The Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom was not particularly large. Ultimately, they were rely a Foundation Establishnt cultivation clan, numbering barely two hundred people even when including mbers with external surnas.
Among those two hundred, over ninety were at the Qi Induction stage. So were young but held back by the limitations of heaven and earth, unable to rapidly break through to the Qi Refining stage; others were bottlenecked by their natural talent, unable to progress any further.
The number of Qi Refining cultivators actually exceeded those at the Qi Induction stage. Because of this, the Wang Clan was able to sustain a vast and sprawling network of family businesses.
Their properties ranged from Wolong Market at the border of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect, to Lotus Immortal City and the West Sea thousands of miles away from Wang Family Mountain, and to various other market towns like Qingxi Market.
The footprints of the Wang Clan mbers covered nurous corners within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's sphere of influence. They had even ventured beyond it, establishing a firm foothold in both the West Sea and Lotus Immortal City.
There were seventeen Wang Clan mbers on the West Sea frontline, led by Wang Rongwen and Zheng Yan. The forr was a leader of the direct lineage, while the latter was a Foundation Establishnt cultivator with an external surna.
Yulou was only halfway through his al at Zhiwei Bistro when most of these people began to gather.
"Ancestor, Elder Zheng and Elder Rongwen are currently operating in the deep regions of the West Sea, west of the outposts. They cannot make it back at short notice," Wang Rongchuan reported respectfully, standing beside Ancestor Jingyi with a plump, affable face that practically scread good fortune and business acun.
He belonged to the Wang Clan's direct lineage, but because he had relied on a boundary-breaking pill to achieve his breakthrough, he was destined to be stuck at the first layer of the Qi Refining stage for the rest of his life. Consequently, he had been appointed as the manager of Zhiwei Bistro in the West Sea Outercity.
"What about Jiahui? Since Rongwen isn't here, why is she missing as well?" Ancestor Jingyi set down her chopsticks, her face clouding with displeasure.
Wang Yulou simply focused on his food, remaining silent.
Wang Jiahui was similar to Uncle Rongsheng. Possessing poor aptitude, she had left the family early on to make her own way in the world.
However, she was a bigger gambler than Uncle Rongsheng. In the West Sea, she had successfully gambled her way to the late Qi Refining stage. Currently, she was the third-in-command for the Wang Clan in the West Sea and served as the manager of the West Sea Immortal City's Zhiwei Bistro.
"Well... Sister Jiahui's Dao companion is a special case. One of the ancestors in his family is a disciple under the tutelage of True Person Hansong, so... so..." Wang Rongchuan answered haltingly.
Hearing this, Wang Jingyi was left sowhat speechless. A Foundation Establishnt ancestor from the family of Wang Jiahui's husband was a disciple under True Person Hansong, a local West Sea Purple Mansion Grand Cultivator. Because of this connection, Wang Jiahui had been causing so friction, seemingly showing an intent to undermine the foundations of the Anbei Kingdom's Wang Clan.
"Yulou, what do you think?"
The mont Ancestor Jingyi asked this, everyone in the hall turned their eyes toward Wang Yulou. For many of them, it was the first ti they had even heard this na.
Wang Yulou was not a well-known figure. The Wang Family did not harbor the foolish habit of loudly proclaiming to the world whenever a prodigy was born. Therefore, his exceptional status was known only to the high-ranking mbers of the Wang Clan and a dozen individuals within the core circle.
Faced with this unfamiliar young man, the Wang Clan mbers present could only sense an extraordinary aura, calm and deep as an abyss. Hearing Wang Jingyi address him as 'Yulou,' their hearts skipped a beat.
Yu. He was of the Yu generation.
Yulou... Wang Yulou.
As a junior, what right did he have to sit there casually while they reported their work to Ancestor Jingyi?
"Since the Ancestor is here, you should deal with her imdiately. Look into which family laws and regulations she has violated, and handle her exactly as prescribed. True Person Hansong cannot possibly interfere in the dostic affairs of a subordinate's family."
With a single sentence, Wang Yulou ensured that everyone present would rember his thods.
The corner of Wang Rongchuan's eye twitched slightly. Forcing an awkward smile, he said dryly, "Sister Jiahui hasn't gone so far as to violate family laws, it's just..."
"It's just that you are instigating trouble?" Wang Yulou asked back with a smile, simultaneously lifting his breath-concealing technique.
His cultivation base at the seventh layer of the Qi Refining stage instantly revealed itself—hiding three layers was perfectly sufficient for now.
"No, no, Yulou, I didn't an it that way." As Wang Rongchuan spoke, his heart tightened violently.
Just monts ago, when he perceived Wang Yulou at the fourth layer of the Qi Refining stage, he had already been secretly astonished. Only now did he realize that Wang Yulou's fourth-layer cultivation base was completely fake. This family junior of the Yu generation was already in the late Qi Refining stage!
"Very well. Yulou, you will decide how to handle Wang Jiahui. As for the rest of you, listen carefully. Yulou will soon take up a post in the Information Gathering Court of West Sea Immortal City. It is my intention to have him concurrently serve as the Chief Steward for the Wang Clan in the West Sea. If there are difficulties in the industries you manage, or if you face hardships in your cultivation or daily lives, you may look to him to resolve them. Correspondingly, whatever demands he makes, you must cooperate with all your might. You are not to use your seniority to oppose him. Do you all understand?"
Once Ancestor Jingyi spoke, everyone bowed in compliance. No one would dare cross Wang Jingyi, the strongest expert of the Wang Clan.
Yet when they looked up again, the glances they directed at Yulou were filled with scrutiny—hidden, of course, but present nonetheless. These Wang Clan mbers who had been stationed in the West Sea long-term were generally experienced individuals. Even if they hadn't been initially, staying in the West Sea would quickly broaden their horizons. Naturally, having a young leader suddenly dropped on them from above left them with a few mixed feelings.
"Do any of you know where within the Immortal Alliance the private residence of Elder Feng Disha of Dripdrop Cave is located?"
Wang Yulou had no intention of saying much more. Once he took these Wang family mbers along to crash his own wedding banquet in three days, they would naturally understand what was going on. However, he needed to contact Feng Disha as soon as possible to finalize his own West Sea assignnts, along with those of Wang Xianzhou and another Wang Clan mber. It would be best to ensure they could avoid outside interference.
Back then, Yulou had not known that his path of cultivation would twist and turn so dramatically. When he snatched two West Sea demon hunting slots from old Yuan, his goal was to further solidify his foundation within Dripdrop Cave by placing two of his n there once they returned from the West Sea. Looking at it now, many of his previous strategies and asures were completely redundant. He might not even have needed to marry Lin Ying. Information was simply too critical.
"Feng Disha? There aren't many people with the surna Feng. Are you referring to Sword Immortal Feng?" Wang Rongchuan was the first to reply.
"Oh? He has such a title?"
Wang Rongchuan, who had been worried after his attempt to subtly slander his rival was exposed, saw that his answer had piqued the young manager's interest. He hurried to curry favor further.
"Yulou, you might not know this, but that broken sect, Dripdrop Cave, really has so bizarre things going on. Feng Disha is no ordinary character. He once used his Golden Liquid Magic Sword to completely incapacitate a Great Demon black dog with a single strike of foul stench. When he hauled that Great Demon back to the West Sea Immortal City's demon pavilion to be processed, the beast cursed him the entire way. Senior Feng's title as the Golden Liquid Sword Immortal spread far and wide across the West Sea for a ti. During that period, sword cultivators were actually willing to stuff their flying swords back into their storage bags. Later on, a True Person finally spoke up, noting that while it was for the sake of demon hunting, 'Golden Liquid Sword Immortal' lacked dignity, and he should be called Sword Immortal Feng instead. However, when we say it, we are usually referring to the wind that blows from atop a mountain of filth."
The Golden Liquid Magic Sword fouling a dog demon... the wind from a mountain of filth.
Wang Yulou chuckled. Drawing a folded piece of yellow hemp paper from his robes, he channeled his spiritual energy and flicked it toward Wang Rongchuan.
"Yulou ca out of Dripdrop Cave himself. Senior Feng is an elder of my sect. Uncle Rongchuan, please deliver this letter to his residence for . Whether he is there or not, at least secure a ti for to et him."
Feng Disha was an elder of Dripdrop Cave, but he was also a descendant of that Dripdrop Cave True Person who had long ceased to appear in the world. Because he could not stand the high-intensity internal strife between the two factions exploiting him within Dripdrop Cave, Feng Disha had left Droplet Cave Heaven and co to the West Sea. Supposedly, he was in charge of the various affairs of Dripdrop Cave's West Sea external courtyard, but in reality, he had been shoved into a role akin to a guesthouse manager or a resident steward for the external courtyard.
Since the True Person had not appeared for a long ti, and Feng Disha lacked a Purple Mansion True Man disciple to support his lineage—unlike Immortal Venerable Chiming—such an outco was hardly surprising. Old rit fell short of new nobility; this was the case almost everywhere.
Hearing Wang Yulou's words, Wang Rongchuan's face grew even more awkward. He carefully took the letter with both hands and hurried off to deliver it.
Feng Disha's residence was also located within the West Sea Outercity. As half a local expert himself, Wang Rongchuan naturally knew where this celebrity resided.
Living in the immortal city was incredibly difficult, but living in the Outercity was manageable if one clenched their teeth. Consequently, the majority of cultivators who were not particularly wealthy chose to reside in the Outercity.
Most of the land inside the immortal city belonged to the Immortal Alliance. It was only leased, never sold. Even ordinary Foundation Establishnt cultivators could not bear the cost of leasing a large courtyard. In the past, before Immortal Venerable Shenguang established the West Sea Outercity, Qi Refining cultivators could only squeeze into communal bunkhouses within the immortal city.
Cave dwellings outside the immortal city could be constructed freely, and living out in the wild cost nothing in fees. The only minor problem was that demonic beasts would occasionally drop by looking for a midnight snack. Ending up inside a demonic beast's belly was never pleasant.
Shenguang had pioneered the West Sea for two hundred years, and his influence on the region was comprehensive. The fourteen outposts established during his tenure extended up to seven hundred miles beyond the West Sea Levee. Seven hundred miles ant pushing the frontline between humans and demons forward by that exact distance. Through this, the West Sea truly began to prosper, and the West Sea Outercity gradually took shape.
Wang Rongchuan walked along the streets of the Outercity, keeping his thoughts focused on Wang Yulou, the newly appointed West Sea Chief Steward of the Wang Family.
The West Sea Immortal City was the focal point of the West Sea's prosperity. Including the Outercity, there were over thirty thousand cultivators here, the majority of whom were at the Qi Refining stage or higher. Nearly twenty thousand Qi Refining cultivators made for excellent frontline fodder during demon hunting missions. However, if they ever decided to stir up trouble, it could shake the Immortal Alliance's overarching stability.
Minor Qi Refining cultivators naturally could not resist grand cultivators. But without those Qi Refining cultivators risking their lives to hold the frontline, the demonic beasts might very well breach the Wunan heartland. That was where the true danger lay. As a result, the enforcent presence of the Immortal Alliance here was imnse.
The Immortal Alliance Emissary West Sea Headquarters was an agency directly answerable to the Immortal Alliance, governing all Foundation Establishnt and Qi Refining cultivators.
The Immortal Alliance West Sea Punishnt Court was directly subordinate to the Immortal Alliance, though administratively compliant with the West Sea Immortal City's judicial frawork, managing all Foundation Establishnt and Qi Refining cultivators within the city's system.
The Immortal Alliance West Sea Outercity Enforcent Hall was of a lower tier, operating as a localized enforcent force under the jurisdiction of the West Sea Immortal City. Their scope of responsibility was limited strictly to the West Sea Outercity. Yet, in many instances, they were the ones who acted with the greatest arrogance—this area being one of Immortal Venerable Shenguang's primary power bases. Therefore, whenever West Sea cultivators spotted enforcent officers wearing the robes of the Outercity Enforcent Hall, they would universally proceed with extre caution.
Still, this did not an an Immortal Alliance Emissary could not throw their weight around in the West Sea. Those of the Immortal Alliance were considered the elite of Wunan, a fact that held true everywhere.
Even though Wang Yulou had entered Zhou Bojiao's tutelage and joined the Information Gathering Court, he could only be counted as half a mber of the Immortal Alliance. Compared to an Emissary directly answerable to the Alliance, he was still a step behind.
Wang Rongchuan was deep in thought as he walked to deliver the letter. However, the mont he noticed a group of white-robed, rhinoceros-horn-belted Immortal Alliance dogs ahead, he hurriedly halted his steps.
Looking over, he saw those white-robed Immortal Alliance Emissaries surrounding a roadside stall, aggressively confronting the vendor.
"This seventh-grade Black Heart Marrow is produced only within the sixth-grade spiritual resource location known as the Black Water Pit. Yet, there is no Black Water Pit in the West Sea. Speak! As a rogue cultivator, where exactly did you obtain this Black Heart Marrow?"
A fair-faced Immortal Alliance Emissary repeatedly interrogated the rogue cultivator. The implication behind his words could not be more blatant. The surrounding cultivators watching the scene wore bizarre expressions, each struggling to suppress the burning hatred in their hearts.
Black Heart Marrow bore a striking resemblance to ink jade. The stall-keeping rogue cultivator had clearly misidentified it, which was why he had placed it out for sale on his stall.
Normally, if soone stumbled upon a seventh-grade spiritual material, they could easily take it outside the Military rit Court and find a broker to exchange it for battle achievents—similar to how Wang Yulou had used spirit stones to exchange for rit points through Wu Faxian in Dripdrop Cave. Now, because of a simple error in judgnt, he had displayed the Black Heart Marrow on his stall, only to be targeted by the Immortal Alliance Emissaries. The fair-faced Emissary was clearly seeking to bully this rogue cultivator due to his ignorance and weakness, using his authority to extort him in a manner no different from open robbery.
After watching for a couple of breaths, Wang Rongchuan shook his head internally and prepared to take a detour to leave.
"I don't know anything about Black Heart Marrow, let alone a Black Water Pit! This is just ink jade I retrieved from the belly of a serpent demon. Please, give it back to ," the rogue cultivator explained in a panic, reaching out to reclaim his spiritual material from the fair-faced cultivator's hand.
The fair-faced cultivator's movent was elegant, smoothly evading the rogue cultivator's hand before striking out with his sword, severing the rogue cultivator's hand at the wrist.
"To dare assault an Immortal Alliance Emissary! Take him away!" he barked righteously, masking the dark joy in his heart.
The plundered rogue cultivator looked utterly devastated, suddenly breaking into a hollow, tragic laugh. Perhaps he was laughing at how pitiable and miserable his life was, or perhaps he was laughing at how utterly despicable the Emissaries of the Immortal Alliance truly were.
A watching Foundation Establishnt cultivator finally could not take it anymore, leaping down directly from the second floor of the adjacent Bright Moon Night Inn.
"Young Master, don't!" Two female cultivators from the Moon Splendor Sect working inside the Bright Moon Night Inn rushed to the window to stop him, seeing their custor acting so recklessly. Were those people from the Immortal Alliance even human? They were viler than demonic beasts—even demonic beasts weren't this wicked! But the female cultivators' intervention ca too late.
The Foundation Establishnt cultivator who had chosen to champion justice dropped precisely between the Emissaries and the injured vendor, roaring furiously, "Hold it! Robbing a rogue cultivator of his spiritual material in broad daylight... are you people even human?"
Yet, the fair-faced Emissary who had committed the deed showed no fear toward this suddenly appearing Foundation Establishnt cultivator. Instead, he asked in a sinister tone, "Senior, does this have anything to do with you? Could it be that you are also an accomplice in this sixth-grade spiritual resource Black Water Pit smuggling case?"
Just a mont ago, the cri he fabricated for the rogue cultivator was 'assaulting an Immortal Alliance Emissary.' It was just enough to cost the rogue cultivator his life. Now that an eyesore of a Foundation Establishnt cultivator had jumped out to demand justice, he instantly slapped him with the massive charge of 'accomplice in a sixth-grade spiritual resource smuggling case'—the Immortal Alliance guarded against Foundation Establishnt cultivators even more strictly than they did against demonic beasts; a cri like this was fatal.
"The Black Water Pit couldn't possibly be darker than the hearts of you Immortal Alliance Emissaries! You simply want to steal his spiritual material, and you want to force out where he found that Black Heart Marrow. For that, you severed his hand and frad him. Now that I have stepped forward to stop you, you dare blindly claim that I am suspected of smuggling sixth-grade spiritual resources? Extravagant! Shaless! The Immortal Alliance's face has been utterly dragged through the dirt by you lot!"
This Foundation Establishnt cultivator was dressed in a light-blue robe embroidered with cyan-gold auspicious water patterns. One of the fair-faced Emissary's companions recognized his identity and mocked, "Oh, if it isn't the Golden Liquid Sword Immortal. What's the matter? Drank too much of your golden liquid? Is your brain fried from the fus? Do you want to go clear your head inside the Immortal Suppressing Pass?"
These words were incredibly vicious. Feng Disha's face turned pale with rage, and he imdiately descended into a heated argunt with the several Emissaries.
anwhile, the mont Wang Rongchuan saw Sword Immortal Feng step up to protect the man, he knew trouble was brewing. He imdiately turned tail and sprinted back toward Zhiwei Bistro to find Ancestor Jingyi and Yulou.
---
Inside Zhiwei Bistro, the little stone turtle was focused entirely on devouring a plate of braised donkey intestines. This was sothing not only Zhou Yingxi loved, but the little stone turtle inexplicably enjoyed as well.
Ancestor Jingyi had already dismissed the other Wang Clan mbers, leaving the two of them alone so they could speak freely on many matters.
"...The advantage of balancing logic with emotion that a family retains, while simultaneously using blood lineage as a bond to unite as one, is of imnse use during the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishnt stages. But for a Purple Mansion cultivator, the family model and family resource allocation are no longer enough. One must establish a sect. The Gu Family is a special case; their tea plantations cultivate varieties from north of the Wunan Cliffs, yielding a unique flavor. Thus, True Person Qiyuan can rely solely on the Gu Family to sustain himself. I've strayed from the point. In short, Yulou does not feel any pressure in his heart. The rules of ordinary mortal households have already been mostly discarded by our Wang Clan. Whether one is an elder or a junior, as long as our hearts are united for the sake of the family, we walk the sa path. Even if a few among the older generation cannot see through things temporarily, as long as Yulou acts fairly, they will gradually co to accept it."
What a cultivation family sought were the benefits of balancing logic with emotion and bloodline solidarity under the family model. Other archaic feudal family laws were nothing short of a joke to cultivators.
Seeing how clear-headed Yulou was, Ancestor Jingyi stopped worrying. She nodded with satisfaction and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Wang Jiahui?"
This manager of the immortal city's Zhiwei Bistro, who was suspected of having issues, was Yulou's elder. Furthermore, her husband's family possessed a unique background. Wang Jingyi's question was a test of how Yulou would handle the situation. Handing over a small-scale faction entirely to Yulou was an act of boldness she and Wang Xianzhou were willing to perform, but they ultimately harbored a few concerns.
"Aunt Jiahui... we shall investigate first. If the allegations are proven true, whatever needs to be repaid will be repaid. Once the debts are cleared, she will be expelled from the family."
This was what it ant to balance logic with emotion. Wang Yulou did not believe that family rules should be executed rigidly. All rules were rely tools; the ultimate objective was the core. As long as the objective could be achieved, the rules could be adapted. Those who followed rules blindly, knowing only that rules were important, were destined to remain beasts of burden under the managent of the Immortal Alliance. Those who failed to understand the boundaries of rules might not always be trapped by them. Yet, even if they luckily bypassed the limitations of the rules for a ti and secured massive gains, they would eventually reach a point in the future where the rules would no longer tolerate them. Wang Yulou believed that learning to perceive the true nature and boundaries of rules was an essential path toward becoming a grand cultivator.
"But Wang Rongchuan looks incredibly anxious. Sothing has gone wrong on Feng Disha's end," Ancestor Jingyi frowned.
Yulou shook his head, his tone firm as he reiterated the thoughts he had previously shared with the Ancestor. "Ancestor, as you can see, the West Sea is filled with the command tokens of Immortal Venerable Shenguang. Evidently, even though the Immortal Venerable has been with the Immortal Alliance for many years, he has never forgotten the place where he built his fortune. Dripdrop Cave is the sa for . Even if I beco a disciple of True Person Fujiao, the faction I left behind within Dripdrop Cave must continue to be nurtured. It must never be abandoned lightly."
Since Yulou could think of this, Ancestor Jingyi naturally would not object, but... "But Xianzhou is here to protect you. Having him by your side gives peace of mind primarily because he can teach you through his own words and actions how to navigate the complex situation of the West Sea. If you wish to send him back to Dripdrop Cave, I can agree to it and persuade both Xianzhou and the Patriarch. However, we could just send soone else. I think Rongsheng would be fine. If not, Rongwen could go as well—isn't Yuchen already at Dripdrop Cave anyway? There is no absolute need to make Xianzhou go back," Ancestor Jingyi said earnestly.
Whether Wang Rongsheng could achieve Foundation Establishnt remained an open question. Sending him to Dripdrop Cave to help stabilize Yulou's faction base would be just right. As for Wang Rongwen, sending him to Dripdrop Cave would be a bit of a waste, but since his younger son Wang Yuchen was already there, it would generally be appropriate.
"Ancestor, if Ancestor Xianzhou learns of my circumstances, his heart will be filled with bitterness. Yulou does not wish for him to suffer like that. The bitterness in his heart is similar to the bitterness in yours; both of you keep it bottled up inside without saying a word, but Yulou can see it. Furthermore, Yulou has grown up. The situation in the West Sea may be complex, but it is nothing more than a matter of forging through it. With True Person Fujiao backing , I won't be exposed to any real danger."
Once Yulou said this, Wang Jingyi fell silent. Xianzhou was her younger brother. Many years ago, the two of them had spent over a decade together within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Their relationship was exceptionally close. Wang Jingyi knew better than anyone how unyielding Wang Xianzhou's character was and how high his aspirations reached. Though she harbored her own grievances, she was still a Foundation Establishnt cultivator and had currently ford two strands of Dao foundation, leaving her with a glimr of hope for the Purple Mansion realm. But what about Wang Xianzhou? Wang Xianzhou had placed all his hopes on Yulou, counting on the youth to journey further and witness the brilliance of the world on his behalf. But now... Alas.
"Very well. However, I will send Rongjiang over. I cannot allow you to fight this battle entirely alone."
"Ancestor..."
"Say no more. Yulou, you don't know this, but our family now has six Foundation Establishnt cultivators. Xianmao and I no longer draw resources from the clan lightly, but the remaining four still require significant cultivation materials. The pressure remains imnse. Allowing your Uncle Rongjiang to co to the West Sea to assist you will also help our Wang Clan carve out a presence here much sooner. In Qingxi Market, your managent t with great success. In Dripdrop Cave, you managed to pull together two factions in less than a decade. Here in the West Sea, you have Zhou Bojiao above you and a dozen Wang Clan mbers below you. Yulou, it is ti for you to display your true capabilities."
Yulou nodded slightly, his heart surging with a profound sense of resolve. Indeed, his cultivation base had already reached the tenth layer of the Qi Refining stage, and his next step would be Foundation Establishnt. It truly was ti to display his capabilities. However, he did not reply imdiately because Wang Rongchuan ca rushing back in, his state of mind completely frantic.
"Ancestor, Yulou! Sword Immortal Feng is acting foolishly again. I went to deliver the letter, but on the way, I encountered the Immortal Alliance Emissaries robbing a rogue cultivator of his spiritual materials. Sword Immortal Feng happened to be... drinking nearby. Unable to bear the sight, he stepped forward to intervene and has ended up in a fierce argunt with several Emissaries. I realized the letter probably couldn't be delivered right now, so I rushed back to report."
Wang Yulou and Wang Jingyi exchanged a glance, both realizing that this was an excellent opportunity. Whether True Person Feng lived or died did not matter; Feng Disha was the nominal person in charge of Dripdrop Cave's presence in the West Sea. Granted, the people managed by Feng Disha in the external courtyard were all marginalized mbers of Dripdrop Cave—if they weren't marginalized, they wouldn't have been sent to the West Sea in the first place. However, if Wang Yulou could pull him over to his side, the Jade Palace Faction within Dripdrop Cave would not vanish in the future, even if Yulou himself was no longer physically present within the sect. Dripdrop Cave's West Sea external courtyard could be viewed as a specialized human resource pool. If properly sifted and selected, it held imnse potential. As Yulou's cultivation base and status continued to rise, the Jade Palace Faction would stand an excellent chance of continuing to expand even after Yulou departed from Dripdrop Cave. In other words, Dripdrop Cave had the potential to beco one of Yulou's foundational power bases, akin to what the West Sea Outercity was to Immortal Venerable Shenguang. Feng Disha had to be won over!
"Lead the way!"
---
"You lot are truly impressive. At such a young age, you already know how to fra and harm others. The Immortal Alliance belongs to all cultivators; it does not belong exclusively to you. It is written plainly within the tenets of the Immortal Alliance that its purpose is to serve all cultivators, not to force all cultivators to serve you!"
From a considerable distance away, Wang Yulou could already hear Feng Disha's furious voice. This elder of Dripdrop Cave seed incredibly naive, actually taking the slogans written by the Immortal Alliance as a re facade at face value. Such an individual was an absolute rarity within Wunan, scarcer than any so-called sixth-grade spiritual resource like the Black Water Pit. The mont his words left his mouth, many of the surrounding rogue cultivators began to cheer.
"Well said!"
"Sword Immortal Feng is mighty!"
"Sword Immortal Feng, a true man!"
Most Foundation Establishnt cultivators practiced self-preservation, or rather, all cultivators were masters of the art of staying out of trouble. Yet Feng Disha acted with such burning righteousness for the sake of justice. How could the onlookers not be moved? Humans, after all, possessed empathy. The fury that cultivators harbored toward the Immortal Alliance had been building for far longer than a day or two. No one was an idiot. The model wherein the Immortal Alliance squeezed the sects and families, and the sects and families in turn squeezed the bottom-tier rogue cultivators, beca obvious to everyone over ti. The rules of the Immortal Alliance superficially appeared to protect Qi Refining cultivators, but very few Qi Refining cultivators could see through the fact that without the Immortal Alliance, they would simply be at on a chopping block. What they believed was that if the Immortal Alliance vanished, they might be able to soar to great heights amidst the chaos—this was not surprising, it was simply human nature. Once the rule protecting Qi Refining cultivators from direct exploitation by Foundation Establishnt cultivators had existed for a long ti, the bottom-tier cultivators began to view it as a matter of course. Rather than feeling grateful for the Immortal Alliance's grace, they focused far more on its faults.
"What kind of trash are you? Since when is it your place to dictate the Immortal Alliance's rules!" the fair-faced Emissary spat with utter disdain, seeking to humiliate Feng Disha before instantly scanning the crowd for those who had just cheered. "Who cheered just now? Who cheered? Step out, step out!"
As an Immortal Alliance Emissary, he did not fear Feng Disha acting rashly; the man was nothing more than a stray dog from the lineage of a so-called Purple Mansion master. If Dripdrop Cave's True Person Feng were still active, would his descendant have been sent to the West Sea to serve as a beast of burden? What the fair-faced Emissary truly feared was that a hot-blooded Foundation Establishnt cultivator like Feng Disha stepping forward to rebel against the Immortal Alliance would incite an unfavorable trend. Therefore, his imdiate priority was to identify the instigators among the onlookers. They were undoubtedly bandit cultivators harboring treacherous designs in the dark! They had to be thoroughly purged!
"You don't need to look for anyone else. Today, you will either arrest and actually fabricate a major case of smuggling sixth-grade spiritual resources, or you will return that Black Heart Marrow to him!"
Feng Disha possessed a tall and imposing fra. Though renowned for his Golden Liquid Magic Sword, he was ultimately a proud sword cultivator. Standing there, he resembled an unsheathed sharp sword, the fury in his eyes forcing the fair-faced Emissary to flinch inwardly. The Emissary gnashed his teeth and barked, "Fine! The criminals have stepped forward on their own accord. One is you, Feng Disha, and the other is this rogue cultivator distribution fence! You have all heard it! You will testify for in the future! He stepped out himself, confessing to his involvent in this major sixth-grade spiritual resource smuggling case!"
Feng Disha's expression instantly shifted. He had not anticipated that this tyrannical and avaricious Emissary would actually push to execute him over this. Pointing at the fair-faced bandit—no, this Emissary was viler than a bandit cultivator; he deserved to be called a black-hearted Emissary—Feng Disha opened his mouth to argue. "You—"
"Enough!"
Important figures always made their appearance at the critical mont. Seeing that the situation had developed sufficiently, Yulou actively spoke up, stepping out from the crowd. As he walked, he donned the Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple robe—the low-grade spiritual-artifact-grade Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe. This magic robe had been temporarily borrowed from Ancestor Jingyi. Ancestor Jingyi naturally would not refuse him, though she had not expected that Yulou would take the destiny designed for him by Mang Xiang and Zhou Bojiao and execute a magnificent dance with it. Whatever destiny dictated was set by heaven. When a grand cultivator used their imnse power to substitute for heaven, it beca a destiny dictated by the grand cultivator. Yet Wang Yulou's attitude was to let it be. What could not be changed would be endured. Endure first, then focus entirely on developing his strength while waiting for an opportunity!
A proper opportunity for the Purple Mansion realm was temporarily out of sight, but that did not stop Yulou from using the title of a Red Lantern Core Disciple to stir up a storm in the West Sea. It was just that... Wang Yulou's manner of performance was a bit unusual. Legends spoke of a style of performance where the perforr's clothes would suddenly fall away as they danced. Yet Yulou treated the assembled cultivators to the exact opposite—a dressing performance. The way he adjusted his robes while walking appeared sowhat unrefined, but the Red Lantern Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Core Disciple robe upon his body was simply too dazzling. It was far too dazzling. Ten Thousand Nights Everbright. The Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe, which could only be donned by a Red Lantern Core Disciple, was truly extraordinary. Yulou did not suppress the robe's effects, nor could he. Upon the black-base, red-embroidered robe, individual small golden lanterns emitted a faint glow, while a light-red spiritual cadence swirled around his fra, projecting a truly magnificent montum. A spiritual-artifact-grade magic robe was sothing many Foundation Establishnt cultivators could not bear to wear. Though the Red Lantern Illumination Sect was considered an unorthodox sect, it was still officially certified by the Immortal Alliance as one of the Ten Sects that dominated Wunan. And when Wang Yulou's cultivation base at the tenth layer of the Qi Refining stage was fully displayed, Wang Rongchuan felt the very marrow of his spine tingle with awe—the identity was confird; this was undoubtedly a mber of the Wang family.
"Who are you?" the fair-faced Emissary, whose heart was darker than any sixth-grade Black Water Pit material, asked with visible caution. He recognized the Red Lantern Core Disciple robe. But weren't the Core Disciples of the Ten Sects supposed to start at the Foundation Establishnt stage?
Adjusting his cuffs, Yulou discovered that a spiritual artifact robe was indeed superior. This particular Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe had originally been custom-made for Wang Jingyi, yet the mont he put it on, it naturally adjusted itself to perfectly fit his physique. It could be said that aside from being exceptionally expensive, this piece of clothing was flawless. Lowering his sleeves, Yulou first gave an imperceptible nod toward Feng Disha before turning his gaze onto the several Emissaries, declaring proudly, "Under the tutelage of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang, Wang Yulou."
It was a classic display of asserting dominance. However, Wang Yulou had stepped forward to help Feng Disha assert dominance and strike down the arrogance of these Emissaries. Co to think of it, Yulou had never experienced the sensation of being humiliated only to turn the tables and crush his detractors. It had to be said that this was, in a sense, the price of having a cultivation journey that proceeded far too smoothly.
The mont Wang Yulou declared his na, the offending Emissaries were genuinely left at a loss. The surrounding rogue cultivators instantly grew curious about Wang Yulou's background.
"Immortal Venerable Mangxiang?"
"Idiot, it's the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's True Person Mangxiang!"
"You're wrong, that senior is about to attain Golden Core, so he naturally should be addressed as an Immortal Venerable."
"Heh, these grand cultivators are truly amusing. Purple Mansion grand cultivators aren't called grand cultivators, they're called True Persons. Golden Core True Persons aren't called True Persons, they're called Immortal Venerables. This Mang Xiang hasn't even ford his Golden Core yet, and he's already calling himself an Immortal Venerable. Then what will a true Immortal Venerable be called in the future? A Grand Immortal Venerable? Don't you think that's hilarious, Hahaha."
"..."
The mont the foolish comntary ended, the rogue cultivators standing near the speaker instantly cleared a wide path around him. Fools and eccentric individuals were scattered randomly across the cultivation world. Yulou frequently encountered all sorts of people, but one so thoroughly dense was rare. Wang Yulou turned his head, staring calmly at the laughing individual without uttering a word.
"Gulp~"
The laughing cultivator violently suppressed his terror and his frantically racing heart, which felt as though it might burst from his chest. He offered Yulou an unstable smile before dropping directly onto both knees, raising his hands to slap his own face repeatedly from left to right.
Thud!
Slap!
"I deserve to die!"
Slap!
"I will never speak blindly again!"
Slap!
"I—"
"Get lost already!" Wang Rongchuan stepped forward intelligently, acting in the capacity of Yulou's personal attendant to directly drive away this self-proclaid wit. Yulou nodded toward him, and Wang Rongchuan bowed with a smile as he stepped back.
"Let matters conclude here for today, what do you say?" Yulou turned back to the Emissaries, directly indicating that he was taking charge of this matter. Without entering into karma, how could there be a return? Great karma yielded great returns; minor karma yielded minor returns. If a cultivator harbored the grand ambition to ascend to the absolute peak, they could not afford to fear karma. Yulou might temporarily lack the opportunity to ascend to the absolute peak, but that did not an he would abandon the pursuit entirely. So-called equanimity in the face of honor or disgrace, and the ability to bend or stand tall, were nothing more than thods. Playing the cowardly lackey was a thod; playing the beloved disciple of Mang Xiang was also a thod. thods were rely bridges leading toward an ultimate objective. It was entirely a matter of keeping one's heart unclouded. If the heart remained resolute, the path would always lie beneath one's feet.
"Very well, Fellow Daoist Yulou. Since you have spoken, I, Qiu Lianpu, shall grant these insolent fools who disrespect the Immortal Alliance a reprieve. However, Fellow Daoist Yulou would do well to avoid associating with soone like Feng Disha. The Golden Liquid Sword Immortal... hmph, what a waste of a Foundation Establishnt cultivation base!" the fair-faced Emissary replied, performing a peer greeting toward Yulou with a neutral tone.
'Qiu Lianpu... he should be a mber of the clan under True Person Qiu of Lotus Immortal City,' Ancestor Jingyi, who was providing backup from the shadows, reminded Yulou via transmission.
Wang Yulou remained silent, rely giving Qiu Lianpu a slight nod, maintaining an exceptionally haughty posture. Qiu Lianpu paid no mind to Wang Yulou's arrogance; he was backed by Immortal Venerable Mangxiang, after all. Glaring at Feng Disha, he prepared to lead his n away with the Black Heart Marrow, but Feng Disha was unwilling to let it rest.
"You cannot simply leave like this. Leave behind the Black Heart Marrow you stole from him!" Feng Disha demanded.
Rising up in the face of injustice, stepping forward to speak for righteousness, solely to help an absolute stranger reclaim the most basic interest that rightfully belonged to him... Yulou finally understood what kind of person Feng Disha truly was. He was rely a pitiable soul who should never have achieved Foundation Establishnt. After achieving Foundation Establishnt, a cultivator stood at a higher vantage point. Standing higher allowed one to see things clearly, and even the most foolish person would sober up. And following that sobriety ca an imnse tide of suffering. Why did Yuan Daoshen battle so fiercely against Zhuo Yinsheng? Why had he targeted Wang Yulou three tis? It was due to bitterness—the boundless bitterness of a sea of suffering. In a sense, the seemingly crazed old Yuan was also rely struggling. Everyone was struggling; everyone was enduring within their own self-interest. Even Wang Yulou, who had crossed over from another world, had gradually and hypocritically integrated himself into this man-eating system of rules. Yet Feng Disha had sohow avoided being refined by this cruel world—he was actually trying to be a good person.
"Wang Yulou, is this your intention as well?" Qiu Lianpu ignored Feng Disha, turning his gaze onto Yulou instead. From the perspective of an elite lineage descendant of the Immortal Alliance, Foundation Establishnt cultivators were nothing more than slightly larger ants. The world contained only two kinds of people: those belonging to grand cultivators, and those who served as ants and fodder. The forr included grand cultivators along with their lackeys and tentacles; the latter included the so-called Foundation Establishnt cultivators. He assud Wang Yulou and himself were of the sa kind.
"No, this is my intention!" A gentle yet powerful voice resonated from afar, and an unusual seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator appeared above the heads of the crowd.
"Senior Changze, it has been a long ti." Mu Changze walked through the air, arriving beside Yulou in a re two steps. He scanned Yulou up and down before laughing rrily, "Yulou, I knew this robe would look splendid on you, Hahaha."
Patting Yulou on the shoulder, Mu Changze turned his gaze toward the Emissaries, his tone turning slightly solemn. "The Immortal Alliance Emissaries operating within West Sea Immortal City have no business investigating smuggling cases. That is the duty of our Punishnt Court. Everyone focusing on their own responsibilities is the only way to ensure no issues arise. I suggest you young fellows refrain from crossing the line in the future." As he spoke, Mu Changze's voice dropped lower, his threat becoming entirely explicit. "Otherwise, if you happen to run into the Outercity Enforcent Hall, even if they strike down and kill you, Qiu Lianpu, True Person Qiu won't be able to do anything about it. Lianpu, wouldn't you agree?"
Little brat, you've overstepped your bounds! Mu Changze first emphasized that everyone should keep to their respective roles, then highlighted that the Outercity Enforcent Hall possessed the authority to execute Emissaries. This was actually a reminder to Qiu Lianpu that his greed might instead grant the lackeys of Shenguang an opportunity to expand their influence.
"Senior Mu, today was rely a montary oversight on my part." Mu Changze was a local expert of the West Sea. This cheap father-in-law of Wang Yulou possessed powerful cultivation, and after seven or eight years without eting, the deer antlers on his head had grown significantly longer. Now that he had taken up his post alongside Zhou Bojiao, he had imdiately beco the seal-holder of the Punishnt Court upon arrival. Within West Sea Immortal City, aside from the eleven True Persons, real authority rested with elite Foundation Establishnt cultivators of Mu Changze's caliber. Faced with him, Qiu Lianpu naturally did not dare act presumptuously.
"Co, Fellow Daoist, here is your Black Heart Marrow. Oh, and here is your hand. Take it back and cleanse it, and it can still be reattached. A misunderstanding... today was entirely a misunderstanding." Seeing that the rogue cultivator vendor was left with only one hand, Qiu Lianpu placed the Black Heart Marrow upon the severed hand and stuffed the severed hand into the rogue cultivator's remaining good hand. Superficially, it presented a rather touching display of harmony between an Immortal Alliance Emissary and a rogue cultivator. Of course, it would have been better if the rogue cultivator's tears weren't flowing like a stream.
'Senior Sister Jingyi, Yulou, I still have duties to attend to, so I shall take my leave first,' Mu Changze transmitted. He had naturally noticed Wang Jingyi hiding within the crowd to provide backup for Yulou. Seeing that the Ancestor had no intention of stepping forward, he sent a greeting via transmission before leading away the several Emissaries who had overstepped their bounds. Feng Disha lacked the standing to openly criticize the Immortal Alliance, but Mu Changze was different. He was the seal-holder of the Immortal Alliance West Sea Punishnt Court; disciplining a few low-ranking Emissaries who had crossed over into his jurisdiction was as simple as a ga to him. Qiu Lianpu had been blinded by greed upon seeing the Black Heart Marrow produced by the rogue cultivator, foolishly hoping to uncover a hidden Black Water Pit, which led to today's disturbance and handed Mu Changze a perfect excuse to assert himself. With an opportunity in hand, old Mu could not possibly pass it up. Delivering a sharp warning to these Qi Refining Emissaries would also allow the veteran officers within the Punishnt Court to witness his resolve.
After arranging to et with Feng Disha the following morning at Dripdrop Cave's West Sea external courtyard, Yulou departed as well. His residence had not yet been finalized. Ancestor Jingyi intended to arrange an excellent location for him, but since West Sea Immortal City possessed far too many pri spots, selecting one proved to be sowhat troubleso. With no further spectacle to watch, the crowd completely dispersed. The rogue cultivator, having survived the ordeal, tucked away his Black Heart Marrow. Bending down, he used his single remaining good hand to gather up the wares scattered upon his stall. A shadow fell across his stall. Feng Disha looked down, drawing out a spiritual pill to hand to him, advising, "Flee as far as you can, and do not return to the West Sea anyti soon. Consu this ridian-Sustaining Pill imdiately, and your hand can still be saved." Having spoken, he turned and walked toward the adjacent Bright Moon Night Inn.
The rogue cultivator struck his head against the ground three tis toward Feng Disha's retreating figure. When he finally looked up, his forehead was already badly bruised.
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