Droplet Heaven Palace stood deep within the Immortal Venerable's estate, looming like the guardian deity of this entire immortal realm. Inside the grand hall, the beams were intricately carved and the pillars beautifully painted, creating a scene of magnificent splendor. Yet, the crisp chiming of a sounding stone lent the space a serene, solemn atmosphere. With every strike, the chi seed to echo in the depths of one's soul, its reverberations rippling slowly through the hall, accompanied by the drifting tendrils of faint incense smoke.
The hall was deep, and though the distance between them was considerable, Yulou still felt an inexplicable pressure radiating from Gong Tieyan, who sat directly before the manifestation of the Immortal Venerable. Back at River Bend Fishing Port, Qin Churan and Bai Xiaoyu represented Wang Yulou; they were the extensions of his authority over the faction he had built. Correspondingly, Gong Tieyan, a mber of the direct lineage of True Person Jiusheng's clan, could be viewed as the extension of Jiusheng's authority and his personal representative.
Gong Tieyan remained motionless. Under the guidance of Zhuo Yinsheng, Yulou took a seat right beside him.
The crisp chiming of the sounding stone echoed further and further away. It swept through the grand hall and drifted across every Foundation Establishnt elder's residence outside the Immortal Venerable's estate. The elders of Dripdrop Cave, whether they were in the middle of cultivation or busy with tasks at hand, all turned their gazes toward the grand hall. Those who could attend departed imdiately, rushing to Droplet Heaven Palace at their fastest speed. Those who could not make it hurriedly dispatched their disciples with ssages to explain their absence.
Soon after, the chiming penetrated the boundaries of Droplet Heaven itself, drifting down from the clouds and echoing across the entire Droplet Cave Heaven. The remaining Dripdrop Cave elders, scattered across various locations within the grotto-heaven for their activities and cultivation, all flew toward Droplet Heaven Palace.
When Wang Xianzhou heard the chi, he initially thought nothing of it. However, realizing it was already evening and Yulou had not yet returned from Lin ngyao's birthday banquet, a sudden suspicion flared in his mind. He pondered for a mont, then mounted his Crimson Sparrow and flew toward Droplet Heaven Palace as well. It was always better to be safe than sorry.
The Great Demon Stone Ancestor also heard the familiar chi. Having lived in Dripdrop Cave for well over a thousand years, it knew this sound all too well. Whenever the sounding stone chid like this, it ant a major event was unfolding within Dripdrop Cave. However, it glanced at the solemn and majestic grand cultivator before it, ultimately pulled its neck back, hid its head inside its turtle shell, and continued to play the part of a well-behaved pet.
——
Inside Droplet Heaven Palace, Yulou spotted Wu Jinyan quietly hiding at the edge of the crowd. Old Wu, on the other hand, felt a surge of panic when he saw Wang Yulou actually sitting next to Zhuo Yinsheng. Could it be that the matter regarding the Yuan Clan had been exposed? Has it really co to the point where they must call upon a True Person to distinguish the loyal from the treacherous?
Old Wu was truly terrified. He was just an outsider, a helpless bystander who had been forced to pick a side under Wang Xianzhou's threats back then. If the True Person finished discerning the truth later and branded Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou as traitors, he, Wu Jinyan, would suffer terribly alongside them.
So might wonder why Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou could possibly be branded as traitors when it was clearly Yuan Daoshen who was ruthless, unscrupulous, and had tried to destroy Wang Yulou's foundation in Dripdrop Cave using ten iron crocodile dragons. Everyone knew the truth in their hearts, so why was there still a risk?
In reality, the issue was simple. Internal struggles rarely followed the rules strictly. The so-called rules, regulations, and laws were created to restrict the commoners, the weak, and the expendable. They were never ant to bind the creators of those rules. The sect rules of Dripdrop Cave were complex and nurous, but they restricted the Qi Condensation disciples and low-level Qi Induction cultivators, not the Foundation Establishnt elders who ford the backbone of the sect, and certainly not the True Persons who held the real authority. Under these circumstances, since True Person Gong Jiusheng's lineage happened to be extrely powerful, they had a very good chance of turning Wang Yulou into a traitor.
The Foundation Establishnt elders of Dripdrop Cave belonged to Droplet Heaven. The standard ceremonial robes provided to them by the sect featured a light blue base adorned with green-gold embroidery detailing the general landscape of Droplet Cave Heaven. The robe was officially nad the Auspicious Water of Heaven, commonly referred to as the Auspicious Water Robe.
As elders clad in Auspicious Water Robes entered Droplet Heaven Palace one after another, the internal division within the grand hall gradually beca clear. Yulou noticed that the elders of the sect were sharply divided into three distinct groups.
The manifestation of the Immortal Venerable lood above, while the center of the hall directly before it remained completely empty. On one side of this central space sat thirty-seven people, spearheaded by Yuan Daoshen. On the opposite side—the side where Yulou sat—Zhuo Yinsheng led a total of thirty-three people, not counting Yulou himself. In total, that made seventy individuals. Among these seventy, over twenty were seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators who possessed divine abilities. It could be said that this group encompassed the true core figures of Dripdrop Cave. Naturally, Lin ngyao, the ancestor of Yulou's future Dao companion Lin Ying, was also among them. From this perspective, Yulou had smoothly integrated into the core circle of Dripdrop Cave.
The remaining sixty-six elders were standing. Yes, they were standing, facing the Immortal Venerable with their backs to the entrance of the hall. They belonged to the peripheral elders whom neither of the two major factions cared to win over, and Wu Jinyan was among them. The protection of a Purple Palace True Person was limited; not just anyone was qualified to catch a True Person's eye.
Originally, Lin ngyao wouldn't have had the right to sit beside Zhuo Yinsheng. In past etings, he would have been standing among that crowd of peripheral elders. But now that he had beco a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator, he had effectively stepped into the upper echelons of Dripdrop Cave, so things were naturally different. Dripdrop Cave had over two hundred Foundation Establishnt experts, and one hundred and thirty-five were present today. It could be said that almost everyone currently inside the grotto-heaven had arrived. Those who did not attend were mostly away executing missions outside the grotto-heaven after receiving decrees from the sect or the Immortal Alliance.
"Almost everyone is here. Junior Brother Tieyan, shall we begin?" Sect Master Qu Yunjian spoke up. Looking at his calm and composed deanor, he seed entirely certain that the Yuan Clan held victory firmly in their grasp this ti as well.
"Not everyone has arrived yet. Let us wait a bit longer!" Zhuo Yinsheng countered with dissatisfaction. He was waiting for Wang Xianzhou!
Wang Yulou was highly perceptive, but he was far too young. Zhuo Yinsheng did not dare let Wang Yulou lead a reckless, self-sacrificing charge, and Wu Jinyan, who only wished to avoid troubled waters, was even less reliable. Therefore, they had to wait for Wang Xianzhou. Zhuo Yinsheng believed that with Wang Xianzhou's experience, he would make his way over as quickly as possible. Of course, he had also sent soone to contact Wang Xianzhou. Even if the old ancestor failed to realize sothing was amiss imdiately, it would not delay the main event. As soon as Wang Xianzhou arrived, given his age and unique status, there would be so much he could do and say. Under such circumstances, Old Yuan would inevitably lose any chance of winning. Once things reached that stage, the faction represented by the Zhuo Family could at least guarantee a draw in today's confrontation, which would be more than enough.
"There is no need to wait!"
Gong Tieyan rose from his cushion. As his body moved slightly, countless flakes of dead skin drifted down, scattering into the air before being drawn back and collected by a small spiritual artifact token hanging from his waist. Yulou noticed that Elder Gong Tieyan's skin resembled a parched earth, covered in countless fine, dense cracks upon closer inspection. In Dripdrop Cave, where water thods were primarily cultivated, the direct descendant of True Person Jiusheng's family was actually a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator specializing in earth thods. This struck him as quite intriguing. With this thought, Yulou's vigilance against Yuan Daoshen intensified yet again. Yuan Daoshen's strength surpassed even Wang Jingyi's, yet he showed no signs of being unable to contain the power of his divine abilities. Thinking deeply about it was truly frightening.
Without giving Zhuo Yinsheng a chance to interject further, Gong Tieyan looked toward Yulou and spoke. "Wang Yulou, I have heard of your na." The voice of this representative of True Person Jiusheng was grand and resonant, carrying the deep, echoing cadence of a great bell.
"With Elder Tieyan right before you, Wang Yulou, why have you not stood up to pay your respects?" Just as Yulou was slightly taken aback, a Foundation Establishnt cultivator from the Yuan Clan suddenly spoke up to initiate an attack. Junior, you have no right to sit here! It seed crude, but this was the norm in such struggles. Humiliation, pressure, intimidation—their tactics amounted to nothing more than this.
Yulou understood the significance of Gong Tieyan's presence here. Although he was confident that he could not be convicted of the absurd charge of a fourth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator plotting against the number one Foundation Establishnt expert of Dripdrop Cave, he did not dare to act arrogantly before the representative of True Person Jiusheng. Just as he was about to stand up, Gong Tieyan cast a stern gaze toward the Yuan Clan cultivator who had spoken. "Shut your mouth!"
The mont those words left his mouth, the atmosphere within Droplet Heaven Palace shifted instantly. Yuan Daoshen's facial expression nearly crumbled entirely, and his eyes briefly lost their focus. He realized that Gong Tieyan's sudden appearance without his prompting might not be an accident, nor was he here to help him. Wang Yulou was also sowhat bewildered. The current situation was equivalent to the opponent's strongest champion suddenly switching sides and revealing himself to be an insider right as the battle began. Heaven be his witness, in order to win this first internal battle after entering the ga, Yulou had just prepared at least four different strategies and argunts in his mind. Now that Gong Tieyan was leading the betrayal, it seed none of them would be needed.
While Yulou, Zhuo Yinsheng, and the others were left scratching their heads, Elder Zhuo Chi finally entered the hall, arriving late. The atmosphere inside the hall was tense, but his arrival broke the rigidity. Unaware of the situation, Zhuo Chi quickly made his way over to sit next to Zhuo Yinsheng and even blinked at Yulou. However, Gong Tieyan's very next words made his eyes freeze instantly.
"Yulou, you have been wronged. Truly wronged."
What is going on? Zhuo Chi simply could not fathom what kind of world-shaking change he had missed. Qu Yunjian lowered his head, his thoughts unreadable, while Yuan Daoshen's face turned ashen. On the other hand, Zhuo Yinsheng let out a bright, joyous laugh. True Person Jiusheng was dissatisfied with the Yuan Clan's actions and had sent soone to thoroughly clean up their ss!
"Elder Tieyan, being able to contribute to the sect is Yulou's honor. The sect provided Yulou with the thods of cultivation and gave Yulou a platform to demonstrate his abilities. Every achievent Yulou has made today is the result of the sect's nurturing. Toward the sect, toward the True Persons of our order, and toward every single selfless elder in this hall, Yulou feels nothing but gratitude, appreciation, and boundless reverence. Yulou firmly believes that no matter what happens, the sect will never mistreat any disciple who pours out diligent sweat, sheds blood in fierce battle, or weeps tears of sorrow for the sect's sake. Yulou firmly believes that as long as Yulou strives for the grand perspective, unity, and prosperity of the sect, the sect will absolutely not allow to suffer any injustice. Therefore, Yulou does not feel wronged."
I submit to True Person Jiusheng's governance. But at the sa ti, I want my due return, because Old Yuan has crossed the line! If the sect does not wrong , then I am not wronged, and I will continue to strive for the grand perspective, unity, and prosperity of the sect!
Wang Yulou did not know why Gong Tieyan was helping him, but he was certain that Gong Tieyan's words before more than a hundred Foundation Establishnt elders of Dripdrop Cave could not possibly be a re act. Elder Tieyan represented the face of True Person Jiusheng. To act dishonorably would make Gong Jiusheng look like a complete fool—putting on an act just to deal with a re Qi Condensation disciple, how could that not be foolish? Seeing Gong Tieyan backstab the Yuan Clan, Wang Yulou did not hesitate to state his price. What was there to fear? He was not afraid at all!
You, Gong Tieyan, are under the tutelage of True Person Jiusheng, but I, Wang Yulou, am also under the tutelage of True Person Mangxiang. The favor of the ancestor is not easily invoked, but the Wang Clan has already been following the ancestor for one thousand two hundred years. We are all cultivators within the Red Lantern Illumination system. Now that the Yuan Clan insults so, even if I use the ancestor as a bargaining chip today, the ancestor will not take it to heart! Patriarch Mangxiang, Xuanzhuan, and Danri—the Mangxiang lineage has three True Persons, while Dripdrop Cave has only three True Persons in total!
In a strategic ga, strength and weakness were often blurred concepts. Yulou's cultivation base was not high, but at this mont, as he firmly and politely stated his demands, not a single one of the nurous Foundation Establishnt elders present dared to look down on him anymore. Wang Yulou was incredibly bold in his demands, daring to na his price right in front of Gong Tieyan. This hungry, tiger-like posture of seizing an opportunity was sothing no intelligent person would underestimate. Those who dared to underestimate Yulou were either resounding fools like Yuan Wu, or stubborn people putting on a false show of bravado. There was no third possibility.
"Yulou, you are quite the clever fox. Listening to your words... sweat, blood, and tears. What, do you hold a great deal of resentnt against the sect?" Zhuo Yinsheng was montarily stunned. This wretched fellow Gong Tieyan had shifted his stance yet again! Just a mont ago, he was backstabbing Yuan Daoshen, and now he was starting to pressure Wang Yulou. What was the aning of this?
Just as Yulou was about to answer, a voice drifted in from the distance, drawing closer with every word, though it was filled with deep anger. "Oh? Who holds a great deal of resentnt against the sect?"
Yulou could not voice the rest of his words, because he noticed that everyone, regardless of their faction, was currently bowing respectfully to greet the newcor. Yulou hurriedly followed suit. While the remnants of the voice still echoed within the deep hall, a speck of red light shot into the room, landing upon the seashell held in the hands of the Immortal Venerable's manifestation.
"Very well. I heard the sounding stone, so I ca to take a look. Who did you all say holds a great deal of resentnt against the sect?"
The newcor was a semi-transparent young girl who appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. She wore a crimson ceremonial robe, and her skin was as fair and flawless as jade. Though her eyes were filled with an imnse, unfathomable depth, her expression was lively and animated. Her completely semi-transparent nature left Yulou sowhat dazed, but Zhuo Yinsheng's words quickly dragged him back to reality.
"Master, a disciple of Azurewater Palace nad Wang Yulou, who hails from the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom, actually attempted to murder our Dripdrop Cave's number one Foundation Establishnt expert, Yuan Daoshen, right outside Droplet Heaven Palace. We are currently presiding over this case!" Old Zhuo was highly skilled. This was another lightning-fast delivery of a weapon, and he had explicitly highlighted Yulou's background.
Perfected Man Hongli might not imdiately know that the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom belonged to the Mangxiang lineage, but with Zhuo Yinsheng bringing it up like this, she naturally understood that this Wang Yulou possessed a powerful backing. Knowing that it was Perfected Man Hongli before him, Yulou finally understood why he had been dazed just now. The feeling Perfected Man Hongli gave him was remarkably similar to Danri. For so reason, both of these True Persons maintained the appearance of young girls. However, True Person Danri looked like a small, chubby girl, whereas Perfected Man Hongli was different. She could be described as entirely flawless, with jade-like skin and icy bones. Despite her youthful appearance, she already possessed an unmatched, transcendent grace. Naturally, Yulou only dared to keep such comparisons to himself and would absolutely never speak of them to others. True Person Danri was wonderful—giving, moving, and appreciative. Yulou respected her deeply.
"Good, good, good. Little Yuan, you have truly made a lot of progress over the years. You are living younger and younger, even managing to get along so well with an Azurewater Palace disciple. Hahaha, interesting, truly interesting." Perfected Man Hongli's pair of red lips was truly extraordinary; not only did she look beautiful, but her words were even more delightful to hear.
Made a lot of progress. Living younger and younger. Get along so well with an Azurewater Palace disciple.
Though there was not a single vulgar word and her phrasing was impeccably polite, it made Yulou feel incredibly satisfied. Back at the Yuan estate, he had been bullied by Yuan Daoshen, and outside Droplet Heaven Palace, Qu Yunjian had repeatedly shown blatant bias against him. These two wretched fellows truly lacked the dignity expected of seniors. Gong Tieyan was even more bizarre, first backstabbing Old Yuan and then pressuring him, his attitude entirely unpredictable. Yulou had been completely unable to read him. But now that Perfected Man Hongli had arrived, justice would finally be served for Yulou!
"Back when I was still a little demon, I would always walk around any Great Demon I encountered. Wang Yulou, you actually possess such strength and courage. Truly remarkable. Co, tell how exactly you went about plotting against our Droplet Heaven's number one Foundation Establishnt expert. Tell every single detail!" Perfected Man Hongli was a Demon General, which was equivalent to the Purple Palace realm. Like Whitebeard General of Hidden Dragon Abbey and Tianshe of the Sky Serpent Sect, she held the status of a True Person within the sect despite her demonic origin.
"True Person, I..." Yuan Daoshen wanted to argue that it was all a misconception, but Hongli cut him off.
"Let Wang Yulou speak first. Little Yuan, rest assured, with here, Wang Yulou cannot harm you!" As expected of a True Person, truly a True Person. Yet another critical strike.
With here, Wang Yulou cannot harm you. Was this protection? No, this was humiliation—repeated, high-intensity, and thoroughly delightful humiliation. I, Hongli, might not be able to handle Gong Jiusheng, but do you think I can't discipline you, Yuan Daoshen? Furthermore, Gong Jiusheng cannot co right now. You probably don't know that, do you?
"True Person, Yulou ca to attend Elder ngyao's banquet... I was summoned... A massive hand of spiritual energy was thrust toward , and I was terrified out of my wits at the ti. Elder Daoshen is the number one Foundation Establishnt expert of Dripdrop Cave, and he harbors an inexplicable aversion toward . In my sheer terror, Yulou hurriedly activated the Formless Sword Talisman gifted to by Ancestor Jingyi, a true disciple of our clan within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, which is valued at fifty thousand spirit stones, all just to protect myself. Consequently, Elder Daoshen claid that I intended to murder him and asserted that a re disciple offending a senior is a heinous cri that disrupts the order of the sect. Ancestor Jingyi only bestowed two of these Sword Talismans, which are worth at least fifty thousand spirit stones each. One was used to repel the attack of the iron crocodile dragons, and the other was used to... Forget it. Sect Master Qu ntioned that the unity of the sect is of greater importance. Yulou pleads guilty. I only hope that after the sect grinds Yulou's bones to ashes, my remains can be returned to the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom. Yulou wishes to be buried on Wang Family Mountain."
Yulou wept as he spoke, ultimately appearing to accept his fate as he voluntarily offered to receive his punishnt. There were three key points in his speech: two talismans worth fifty thousand spirit stones each had been consud, Yuan Daoshen had falsely accused him, and Qu Yunjian had joined forces to bully him. True Person, I have handed you three weapons. You may choose whichever one you like to exact justice. Of course, it would be even better if you chose them all.
Yuan Daoshen's eyes turned bloodshot, and he ground his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. You truly know how to put on an act! Wang Yulou, you truly know how to put on a spectacular act! In truth, this could be considered poetic justice. Yuan Daoshen had bullied Wang Yulou like that before, and now that Wang Yulou was biting back, he had absolutely no right to bla him. However, Perfected Man Hongli's focus was entirely different from what anyone—yes, anyone—expected.
"Are you saying that you are about to beco Dao companions with a girl from the Lin Family?" Perfected Man Hongli asked.
Wang Yulou was so startled that he forgot to keep crying, accidentally blowing a snot bubble instead, looking incredibly ridiculous. Ah? True Person? You... Well, I suppose elders are just like this, Wang Yulou tried to rationalize.
"Yes. I just never expected that before I could wed Senior Martial Sister Lin, Yulou would force her into early widowhood. It is all because Yulou was too reckless and should not have used a Sword Talisman worth fifty thousand spirit stones to resist Elder Yuan's capture." True Person, you don't have to use those two weapons, but the sect must at least reimburse for the talismans I used! Otherwise, I would truly be suffering too much injustice!
The current situation was far too complex, and Yulou did not dare bring up the matter of the iron crocodile dragons out of fear that the consequences would spiral out of control. Therefore, he settled for the next best thing: getting reimbursed for the Sword Talismans.
"I recall that you took two concubines not long ago, and now you are marrying another Dao companion. When immortal cultivators practice the Dao, they must place their cultivation base above all else. You must not indulge yourself in female charms. Do you understand?" However, Perfected Man Hongli acted as though she had completely missed the underlying aning of Yulou's words and continued her lecture.
"Yulou understands, I understand completely. In the future, I will never marry another Dao companion again. If I have spirit stones, I will spend them all on my cultivation to raise my cultivation base as quickly as possible!" Wang Yulou emphasized the spirit stones for the third ti. It could be said that among the present Foundation Establishnt elders, anyone who possessed a brain and was still breathing understood exactly what he ant. This was not Yulou forcing the True Person to take a stance; after all, his request was entirely reasonable and completely justified. The Yuan Clan had first dispatched iron crocodile dragons to attack River Bend Fishing Port in an attempt to destroy the foundation of Yulou's developnt in Dripdrop Cave, and then they had forced Wang Yulou to use a Sword Talisman to protect himself. They had truly bullied him far too much. Everyone understood this, and the True Person naturally understood it as well.
"Hahaha, very well, there is no need to keep emphasizing the fifty thousand spirit stones for each Sword Talisman. Two of them equal one hundred thousand spirit stones; I can calculate that perfectly fine. Little Yuan, since you all have made such a ss, I doubt Fellow Daoist Jiusheng would show any bias toward you even if he were here. It is rely one hundred thousand spirit stones. Pay it and be done with it." There were many things that Wang Yulou or Zhuo Yinsheng did not dare to state openly, but a True Person could speak of them without reservation. Perfected Man Hongli's aning was crystal clear: everyone was well aware of the Yuan Clan raising iron crocodile dragons. They simply needed to pay the compensation, as acting shalessly would achieve nothing. The number one Foundation Establishnt expert of Dripdrop Cave could not possibly be killed by a Qi Condensation cultivator, even if Wang Yulou used a talisman bestowed by Xuanzhuan. Trying to fra Wang Yulou with this charge was completely untenable. With that, Hongli looked back at Yulou and spoke in a warm tone.
"After Little Yuan hands over the one hundred thousand spirit stones to you, do not put yourself in danger again. Your cultivation base is low. In the event that Little Yuan loses his mind and suddenly murders you, it would be too late even if you wanted to co to for justice. Even if I were to execute Little Yuan to avenge you, you would not be able to co back to life."
In the event that Little Yuan suddenly murders you. Even if I were to execute Little Yuan to avenge you. Little Yuan could only look toward Gong Tieyan with a resentful expression. Old Gong, say sothing! Old Gong, why aren't you saying anything? Old Gong, speak! However, Old Gong simply kept his head lowered in silence, not uttering a single word.
"Little Yuan, do you find one hundred thousand spirit stones to be too much? If so, we can reduce it slightly. Ninety-nine thousand eight hundred is also acceptable," Hongli asked.
It seed the debt of gratitude to Perfected Man Hongli was becoming impossible to repay. Yulou felt a bit troubled. The Wang Clan already had three True Persons backing them, and now he had connected with another one, bringing the total to four. Attending to four of them was quite a handful. It could be said that this was a blissful kind of trouble.
"Daoshen respectfully obeys the True Person's decree!" Yuan Daoshen felt an imnse wave of regret. Because of his status as a faction leader, he could not easily lower his head, which was why he had utilized extre pressure tactics to force Wang Yulou to accept his conditions. But Wang Yulou was far too young; he had never imagined that Wang Yulou would actually choose a mutual destruction option with him. The situation had escalated continuously, and now that Perfected Man Hongli had stepped forward to rectify the situation, the dignity of the Yuan Clan and his reputation as a faction leader were completely shattered. Had he known it would turn out like this, he would have preferred to negotiate with Wang Yulou privately. Perhaps they could have settled the matter for seventy or eighty thousand spirit stones.
"Very well, you all may dismiss. Yulou, you stay—"
After entering the fray to favor Yulou and swiftly resolving his trouble, Hongli proceeded to dismiss the crowd, seemingly intending to have a private conversation with Yulou. Just as Yulou was filled with confusion, a familiar voice echoed out, though it was brimming with rage.
"Yuan Daoshen, you old scoundrel! You have gone too far!"
Wang Xianzhou had arrived. Though he was late, the old ancestor's devotion to protecting Yulou remained unchanged. He had learned from the disciple sent by Zhuo Yinsheng that Yulou had drawn his weapon against Yuan Daoshen inside Droplet Heaven, and he instantly understood that Old Yuan must have pushed Yulou into a corner. With Wang Yulou's deep and calculating character, he would never choose to expose his conflict with the Yuan Clan in such a fierce manner unless he had absolutely no other choice. Therefore, he had rushed into the Droplet Heaven grand hall with such an aggressive attitude. His goal was to escalate the situation further. They could not afford to fight the Yuan Clan alongside the Zhuo Family within the boundaries of Droplet Heaven; they needed to raise this to the level of the Immortal Alliance.
Wang Xianzhou had connections within the Immortal Alliance! Those few life-and-death companions of his might not be giants within the Immortal Alliance, but they could be considered core mbers of the new generation. As long as Wang Xianzhou lowered his pride to beg for their assistance, Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou, who held the moral high ground, would certainly not lose. Fighting the Yuan Clan within Dripdrop Cave might result in a loss, but fighting them within the Immortal Alliance guaranteed they would at least achieve a draw—and there was a significant chance of winning. As for resolving the matter at the level of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, that was far too risky. Qu Yunjian's threat served as a pri example, and Wang Yulou and Wang Xianzhou had placed that option at the very bottom of their list from the beginning.
It could be said that whether it was Wang Yulou's fierce defiance in drawing his sword against Yuan Daoshen or Wang Xianzhou's current furious cursing, both were rational decisions made after careful consideration, not reckless actions driven by blind impulse. For instance, when Wang Yulou attacked Yuan Daoshen, he only ntioned that Yuan Daoshen had falsely accused him of 'a fourth-layer Qi Condensation disciple attempting to murder the number one Foundation Establishnt expert of Dripdrop Cave.' He completely avoided ntioning the iron crocodile dragons attacking River Bend Port, and the only ti he referenced them was to emphasize the Sword Talisman consud during that defense. Similarly, Wang Xianzhou openly cursed Yuan Daoshen as an old scoundrel the mont he spoke. Though it appeared dangerous and reckless, the old ancestor held the status of an Alliance Envoy of Dripdrop Cave under the jurisdiction of Wu Jinyan, the supervising deacon—he was not part of the sa system as Yuan Daoshen. The actions of the grandfather and grandson were entirely aid at securing the benefits they deserved, nothing more. Old Yuan's extre pressure tactics were also ant to preserve his dignity as a faction leader and the number one Foundation Establishnt expert of Dripdrop Cave. This type of conflict born from competing interests was essentially irreconcilable, representing an inevitable hurdle as Yulou developed to a certain stage. Thus, making the conflict public beca their best course of action.
'Old Ancestor, Perfected Man Hongli intervened and has already resolved the matter. The Yuan Clan will compensate us with one hundred thousand spirit stones.'
Wang Yulou sent a transmission. Everyone present was a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, so they naturally noticed that he was communicating with Wang Xianzhou via transmission. Yuan Daoshen kept his head lowered, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh. Wang Yulou, have you forgotten the upright principle of avoiding transmissions taught by Patriarch Mangxiang? The old scoundrel had suffered a massive loss and completely lost face, yet he completely disregarded the facts, only wanting to deceive himself and find an excuse that he had lost not because he was too wicked, but because Yulou was too cunning.
"Wang Xianzhou, an Alliance Envoy of Dripdrop Cave, pays respects to the True Person. Just now, Xianzhou spoke out of turn!" The old ancestor had arrived with the determination to fight to the bitter end against Yuan Daoshen, but he never expected Perfected Man Hongli to actually uphold justice for Yulou. He hurriedly knelt before the manifestation of the Immortal Venerable.
However, Perfected Man Hongli's next words left everyone stunned. "Rise. Co closer and let examine the injuries on your body."
This was no ordinary favor; it was an extraordinary display of grace. This was certainly not directed at Wang Yulou or Wang Xianzhou, but rather out of respect for Patriarch Mangxiang. So, is Patriarch Mangxiang truly about to achieve Golden Core? Including Yulou, everyone felt their hearts sink with uncertainty. The elders departed with heavy thoughts, leaving only Yulou and the old ancestor in the hall.
Hongli flew down from the seashell, landing right in front of Wang Xianzhou. Wang Xianzhou hurriedly knelt, but Hongli shook her head and placed her hand against his forehead. After a brief mont, she inquired, "Indeed. Has a Purple Palace expert already examined you before?"
"True Person Xuanzhuan once stated that Xianzhou's Dao foundation is shattered, and there is no longer any possibility of achieving Foundation Establishnt."
Hongli nodded and spoke. "Senior Brother Xuanzhuan spoke the truth. Go on now. I wish to speak with Wang Yulou alone." Wang Xianzhou kowtowed three more tis before departing with a perfectly calm expression.
Unsure of why the True Person wanted to keep him behind for a conversation, Yulou felt a sense of anticipation, but even more so, apprehension. Every Purple Palace expert was a long-lived being separated from Foundation Establishnt by an imnse chasm, capable of living for thousands of years without much difficulty. How could such a Purple Palace True Man not be terrifying?
"Wang Yulou, do you know why the Yuan Clan dispatched the iron crocodile dragons to River Bend Fishing Port?" the red-robed immortal asked.
"Reporting to the True Person, Yulou does not know." Wang Yulou truly did not know. It was as though Yuan Daoshen had been infected by Yuan Wu; the two sides harbored no prior grievances, yet he insisted on harming him. What else could he have done?
"In truth, I do not know either. Or rather, no one can truly fathom what Gong Jiusheng is thinking. However, you need not worry. With here, simply focus on your cultivation within Droplet Heaven and strive to achieve Foundation Establishnt at an early date. One hundred thousand spirit stones should be sufficient to support your cultivation up to the Foundation Establishnt stage."
In Hongli's speech, she openly referred to Gong Jiusheng by na, and it was not the first ti either; she had previously called him Fellow Daoist Jiusheng. Yet, Yulou recalled that the three of them were all disciples of the Droplet Immortal Venerable, so they ought to address each other using sect terms like martial siblings. Could it be that because their internal struggles are too intense, their long-term relationship has beco extrely strained? With the True Man right before him, Yulou did not dare to overthink and responded, "Yes, it is more than enough!"
Hongli smiled slightly and tapped Yulou on the forehead, imprinting a red magic seal between his brows. "This magic seal can help calm your mind. Affairs between n and won delay cultivation far too much. Wang Yulou, achieve Foundation Establishnt soon, achieve Foundation Establishnt soon."
By the ti Wang Yulou recovered from the dizziness brought about by the red magic seal, Perfected Man Hongli had already departed, leaving only her lingering voice echoing along the beams of the Droplet Heaven grand hall. Touching the red magic seal on his forehead, Yulou felt completely bewildered. Hongli's treatnt of him was far beyond rely being good; she had practically sheltered him to the absolute limit. She had helped him claim a debt, upheld justice for him, and provided him with powerful backing. Was it truly all for the sake of the ancestor? It was hard to say. Yulou always felt that Hongli's objectives were not quite that simple.
The Droplet Heaven grand hall fell into a rare state of absolute quiet. This was the core location of Dripdrop Cave, where disciples would usually co to pay respects to the Immortal Venerable's manifestation. Standing alone in the empty, silent hall, Yulou felt a sudden surge of dread—the fear of being swept away by an unknown destiny. He walked up to the manifestation of the Immortal Venerable, looking at it with a complex mixture of emotions. After offering a sincere bow, Yulou turned and left. The Immortal Venerable might still be alive, and the probability was exceptionally high. This was information Ancestor Jingyi had disclosed to him. Furthermore, Perfected Man Hongli, who had favored him so blatantly today, was a disciple of the Immortal Venerable. Therefore, he had to maintain his respect for the Immortal Venerable at all tis. Paying respects will never bring any harm, right?
——
Inside the Yuan estate, Yuan Daoshen suppressed the burning fury in his heart and questioned Gong Tieyan. "Gong Tieyan, what exactly were you doing today?"
Just because Gong Tieyan belonged to the direct lineage of Gong Jiusheng's family did not an Yuan Daoshen feared him. In the heart of a True Person, the distinction between family and ordinary disciples had long since ceased to exist. The moon cared nothing for its waxing and waning, the Immortal Venerable cared nothing for the suffering of the mortal realm, Wang Yulou cared nothing for the absolute loyalty of his subordinates, and True Person Jiusheng cared nothing for whether those who executed his tasks shared his bloodline.
"Old Yuan, who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on Wang Yulou?" Gong Tieyan was also incredibly furious. Today, he had originally intended to uphold justice for Wang Yulou for no other reason than that Yuan Daoshen had crossed the line entirely. That was why he had initially backstabbed Old Yuan, and his subsequent pressuring of Yulou was rely an attempt to lower the price. Unfortunately, Perfected Man Hongli's sudden appearance had completely disrupted his plans.
"The Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom dispatched the direct descendant of their family into Dripdrop Cave with such massive fanfare. For what purpose? Is it not to tear a piece of at away from our grotto-heaven? For every extra bite they take, we get one less bite, and the True Person gets one less bite! I was rely resolving worries for the True Person!"
Old Yuan's calculation was that Wang Yulou might seize the future slot for a Purple Palace na within Dripdrop Cave. His cultivation base was rising far too quickly, and his age was incredibly young. What worried Old Yuan the most was that the Wang Clan refused to accept his overtures, choosing instead to inflate their worth when it ca to a marriage alliance. Wang Yulou had already dared to act like this at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. Once his cultivation base rose further, how overbearing would he beco? When the ti ca for him to contest the Purple Palace slot, he himself might be incredibly old or even dead, so how would the Yuan Clan cope then? It could be said that Yuan Daoshen did not harbor even a shred of regret because, judging from the fact that Perfected Man Hongli had stood up to support and favor Wang Yulou, his suspicions were entirely correct!
"Are you aware of the matter regarding True Person Mangxiang attempting to attain Golden Core?" Faced with Gong Tieyan's cold question, Yuan Daoshen replied unnaturally, "Naturally, I am aware. However, Wang Yulou is rely a child of the Wang Clan, not a child of the Mangxiang family itself, and the Wang Clan is rely an appendage of the Mangxiang lineage."
Seeing that Yuan Daoshen finally understood the aning of fear, Gong Tieyan continued to explain in a low tone. "True Person Mangxiang does not have a family clan. The old ancestor commanded to obstruct you because this is currently a critical juncture for True Person Mangxiang. If the matter escalates too far, the old ancestor will not be able to shield you!"
Regarding the future Purple Palace opportunity for the Yuan Clan, Old Yuan had been completely blinded by his obsession. He had even dared to tell Wang Yulou that the ancestor's Golden Core might not necessarily succeed, revealing his utter arrogance and greed. "In truth, they have already softened their stance. Wang Yulou did not even dare to bring up the matter of the iron crocodile dragons, as you heard yourself, Junior Brother Tieyan."
The dynamic shifts in a strategic ga were incredibly intricate. Before Hongli's arrival, Wang Yulou had points he insisted upon, as well as points he partially abandoned. "You only saw Wang Yulou softening his stance, but you fail to comprehend the terror of True Person Mangxiang. Daoshen, the old ancestor inford that True Person Mangxiang has a lifespan of two thousand years. A two-thousand-year-old Purple Palace cultivator—do you comprehend what a two-thousand-year-old Purple Palace cultivator signifies?"
Yuan Daoshen did not dare to speak recklessly anymore. "I ask for Junior Brother's guidance." With a visible expression of reverence washing over his face, Gong Tieyan spoke in a deep voice, "The old ancestor stated: 'Mangxiang is not attaining Golden Core because his cultivation base is sufficient, but rather because he simply cannot delay it any longer, which is why he must attain Golden Core.'"
These words were sowhat convoluted. Yuan Daoshen did not comprehend them initially, but after careful consideration, he finally grasped the underlying aning. He asked in disbelief, "True Person Mangxiang's lifespan of two thousand years, what kind of lifespan are we talking about?"
Seeing that he finally understood, Gong Tieyan ceased his posturing and lectures, revealing everything directly. "True Person Mangxiang is at least two thousand years old. He is a grand cultivator from the sa era as the Immortal Venerable. Over ten thousand years ago, he was already active across heaven and earth. At that ti, neither the Red Lantern Illumination Sect nor the Immortal Alliance even existed. Therefore, at this critical juncture of True Person Mangxiang attaining Golden Core, your actions in causing a massive disturbance that might involve him left the old ancestor highly displeased. Senior Brother Daoshen, repair your relationship with Wang Yulou. Sigh."
The lifespan of a Purple Palace cultivator was around seven hundred years, though they could theoretically survive for ten thousand years by relying on a grotto-heaven to evade the destruction of heaven and earth. Yet Patriarch Mangxiang had sohow extended his longevity to at least two thousand years, living all the way from the era when the Droplet Immortal Venerable was active in the world to the current era where the Immortal Venerable no longer appeared. Only such a formidable man could cultivate two disciples who reached the Purple Palace realm. Now that this formidable man was about to attain Golden Core, you, Yuan Daoshen, were poking at the weakness of his appendage family, the Wang Clan. Was that not seeking death? True Person Jiusheng could not bear to watch any longer, which was why he dispatched Gong Tieyan to discipline Yuan Daoshen while giving Yulou an explanation. Ultimately, it was because the ancestor's prestige was far too imnse. Although it weighed heavily on the Wang Clan, it also caused other Purple Palace experts to feel deep apprehension.
"Repairing the relationship... I will do my best. Sigh, Junior Brother Tieyan might not know, but I had actually agreed to compensate Wang Yulou with many things, but he made exorbitant demands, leaving with no other choice."
"Brother Daoshen, tell then, why did you dispatch the iron crocodile dragons to attack River Bend Fishing Port in the first place?"
Yuan Daoshen fell silent. To resolve worries for the True Person? Forget it, none of us are Yuan Wu. Seeing that he offered no reply, Gong Tieyan let out a cold snort and turned to leave the Yuan estate directly. Yuan Daoshen leaned back in his chair, utilizing a piece of golden mink fur to polish his spiritual artifact. He sat in silence for a very long ti, until the false moon set and the false sun rose once more.
——
Outside the Droplet Heaven grand hall, seeing Yulou erge, the old ancestor hurriedly stepped forward. "The Lin family provides the smaller portion, while the Yuan family provides the larger portion. Yulou, the resources secured this ti are enough to support your cultivation for at least ten years! You can break through all the way to late Qi Condensation!" the old ancestor stated with a hint of excitent. A man could not accumulate wealth without unexpected windfalls. Now, the materials from the crocodile dragon corpses were preserved. Under the pressure of Perfected Man Hongli, Old Yuan showed absolutely no intention of interfering, and earning tens of thousands of spirit stones from these materials would not be an issue. Furthermore, Lin Ying's dowry and the Yuan Clan's reimbursent for the two Sword Talismans combined to a total of one hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones. In this grand gamble, although the grandfather and grandson had taken so risks, judged by the harvest, it was entirely worthwhile.
"Old Ancestor, your calculations are slightly off. It is enough to support my cultivation all the way to Foundation Establishnt," Yulou corrected the old ancestor with a smile.
Wang Xianzhou was initially taken aback, but then he burst into a loud laugh. "Yes, yes, I am getting old and muddled." The financial balance of cultivation was not difficult to calculate once the total sum, expenditures, and regular inco were factored in. In his excitent just now, Wang Xianzhou had forgotten that Yulou and he still enjoyed a steady stream of inco from ti to ti. One hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones would only be enough to support Yulou's cultivation to late Qi Condensation, but if their usual inco was added, Yulou's path to Foundation Establishnt was already a smooth, unobstructed road!
"Furthermore, Old Ancestor, the Yuan family might not hand it over smoothly. Our conflict with the Yuan family has already been brought into the light. Given Elder Daoshen's character, it wouldn't be him if he didn't try to create obstacles."
It's just, Old Ancestor, don't you find that Perfected Man Hongli is far too good to the two of us? After the two left Droplet Heaven, Yulou criticized the wretched Yuan while secretly sending a transmission to the old ancestor.
"How dare he refuse to pay! If he refuses to pay, I will make a scene at the entrance of the Yuan estate every single day. I am an Alliance Envoy, and he can do nothing to !"
Watch your words, Yulou. Perfected Man Hongli chose us. This is our opportunity, and you must seize it! Within the confines of the rules, Yuan Daoshen truly could do nothing to Wang Xianzhou. However, Perfected Man Hongli herself was a creator of those rules. Since she had extended an olive branch, Wang Yulou had to accept it with the utmost respect. Once, when he was still a minor Qi Induction cultivator, he possessed the freedom of choice. Now, having received Perfected Man Hongli's favor before the gaze of all the Foundation Establishnt elders, it could be said that he had stepped onto the fast lane toward the Great Dao. However, Yulou had also lost his freedom of choice.
So might wonder why anyone would dwell on the so-called 'freedom of choice' when it was clearly a good thing. Because in this world, unconditional favoritism never existed. When a True Person showed favor, the beneficiary could ride that olive branch all the way to the heavens. But the mont that favor vanished, the speed of their descent would match the speed of their ascent. On the other hand, Hongli's favoritism ca with other costs. For instance, the enmity between Wang Yulou and the Yuan Clan could now never be resolved. The Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom already had enemies within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and now they had enemies within Dripdrop Cave as well. All of these were the costs—though the one hundred thousand spirit stones Yulou obtained made it entirely worthwhile, even with the consequences factored in.
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