultivator Luo Changhe, what Wang Yaohai understood even better was that he couldn't take a stand. Therefore, he could only pretend to be concerned, asking about how Yulou survived. This was everything he could do to show his care. At this mont, the cowardice of being a human and the care of being a friend strangely manifested upon Wang Yaohai at the sa ti.
The hope of cultivation and the oppression of the system's devastation on people, on cultivators, could be physical, ntal, obvious, subtle, long-term, or short-term. And Wang Yaohai was just an unfortunate soul who had thoroughly suffered such devastation.
Yulou looked toward Little Fish with eyes full of affection and said, "Little Fish almost traded her life for mine. Fortunately, she was fine in the end. Perhaps it was all thanks to the protection of the Immortal Venerable."
While this pair engaged in an affectionate gaze, Wang Yaohai, who was off to the side, kept wiping away non-existent cold sweat.
"So, Yulou, what do you want to do?"
Wang Yulou gave him face, gave him opportunities, and elevated him. Now, it was ti for Wang Yaohai to provide an answer. What could he do? In front of him was his benefactor, the Yuan Clan; behind him was Wang Yulou, who was younger than him, had a higher background, possessed more wealth, and held a broader future prospect. It was true that he had helped Yulou arrange Little Fish's position before, but Yulou had paid spirit stones for that matter, and the difficulty itself wasn't high. Wang Yaohai had rely done a casual favor at most. It was difficult, very difficult, but Wang Yaohai's backbone wouldn't allow him to say that he wouldn't handle either side.
"Elder Zhengju of the Yuan Clan said they would give an explanation within three to five days, but I'm afraid they won't give one. Senior Brother, you have operated within the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team for many years. I want you to contact so people to appropriately look into the matter of the iron alligator dragons attacking River Bend Fishing Port."
Seeing Wang Yaohai's expression change, Yulou was incredibly composed instead, and he brought up Fan Zhugao again.
"The Grotto Heaven Patrol Team is currently managed by Elder Zhuo Yinlan. Elder Yinlan is Senior Brother Fan's martial aunt, and among her disciples, many serve as deacons within the patrol team. Brother Yaohai, I looked for you precisely because your identity is the most suitable."
At this point, Yulou stopped talking further. Instead, he personally poured another cup of tea and handed it to the still-hesitating Wang Yaohai.
"Brother Yaohai, the Yuan Clan has direct lineage Foundation Establishnt cultivators, followed by external-surna Foundation Establishnt cultivators. Under the direct lineage Foundation Establishnt cultivators, there are direct lineage disciples, as well as external-surna disciples like Ji Yuan. Under the external-surna Foundation Establishnt cultivators, there are the close kin disciples of those external-surna Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and only then cos you. Even when compared to Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan has already been sent out to act as a disposable pawn, whereas you have been protected by Elder Luo. To you, whether this protection is good or bad is probably still up for debate. Senior Brother, I believe you can understand what I'm saying. Whether you drink this cup of tea or not, we are still friends, and the matters of the Exchange Conference will continue as usual!"
Four layers of aning. The first layer: I want you to do sothing, mobilizing your connections within the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team. The second layer: Conduct so investigations that aren't too deep, applying a bit of pressure on the Yuan Clan—I don't plan to make the conflict with the Yuan Clan public, so you don't have to worry too much. These two layers were on the surface, while the latter two layers were hidden in the dark.
The third layer: The investigation is initiated by you. In the future, when the Yuan Clan feels the pressure, you can step forward to resolve it, which will then count as a rit on your part with the Yuan Clan.
Finally, there was the most critical fourth layer. The fourth layer: What I am discussing today isn't just the matter of the investigation. Senior Brother, I want you to join ! I have said everything that needs to be said. Whether you want to hand over a declaration of loyalty or not won't affect our cooperation in the Exchange Conference.
Wang Yaohai naturally understood Yulou's multiple layers of aning, but he still couldn't make up his mind. He had wanted to rely on himself, so he went to the West Sea. When he realized that even risking his life wasn't enough because his life was simply too worthless, he finally knelt before Luo Changhe. Now, his life was worth a bit more, but Wang Yulou was asking him to risk his life again...
"Husband, we don't necessarily have to trouble Senior Brother Yaohai. We can just have Senior Wu Jingyan look into it. He is a Grotto Heaven Monitoring Deacon, so it's practically the sa."
Little Fish was using information asymtry to apply psychological pressure on Wang Yaohai. When Yuan Zhengju arrived at River Bend Fishing Port, Wu Jingyan had indeed co, but Wang Yaohai didn't know that.
"Yulou, I'll drink!"
Wang Yaohai made a prompt decision. He picked up the teacup and drained it in one gulp.
He was well aware that what he drank wasn't just tea, but a declaration of loyalty to draw closer to Wang Yulou's interest group. Once the investigation into the alligator dragons attacking River Bend Port was pushed and initiated by him, he would have no path of retreat. This was precisely the aning behind a declaration of loyalty.
"For such a major matter, Yulou naturally cannot let Senior Brother Yaohai exert effort for nothing. These five hundred spirit stones shall serve as Senior Brother Yaohai's operational funds!"
Wang Yaohai looked at the spirit stones on the round stone table, raised his head, and asked, "Is it the faster, the better?"
This was asking how the work should be carried out and when to start. Raising his eyes to look toward the direction where Dripdrop Heaven was located, Yulou spoke with composure, "We need to urge the Yuan Clan along. Otherwise, I worry they won't be willing to part with their at."
Urging them along referred to speed; this was guiding the work. Parting with their at referred to his own ambition; this was displaying strength and painting a future prospect for Wang Yaohai.
"Understood. Yaohai will go right now to contact the patrol team cultivators I am familiar with!"
Wang Yaohai actually directly referred to himself by na, which could be considered a declaration of his intent, making the relationship between the two even clearer. He didn't take the 'operational funds' given by Yulou, but instead stood up directly, actually willing to pledge his allegiance at his own expense.
Yulou naturally appreciated this kind of stalwart fellow; he couldn't possibly truly harm Wang Yaohai.
"Take the spirit stones, and make sure to use every single one of them. That way, even if a problem arises, you can still act as a loyal disciple protecting his master in front of the Yuan Clan elders."
Wang Yaohai looked toward Yulou and found that Yulou still maintained that completely unruffled, ordinary expression, yet he silently bent his waist and gathered up those spirit stones on the table.
"Fellow Daoist Yuque, wait for my good news." With that said, he departed.
Yulou then put away the tea set and called for Little Fish to leave. Only then did he notice that Little Fish was actually staring straight at him, a trace of astonishnt seemingly present in her eyes.
"What, were you frightened by how I acted today?"
Seeing that Yulou had noticed her gaze, Little Fish lowered her head sowhat shyly, stepping forward to clasp Yulou's arm.
"No, Little Fish was just thinking that it wouldn't even be strange if Husband achieves the Golden Core realm in the future."
He hadn't expected himself to possess such potential in his wife's eyes. Yulou felt a bit proud, but he still replied modestly, "Haha, I dare not think about the Golden Core realm. My only requirent for myself is the Purple Palace realm. If that really doesn't work out, being able to beco a well-known Foundation Establishnt cultivator like An Ning wouldn't be bad either."
"An Ning? A well-known Foundation Establishnt cultivator? Who is she?"
The two stepped onto the flying boat. Clasping his wife's waist, Yulou steered the flying boat to fly in the direction of River Bend Fishing Port.
"An Ning... do you know the differences in strength among Foundation Establishnt cultivators?"
"Oh? I ask Husband to explain it to ."
"You're being too polite, Little Fish. The gap between Foundation Establishnt cultivators is very large. Soone like Senior Wu Jingyan can be viewed as the representative of the weakest among Foundation Establishnt cultivators; even if Ancestor Xianzhou ca, killing him would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken. anwhile, Elder Zhuochi can fight three Wu Jingyans, belonging to the relatively excellent category among ordinary Foundation Establishnt cultivators. Soone similar to—no, soone like our Wang Clan's Patriarch, Ancestor Xianmao, can fight ten Wu Jingyans. And Ancestor Jingyi is quite extraordinary; she can fight thirty or forty Wu Jingyans. Elder Daoshen's strength is close to Ancestor Jingyi's, but he is actually a step higher, capable of fighting forty or fifty Wu Jingyans. The one corresponding to him is actually Sect Master Li Haiping of Wondrous Peak Mountain, but Sect Master Li is slightly stronger by a fraction, perhaps capable of fighting fifty or sixty Wu Jingyans. As for An Ning, she was a forrly well-known Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Hidden Dragon Abbey, an existence who almost opened a Purple Palace. She should be on the sa tier as Li Haiping. Sect Master Li and An Ning both belong to the strongest tier of Foundation Establishnt cultivators beneath the Purple Palace realm. As for whether they can open a Purple Palace, it all depends on opportunity."
"Hahaha, I can't take it anymore, Husband. This comparison of yours, hahaha, you must absolutely never say it in front of Senior Wu Jingyan."
"Look at what you're saying. Even if you didn't remind , it's impossible for to speak carelessly."
"However, Husband, I guess that in the future, you will definitely be even more formidable than that An Ning and Sect Master Li."
"Let's keep working hard. We exchanged for quite a few good things today. With the existence of the Exchange Conference, there's no need to worry too much about cultivation resources either. As long as the Yuan Clan doesn't cause trouble, we can thoroughly enjoy a period of peaceful cultivation ti."
"Regarding the Yuan Clan's matter... I understand why you didn't look for Fan Zhugao and the Zhuo Clan, but why didn't Husband look for Senior Brother Ji Yuan?"
Wang Yulou understood that this was Little Fish asking why he uniquely held Wang Yaohai in high regard.
"Using the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team to apply pressure on the Yuan Clan, whether by looking for the Zhuo Clan's disciple Fan Zhugao or looking for Ji Yuan who is about to take office as a deacon, both options have a possibility of realization. But compared to those two, Senior Brother Wang is the most unique. Do you know where his uniqueness lies?"
Yulou was applying his thod of teaching by example directly onto Little Fish. How did that saying go? They were both husband and wife, and teacher and student.
"Unique... is it because he is the least valued by the Foundation Establishnt family behind him?" Little Fish gave her own answer.
"Sowhat close. His uniqueness lies in the fact that his strength and weakness are just right, just right in multiple aspects. In the future, when you encounter problems and make decisions, you must also know how to analyze the opportunities and risks faced by different choices. Brother Yaohai's weakness is multi-faceted. His master, Elder Luo, is well... an external-surna Foundation Establishnt cultivator of the Yuan Clan. He himself entered the Yuan Clan's tutelage too late. The resources he can mobilize behind his back are also at a point where I can afford to pay the price. If I borrowed the power of the Zhuo Clan behind Senior Brother Fan to apply pressure on the Yuan Clan, the best-case scenario would be the Yuan Clan parting with at for , while I would bleed to give to the Zhuo Clan. The worst-case scenario would be being used as a tool by those old fellows of the Zhuo Clan, forced to beco a troublemaker stirring up the storm within Dripdrop Cave."
"You're not allowed to call yourself a troublemaker, Husband. Saying it that way is too disgusting," Little Fish complained with a slight hint of aversion.
"Hahaha, let's talk about serious matters. Moving on to Old Ji, he is simply too afraid of the Yuan Clan. You don't know, three years ago at Baimao Fishing Port... Because of that, we lost the opportunity to keep that small iron alligator dragon. Since Old Ji fears the Yuan Clan to such an extent, how could I trust him?"
Yulou felt a bit of regret when recalling that night; Ji Yuan had been too slick back then.
"Making a single decision is actually so complex. Did you also think so much when you married , Husband?" Little Fish asked with a scrutinizing gaze.
A question like this was sothing Qin Churan would never ask, which was also a characteristic of Little Fish's personality.
"Of course. If a cultivator wishes to walk further, three points are of the utmost importance. First, cultivation base. One's cultivation base is the foundation of everything. Second, finding the main focus. There are simply too many things a cultivator can do, and many aningless matters will disperse a cultivator's energy. How to find the main focus from amidst complex matters is a very important skill that not many people can notice. Third, being able to prudently make the most optimal decisions regarding those critical and important matters. The most optimal decision won't necessarily bring about the best outco, but by persisting over the long term, the path will naturally grow wider and wider. These are three points of cultivation insights that I derived by combining the heritage of the Wang Clan along with my own conclusions. They might not be like the cultivation insights shared by fellow disciples at the Exchange Conference, which can produce instant effects in your daily cultivation, but my wife must still keep them in her heart. Simply having a cultivation base is not enough. If one wants to walk further and more steadily, too many things need to be executed well. Seeking the Dao, seeking the Dao... what one seeks is far more than just a cultivation base, isn't it?"
Yulou looked toward Dripdrop Heaven once more. To be precise, he wanted to look beyond Dripdrop Heaven, to see clearly what those grand cultivators wanted to do, and to see clearly what Patriarch Mangxiang was ultimately waiting for.
The Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan had experienced a massive expansion by relying on the ancestor's favor, forced to transform the family's accumulation into the Foundation Establishnt cultivation bases of the clan's cultivators, moving toward a transformation. By relying on the Exchange Conference and the strategic alliances within Dripdrop Cave Heaven, Yulou would soon enter a period of rapid elevation for his cultivation base as well. But how should the path ahead be walked in the future? At the current stage, for Yulou, it was already ti to make preparations to lift his head and look at the path. 'The cart will find its way when it reaches the mountain' was rely a murmur left behind by lucky individuals. Wang Yulou couldn't place his future on the pity of the heavens.
"Do you know what I'm thinking?" asked Little Fish, who was holding Yulou tightly.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm not telling you, this is my secret~"
——
That evening, the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team arrived at River Bend Fishing Port. Wang Yaohai's efficiency was still very high, a point that left Yulou even more satisfied.
"...The situation is exactly like this. With the help of Fellow Daoist Wang Xianzhou, the Immortal Alliance's Dripdrop Cave Emissary, we successfully blocked the sneak attack of the iron alligator dragons. However, ten alligator dragons gathering together to perpetrate violence is ultimately sowhat too terrifying. Fellow Daoist, you must report this to the sect in a tily manner so that a response can be made."
Wang Yulou's suggestion was very correct, but the patrol team captain leading the squad only felt that this hot potato shouldn't be touched. Wang Yaohai was even more of a bastard, actually dragging him into such a chaotic situation. On one side was an Immortal Alliance Emissary, Wang Xianzhou, who had appeared out of nowhere, while on the other side was the most prominent Foundation Establishnt family in Dripdrop Cave, the Yuan Clan. Sigh.
"A report will definitely be made. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Yulou. How about this, I will return to the Patrol Hall right now and contact the patrol team to search for traces of the iron alligator dragons near River Bend Fishing Port. That way, you can also get a good night's sleep. What do you think?" said the patrol squad captain.
Stabilize the involved party first, and then push the matter upward. That way, no matter what the truth was, he could extract himself from the focal point of the struggle.
"Excellent. Then I shall thank Fellow Daoist. You have run back and forth, working incredibly hard. You must absolutely accept these five spirit fish as a small token of Yulou's regard."
"Ai, Brother Yulou, you're being far too polite."
That Grotto Heaven Patrol Team squad captain accepted the spirit fish, and his attitude transford imdiately. Thinking of the legend of the thirteen Foundation Establishnt cultivators witnessing Yulou's grand wedding, he imdiately said, "The reason we ca today was due to the reminder from the Splendid Pool Palace Inspector, Wang Yaohai. He used to be a cultivator of the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team as well, but he has now entered the Yuan Clan's tutelage. Fellow Daoist Yulou, I will definitely report the situation of the iron alligator dragons' attack, but as for what the final outco will be, I cannot be certain."
This was enough. Wang Yulou and Wang Yaohai were just waiting for this investigating patrol team captain to report the matter upward. He thought he was reporting it to shirk responsibility, but instead, it could help Wang Yulou negotiate a deal with the Yuan Clan. As long as Wang Yulou and the Yuan Clan could reach a deal, wouldn't the final investigation results along this line of the Grotto Heaven Patrol Team still be decided by Ancestor Xianzhou?
But when detailing the rits and faults in this matter, Yulou and Wang Yaohai were joined at the hip. At that ti, it would be the loyal disciple of the Yuan Clan, Wang Yaohai, who relied on his connections within the patrol team to quell the risks of the investigation. Yulou would win, Wang Yaohai would win, and the patrol team captain wouldn't suffer a loss either.
The essence of this matter was that Yulou saw the anticipated benefits of the Yuan Clan's compromise, so he placed a heavy bet to mobilize the patrol team, stimulating the Zhuo Clan's desire to cause trouble using this opportunity, thereby forcing the Yuan Clan to compromise faster. Of course, this was the best outco. The next step actually had three potential directions.
If the Yuan Clan compromised, Wang Yulou and Wang Yaohai would win—but Yulou would win more.
If the Yuan Clan didn't compromise, Yulou could bleed a bit using the situation of the Zhuo Clan causing trouble, appropriately pulling the Zhuo Clan into the arena.
If the Zhuo Clan wanted to manipulate Yulou as a tool, then they wouldn't resolve it within the frawork of Dripdrop Cave, bringing the matter up to the level of the Immortal Alliance—which returned right back to Wang Xianzhou and Wu Jingyan.
In the end, it was because Yuan Daoshen was too arrogant, thinking ten alligator dragons would be enough to destroy the foundation of Yulou's developnt within Dripdrop Cave, yet failing to expect that the Wang Clan was on good terms with Wu Jingyan, and Wang Xianzhou had even been sent to Yulou's side to act as a Dao protector. When Wang Xianzhou held Wang Jingyi's Formless Sword Talisman and slashed that Great Demon alligator dragon in half, the initiative in this matter shifted over to Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou's side. Consequent to this, Yulou possessed his current room for maneuver.
——
However, the matters of the Yuan Clan weren't urgent for the ti being. Yulou's most pressing matter currently was to calculate with Ancestor Xianzhou how many spirit stones they could earn by relying on the Exchange Conference. The key point was whether the earned spirit stones could cover Yulou's cultivation requirents.
Currently, Wang Yulou's monthly cultivation consud resources worth roughly one thousand three hundred spirit stones, and this amount would continue to increase in the future as his cultivation base rose. This was the price of wanting to cultivate at lightning speed. Ordinary cultivators consud spiritual powder, and those who could afford proper spiritual pills were already wealthy.
Yulou was different; he only consud spiritual pills, and what he consud were customized spiritual pills of a special version with enhanced dicinal potency and shortened duration. Ordinary Qi Refining Pills could triple a consuming cultivator's cultivation speed, but the latest version of the customized Qi Refining Pills Yulou consud could already increase the speed by more than five tis. In addition, he had to consu a Resting Pill every day, saving an extra six hours of sleeping ti. Finally, all the secular affairs and miscellaneous tasks Wang Yulou had to handle were supported by his subordinates and two wives, completely eliminating unnecessary ti consumption. In this manner, he was able to maintain his cultivation at a speed that was at least ten or even eleven to twelve tis that of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator over the long term.
One must know that Uncle Rongyuan had consud plenty of ordinary spiritual pills back in the day, but that only amounted to a double or triple cultivation speed, which allowed him to use forty years to finish the hundred-year cultivation path of a dual spirit root Qi Refining cultivator who didn't consu spiritual pills. If Yulou could maintain a tenfold cultivation speed over the long term, it ant he truly stood a massive chance of reaching the tenth layer of Qi Refining within fifty years of age; even forty was not impossible!
"Not enough, it's still not enough. According to your design, the Exchange Conference is held once every half-month, rotating through different regions within Dripdrop Cave. Although this Exchange Conference allowed us to earn nearly one thousand five hundred spirit stones, the revenue from the first ti, second ti, and third ti in the sa region will absolutely not be the sa. A seventy percent drop might even be generous. Even if calculated with a seventy percent drop, after stabilizing, the monthly inco will be nine hundred stones at most, leaving a deficit of four hundred stones. In the future, when you reach the high stages of Qi Refining, this deficit will continue to expand."
Ancestor Xianzhou was an old fox. Facing a profit of nearly one thousand five hundred spirit stones, he actually calculated the exact sa answer as Yulou. However, Yulou was even more conservative; he calculated based on an eighty percent drop in profit. That is, if the Exchange Conference could be held over the long term, the monthly spirit stone inco would stabilize around six hundred spirit stones. Being able to earn so much the first ti it was held was due to releasing the consumption potential of the participants that had long been suppressed by the price scissors of the supply system. In the future, this potential would inevitably decline.
"The upper limit of the Exchange Conference is ultimately too low. Back when I was operating Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the monthly profit at its peak could even reach two thousand spirit stones."
In truth, Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Exchange Conference held no comparability. Hundred Treasures Pavilion was based in Clear Stream Market, facing all Qi Refining cultivators within a radius of several hundred li, and it also dealt in a wide variety of categories. Even if Clear Stream Market took a high cut of taxes, the upper limit of the revenue was still extrely high. The Exchange Conference's custor base itself was small in scale, and at the sa ti, the goods that Yulou and Ancestor Xianzhou could provide were quite limited. Being able to secure these profits was still the result of Yulou's extrely high success rate in artifact refining. Had his weapon crafting level been a bit worse, causing a couple more items to explode, where would any profit co from? He would have to thank the protection of the Ruyi Golden Radiance just to avoid losing money.
"Expanding the categories of goods can increase profitability. Yulou, I will draw more talismans over these next few days!"
Ancestor Xianzhou possessed great initiative, imdiately offering a suggestion.
"Ancestor, the current situation is that the purchasing power of the Dripdrop Cave disciples is insufficient. Even if we increase the types of goods, they won't be able to afford them. To put it bluntly, the reason the sect can exist is that while looking after the high-level cultivators, it leaves a surplus for the disciples who serve to lubricate the supply system. anwhile, the Exchange Conference operates precisely by building upon the surplus of these fellow disciples. If we sell more, others will sell less, and in the end, it won't be able to continue running. If we want to have enough spirit stones to cover my cultivation needs, we still need to consider how to maneuver Zhang Xuewu to another location to serve as a Town Guardian Cultivator."
Wang Xianzhou thought for a mont, then spoke solemnly, "Yulou, actually, I have always held a sum of spirit stones ant for purchasing longevity pills. Now, adding River Bend Fishing Port together with the Exchange Conference, you can have an annual inco of over ten thousand spirit stones. This annual sum of over ten thousand, combined with this sum of spirit stones of mine, should be completely sufficient for you to cultivate until before the Foundation Establishnt stage. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the issue of cultivation resources. You know how to hustle, and I didn't hustle any less back in the day. We have the capital!"
Hearing the ancestor's words, Yulou lowered his head and said, "Ancestor, allowing to use your life to cultivate just to strive for a vague and illusory so-called Purple Palace opportunity... Yulou cannot do it."
The old man opposite stepped forward, using his hands to pull Yulou's shoulders, causing this younger generation mber of the clan to straighten his back, and then said word by word, "It is not vague and illusory. Yulou, after Patriarch Mangxiang becos a Golden Core master, our Wang Family, as adherents of the Mangxiang Lineage, will grant Sister Jingyi a chance to open a Purple Palace, and you will also have a chance to open a Purple Palace!"
Silence. A long, drawn-out silence.
Looking at the look of absolute determination in the ancestor's eyes, Yulou asked in return, "At no ti should hope be placed upon outsiders—isn't this our Wang Clan's family precept? Furthermore, nearly twenty years have passed since Huang Qiusheng ascended to the position of Red Lantern Illumination Sect master, yet can the Patriarch truly achieve the Golden Core realm?"
Wang Xianzhou did not speak, a rare trace of confusion also present in his eyes. Yes, what if the Patriarch fails to beco a Golden Core master... However, very quickly, he beca resolute once more.
"It is where the Dao leads, Yulou. We do not have the ti to hesitate. I have already utterly lost the possibility of Foundation Establishnt. Even if my life is extended, it is rely lingering on for a few more years. Do not display the attitude of a young maiden. If you wish to walk further, you must steel your heart. Seeing grow old and near death, yet being unable to bear using my spirit stones—I truly dislike that. I, Wang Xianzhou, have enjoyed the protection of the Immortal Alliance for a lifeti, which can be considered elegant. Even if I die tomorrow, I will not harbor regrets, so what do you have to regret or hesitate about?"
'Wang Yulou, you have to be ruthless, steel your heart!' Wang Xianmao had once said such words to Yulou, and now, Wang Xianzhou had spoken the exact sa words to Yulou.
The two ancestors had given plenty of tenderness and protection to Yulou, yet they invariably reminded Yulou: child, you must be a bit more ruthless. Because the two had seen too many people and witnessed too much of the world, they could naturally see Yulou's issue.
As a traveler from another world, the thoughts of his previous life had left a deep imprint on Yulou, enabling him to achieve success in managent and helping him reach where he was today. But everything ca with a price. Those thoughts also subtly influenced Yulou, causing his wrist to slacken a bit in many situations where he should have been ruthless. How he handled Cui Dingyi was an example; at that ti, the ancestor had always wanted to kill him sooner, but Yulou had insisted on waiting a bit longer. Fortunately, the Stone Ancestor was a flat-lying demon; otherwise, how matters would have developed would be hard to say. Within the Wunan Cultivation World, grand cultivators wouldn't directly eat minor cultivators, but they exhausted every capability of exploitation, oppression, and calculation. In such an environnt, if one wasn't ruthless, how could one establish a foothold?
"Ancestor, am I still not doing enough now?" Yulou spoke with a bitter voice.
He believed that he had already done well enough. He had transford River Bend Fishing Port into Wang Yulou's fishing port. He had successfully established the Exchange Conference, carving out a market by himself. He had subdued Wang Yaohai, this Foundation Establishnt Seed, placing his first chess piece within Dripdrop Cave in the capacity of a player.
"Not enough! Far from enough! What truly tests a person isn't what he did or chose during ordinary tis, but rather his choices during critical monts. Yulou, your unwillingness to use the spirit stones I saved for longevity pills to cultivate touches deeply. But if you could calmly accept my arrangents, I, your ancestor, would be highly comforted and highly satisfied. You understand clearly—at the most critical mont, your hesitation will ruin everything. I won for a lifeti, yet I still walked onto a dead end in the end because I was wrong during that one critical choice. Cultivation is just like this: make a mistake once, a mistake at a critical juncture, and any remaining victories are useless. If you cannot steel your heart, you will never be able to beco a true grand cultivator."
Wang Yulou knew the ancestor was speaking the truth. The cultivation world had always possessed two sets of logic. The first set: All cultivators under the rule of the Immortal Alliance have a chance to beco Purple Palace or Golden Core masters. As long as they cultivate well, they might just achieve it at so point, so they must believe. The second set: All cultivators under the rule of the Immortal Alliance have a chance to beco the capital for the Purple Palace or Golden Core realms. As long as one does not beco a person seated at the table, one will consistently serve as a stepping stone, serving as that capital on the table for the grand cultivators' grand Dao. What the ancestor was teaching Yulou was precisely the latter.
"Ancestor, regarding the issue of the capital consud by my cultivation, there are actually other ways to resolve it. Among the compensation the Yuan Clan gives us, we can demand that the other party arrange for the eight clansn the family added for to enter the sect. In addition, Zhang Xuewu's identity as an Azurewater Palace disciple and his position as a Town Guardian Cultivator can be resolved altogether."
The ancestor was right, but Wang Yulou was still unwilling to use the ancestor's life to cultivate. He had already leeched off the ancestor for over three years; if he continued to leech without any regard like this, the ancestor would truly be leeched to death by him! Yulou's desperate grasping for power and full-scale pushing of the Exchange Conference carried another consideration: if these two went well and he possessed surplus spirit stones, he could help the ancestor live for a few more years.
Wang Xianzhou thought for a mont, ultimately refraining from continuing to lecture Wang Yulou on avoiding the problem; after all, this was a child of his own family. However, he brought up another matter instead.
"The thods for the capital issue aren't limited to these; there is also alliance through marriage. Your marriage with Lin Ying doesn't need to be delayed either. You originally gave three reasons for delay. The first was that after the Exchange Conference succeeded, it could raise our chips; now the Exchange Conference has succeeded. The second was that if the Exchange Conference failed, we could rely on the marriage alliance to push it along further; now there's no need to consider that. The third was to look after the thoughts of Little Fish and Little Qin, which is also simple: get engaged first, and select a date to marry in the future!"
"You, Wang Yulou, are slick and want to escape the topic of whether to be ruthless or not, so I, Wang Xianzhou, will follow your aning. Isn't it just a matter of capital? Since you don't want to rely on the elderly, then leech a bit off the marriage alliance family. Surely you have no reason to decline this, right?"
"This... Ancestor, Senior Martial Sister Lin might not necessarily agree!"
For soone like Lin Ying, she definitely harbored her own thoughts deep down. The Lin Family wanting a marriage alliance and Lin Ying wanting a marriage alliance were two entirely different things.
"Whether she agrees or not is unimportant. Aren't you going to attend the longevity feast of the Lin Family's Ancestor, Lin ngyao, in a couple of days? Perform well when the ti cos. Yulou, you know that a marriage alliance is a good thing. By marrying Little Qin and Little Fish, you can free up massive amounts of ti to cultivate. Once you marry Lin Ying, not only can you gain a reliable and powerful aid in the Lin Family within Dripdrop Cave, but you can also gain a Dao companion with imnse potential. Of course, if you can achieve Foundation Establishnt within the Immortal Alliance in the future, it won't matter even if you dump Lin Ying! At that ti, your marriage alliance target should be a Purple Palace family or a Golden Core family, hahaha."
Wang Yulou thought of周映曦 instead. Although Perfected Man Fujiao was half-dead, he was still a Purple Palace master after all, and one who was active outside over the long term. However, the Zhou Family was ultimately at odds with the Mangxiang Lineage, and the condition for the marriage alliance was also to treat Wang Yulou as a cultivation vessel...
"Ancestor can rest assured. Yulou will naturally perform well the day after tomorrow. It's just that whether it can succeed doesn't lie with Yulou, but with Senior Martial Sister Lin."
"I see that she won't be a problem. You are currently at the fourth layer in four years, with a boundless future. If she misses out on such a Dao companion, it will be difficult to find another one. When Jingyi-jie looked for a Dao companion back then, the one she found was simply too diocre, ultimately failing to even achieve Foundation Establishnt and dying during the breakthrough stage. Lin Ying is good precisely because her probability of Foundation Establishnt is very high. Counting her, your Yu generation will be able to possess at least three Foundation Establishnt cultivators in the future."
"Three? How did you calculate that?" Yulou asked curiously.
"No matter how much of a tool Wang Yuming and Wang Yu'an are, at least one of them can succeed, right?"
Wang Xianzhou originally quite liked Wang Yuming, but after spending a long ti with Yulou, Wang Yuming had also degenerated into the category of a tool in his heart.
"Big Brother Yuming shouldn't have any issues. As for Yu'an... Ancestor, once the matter of the Yuan Clan is settled, could you go to Hidden Dragon Abbey to check on him on Yulou's behalf?"
Yu'an belonged to the category of Wang Yulou's most important future assistants, possibly without exception. Furthermore, the relationship between the two was exceptionally good, so Yulou was naturally worried about his state within Hidden Dragon Abbey.
"A small matter. It's just unknown whether the Yuan Clan will comply," Ancestor Xianzhou said worriedly.
Wang Yulou placed the entry of the eight clansn into Dripdrop Cave and the arrangent of Zhang Xuewu's position entirely upon the Yuan Clan's yielding, which was actually a gamble. The ancestor knew how unique a large family like the Yuan Clan was; bowing their heads, to them, wasn't rely a matter of interest. If it were just a matter of paying money, the Yuan Clan could have bowed their heads long ago. To Yuan Daoshen, bowing his head was even more related to the morale of his faction and alignnt—that was what was most important.
"Man proposes, God disposes. If it doesn't work, we can still go up to the Immortal Alliance!"
Wang Yulou was full of confidence instead. Currently placed before them were only options of winning moderately, winning greatly, or winning exceptionally. You ask where winning small was? There was no winning small; once those iron alligator dragon materials were dismantled, it would directly start from a moderate win!
——
Two days later, Yulou brought along the longevity gift the ancestor had helped him prepare, boarded the flying boat, and went straight up toward Dripdrop Heaven. The Foundation Establishnt cultivators of Dripdrop Cave all belonged to Dripdrop Heaven. Under normal circumstances, their residences were also outside Dripdrop Heaven, looking like immortal palaces floating amidst the clouds. Of course, there was a gap between Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and their residences were no exception.
The Lin Family's grand residence, compared to the Zhuo Family's grand residence that Yulou had seen, was clearly a tier lower. But by comparison, the Lin Family's grand residence could at least rank near the front among the nurous Foundation Establishnt residences of Dripdrop Heaven; after all, Fellow Daoist Lin Ying's family possessed two Foundation Establishnt cultivators, otherwise Ancestor Jingyi wouldn't have listed the Lin Family among the choices for Yulou's marriage alliance.
Today being the day of Ancestor ngyao's grand longevity feast, although it wasn't a crowded scene of carriages and horses outside the Lin Family's residence, people still arrived from ti to ti. Yulou encountered a few fellow disciples outside the gate who had participated in the Exchange Conference. After a few casual words, they entered the Lin residence together.
"Junior Brother Yulou, over here!"
Just after entering the gate, Yulou heard Senior Martial Sister Lin's familiar voice. Following the sound, he looked over and saw Lin Ying standing behind the guardrail of the corridor on the second floor of the front courtyard's side building, looking toward the direction of the main gate from the side.
This girl had changed into a set of erald-colored dharma robes today, and she even wore a flower wreath woven from small pink and blue flowers on her head. Beautiful as always, still possessing that flavor of immortal grace and jade quality, with eyes that flashed with spirit. Simply by standing there, she could transmit a sense of familiarity through her gaze and movents, allowing Yulou to feel a rushing warmth.
"Haha, Junior Brother Yulou, we won't delay you further. See you in a bit."
The few people who had entered the gate together with Yulou tactfully departed. Lin Ying then lifted her skirt and quickly descended from the second floor of the side building, running in a light jog right up to Yulou.
"Why did you only arrive now?"
Lin Ying, who had just jogged all the way, panted slightly, her words carrying a trace of coquettish anger. It was back, it was back; the familiar feeling was back, along with the scent of danger. Lin Ying was no young maiden; this person appeared to be around twenty years old with a youthful and beautiful appearance, but judging by her cultivation base, she was at least over forty-five years old.
After smoothly stepping back half a pace without showing it, Yulou said, "I kept Senior Martial Sister waiting. The palaces of Dripdrop Heaven are too complex; I had to recognize the path for a long ti before finding this place."
"Co, Ancestor ngyao has been waiting for you for a long ti, saying he wants to see you first."
Lin Ying reached for Yulou's arm, acting as if it were only natural, wanting to lead Yulou into the depths of the Lin residence. After smoothly dodging her hand, Wang Yulou said, "Senior Martial Sister, why does the ancestor want to see first?"
How laughable. With Ancestor Xianzhou's special training once a week, dodging you isn't just like a ga?
Taking a glance at Yulou who had dodged her pull, Lin Ying smiled and said, "By killing six of the Yuan Family's alligator dragons, you have already beco famous throughout Dripdrop Cave for the second ti. Wang Yulou, don't tell you don't know it yourself."
"I really didn't know. And why is it the second ti?" Wang Yulou played dumb, shooting the breeze with Lin Ying.
"Stop pretending. The first ti was when you took a concubine. Just tell Senior Martial Sister the truth, Junior Brother Yulou: are you the kind of male cultivator who particularly likes female cultivators?"
She had already thoroughly recovered from the control of her traumatic flashbacks, returning to her previous state as a social达人.
"Who spread such a rumor? I want to report this to Sect Master Qu; soone is defaming !"
The two bickered all the way, arriving outside the entrance of Ancestor ngyao's cultivation residence. Inside the door was a lotus pond, and subrged within the pond was a stone platform half-soaked in water. Lin ngyao was currently sitting cross-legged on the platform, breathing and exhaling. Sensing that Lin Ying and Yulou had arrived, he opened his eyes.
This Lin Family ancestor's eyes bore a faint white glow. When he looked toward Yulou, Yulou only felt his entire body itch. Only then did he understand why Lin ngyao's three-hundred-year longevity feast had to be celebrated on such a grand scale. This ancestor of the Lin Family had already taken a step forward, becoming a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator who possessed a divine ability!
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