An exchange later, at River Bend Fishing Port. Yulou, who had just broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, personally received Fan Zhugao, who had co to purchase a spirit crane.
Dripdrop Cave did not traditionally have a custom of riding spirit cranes; the disciples generally preferred flying boats as their airborne spiritual artifacts. However, ever since Yulou introduced the Tie family's spirit cranes to Dripdrop Cave, an indescribable sense of rivalry had erged.
From a rational standpoint, for Dripdrop Cave disciples like Fan Zhugao, they should have channeled all their resources and energy into Foundation Establishnt instead of wasting a vast sum of spirit stones to buy a spirit crane. But just as female cultivators loved to buy spiritual robes, male cultivators loved to buy spirit cranes.
This kind of consumption satisfied a psychological need, and that psychological satisfaction was where its value lay. Cultivators were human too, and they could not achieve absolute rationality.
When Old Fan noticed that many peers of similar standing had already mounted spirit cranes, his restless heart drove him to Yulou's doorstep.
"Senior Brother Fan, to be perfectly honest, our Wang family's spirit cranes are second to none," Yulou said with a warm smile. "Even if you go to the market outside the grotto-heaven, you get exactly what you pay for. Your two fine senior brothers bought adult spirit cranes from outside the grotto-heaven. Well, what can I say? They are a bit more affluent with their spirit stones, so they can squander them however they please. My spirit cranes here have only one advantage: they are cheap. For four hundred spirit stones, you can buy a young crane. As long as you nurture it diligently, it will gradually grow up. Instead of spending over a thousand spirit stones on an adult crane, wouldn't it be better to save those stones for sothing else? Besides, when you raise a spirit crane from a young age, the emotional bond is much closer. Don't you agree?"
Yulou cheerfully led Senior Brother Fan on a casual stroll through the spirit crane enclosure. During Elder Tie's last visit, he had brought another four pairs of breeding cranes.
Now, there were a total of seven pairs of breeding cranes in the enclosure. Based on a reproductive rate of one and a half clutches per pair each year, and factoring in a twenty-percent mortality rate for the eggs, the annual self-produced spirit crane yield at River Bend Fishing Port was roughly eight to ten birds.
Most of the earned spirit stones had to be given to the Tie family, but Yulou could retain forty percent. Excluding cost factors, it still brought in a steady revenue of about two thousand spirit stones each year.
"Four hundred spirit stones? With such a low price, it won't just drop dead halfway through raising it, will it?"
Because the price Yulou offered was so low, Old Fan actually grew suspicious instead.
"Senior Brother, spirit cranes are extraordinary creatures by nature, so how could they die so easily? As long as you feed them on schedule and don't overfeed them, most of them will reach adulthood without any illness or disaster. Even if there are minor issues, you can always bring them to the spirit crane enclosure here at River Bend Port to find Ningbing and have it resolved. The only young crane that died over the past two years was because that senior brother's Dao companion pampered it too much and stuffed it to death. You must keep this in mind after you buy one," Wang Yulou reminded him helplessly.
There were many things that you would never realize how absurd they could be until you experienced them firsthand. An abstract act like stuffing a spirit crane to death was sothing a fool could actually pull off. The cultivation world did not lack fools devoid of common sense, and their numbers were quite substantial. They might be incredibly well-adapted to the rules of the cultivation world, yet shockingly stupid in certain seemingly simple matters. Often, this kind of sporadic ignorance showed a positive correlation with the individual's background. The better their background, the easier it was for them to display traits of sporadic ignorance.
"Alright, fine. Since an Iron-Crowned Crane starts at four hundred spirit stones, what about a Black-Backed Crane?"
In truth, Old Fan had a limited budget and originally intended to get an Iron-Crowned Crane that wouldn't require a fortune in spirit stones to feed. However, the price of the spirit crane chicks sold by Yulou was simply too low, and he ultimately wanted to stretch his limits and give it a try.
"A Black-Backed Crane is expensive—one thousand five hundred. Senior Brother, even if you inquire at the markets outside the grotto-heaven, this price is the absolute bottom."
One thousand five hundred?
"Why is it so much more expensive than the Iron-Crowned Crane?" Fan Zhugao asked, sowhat perplexed.
"Senior Brother, the Iron-Crowned Cranes lack intelligence, which is why they can lay two or even three eggs every year. Their racial talent is also a bit lacking; most of the ti, they cap out when nurtured to the mid-Miscellaneous Demon Realm. The Black-Backed Spirit Cranes are different. The three pairs of breeding Black-Backed Cranes I have here are all masters of stubbornness who refuse to reproduce easily, no matter how much you beg them. Leaving aside the fact that they only lay one egg a year, they will sotis even fake being pregnant just to swindle prenatal feed out of us. Furthermore, a Black-Backed Spirit Crane has a genuine chance to break through to the Minor Demonic Realm. Although the probability of breakthrough is slightly inferior to the finest Red-Crowned Spirit Cranes, it is there nonetheless, and it is quite high. A spirit bird of the Minor Demonic Realm, regardless of breed or talent, has a starting price of five to six thousand spirit stones. Therefore, one thousand five hundred is not considered expensive at all."
Speaking of the Black-Backed Spirit Cranes swindling prenatal feed, Wang Yulou felt rather helpless. At that ti, Tie Ningbing had actually warned him, but he still hadn't believed that spirit cranes could be so clever.
"Why not just force them to breed?" Fan Zhugao possessed so basic knowledge regarding the breeding of dostic livestock and knew that livestock could be paired up forcibly.
"Spirit cranes possess intelligence, so forced breeding will trigger their resistance. The spirit cranes that can serve as breeding stock are already those willing to cooperate in producing eggs. Those wild spirit cranes might only lay four to seven eggs in their entire lifeti during the stage when they have just entered adulthood, and then they will never reproduce again. Moreover, spirit cranes are special spirit birds that adhere to a lifelong monogamous bond. If you force a pairing, even if the male and female cranes do not resist at that mont, it could ruin the affection between them, resulting in a situation where they can only be bred forcibly in the future. The most troubleso part is that when those forcibly bred crane eggs are laid, many mother cranes will straight up eat them."
If it weren't for the trouble of raising spirit beasts, Wang Family Mountain would have been filled with a horde of them long ago. Spirit beasts possessed intelligence but lacked human nature, making them exceptionally difficult to ta. He Laosan was a pri example. While he didn't falter during major events—ultimately sacrificing his life to take a hit from a Great Demon's Alligator Dragon Water Whip for Yulou—he was usually incredibly mischievous and unruly.
"So that's how it is. Then what is the price for a young Red-Crowned Crane?" Fan Zhugao pointed toward the two most beautiful Red-Crowned breeding cranes in the enclosure and inquired.
Following Senior Brother Fan's hand, Yulou flashed a smile at the two Red-Crowned breeding cranes, then sent a divine sense transmission.
"Four thousand two hundred, Senior Brother Fan. If you leave my place, you probably won't find this price in all of Wunan. Red-Crowned Spirit Cranes are beautiful and highly talented. However, precisely because they are talented, the mother crane's gestation period lasts for a full two years. Compared to the five months of the Iron-Crowned Crane and the eight months of the Black-Backed Crane, it is simply too long. Currently, these two breeding cranes have only been here for a month and a half, and two eggs have already been reserved. If you wish to purchase one, you will have to wait at least five years. Make sure you don't speak this price aloud. The Red-Crowned Cranes are far too intelligent; if they hear that their eggs are worth so many spirit stones, they will throw a tantrum with us."
The Iron-Crowned Crane was akin to an entry-level, two-box private car with four wheels and a few sofas, while the Black-Backed Crane was like a luxury sedan worth hundreds of thousands. The Red-Crowned Spirit Crane, however, was entirely different. Its probability of ascending to the Minor Demonic Realm was extrely high. Once it entered the Minor Demonic Realm, it beca a top-tier luxury vehicle, only a fraction below the Silver-Breasted Rainbow-Clothed Bird that Senior Martial Sister Lin had recently acquired. One had to know that the eldest crane of the Wang family was already at the bottleneck of breaking through to a Great Demon, and could make that breakthrough at any mont.
Of course, while the Red-Crowned Cranes possessed great talent, their growth process and required resources were also extensive, making them both expensive and difficult to raise. Nonetheless, for cultivators who could afford a Red-Crowned Crane, that minor expenditure for nurturing was usually not a problem.
"Two have already been reserved? Who bought them?" Old Fan also conversed very cautiously via transmission. This kind of reverence for the intelligence of the Red-Crowned Spirit Cranes actually made him yearn to possess one even more.
"Yuan Wu and Gong Xiangqiao. I suggest you just get a Black-Backed Spirit Crane and call it a day. To people like us, a spirit crane is rely used for riding. Only those wealthy young masters and ladies would chase after the most expensive ones."
With two resounding nas of absolute fools laid out, Old Fan's mood beca sowhat complicated. Those two individuals were far inferior to him in terms of potential and character, yet they happened to be born into noble gates. The Yuan family was currently at odds with Wang Yulou, yet these two juniors under the tutelage of the Yuan faction actually chose to conduct business with Wang Yulou. The constant fighting between grand clans and noble gates was all a facade. As the masters of Dripdrop Cave, they would always remain part of the sa inner circle. Thinking up to this point, Fan Zhugao stopped hesitating.
"Forget it, I'll just take an Iron-Crowned Crane, hahaha."
Old Fan had actually misunderstood Wang Yulou. How could he and the likes of Yuan Wu and Gong Xiangqiao possibly be on the sa side? It was simply that these two massive fools were easy to swindle, which was why he had raked in a massive profit from them.
"Alright, an Iron-Crowned Crane is indeed excellent. The one I ride right now is an Iron-Crowned Crane, and there's no need to queue for their eggs; we'll have one ready in two months. Senior Brother Fan, between us brothers, let's not speak of empty pleasantries. You only need to pay three hundred and sixty spirit stones, and I will throw in eighty pieces of Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed, which is a favorite among spirit birds."
Old Fan had helped Yulou quite a bit in the past. Although he was executing tasks for Muddy Pool—and it was Muddy Pool who exerted effort behind the scenes after receiving Wang Xianmao's spirit stones—Old Fan was, after all, the specific handler and had carried out the work with great care. Selling the young crane to him at a price of three hundred and sixty spirit stones ant that Yulou genuinely wasn't making much profit; it was a pure friendship price.
"An Iron-Crowned Crane also needs to eat Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed?" Old Fan hesitated slightly. He bought the Iron-Crowned Crane precisely because he favored its ease of rearing. If an Iron-Crowned Crane also required spirit stones to purchase various types of feed, then the subsequent maintenance costs would be high.
"Hahaha, the chick needs to grow its body, so you can't skimp on its food. Once it grows up, there's no need to feed it Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed anymore," Yulou explained.
"So that's how it is... However, Yulou, there is one more thing. During the Exchange Conference a couple of days ago, the number of attendees actually surpassed a hundred people. I privately approached a few peers who don't visit often to ask around, and it turns out they were intimidated by the Yuan family's ferocity. I have no idea why the Yuan family is killing so many people, causing the Exchange Conference to beco increasingly prominent. I feel that a tall tree catches the wind, and this might not necessarily be a good thing."
Yulou narrowed his eyes, pondered for a mont, and replied, "Brother Zhugao, there is no need to worry. The situation regarding the Exchange Conference has already been evaluated by the Sect Master and the coordinating elders as 'not a bad thing, let's keep running it and see how it goes'. Furthermore, whether those disciples were targeted and killed by the Yuan family is still up for debate. Although Elder Daoshen is sowhat crazed, he shouldn't commit such an outrageous act."
The news had been spread by people Yulou found himself, so how could he not know what was going on? It was rely handing over a soft knife to force the Yuan family to restrain themselves a bit, primarily because the timing of Wang Yulou's actions happened to clash with the timing of the Yuan family's actions. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be a soft knife right now.
Seeing Wang Yulou actually take the initiative to excuse the Yuan family made Fan Zhugao find it very strange. However, he was a cautious man and wouldn't pry recklessly. After chatting with Yulou for a few more sentences and settling the date to collect the crane, he swiftly departed.
Yulou, on the other hand, returned to his residence and imdiately questioned Little Fish about the specific details of the Exchange Conference. Nowadays, unless there was an explicit need, he did not directly attend the Exchange Conference. As the founder, the better the Exchange Conference developed, the more he needed to maintain a low profile, and Little Fish had beco his shadow at the gathering.
"...The revenue is noticeably higher, but not by too much. Senior Brother Yaohai told that the items sold at our Exchange Conference are generally about five percent cheaper than those in the markets under the Red Lantern Illumination Sect."
The Yuan family's attempt to find people to bury along with Yulou had ultimately driven up the foot traffic of the Exchange Conference. What was ant to harm Wang Yulou had instead aided him in the end; this matter carried a hint of absurdity.
"Yes, this five percent is the secret behind why the Exchange Conference can thrive. Any more, and the advantage of the Exchange Conference would cease to exist. In addition, Little Fish, I will be changing my assignnt in half a month to head to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect as an assistant exchange deacon. You, on the other hand, will take over the position of Town Guardian Cultivator at River Bend Fishing Port to guard this family property for . Do you have any thoughts or feel any pressure?"
There was no problem, and there was no pressure. Bai Xiaoyu had already prepared herself ntally for this. Over the past two years, she had practically taken charge of the grand authority at River Bend Fishing Port. As long as the Stone Ancestor and the Yuan family did not stir up trouble, how could there be so many demonic beasts attacking River Bend Fishing Port? A single Qi Refining guardian was already more than enough.
——
After comforting Little Fish, Yulou returned to the courtyard villa. He did not like the Golden Platform; it was situated at the center of River Bend Fishing Port, where the surroundings were chaotic and filled with a bustling crowd of horses and people. Back then, he had constructed the Golden Platform to consolidate power and shape his authority, yet he now preferred to reside permanently in the quiet courtyard villa.
Because through his managent across the upper and lower echelons of Dripdrop Cave over these years, the River Bend Fishing Port faction and the Exchange Conference faction he had pulled together had both gotten onto the right track. The forr was a faction dependent on him, while the latter was an alliance of shared interests rallying around him. In the future, he only needed to wait for the Qi Refining cultivators within these two factions to gradually achieve Foundation Establishnt, and Wang Yulou's voice in Dripdrop Cave could rise step by step. Therefore, the so-called Golden Platform was no longer important.
The stream and pond system in the courtyard villa had been constructed by Senior Brother Fan and his n. The size of the lotus pond within it was even larger than the one Lin ngyao used for his cultivation, which Lin Ying liked imnsely. When Wang Yulou had originally settled the marriage contract with her, though it couldn't be called deep affection, he had treated her with genuine care, and this lotus pond was where Yulou's consideration lay.
Currently, the affection between the two was exceptionally deep. Lin Ying cultivated by the lotus pond every day and rarely returned to Immortal Mushroom Cave—since the Yuan family had quieted down, nobody was willing to seek trouble with Wang Yulou's Dao companion, so no matter how much she neglected her post, no idiot would jump out to cause trouble.
"Senior Brother Wang ca over, and Maosheng's position as the Town Guardian Cultivator of River Bend Fishing Port has been finalized. This way, after you leave, River Bend Fishing Port will have Little Fish as the primary lead and Maosheng as the assistant. The vacant positions will be arranged after the Qi Induction cultivators of River Bend Fishing Port break through to Qi Refining," seeing Yulou return, Lin Ying, who was cultivating on the stone platform in the center of the lotus pond, spoke up.
The Lin family's ancestral cultivation technique, the Green Lotus White Birth Art, was highly peculiar. Cultivating it required observing lotuses, channeling the lotus charm to operate the technique through observation. After Foundation Establishnt, one could utilize the lotus pond to refine the lotus charm. Cultivating was equivalent to refining spiritual charm, which could simultaneously raise one's cultivation base and earn spirit stones, without lacking supernatural abilities or techniques. It was precisely due to this cultivation technique that the Lin family had managed to firmly establish their roots step by step within Dripdrop Cave.
"Understood," Yulou nodded, grasping his senior martial sister's soft hand.
"Yulou, don't just say you understand. Senior Brother Wang has a good relationship with you, but he left in a great hurry today, seemingly affected by your relationship with the Yuan family. I was thinking, could we express our gratitude to him through soone? He put a lot of heart into handling Maosheng's matter."
Lin Maosheng was one of the two Qi Refining cultivators the Lin family had provided as part of Lin Ying's dowry, while the other was nad Lin Chenhui. Both belonged to the direct lineage of the Lin family, but since both possessed four spirit roots, they were sent along to be utilized by Wang Yulou. Both were Splendid Pool Palace disciples. Currently, Lin Maosheng had been arranged to be a Town Guardian Cultivator of River Bend Fishing Port, while Lin Chenhui had been assisting Lin Ying at Immortal Mushroom Cave.
"Gratitude? Hahaha, no need, Senior Martial Sister. You are probably still unaware, but Senior Brother Yaohai is one of us."
Lin Ying did not quite grasp what Yulou was saying. A peak Qi Refining cultivator bowing his head to a sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivator was a matter that simply defied common sense too much.
"What do you an? Hasn't he always been on good terms with you? The man is maintaining a friendship with you despite the friction between the Yuan family and yourself; we ought to give so returns."
With the factional struggle being so fierce, the minor errand boy Wang Yaohai was still willing to be friends with Yulou, which Senior Martial Sister Lin considered highly honorable.
"I will be departing for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect in half a month. In the future, the family property I leave behind in Dripdrop Cave will rely on your maintenance. Brother Yaohai's master, Elder Luo Changhe, had a granddaughter who was killed by Yuan Daoshen. Elder Luo is suffering deeply in his heart. If operated properly, Brother Yaohai might be able to obtain a complete set of Foundation Establishnt resources in the future. Once you and I achieve Foundation Establishnt, our family can have four Foundation Establishnt cultivators."
Lin Ying finally understood what that phrase 'one of us' implied. She lowered her voice, asking with a mix of anticipation and disbelief, "Are you saying that Elder Luo also..."
"No, it hasn't gone that far. Elder Luo is a marginal figure in the Yuan family, and under his tutelage, only Brother Yaohai remains as a Foundation Establishnt Seed. What I ant by operating properly just now is that by holding onto Wang Yaohai now, I will have the opportunity to secure Elder Luo in the future. It is a matter for the future, not the present."
Seeing her husband speak in this manner, Lin Ying was left sowhat speechless. "Right now we are still far from Foundation Establishnt, isn't it a bit too early to think about these things?"
The Lin family had never intensely participated in Dripdrop Cave's power struggles, at most playing a supporting and auxiliary role for a certain party without charging at the front line. If Wang Yulou lost the struggle, he could at worst return to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect or Wang Family Mountain. The Lin family could not afford to play that way. If they lost, they would suffer a crushing defeat, making it extrely difficult to rise again.
Hence, having been raised in a family of such a background, Lin Ying was not entirely adjusted to Yulou's imnse ambition. Noticing his senior martial sister's bare feet still stained with pond water, Yulou squatted down, drew a silk cloth, and began to wipe them ticulously.
Affection was affection, but the necessary respect and actions were always mandatory. However, the words he spoke had absolutely nothing to do with the actions of a doting young husband coddling his wife.
"In all matters, preparation leads to success, while the lack of it leads to failure. The significance of placing pieces in advance lies in being prepared against adversity. If everything is left to be arranged only after Foundation Establishnt, how could there be so much ti to waste after breaking through?"
This had always been Yulou's philosophy. A cultivator's lifelong developnt could not rely on impromptu, impulsive decisions; that was no different from a resounding fool. It was rely a bit more covert; it might deceive others, but it could not deceive oneself. One must possess foresight, risk awareness, ambition, and the ttle that matched that ambition. Only an imnse ttle capable of remaining unfazed even if mountains and seas collapsed before one's eyes was worthy of that grand supre seat yearned for by tens of thousands of cultivators.
Yulou raised his head, gazing into his senior martial sister's eyes that harbored boundless affection, and said, "Senior Martial Sister, since you have married , you must possess an ambition identical to mine—to ascend to a higher place. With the support of the ancestor and Perfected Man Hongli, the grand authority of Dripdrop Cave is sothing I, Wang Yulou, am determined to secure!"
Having finished speaking, he rose and tossed the silk cloth in his hand into the lotus pond, whereupon the spirit fish reared inside the pond imdiately sward together in a chaotic scramble. The unintelligent spirit fish bit and fought, tearing at that silk cloth as if scrambling for food.
Lin Ying could not comprehend Yulou's actions, but she noticed that Wang Yulou was staring at those scrambling spirit fish with a vacant expression, as if his soul and consciousness had already drifted to a distant place unknown to her. Without uttering a word, his senior martial sister silently leaned against Yulou's shoulder, watching the comical sight of the spirit fish fighting over the cloth alongside him. After a long while, Yulou sighed.
"The sumr ice lts, the rivers overflow, and humans are reduced to fish and turtles... Can we truly see the path ahead clearly? Not necessarily. Perhaps we are no different from these spirit fish. To not fight is death; to fight provides a thread of hope."
Only at this mont did Lin Ying realize that she had never truly understood the man that was Wang Yulou.
"What is there to fight over? I won't eat these spirit fish!" Lin Ying's eyes shifted as she chose to steer the topic away.
Wang Yulou was startled at first, then burst into a sudden, roaring laughter.
"Hahaha, isn't what we are fighting for rely to beco the foot-binding cloths of the Grand Cultivators?"
Resources of the sixth rank and above were not permitted to circulate, and the sole channel for advancent was the selection through the Immortal Alliance's spiritual duels. Even so, it was preferentially allocated by the Grand Cultivators. There were originally only three quotas, and with a slight bit of priority given here and there, outsiders would have no chance at all.
The thods to ascend to the Purple Palace were possessed by all of the Ten Sects, and the likes of Dripdrop Cave and Wondrous Peak Mountain also had them, but they were not open to Foundation Establishnt cultivators, forcing everyone who wished to ascend to follow a Grand Cultivator. This system was excellent—excellent for the Grand Cultivators. The Grand Cultivators ate the at, while the Foundation Establishnt Immortal Clans drank the foot-washing water of the Grand Cultivators, drinking their fill so they could help the Grand Cultivators suppress the bottom layer.
——
Droplet Heaven, Yuan Residence.
"How are the arrangents coming along?" Yuan Daoshen spoke in a ghostly tone, his back turned to the newcor.
"We have contacted thirteen disciples. For fifty spirit stones each, they will lead the people around them to cause a scene together." Yuan Wenbin, who was responsible for handling the matter, hurriedly replied.
"Excellent!" Elder Daoshen nodded in satisfaction.
Summing up the lessons from his two failed attempts against Wang Yulou, Elder Daoshen realized that he could no longer lead the Yuan clan to charge at the front line. Therefore, he decided to play a hand of killing with a borrowed knife. Borrowing Chu Hongyi to serve as the knife, borrowing the nurous disciples of Dripdrop Cave to serve as the knife, borrowing the Immortal Alliance decree to serve as the knife, borrowing the sect... Elder Daoshen was certain that with so many knives exerting force together, it would be enough to send Wang Yulou to his death.
"Ancestor, Wenbin has one thing he doesn't understand. Why must we continue to deal with Wang Yulou?" Yuan Wenbin didn't rely fail to understand; it was because he was too young and lacked composure that he wanted to take the initiative to offer counsel to the ancestor. This kind of thing was sothing only a favored youth and Qilin child like himself dared to do. The Yuan family had so many Foundation Establishnt cultivators, yet not a single one ca to remind Yuan Daoshen. Was it because they were stupid?
"Say no more, I am well aware that rumors are spreading outside claiming I have gone mad. Wenbin, do you also believe that your ancestor has gone mad?" Whether Yuan Daoshen was mad or not, he knew clearly himself. The so-called struggle was nothing more than interests, karma, and conflicts. Elder Daoshen understood the advantages and disadvantages perfectly, and understood even more clearly what consequences his actions would entail.
"Wenbin wouldn't dare..."
Yuan Daoshen smiled. He turned around to face Yuan Wenbin, speaking in a gentle tone, full of warmth like a kind old man exhorting his junior.
"Child, you are far inferior to Wang Yulou. It isn't easy for the Wang family to produce a Wang Yulou either. He belongs to the most ruthless category of cultivators, just like . No, it's different. I am inferior to him; only when I was seventy years old did I possess his current deanor. Do you know that among the people who died, a large portion was killed by Wang Yulou's n? Among those rogue cultivators, there were actually Wang Yulou's people! Terrifying! I cannot comprehend what he is doing, you see? That is what is most terrifying. Wang Yulou is not your fifth brother, so how could he perform bafflingly foolish deeds? He wouldn't, he wouldn't. Therefore, we absolutely cannot leave this massive trouble to all of you. This old ancestor of yours has reached the ti to make a decisive break."
Elder Daoshen did not believe in the wisdom of posterity; that was utter nonsense, rely words to shirk responsibility. He believed that as the primary Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Dripdrop Cave, he could shoulder the responsibilities of the Yuan family, and ought to shoulder the family's responsibilities. The disaster was provoked by himself, so it should be concluded by himself.
"Ancestor, Wang Yulou has the Wang family behind him. Can his death truly bring a conclusion? We might be inferior to Wang Yulou, but we are no fools. In the future, perhaps Wang Yulou will beco exceptionally formidable, but we can at least stand our ground firmly, so what is there to fear?" Although Yuan Wenbin did not wish to admit it, Wang Yulou was indeed far stronger than himself, which was why he only claid they could 'at least stand their ground firmly'.
The Wang family patriarch, Wang Xianmao, had once told Yulou that the Wang family could provide its exceptional disciples with a starting point in the Qi Refining stage that was not inferior to the disciples of any grand clan. Yulou had fully exploited the advantages of this starting point, carving out his current foundation within Dripdrop Cave. Among his generation, those who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him were indeed few and far between. Even though Lin Ying and Yuan Wenbin were actually much, much older than him, and Wang Yaohai's age had even cracked a hundred years, these people all interacted with him as peers. Yes, Brother Yaohai was currently transitioning into a state of addressing him as Jade Palace. This was not due to his own regression, but rather because Yulou was progressing.
"It can be concluded. Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven is semi-independent, and as long as Perfected Man Jiusheng is... One must know that the Immortal Venerable might still be alive. Even if Mang Xiang becos a Golden Core, he wouldn't dare to enter lightly, let alone consider how he could possibly stick his head out for a re mber of a subordinate family. That little thief constantly brings up Mang Xiang to make a point, but in my eyes, it is rely pulling a tiger's skin to use as a banner, nothing to be feared. He won't necessarily die anyway; I am rely using a resolute stance to force him away. Once he leaves Dripdrop Cave, he can perfectly well go to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect."
Seeing that the ancestor's mind was made up, Yuan Wenbin offered no further advice, silently continuing to execute his tasks. anwhile, Old Yuan rose with a convoluted state of mind, heading toward the residence of Sect Master Chu Hongyi.
——
Half a month later, at the courtyard villa.
The furnace fire soared as Yulou attempted to refine the first thirty-layered restriction spiritual artifact of his life. The upper limit for an advanced spiritual artifact was thirty-six layers of restrictions; any more, and it wouldn't be quite worthwhile for a Qi Refining cultivator to activate. However, within the exchange list of the Azurewater Palace rit Hall, thirty-two layers was the upper limit. This was because for the vast majority of cultivators, during actual usage, a few layers more or less did not create a substantial difference. Too many restrictions would consu all of one's ntal focus, so it was better to retain so ntal focus to handle unexpected situations during magical combat.
The red firelight resembled a tongue licking gourt food, greedily licking across every section of the eighth-rank Blue Pond Lead. Yulou intended to use the eighth-rank Blue Pond Lead as the base material to refine a special thirty-layered restriction advanced spiritual artifact that was entirely filled with clever designs within its restrictions. Compared to more complex magical treasures, the hidden ingenuity of a spiritual artifact lay in four points: the properties and combination of the base materials, the processing of the base materials' properties via refining techniques, the types of restrictions, and the engraving of the restrictions. The latter two appeared similar, yet their differences were profound. Yulou's clever design lay precisely within the engraving of the restrictions.
Bai Xiaoyu was a Water-Earth dual spirit root cultivator, and the Blue Pond Lead happened to possess dual Water-Earth attributes. Although fire-thod refining was sowhat inappropriate, Yulou's attainnt in the fire-thod artificing path was sufficiently high, so it was not considered a defect. Because Yulou intended to refine a large lead bead, there wasn't much to say regarding the types of restrictions either. The sole exception was the engraving of the restrictions, where Yulou adopted the layered-stack engraving thod that was normally utilized only when refining magical treasures.
Considering that Little Fish's cultivation base was only at the second layer of Qi Refining, he split the Blue Pond Lead bead into two parts for refining. The inner small lead bead was engraved with fourteen layers of restrictions, while the outer shell body was engraved with sixteen layers of restrictions. This way, when Bai Xiaoyu activated the lead bead, she could employ the ntal focus required to manipulate fourteen layers of restrictions to unleash a portion of the special power of the eighth-rank spiritual material, Blue Pond Lead. Once her cultivation base rose higher, Yulou could utilize the refined space he had left behind to connect the restrictions of the small lead bead and the shell body, allowing the full power of the thirty layers of restrictions to be unleashed.
Wang Xianzhou's mastery over spiritual pills at the Qi Refining stage had reached a level where he didn't even need a pill recipe, able to refine them at will based solely on examining the dicinal properties. As an artificer who had refined artifacts for many years, Yulou's artifact refining attainnt was also gradually reaching a stage of developnt toward this aspect. Of course, compared to the ancestor's effortless level of pill refining, Yulou still had a long path to walk. His attempt today to employ the layered-stack engraving thod, which was only used for refining magical treasures, to refine the restrictions of a spiritual artifact counted as a first trial, though with the assistance of the Ruyi Golden Radiance, the process went relatively smoothly. In the end, through the layered-stack engraving thod, Yulou actually managed to refine an extra layer. Using three pieces of eighth-rank Blue Pond Lead to refine a thirty-one-layered restriction Blue Pond Lead bead was a matter that could hardly be called good or bad, primarily because bead-type artifacts were considered entry-level existences among spiritual artifacts.
A transmission talisman was sent out, and Little Fish arrived at the courtyard villa shortly after. To Yulou's surprise, however, his senior martial sister ca along as well.
"Husband, what business do you have with ?" Bai Xiaoyu paid little heed to Lin Ying, standing beside Yulou as a matter of course.
Yulou first looked toward his official Dao companion, explaining, "Senior Martial Sister, I am about to depart for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, but Little Fish has been in Qi Refining for several years now and still doesn't possess a handy spiritual artifact by her side. Therefore, I used two pieces of Blue Pond Lead to refine a spiritual artifact for her. With the assistance of this treasure, it will be easier for her to handle trouble should she encounter it in the future."
Balancing between two won, Wang Yulou also found it difficult.
"It is only right. Little Fish needs to hold her own, so it won't do to have no spiritual artifacts in hand. It's just that the properties of Blue Pond Lead aren't quite suitable for magical combat. Are you certain this is enough?" Lin Ying nodded, giving her approval to Wang Yulou's arrangent, and furthermore displayed great generosity by indicating that Wang Yulou could continue to bestow treasures upon Bai Xiaoyu.
"Blue Pond Lead possesses dual Water-Earth attributes, which aligns with Little Fish's spirit roots. Moreover, what I refined is a lead bead. Little Fish, give it a try first."
Receiving the lead bead, Bai Xiaoyu scanned it with her divine sense for a mont, then activated it. The blue lead bead hovered in the midair of the room, drifting slightly for a few rounds, whereupon Yulou and Lin Ying imdiately felt a sense of obstruction within the operation of their spiritual energy. This was precisely the reason why Blue Pond Lead was commonly chosen as a base material for artifact refining furnaces; its capability lay in suppressing spiritual energy and spiritual properties. When utilized on an artifact refining furnace, it could render the spiritual properties of the materials being refined inside the furnace milder, thereby assisting the artificer in refining artifacts better.
"Continue to activate it, it hasn't reached the upper limit of its power yet," Yulou reminded Little Fish.
Bai Xiaoyu did not answer, rely nodding gently.
In an instant, the blue lead bead drifting in the air suddenly vibrated, a manifestation of being unleashed with full force. Under the effect of the lead bead, Wang Yulou could feel the spiritual energy inside his body transform from a nimble swimming fish into a sluggish snail. During magical combat, this would be a transition between life and death.
"Oh? Not bad, it seems the refining was quite successful. However, Little Fish, Blue Pond Lead is not sturdy enough, so you must absolutely never use this lead bead to block the onslaught of another spiritual artifact. Of course, using it to strike ordinary minor demons or common low-grade spiritual artifacts should pose no problem at all," Yulou exhorted.
Lin Ying, on the other hand, stepped forward to hold Little Fish, offering a warning in the tone of an older sister. "Sister Little Fish, when you use the lead bead around us, we won't block it, which is why the effect appears exceptionally good. But during magical combat, do not unleash the lead bead too close to the enemy; maintain a distance where its effect can be exerted."
Having originally disliked Lin Ying, combined with Bai Xiaoyu's rather unique temperant that frequently saw her make no effort to conceal her intentions, she rely nodded and uttered a brief acknowledgent in the face of Lin Ying's goodwill, then snuggled back to Wang Yulou's side.
Lin Ying flicked her sleeves and turned to leave, her face visibly displeased. Dostic conflicts were not suited to be aired out openly, and since Yulou treated her well, she chose to endure it completely, leaving Yulou with no choice but to let out a bitter smile and shake his head. What else could be done? They just had to make do and carry on; it wasn't as if they could separate...
Furthermore, from a utilitarian and purely rational perspective, after Wang Yulou left Dripdrop Cave, having Bai Xiaoyu and Lin Ying balance each other out happened to guarantee that his family property would not be snatched away by Lin Ying. Of course, Senior Martial Sister Lin currently harbored no such intentions either.
"After I leave, the matters regarding River Bend Fishing Port and the Exchange Conference will be entrusted to you. Neither of these two is difficult, but you must pay extra attention to the reproduction issue of the spirit cranes—don't laugh, those spirit cranes are remarkably clever. If this issue is resolved well, it can bring in several thousand extra spirit stones each year, so you need to put more heart into it. Follow the general direction I have set, and simultaneously move them with emotion and reason."
Fiddling with the spiritual artifact bracelet on Wang Yulou's hand, Bai Xiaoyu had no desire to care about the reproduction issue of spirit cranes at this mont. She inquired in a spectral tone, "Husband, tell , if I were to suddenly die while waiting for your return, would you avenge ?"
Yulou was sowhat dumbfounded.
"Ah? Senior Martial Sister Lin is not that kind of person. If you treat her with a better attitude, she will even try to win you over."
Bai Xiaoyu buried her head against Yulou's shoulder, whispering, "I am talking about Yuan Daoshen. Yuan Daoshen won't lay a hand on the Lin family's Lin Ying, but he might target and Chu Ran."
Lin Ying was a disciple of the Lin family, a stalwart of the Muddy Pool faction, whereas Bai Xiaoyu and Qin Churan possessed no foundation... Little Fish's concern was not without reason. The beautiful lady's body carried a unique, fragrant scent, leaving Yulou sowhat intoxicated, yet unable to truly indulge himself. Though a gentle country was fine, it was not a place to linger for long.
"How difficult it is to enjoy a single night of peaceful sleep. Little Fish, even if I remain here, we cannot be absolutely safe. If one does not wish to beco a sacrifice, one must ascend to a higher place, reaching a point where nobody can look upon you or as a sacrifice."
There was no choice; they had to march forward. Bai Xiaoyu remained quiet for another long spell. Compared to those cruel realities, she preferred to remain a simple existence. Drawing a small pouch woven from blue rice straw from her bosom, Little Fish stuffed it into Yulou's hand.
"Here, take it. You, our grand artificer, gifted Little Fish an advanced spiritual artifact, but since Little Fish isn't very skilled in artifact refining, I'll gift you a sachet instead. When you leave Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven and miss Little Fish, just take it out and look at it. Do not forget Little Fish."
Yulou accepted the sachet. Just as he was about to speak, a succession of chi-stone rings echoed from the direction of Droplet Heaven. One ring, two rings... twelve rings, a pause, and then another twelve rings.
"Assembling all Azurewater Palace disciples?" Yulou realized that sothing major had occurred.
——
A short while later, Yulou brought Little Fish and Lin Ying to the plaza in front of the grand hall of Droplet Heaven. Under the summoning rings of the sect's chi-stone, the Azurewater Palace disciples within the grotto-heaven were also gradually arriving.
"Little Fish, wait here for a mont. I'll go find Uncle Wu to ask about the situation. Senior Martial Sister, go find Senior ngyao."
The two moved separately, and Wang Yulou quickly spotted Wu Jinyan inside the grand hall. However, Old Wu was standing together with Chu Hongyi, appearing to be locked in so sort of dispute. Yulou hurriedly stepped forward to offer his salutations, then inquired, "Sect Master, Uncle Wu, what has happened?"
"Ask him!" Wu Jinyan pointed at Chu Hongyi with displeasure.
Facing Yulou's perplexed gaze, Chu Hongyi's eyes dodged slightly, rely stating that they would discuss it once everyone had gathered. However, without waiting for everyone to gather, Zhuo Yinsheng arrived inside the Droplet Heaven hall leading a crowd of Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the Muddy Pool faction. He first offered a nod to Yulou, and the very first sentence that followed clarified the situation to Yulou.
"Hongyi, you understand perfectly well how you beca the Sect Master. The mont you choose a side to stand on, your days as Sect Master will co to an end. Do you understand?"
Chu Hongyi, that wretched fellow, had chosen to leap over to the Yuan family's side! Wang Yulou's heart began to sink. He had employed his own mindset to deduce Yuan Daoshen's calculations, figuring out that Old Yuan would likely continue to target him, which was why he chose to utilize the Sect Master's channel to switch his assignnt to Dripdrop Cave. The Patriarch had also agreed with this point. Yet now, before the transfer order could be issued, the seemingly upright Chu Hongyi had defected to the enemy first!
"Sect Master, can I still proceed to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect?" Wang Yulou asked directly.
Chu Hongyi let out a long sigh, offering a bitter smile. "Yulou, I had no choice. My apologies."
In an instant, Yulou's face turned ashen. Old Yuan, oh Old Yuan, you truly haven't gone mad. A madman could never engineer the subversion of the Sect Master, pulling the disciples of Azurewater Palace along to set a trap for himself.
Very quickly, the Foundation Establishnt cultivators of Dripdrop Cave and the Azurewater Palace disciples gathered entirely outside the Droplet Heaven hall. The chi-stone rings had only summoned the Azurewater Palace disciples, but since Old Yuan was orchestrating a surprise assault, the Foundation Establishnt cultivators within the grotto-heaven had naturally all co out of concern.
Yuan Daoshen was the last to arrive, accompanied by over thirty Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the Yuan family. They had just been waiting alongside Old Yuan inside the Yuan residence, waiting to make their grand entrance together at the very end. anwhile, after communicating via transmission with Uncle Liu, a coordinating elder of the Muddy Pool faction, Yulou also grasped the strategy behind Old Yuan's sudden offensive, though the more he listened, the more chaotic his mind beca. Old Yuan had spared no effort for this surprise assault; he was in massive trouble.
Following two failures, Old Yuan's third wave of offensive ca with imnse ferocity and power. After Yuan Daoshen and Zhuo Yinsheng exchanged a few fiery words in front of over seven hundred Azurewater Palace disciples, he egged Chu Hongyi on to initiate the grand performance.
"Sect Master Chu, you may begin."
From the verbal sparring between two renowned Foundation Establishnt figures of the sect, many Azurewater Palace disciples witnessed the flash of sabers and shadows of swords within Dripdrop Cave's power struggles for the first ti. It turned out that when the high and mighty Foundation Establishnt elders fought, they employed nothing more than those sa words and tactics; there was nothing special about it. However, this kind of unexceptional struggle had absolutely nothing to do with the vast majority of people, because they didn't even possess the qualifications to enter the ga.
"Wait a mont, Elder Daoshen, must you absolutely forge a deadly enmity with my Wang family?" Wang Yulou spoke up, attempting to negotiate at the final mont before Yuan Daoshen unleashed his grand move—what if?
"Arrogant! Wang Yulou, what qualifications do you have to speak here!" a Foundation Establishnt cultivator of the Yuan faction, who had once forced Wang Yulou to bow inside the Sect Master's grand hall, barked in reprimand. Yulou, however, paid him no heed at all, his gaze locked dead onto Yuan Daoshen.
Old Yuan rely shook his head at Yulou, saying, "Do not speak recklessly. I rely heard the inner voices of the Splendid Pool Palace disciples and offered a suggestion to the Sect Master. Everything is according to the Sect Master's will."
The nurous Azurewater Palace disciples on the Droplet Heaven plaza naturally noticed the exchange between Wang Yulou and Yuan Daoshen. The majority of them recognized Wang Yulou, but they had never expected that Wang Yulou would actually be viewed as a thorn in the flesh by the primary Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Dripdrop Cave. Having finished speaking, he looked toward Chu Hongyi, saying, "Still not beginning?"
Chu Hongyi silently drew out an Immortal Alliance decree, chanting aloud, "The demon calamity of the West Sea... due to Dripdrop Cave being... specially summons fifty disciples of Dripdrop Cave to rush to the West Sea within three months, without any delay!"
Among the Azurewater Palace disciples, many realized that sothing was amiss. Lin Ying sent a transmission to Yulou, "The ancestor said that Yuan Daoshen must have plotted this for a long ti, intending to force you to the West Sea. Perfected Man Jiusheng has agreed, and under the Immortal Alliance decree and sect regulations, Perfected Man Hongli might find it difficult to stop him either. Yulou, what should we do?"
"Then I shall go, and secure a safer position once I reach the West Sea front line!" Wang Yulou replied helplessly.
Chu Hongyi had already drawn out the second directive belonging to Dripdrop Cave. "One hundred and seventy-three disciples of Splendid Pool Palace have jointly submitted a petition, weeping tears of blood to complain about the allocation model of the sect's West Sea demon-hunting missions. Following deliberations between the Sect Master and the six coordinating elders, the following changes have been specially enacted: West Sea demon hunting is a tempering experience for the disciples of Dripdrop Cave; it cannot rely temper the disciples of Splendid Pool Palace while exempting the disciples of Azurewater Palace. It is commanded that among the disciples of Azurewater Palace whose cultivation bases have not reached late Qi Condensation, a lottery shall be drawn to proceed to the West Sea. The quota shall be ten individuals. Those who excel shall be rewarded, while those who evade shall have their cultivation bases destroyed and be expelled from the sect!"
Everyone claid that Yuan Daoshen was mad, but Old Yuan had actually not gone mad; it was rely because his tactics and targeting against Yulou had failed that he was defad in such a manner by others. Yet his tactics themselves were far from brainless. His first strike was in a certain sense an all-in gamble, employing ten Iron Alligator Dragons to forcefully destroy the foundation of Wang Yulou's River Bend Fishing Port. Had Wang Xianzhou not been present, Wang Yulou's cultivation path within Dripdrop Cave would have been powerfully interrupted. Yulou could have fled, but he would have had no future either; the sect would never heavily employ a guardian cultivator who fled in the face of battle.
Later, forcefully pinning the accusation of 'a fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator attempting to murder the primary Foundation Establishnt cultivator of Dripdrop Cave' appeared like a joke, and was indeed a joke in reality. However, had Perfected Man Jiusheng not offered a warning and Perfected Man Hongli not stepped forward, this hat could have genuinely crushed Wang Yulou to death—crushed to death in a physical sense. His second strike, causing over a dozen people to be buried along with Wang Yulou, was also ruthless enough, sparking furious public resentnt within Dripdrop Cave and pushing the concept of playing at all costs to the absolute extre, fully revealing the venomous malice of an old-brand Foundation Establishnt family leader. Had Wang Yulou not possessed that rare Golden Eagle Descent, perhaps Yuan Zhengju would have genuinely struck.
Now, even though the grand situation had clearly turned unfavorable for Yuan Daoshen, since a deadly feud had been forged with the Wang family, Yuan Daoshen did not back down. Instead, he forged ahead. He continued his offensive, having reflected on his experiences this ti to completely refrain from letting the Yuan family step forward themselves. Instead, he employed the Immortal Alliance decree, the pressure of the nurous disciples, and the sect regulations to weigh down on Wang Yulou, forcing him into that flesh-and-blood grinder of the West Sea to undergo his tribulation. Was Yuan Daoshen's choice wrong? It was hard to say. As long as Gong Jiusheng did not fall, offending Mang Xiang was just offending him. The Yuan family was Gong Jiusheng's dog, not Mang Xiang's dog. Under Yuan Daoshen's multi-layered borrowing of montum, his intimidation carried a sense of legitimacy. On the other hand, Gong Jiusheng had to respect the demands of Yuan Daoshen as the leader of the Yuan faction, whereas Mang Xiang could not possibly genuinely stick his head out for a minor disciple of a subordinate family. Under Elder Daoshen's tactics, in this localized area, at this very mont, and at this exact instant, Wang Yulou had truly reached the brink of danger.
He let out a long, long sigh. Trouble, what a massive trouble. rely by taking so spirit stones and cultivating a bit faster, he had actually beco soone else's thorn in the flesh and eyesore. One had to know that in the past, he had treated Elder Daoshen with utmost respect. The ruthlessness of the cultivation world and the venomous malice of a cultivator's tactics were things Yulou had truly experienced now.
What kind of path must one walk to reach the longed-for shore?
————————
With the Yuan family creating such a ss, the dissatisfied party was far from just Wang Yulou; the Azurewater Palace disciples were also locked in a flurry of discussions. Everyone was enjoying their status as inner disciples within Dripdrop Cave, enjoying the welfare and benefits of the sect perfectly well. Yet suddenly, you tell us that we might be stuffed into the West Sea to serve as consumable materials. Isn't this utter nonsense!
However, the Immortal Alliance decree demanded it, the Splendid Pool Palace disciples were pressing with tears of blood, and the Sect Master was borrowed to bring out the sect regulations to apply pressure. This move by Old Yuan could be said to have maximized legitimacy to the absolute limit; nobody could simultaneously resist so many 'grand trends'. The grand trend, the grand trend, shared an identical pronunciation with Grand Cultivators, roughly equating to a Grand Cultivator. Nobody could resist the grand trend, primarily because nobody could resist a Grand Cultivator.
"Alright, cease the discussions. Sect Master, begin the drawing of lots!" Yuan Zhengju spoke up.
Chu Hongyi drew out a funnel filled with golden sand, whereupon the golden sand within it was activated by him to scatter like rain in the midair. "One by one, everyone take a grain of golden sand. There are two types of golden sand: one is purple gold sand, and the other is red gold sand. Do not employ your divine sense to examine them. Everyone take one grain; those who draw the red gold sand shall not go, while those who draw the purple gold sand shall go."
Yulou sent a transmission to Elder Yinsheng, attempting to seek assistance, but Elder Yinsheng rely stated that drawing lots would not necessarily land on him. How could it possibly fail to land on Wang Yulou? Wang Yulou saw it with crystal clarity—this kind of lottery drawing was filled with loopholes, visible to the naked eye everywhere!
Only at this mont did it occur to him that his departure from Dripdrop Cave did not appear to be a bad thing for the Zhuo family either. Old Yuan's current offensive damaged the interests of the Azurewater Palace disciples and consud the resources and credibility of the Yuan faction. While it appeared that Old Yuan had won a round, in the long run, the Zhuo family was instead the one gaining the most profit. Therefore, sitting back to watch Old Yuan successfully pull this matter off carried a far higher cost-to-benefit ratio for Zhuo Yinsheng than rescuing Wang Yulou!
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