Feng Disha was unique. His appearance left Yulou in a mont of silence.
Yulou recalled his past self. When he first stepped into the cultivation world, he had faced a similar situation.
The result back then was Gao Jian whipping a rogue cultivator to death in the middle of the street while the Immortal Alliance personnel turned a blind eye—only becoming annoyed because blood splashed onto their clothes. He simply thought that was the limit of the Immortal Alliance Emissaries.
Only now did he understand that the authority of an Immortal Alliance Emissary was actually so imnse. Therefore, the ruthlessness Ancestor Xianzhou occasionally revealed was not surprising.
However, Yulou would certainly not enjoy the Ancestor's protection while secretly cursing Ancestor Xianzhou for being a terrible person. How did the saying go again?
Certain eras turn n into ghosts, and certain eras turn ghosts into n. The rules of the cultivation world were set in stone.
Wang Xianzhou did not have a True Person Ancestor, and Wang Yulou did not have a True Person Ancestor. The Wang Clan was too weak; they had no right to act with such reckless abandon like Feng Disha.
Moreover, Feng Jianxian also almost fell into a trap today.
"Yulou, what do you think of Feng Disha's actions?"
Wang Jingyi had never cared much about Yulou's specific cultivation progress. In her view, cultivation before Foundation Establishnt was not true cultivation at all; it was rely a beginner's phase of grinding away ti and resources.
Both she and Patriarch Wang Xianmao focused more on the growth of Yulou's innate talents as a cultivator. The Patriarch back in Clear Stream Market was like this, and Ancestor Jingyi was the sa now.
Improving one's cultivation base was a form of cultivation, but learning how to beco a 'qualified' cultivator was also a form of cultivation. There was no high or low distinction between the two.
It was rely a difference in stages and focus. Wang Yulou was still young, so he needed to prioritize the latter. Once his innate talents were fully realized, the importance of the forr would naturally take precedence.
"In Yulou's opinion, there is a certain inevitability to Feng Jianxian reaching this point. True Person Feng is a True Person, thus Feng Jianxian can enjoy True Person Feng's protection. Even if he occasionally offended people for interests that were not his own, there would be no dangerous consequences. But as his cultivation base increases, through offending people ti and ti again, he will inevitably hit a boundary, and then, he will smash his head until it bleeds. If True Person Feng was still managing the family, he could not have sat idly by and watched Feng Jianxian beco what he is today."
What was true? What was false? What was right? What was wrong? What was discipline and guidance? What was the hidden truth?
In Wunan, there were no demonic cultivators. The winners were all Immortal Venerables.
In a cultivation world where strength reigned supre, incompetent kindness held little value. If Feng Disha truly wanted to save people, to save more people, his most rational choice would be to fully elevate his cultivation base, reach the very peak of the cultivation world, and then cleanse the universe.
Kindness did not directly equate to justice. Justice itself was defined by people; the justice of the winner was the only justice. aning itself had no aning; only the winner could impart aning.
"Feng Disha's appearance today is not simple. He might have been faking it," Wang Jingyi reminded him.
"I told you three things earlier. The third was that the West Sea is a mix of fish and dragons, and human hearts are hard to fathom. If Feng Disha is truly a foolish, incompetent, weak, and kind-hearted person, then his story of using the Golden Liquid Magic Sword to smoke out and knock unconscious a Great Demon black dog is highly suspicious. If that story is true, it shows he is unconstrained in his thods and possesses true, profound wisdom. The Golden Liquid Magic Sword seems laughable, but a win is a win. Unconstrained in his thods and wise, yet still unwilling to submit to the rules governed by Wunan and the entire Immortal Alliance... then this person's character... is worth befriending."
Wang Jingyi's words were not pleasant to hear, but Yulou realized he had actually been foolish in his assessnt of Feng Disha.
"Ancestor, your reminder is correct. Yulou has not seen such a person in a long ti, and for a mont, I actually forgot to consider whether his actions were genuine or feigned."
This was where Wang Yulou's agility and wisdom lay. It was rely a small mistake, but he was able to listen to the Ancestor's advice and was willing to reflect. This was true intelligence.
Ancestor Jingyi slightly lifted her chin, pointing to a magnificent estate in front of them, and smiled.
"Hahaha, let's stop talking about him. You can judge for yourself. This Gu Family Tea House is more than just a tea house. We will stay here temporarily tonight."
"Weren't we looking for a residence? Wait until tomorrow?" Yulou asked, confused.
"The Gu Clan's True Person Qiyuan, the Tea King, is a fascinating individual. He hasn't joined any sect, but he manages the Gu Family exceptionally well. Spirit tea is the Gu Family's specialty. Therefore, he opened Gu Family Tea Houses in nurous immortal cities under the Immortal Alliance's jurisdiction. They are called tea houses, but in reality, they are places for intelligence exchange. If you arrive at a place completely in the dark, you can enter a Gu Family Tea House to gather information and seek temporary refuge. The Gu Family will not sell the accommodation information of its custors. As long as you are not being directly hunted by a True Person of the Immortal Alliance, you can safely leave through the secret passages of the Gu Family Tea House after staying here. Let's go, let's head in."
Ancestor Jingyi gave a brief introduction and then led Yulou into the magnificent estate. It was called a tea house, but this tea house took up a massive plot of land within the Western Sea Immortal City, built to look like a sprawling mansion. Carved beams and painted pillars were rely standard; the embellishnt of spiritual flowers was what truly made it extraordinary.
Upon entering the estate gates of the Gu Family Tea House, they were greeted by a first-layer Qi Refining female cultivator. Yulou cast a light glance and imdiately understood this was yet another Qi Refining cultivator who had relied on breakthrough pills to overco a bottleneck. With the exact sa level of cultivation, one could be the Chief Manager of the Flavorful Bistro in Clear Stream Market, or the Chief Manager of the Flavorful Bistro in the Subsidiary City of the West Sea. But in the Gu Family Tea House, she could only serve as a welcoming maid. The prominence of the Gu Family, a Purple Palace lineage, could be glimpsed from this alone.
"Seniors, are you here to drink tea or listen to tunes?"
The maid smiled gracefully, curtsying before asking in a lodic voice. Ancestor Jingyi didn't move an inch, explicitly explaining to Yulou.
"Drinking tea ans exactly that. But if you answer 'drink one bowl', it ans you plan to stay here for one night. Answering 'ten bowls' ans ten days. The accommodation fees at the Gu Family Tea House are not low, but you stay in peace, so it's worth it. As for listening to tunes, that corresponds to buying and selling intelligence. There are three types of coded phrases here. Saying 'I want to hear a new tune composed by the Gu Family' ans buying information. Saying 'I heard a nice tune elsewhere, I wonder if the Gu Family Tea House has it' ans selling information. Saying 'The tune I want to hear might not be available here' ans you want to speak directly with the manager of this branch. Don't call out the last one casually. The mont you say it, the starting price is one hundred spirit stones—the Gu Family Tea House manager will pour you a good cup of tea, and whether you drink it or not, you have to pay. As for what can be negotiated, or whether your goal can be achieved, that has nothing to do with the spirit stones you pay for the tea."
Listening to the Ancestor's explanation, Yulou better understood the gap between rogue cultivators and cultivators with strong backing. Just walking through the doors of the Gu Family Tea House involved so many unspoken rules. If the Ancestor hadn't personally explained it, how could he have known these things?
The welcoming female cultivator looked slightly startled. Having been a greeter maid for so many years, this was the first ti she had seen soone teaching a lesson right on the spot. The Wang Clan mbers were like that; they didn't care much about the stares of outsiders when doing things.
After the Ancestor finished explaining, she looked at the maid and smiled.
"What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear say I want to see your manager?"
"Hahaha, Junior Sister Jingyi, you, ah, you. Aren't you just secretly cursing us? Let alone one pot of spirit tea, even if you co to drink every day, I won't charge you a single spirit stone, okay?"
A hearty and generous voice approached from afar. The owner of the voice appeared directly in front of the shadow wall right before Yulou's eyes. He nodded at Wang Jingyi, smiling helplessly as he shook his head.
"Brother Qilang? Why were you dispatched to the West Sea?"
Clearly, Wang Jingyi knew this Gu Qilang. She addressed him directly by na and even added the word 'brother'. Their relationship seed quite good. Yulou noticed that the Ancestor was actually sowhat pleasantly surprised.
"This is not the place to talk. Co, let's go drink so spirit tea that doesn't cost spirit stones, hahaha."
Evidently, Gu Qilang wasn't too happy with Wang Jingyi's sarcastic remarks, emphasizing once again that it wouldn't cost spirit stones. However, their relationship was clearly out of the ordinary. Wang Jingyi didn't mind his teasing at all, even smiling and stating that she wouldn't drink anything below the sixth grade. Simultaneously, Ancestor Jingyi pulled Yulou along, secretly sending a voice transmission.
'Gu Qilang is a close friend of my late husband. Yulou, you have another elder in the West Sea now. Brother Qilang is trustworthy.'
The Gu Family Tea House was a tea house in na, but it no longer resembled its original form. Inside the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea, there were only small, private courtyards. Cultivators drank tea in private; there was absolutely none of that foolish layout where everyone sat in a large hall, one table per person. To put it bluntly, the Gu Family Tea House was now operating an intelligence business; spirit tea was just a supplentary side venture.
The group arrived at a side courtyard deep within the Gu Family Tea House, sat down, and began to chat.
"Jingyi, I didn't expect you to still be in the dark. That good ancestor of yours requested an edict from Qingrui in the Immortal Alliance. The various vassal sects and vassal families under the Red Lantern Illumination Sect will send a total of three thousand Qi Refining cultivators to the West Sea to serve as fodder for demonic beasts. That's why the Ancestor transferred here from Lotus Immortal City—Perfected Man Fujiao taking office in the West Sea is likely far from simple. The ancestor's calculations are fierce; no one can see through them clearly."
With his very first sentence, Gu Qilang dropped a massive bombshell. Zhou Bojiao taking office in the West Sea after taking a master—no one quite understood the profound aning behind this arrangent yet. But Mang Xiang clearly had designs on the West Sea. This could be seen from Qingrui's edict.
Yulou fell silent. With a single order from a Grand Cultivator, three thousand Qi Refining cultivators were entering the West Sea. How many would ultimately make it back alive?
"How many disciples did Dripdrop Cave send over?" Wang Jingyi suppressed the unease in her heart and asked.
Gu Qilang pointed at Yulou and teased.
"Fifty. Didn't your Wang Yulou also co over? Yuan Daoshen probably never imagined that Zhou Bojiao would take the ancestor as his master. With Perfected Man Fujiao here, Yulou naturally won't face any danger in the West Sea."
Too professional. Way too professional. He even knew the specific details of the internal conflicts within Dripdrop Cave. The Gu Family was indeed in the intelligence business. Gu Qilang, the manager of the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea, was extraordinary. With just a few sentences, he made Wang Yulou's heart flutter with panic. Did he know anything else?
"Stop scaring him, Brother Lang. Yulou will marry Perfected Man Fujiao's Yingxi in a few days, so he can be considered to have entered the ancestor's tutelage. Perfected Man Fujiao casually arranged a position for him in the immortal city. I was just considering that I need to find him a better residence. That's why I ca to your tea house to inquire. I didn't expect you to be here. You must pay attention to this matter."
Wang Yulou had his cultivation base elevated by Danri first, and then he married the daughter of Zhou Bojiao's family? Gu Qilang suppressed the shock in his heart, kept a smile on his face, and replied humorously.
"You can drink the spirit tea for free, but you have to pay the spirit stones to rent the residence."
Wang Jingyi was the one who had sarcastically complained about the Gu Family Tea House's exorbitant fees first, so she couldn't bla Gu Qilang for firing back. Therefore, Ancestor Jingyi could only glare at her old friend and, with a hint of a smile, pull out a sum of spirit stones from her pocket.
"Take this deposit of five hundred spirit stones first. Yulou and I will stay with you until we find a residence."
Gu Qilang's face hardened, and he said with slight dissatisfaction.
"Jingyi, we haven't seen each other for a re forty years, and you're acting this distant? It's not appropriate, is it? You and Yulou can stay as you please. As long as Yulou has any information in the future, just sell it to frequently, hahaha."
It seed generous, but it wasn't purely unconditional generosity. The first part of Gu Qilang's words carried the teasing intimacy of friends, but the second part had an air of seriousness and business.
Once again, Yulou witnessed the extraordinary nature of seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators. In truth, since entering the cultivation world, every seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator he had t had been far from a fool. Idiots could be pushed to Foundation Establishnt by major clans, but they rarely beca seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators capable of holding their own. From Mu Changze, Wang Xianmao, and Jiang Baobian, to Yuan Daoshen, Wang Jingyi, Zhuo Yinsheng, Guo Baichi, Lin ngyao, and the Gu Qilang sitting before him. All of these seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators, whether in worldly wisdom or cultivation base and divine abilities, were incredibly formidable.
"We should still pay the spirit stones. Don't lead Yulou astray. Spreading rumors recklessly will cause trouble." Ancestor Jingyi shook her head, rejecting her old friend's 'good intentions'.
"Jingyi, you're treating too much like an outsider. Yulou is your junior, and he is also my junior. Gathering intelligence is rely my job. As for staying here... don't even talk about staying for a day or two. In my opinion, Yulou doesn't even need to pick a residence. He can just live here directly, for as long as he wants. As for intelligence, if Yulou wants to sell, he can sell. If he doesn't want to, I absolutely won't pry. How about this, Yulou? If I ever ask inappropriate questions, report it truthfully to your Ancestor Jingyi, and let her hack to death with a single sword strike!"
Gu Qilang was truly a fascinating character. He completely disregarded formalities, acting remarkably similar to how Wang Yulou treated Lin ngyao. Back before Yulou and Lin Ying were even married, he treated Lin ngyao with the reverence owed to his own ancestor every single day, securing plenty of support in the process. Status wasn't sothing you gave yourself, but you could control your posture. The secret to relationships, besides the inherent value of both parties, lay in one's posture. Wang Yulou was clearly a rising star in Mang Xiang's lineage. Gu Qilang wanted to pull him close and build a relationship, so he naturally was willing to adopt a very humble posture. And since Gu Qilang was the manager of the Gu Family Tea House in the West Sea, Ancestor Jingyi considered that since Wang Yulou would be operating in the West Sea, he might very well need Gu Qilang's help soday. Therefore, facing Old Gu's posture, it was hard for her to say, 'You're being a bit too presumptuous.' This was exactly Gu Qilang's skill level.
"We still need to pick a residence. After Yulou and Zhou Yingxi get married, he can't exactly bring Zhou Yingxi to live here with you. Brother Qilang, bring out the information you have on residences currently for sale. We'll pick a few suitable ones today and go inspect them on-site tomorrow."
How did one beco a qualified intelligence broker? Gu Qilang had already extracted three pieces of information from Wang Jingyi's words. First, Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi's union was not a matrilocal marriage—it wasn't the sa situation as Mu Changze. Second, they were buying a residence, not renting one. The Wang Clan might be planning to develop in the West Sea; Wang Jingyi's earlier display of ignorance regarding the ancestor's plans might have been an act, for Patriarch Mangxiang was scheming for sothing massive. Third, Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi's wedding was likely happening within a dozen days or so. Otherwise, Wang Jingyi wouldn't be in such a rush, deciding on general targets today and doing on-site inspections tomorrow.
Gu Qilang sent out a voice transmission, and within monts, an employee of the Gu Family arrived carrying the relevant docunts. This manager of the Gu Family in the West Sea activated a special spiritual artifact. Amidst shifting spiritual resonance, the layout of the Western Sea Immortal City and its Subsidiary City unfolded before them. The streets and buildings in the immortal city and Subsidiary City appeared in a hazy form on the sand table constructed of spiritual resonance. Gu Qilang lightly activated an art, and over seventy faint red dots materialized on the azure sand table.
"These seventy-plus estates are all for sale. Look, there are twenty-seven in the immortal city and forty-five in the Subsidiary City, varying in size. In terms of price, the ones in the immortal city are more expensive, and they aren't easy to liquidate. My suggestion is to just buy one in the Subsidiary City. If you want to sell it later, you can get rid of it quickly."
Gu Qilang wasn't just simply offering advice; he was also testing the true thoughts of Wang Jingyi, who might know Mang Xiang's objectives. Buying in the immortal city versus buying in the Subsidiary City held completely different anings.
"How much is this one?" Ancestor Jingyi pointed to a glowing red estate and asked.
The spiritual resonance sand table instantly morphed. The indicated residence rapidly expanded, transforming from an inconspicuous dot into a small courtyard about the size of a plate. The scenery inside the courtyard was hazy, but the general layout of the surroundings was relatively clear.
"This is the seventeenth house on the second avenue of West Sea Ward in the immortal city. Most of the residents in West Sea Ward are Foundation Establishnt rogue cultivators from the outside. The courtyard is small, and the price is relatively cheaper—eighty thousand spirit stones."
Hiss... Eighty thousand spirit stones. Wang Yulou sucked in a breath of cold air. The housing prices inside the immortal city seed a bit steep.
"How big is it exactly?"
Wang Jingyi didn't panic in the slightest. Spending eighty thousand spirit stones to buy a safe and inheritable estate in the immortal city seed expensive, but it was the market price.
"Five and a half zhang wide, seven zhang long. Two courtyards, eight rooms, and one hall, complete with a small garden. A standard Foundation Establishnt residence, capable of comfortably housing dozens of people."
"Housing dozens of people is a bit cramped. What about that one?"
Housing dozens of people is a bit cramped? Pondering the intelligence he had just probed out, Gu Qilang smiled and continued his introductions.
"The second house on the seventh avenue of Ten Thousand Dharmas Ward in the Subsidiary City. A great location, right next to the branch compound of the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team. Seventy thousand spirit stones. Six zhang wide, ten zhang long. Two courtyards, ten rooms, one hall, but it only has one water pool. Also a good choice."
Yulou thought to himself, 'Indeed, the immortal suburbs cannot compare to the inner ring of the immortal city.' It was twice as large as the previous property, yet the price was significantly cheaper.
"Hmm... how about this? Introduce the most expensive one and the cheapest one."
Ancestor Jingyi changed her line of questioning, confusing both Yulou and Gu Qilang.
"The most expensive... the most expensive one would be this place."
The spiritual resonance sand table shifted rapidly, and the perspective zood straight into the very center of the Western Sea Immortal City.
"The forr site of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda, the fourth house on Heaven's Mandate Street in the Western Sea Immortal City. This place is not for living; it's ant for opening a shop. There is no set price. You need to negotiate the specific price with Xihai Qingfeng, the manager of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda. I'm guessing it starts at least around four to five million spirit stones."
The forr site of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda, Xihai Qingfeng, four to five million spirit stones. Wang Jingyi shook her head, indicating she wouldn't consider it. Gu Qilang wasn't surprised. If the Wang family could actually afford it, he would have to imdiately report to Gu Qiyuan: 'Ancestor, sothing massive is happening.'
"The cheapest one is in the Rogue Cultivator Ward of the Subsidiary City. I don't even know which specific house this is anymore. It's only five thousand spirit stones. A standard two-by-three-zhang courtyard in the Rogue Cultivator Ward. It's a bit small, but it's cheap and highly liquid. It's actually very easy to sell."
Yulou nodded to himself. Sure enough, in the cultivation world, the old, dilapidated, and tiny properties in the central areas of immortal cities were easy to liquidate. What should this be called? A rogue cultivator's first starter ho in an immortal city?
"Start introducing from the third most expensive one. We'll look at them one by one. We can't buy sothing too cheap."
Even though she asked to start from the third most expensive, Wang Jingyi's lavishness still slightly surprised Gu Qilang.
"The third most expensive..."
Gu Qilang presented, Wang Jingyi listened, occasionally asking for Yulou's opinion. Ultimately, they settled on eight potential properties, arranging to view them in person tomorrow.
---
Old Gu was reliable. He arranged for them to stay in the second cheapest courtyard within the Gu Family Tea House. The implication was clear: 'You really can stay for free, I'm not joking.' However, neither Wang Jingyi nor Wang Yulou intended to take advantage of this petty favor.
"Ancestor, the estates you selected are all very expensive. Didn't you ntion that our Wang Clan is struggling to supply the cultivation resources for our Foundation Establishnt cultivators?"
The sun was setting, casting a dim glow. Yulou and Ancestor Jingyi sat facing each other at a stone table in the courtyard.
"You just need to provide the spirit stones. Don't you still have a sum of spirit stones?"
Wang Jingyi's words left Yulou slightly confused.
"I can pay, but..."
The ownership of the spirit stones naturally belonged to the clan; they were simply being kept in Yulou's storage bag temporarily. Yulou still understood the broader picture. The clan treated him well, and he certainly wouldn't be stingy at a ti like this.
"Hahaha, Yulou, you are marrying Zhou Yingxi. Zhou Bojiao absolutely must cover the resources for your Foundation Establishnt! The spirit stones you saved up previously can all be used to buy the estate. If Zhou Bojiao refuses to pay, just wait slowly. We are in no rush. Of course, if Zhou Bojiao is truly stingy and refuses to bring up the matter of your Foundation Establishnt resources for twenty years, the clan will also arrange them for you."
So that was it. Yulou understood. Right, I've suffered such a huge grievance to act as a stepping stone for Zhou Yingxi. As my master and ancestor, shouldn't Zhou Bojiao help achieve Foundation Establishnt sooner? Towards the Wang Clan, Wang Yulou's loyalty was absolute. Towards Zhou Bojiao, this new ancestor and new master, that was a completely different story.
"Ancestor, regarding the spirit stones Yulou holds, Old Yuan compensated with one hundred thousand, which is one portion. Before coming to the West Sea, I exchanged Dripdrop Cave rit points for another portion. Adding the inco from the River Bend Fishing Port and the Exchange Conference, I currently have a total of one hundred and fifty thousand. I originally wanted to use these spirit stones to exchange for another life-extending pill for Ancestor Xianzhou. But looking at the current situation, with three thousand Qi Refining cultivators entering the West Sea, if I put in a little effort, earning a huge windfall shouldn't be difficult. I can contribute one hundred and forty thousand spirit stones. What do you think?"
Out of the one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, the vast majority were originally prepared by Yulou for his cultivation. Rapid cultivation required an astronomical amount of resources, and the diminishing marginal utility of spirit pills was severe. As a result, True Person Danri had directly pulled him from the sixth layer to the tenth layer. Consequently, Ancestor Xianzhou no longer needed to follow by his side, and the cultivation resources he had saved up were spared.
"No need. Contributing one hundred thousand will be roughly enough. We also can't appear too wealthy. One hundred thousand is more than enough to buy a good estate in the immortal city. Let's do this: Tomorrow, go et Feng Disha, and then report to the Information Gathering Court. Tomorrow, your Uncle Qilang and I will go inspect the selected candidates in person, picking the top three out of the best. The day after tomorrow, you will personally decide which one to choose. We need to settle the matter of the residence as quickly as possible."
After Zhou Yingxi and Yulou married, Yulou certainly wouldn't be marrying into her family; Zhou Bojiao didn't have that much face. Thus, Yulou needed a respectable residence for the newlywed couple to live in. Furthermore, as the supervisor of over a dozen Wang Clan mbers in the West Sea, Yulou's residence would also serve as their living quarters. Therefore, it was only right for it to be larger and more expensive. The Ancestor's arrangents were very thorough. Yulou nodded in agreent, but he had noticed an oddity today.
"Ancestor, why is Gu Qilang in the sa generation as True Person Qiyuan?"
Ancestor Jingyi nodded in satisfaction. Yulou was indeed sharp; he paid attention even to minor details.
"Our clan's genealogy dictates that male mbers follow a generational sequence separated by centuries, while female mbers are nad freely. However, the generational naming conventions differ between clans. For Qingrui, she attained the Dao as a female cultivator. In her clan, the won follow generational naming, while the n do not. You are also aware of the Zhuo Clan in Dripdrop Cave. Only seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators are granted generational nas. Regular Foundation Establishnt cultivators like Zhuo Chi don't even have a generational na. True Person Gu is a fascinating person, possessing exceptional talent in the art of business managent. In the Gu Family, generational nas can be bought. The status of a Gu Family disciple can also be bought and upgraded. Although the Gu Family is a clan, in reality, it has already taken on the form of a sect. For example, you could buy a 'Tong' character na, making you a core disciple or elder of the Gu Family. If you made contributions, you could even be promoted to the 'Qi' generation. This thod is very interesting. It's precisely because of this unique model, combined with their specialty spirit tea, that the Gu Family has developed to where it is today."
The cultivation world was indeed extraordinarily vibrant. The Grand Cultivators truly led their own trends. True Person Gu Qiyuan's model of 'selling generational nas' was brimming with boundless creativity. Yulou felt a surge of pressure. Mang Xiang, Shen Guang, Gu Qiyuan, Gong Jiusheng, Hong Li, Zhuzhao, Qingrui... these Grand Cultivators were all so extraordinary. How hard would he have to fight to stand alongside them, or perhaps even stand higher?
"What is it? What are you thinking about?" Seeing the child fall silent, Ancestor Jingyi asked.
Wang Yulou smiled. Standing up from the stone stool and spreading his arms towards the heavy sunset, he laid bare his true feelings in a rare mont of openness.
"Ancestor, you once said that every Purple Mansion True Man charts their own course, and every Golden Core Immortal Venerable is a legend. Yulou is thinking: Is the cage of Wunan and the Immortal Alliance, and my current predicant of losing the opportunity for a proper Purple Palace advancent, the beginning of a certain legend? This cage is so sturdy, so tight, and the restrictions placed on by the Patriarch and Perfected Man Fujiao are so imnse. The path ahead of Yulou is incredibly, incredibly difficult. But didn't every legendary Golden Core Immortal Venerable, every extraordinary Purple Mansion True Man, walk up from the most arduous of paths? Shen Guang Immortal Venerable started as a rogue cultivator with a five-elent spirit root and killed his way out of the West Sea to achieve his Dao. Every other True Person, every other Immortal Venerable, has experienced situations far more difficult than mine now, and they crashed their way through. Just as the saying goes: Body locked, temporarily taking the posture of a hidden abyss; shackles broken, soaring upward like a rainbow piercing the sun. No matter how difficult the path ahead, Yulou will keep walking with hope in his heart!"
Wang Jingyi remained motionless for a long ti. She wanted to say, 'Wang Yulou, you possess the aptitude for the Purple Palace.' But she felt those words were inappropriate. She couldn't pander to Wang Yulou too much. His path was not easy to walk. If she gave him too much hope, and in the future he ended up like Xianzhou...
"Take your ti, Yulou, do not rush. You are the most extraordinary Qilin child of our clan. Even if... go rest."
Yulou bowed respectfully and didn't say anything more. Family, individual, sect, ancestor, Immortal Alliance... this cultivation world was too complex. The only thing he could decide was himself.
---
Yulou was very interested in the person known as Feng Disha. Among the reasons, the foremost was profit. This was not shaful. The prerequisite for not speaking of profit was having a surplus, and Wang Yulou had no surplus. Every Immortal Alliance cultivator owed the Immortal Alliance an infinite debt of gratitude. As a disciple of the Wang Clan, a vassal of Mang Xiang, Yulou owed Mang Xiang an additional debt of gratitude. Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay. Having enjoyed the conveniences of being under Mang Xiang's tutelage, he had to bear the price; he couldn't hide from it.
Apart from the profit motive, Yulou also harbored a deep admiration in his heart for Sword Immortal Feng's moral integrity in speaking out against injustice. This caused him to subconsciously forget to be guarded, forming a preconceived positive impression of Feng Disha directly. Therefore, in the morning, before the agreed-upon ti, Yulou arrived early at the entrance of Feng Disha's estate. Perhaps inherited from the Feng Family, Feng Disha's estate was located in the best section of the Subsidiary City. It was large, beautiful, and exceptionally grand.
Yulou had only stood in front of the door for a mont when the main gates swung open from the inside. Sword Immortal Feng, dressed in a Dripdrop Cave elder's Tiannei Auspicious Water magic robe, walked out with a smile.
"I know about your situation. Old Yuan is a piece of trash, but now that you've co to the West Sea, you're safe. Yesterday, when you walked out wearing the Red Lantern Illumination Sect core disciple robe, the face of that little beast from the Qiu Family completely changed, hahaha. Since you helped out so greatly, co, I'll take you to a good place to properly thank you."
Elder Disha was a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator. His entire cultivation base was introverted and condensed, yet he actually used a tone of peer-level camaraderie with Wang Yulou. Clearly, he truly was a person of spontaneous temperant.
"Elder, Yulou wouldn't dare claim credit. Furthermore, I am not yet a core disciple of Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Even if I do beco one, I will still rember the grace of Dripdrop Cave." Wang Yulou followed Sword Immortal Feng's words and spewed so nonsense.
It was impossible to give up his identity as a Dripdrop Cave disciple. Anyway, Dripdrop Cave was a vassal of Hongdengzhao. It was nothing more than the status of a Hongdengzhao core disciple offering broader horizons, but no matter where he was, he was contributing to Hongdengzhao.
"Oh? Then where did you get the Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe?" Feng Disha asked suspiciously.
"My Ancestor Jingyi escorted here. She is a Red Lantern Illumination Sect core disciple. Elder Feng, Yulou sought you out this ti for two matters..."
Sword Immortal Feng waved his hand and directly summoned a flashy golden artifact flying chariot. However, he didn't operate it himself, instead having his spirit beast, the Black Dragon Steed, pull it.
"Who discusses business on the street? Get on, Martial Uncle will take you to broaden your horizons."
Yulou naturally had no reason to refuse, so he hopped onto Sword Immortal Feng's golden flying chariot. Pulled by the Great Demon Black Dragon Steed, the golden flying chariot paraded through the streets of the Subsidiary City with the most flamboyant swagger. Sword Immortal Feng deliberately had the Black Dragon Steed control its speed so he could greet acquainted cultivators as they went. As half a local of the West Sea, Sword Immortal Feng still had quite a bit of face in this area. He was known for being zealous in helping others, after all. Aside from borrowing spirit stones, everything else was up for discussion. After all, being zealous in helping others didn't make him a bottomless well of wealth. Given the cultivators' demand for spirit stones, even if Sword Immortal Feng had five million spirit stones, it wouldn't be enough to lend out.
"Look, Bright Moon Night Inn. A property of the Moon Splendor Sect's outer branch in the West Sea. Inside are all female immortals from the Moon Splendor Sect. Yulou, later on, pick whoever you want. It's my treat today!"
On the flying chariot, Sword Immortal Feng generously pointed at the beautiful gatehouse of the 'Bright Moon Night Inn' and declared he was paying for today's expenses. The corners of Yulou's mouth twitched slightly, but he felt sowhat amused inside. Sword Immortal Feng was indeed a good friend. The Moon Splendor Sect's entertainnt venue was top-tier in Wunan; the consumption level was vastly higher than that of the Hundred Beauty Pavilion.
"Elder, please go ahead and choose for yourself. Yulou will pass. My dao companion is waiting for at ho."
Even when he went to the Hundred Beauty Pavilion back then, it was purely to mooch free spirit tea, not because he actually liked going there. Wang Yulou was not a pervert. Moreover, he was about to marry his fourth dao companion, and all four vehicles at ho were top-of-the-line luxury models. Why would he need to ride a public bus?
"Haha, alright. Then today we'll just watch the dancing and listen to so pure zither music."
The two got off the chariot. Sword Immortal Feng instructed an approaching male outer disciple of the Moon Splendor Sect, "Four mares," and the Black Dragon Steed imdiately grew excited.
"Old Feng, if there really are four of them next ti, I'll call my brother over to be your horse too!" the Great Demon Black Dragon Steed exclaid in excitent.
"You've said that seven tis already, and I've never seen you actually call him over. Scram!" Kicking the Black Dragon Steed's rear end, Sword Immortal Feng turned to look at Yulou. "You don't understand, Yulou. We co to Bright Moon Night Inn to 'exchange' with the female immortals of the Moon Splendor Sect. Of course, so male cultivators prefer exchanging with the male disciples of the Moon Splendor Sect. In short, this exchange is mutually beneficial. For the cultivators of the Moon Splendor Sect, this is a process of cultivation. If you exchange with them, they actually thank you. So..."
Yulou firmly refused again. "My dao companion awaits at ho. Elder Feng, please enjoy yourself."
Sword Immortal Feng gave him a thumbs up and said, "Good! I, Old Feng, appreciate unwavering fellow Daoists like you. Co, let's go inside and talk."
Walking into the Bright Moon Night Inn, Yulou's vision instantly dimd. The dim environnt didn't an it was chaotic; rather, the dimness of the Bright Moon Night Inn imparted a sense of tranquility. Places of worldly pleasures were supposed to reek of mundane desires, but the Bright Moon Night Inn, from its interior decor to its atmosphere, was ticulously crafted. Thus, it was absolutely not your average entertainnt venue—it was expensive! How could it not be expensive? The female immortals and male hosts here were all outer disciples of the Moon Splendor Sect. Only when these outer disciples achieved good performance at various Bright Moon Night Inns could they be promoted to the inner sect. It seed harsh—joining the Moon Splendor Sect only to end up working in an entertainnt venue... but the Moon Splendor Sect didn't discriminate based on a disciple's background or spirit roots, so many people were still willing to join.
"Young Master~ You're here. And this young gentleman as well. Please, head upstairs to a private room. Girls, co over~"
Seeing a regular custor like Sword Immortal Feng walk in, the Moon Splendor Sect steward of the Bright Moon Night Inn hurriedly approached to welco them. The magic robe this female cultivator wore was quite revealing, bouncing with every step she took. She was a seasoned veteran disciple of the Moon Splendor Sect. Her voice naturally carried a captivating charm when she spoke, causing the sword qi at Sword Immortal Feng's waist to bulge out directly. Wang Yulou blinked. After confirming he hadn't seen wrong, he thought to himself that he was a fool for actually wanting to be friends with this kind of idiot. Just as he was pondering how to find an excuse to leave, Sword Immortal Feng smiled wryly.
"Yulou, I practice the Virgin Boy Sword. You wouldn't understand. I co to the Bright Moon Night Inn purely to enjoy the atmosphere. It has nothing to do with matters between n and won."
Wang Yulou instantly felt a profound respect. Well, well, well. Frequenting the Bright Moon Night Inn every day, yet practicing the Virgin Boy Sword, maintaining his chastity even after cultivating to the seasoned Foundation Establishnt realm. Shen Guang slaughtering his way out of the West Sea to beco an Immortal Venerable was impressive; Zhou Bojiao heading to the frontlines with a half-dead body was also impressive. Sword Immortal Feng running rampant with his 'golden liquid' for two hundred years and returning still a virgin was equally extraordinary. The cultivation world was vast, and geniuses were as common as carp crossing a river, but an independent maverick talent like Sword Immortal Feng was truly one of a kind.
"Martial Uncle Feng's realm is so profound, Yulou falls far short of it."
Sword Immortal Feng patted Yulou on the shoulder, laughed heartily, and waved his hand at the Moon Splendor Sect female disciples. "Haha, all of you disperse. This young master only wishes to listen to the zither today. Just have Huai Die co over. Right, change today's spirit wine to the seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar. Bring two pots first!"
"Martial Uncle, this..."
"Ah, Yulou, listen to . I can at least afford this bit of spirit wine."
The two went upstairs and entered a private room. The servant boys of the Bright Moon Night Inn ca in to arrange tea, snacks, side dishes, and spiritual fruits. With a glance, Yulou saw quite a few seventh-grade spiritual fruits, and even the worst snacks were made from eighth-grade spiritual materials.
"The Bright Moon Night Inn only sells wine. Different grades of Moon Splendor Wine correspond to different grades of spiritual food. The seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar is extrely delicious, and these seventh-grade spiritual foods are incredibly tasty as well." Seeing Yulou didn't understand, Martial Uncle Feng considerately explained, and then added with so emotion, "Yulou, let your Martial Uncle speak plainly. That Qiu Lianpu has a rotten heart. Yesterday, you truly saved my life—that's no joke. A great kindness cannot be expressed in words; it's all in the wine. Let's drink our fill today!"
Yulou felt sowhat amused yet helpless inside. He originally ca to Sword Immortal Feng to handle so business, but unexpectedly, Sword Immortal Feng invited him to drink at the Bright Moon Night Inn. What was this?
"Old Feng, you're a real piece of work. When you invite to drink, it's only the eighth-grade Moon Dew Nectar. When you invite others, it's the seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar. What, am I, Xihai Hu, so unworthy?"
The door to the private room was pushed open. The person who walked in wasn't the Huai Die that Sword Immortal Feng had requested, but a stout, fat man wearing the demon-slaying robe of the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team, with his arm wrapped around a female cultivator from the Moon Splendor Sect. Sword Immortal Feng belonged to the suave and graceful type. Although his hair was half-white, he looked young and handso. With his golden chariot and the Great Demon Black Dragon Steed, he was the picture of a wealthy young lord who was old in years but young at heart. This stout man, who suspectedly belonged to the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team, was entirely different. He looked like a fat tiger that had gained sentience. Dark-skinned and plump, he looked only slightly inferior to the three-hundred-jin Hongi. The demon-slaying robe of the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team hung on him like he had draped a bedsheet over his shoulders before leaving the house. However, this stout man who called himself Xihai Hu was also at the Foundation Establishnt realm, making him Yulou's senior. Thus, the mont he walked in, Yulou hurriedly stood up—the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team, Shen Guang Immortal Venerable's direct lineage.
Sword Immortal Feng pressed Yulou down, pushing him back into his seat, and began directly blasting Xihai Hu. "Fat Tiger, Yulou saved my life yesterday, so of course he deserves to drink the seventh-grade Flowing Splendor Nectar. As for you, whose widow's door were you prying open this ti? I waited for you half the day. That bastard surnad Qiu was about to haul off and sentence , and you still didn't f*cking show up. That idiot Qiu Lianpu just took office and handed us an opportunity. If you had shown up, we could have just beaten him to death, how satisfying would that have been."
Yulou kept a smile on his face, but his mind was racing with thoughts. Xihai Hu, a mber of the Subsidiary City Enforcent Team, under Shen Guang's tutelage. Qiu Lianpu, an Immortal Alliance Emissary reporting directly to the Immortal Alliance, belonging to True Person Qiu's family under Qingrui's tutelage. This West Sea place was quite interesting.
"Screw you. You're the one prying open widows' doors. I don't even know which son of a b*tch started that rumor. I've recently been transferred to the South City Expansion Departnt by the Second Elder to run errands. Expanding the South City involves a myriad of tasks; I don't have ti to deal with you. You, Old Feng, love playing the hero. You don't even look at how much face you actually have. And this kid, what's his background?"
Xihai Hu plopped his butt down next to the two of them. He set the female cultivator he brought along beside him. She had a petite figure, and next to the stout Xihai Hu, she looked like a little doll. Seeing Xihai Hu asking about Yulou, Sword Immortal Feng introduced him.
"Yulou is a disciple of Dripdrop Cave. His family does so work for Patriarch Mangxiang. Yesterday, he ca out wearing his ancestor's core disciple robe and saved my life."
Xihai Hu frowned and stared at Yulou. Yulou instantly felt a massive pressure, as if he were being eyed by a vicious tiger. Sword Immortal Feng was about to open his mouth in confusion when suddenly, Xihai Hu's dark face broke into a broad smile.
"Heh, Old Feng, you don't know this, but he's different from us. He married a fine dao companion."
Yulou was startled. What did this an? Feng Disha also looked at Yulou. He knew Yulou had married Lin Ying, but how did Xihai Hu know? Thinking of this, he rested his hand on his sword hilt. Yulou was a junior of Dripdrop Cave and his savior. If Xihai Hu dared... Even if it cost him his life, he would butcher this vile spawn!
"Yesterday, the Second Elder and I were surveying the earth veins in the South City. Elder Qingfeng sent a voice transmission to the Second Elder, saying that Perfected Man Fujiao's daughter was going to marry soone nad Wang Yulou, and invited him and the Second Elder to attend the ceremony. We were even guessing that this was Perfected Man Fujiao's first wave of 'you know what' after taking office. I didn't expect to run into the main character today. Yulou, you are that Wang Yulou, right?"
Xihai Hu had quite the mouth on him. He had respect for Zhou Bojiao, but not much. He used the title 'Perfected Man Fujiao', which counted as respect, but the underlying aning of his words was truly hard to say whether it was good or bad. Just as Yulou was at a loss for how to reply, the sound of silver-bell-like, clear music drifted from outside the private room's door.
"Young Master Feng~ May Xiao Die co in?"
Huai Die's arrival broke Yulou's awkwardness. Sword Immortal Feng smiled and spoke, "Just stand at the door and play. I'm afraid that if I see you, I'll forget today's proper business, hahaha."
"Young Master Feng only knows how to bully Xiao Die~"
As the lodious zither music began to play, Yulou smiled and responded to Xihai Hu's earlier question.
"Senior Xihai Hu guessed correctly. Yulou is indeed the dao companion of the Zhou Family's daughter. We may be getting married in a few days."
Wang Yulou was probing. Even if he had his suspicions, he couldn't just ask directly. Xihai Hu was amused by Wang Yulou's form of address.
"Hahahaha, my surna is Xihai. We are all surnad Xihai. Don't call Xihai Hu, it sounds incredibly weird."
Sword Immortal Feng also laughed and pointed at Yulou. "Shen Guang Immortal Venerable opened the Charity Hall in the Western Sea Immortal City to take in orphans who lost their parents. After raising them, he grants the surna Xihai to those with excellent spirit roots. Little Brother Xihai Hu, hahaha, I'm dying of laughter... His surna is Xihai, and his na is Hu, so you should call him Big Brother Hu."
Sword Immortal Feng calling Xihai Hu 'Fat Tiger' was because they were good friends. How would Wang Yulou dare to call Xihai Hu 'Big Brother Hu'? This guy was a Foundation Establishnt cultivator. "Senior Xihai Hu, it was Yulou who was impolite."
Wang Yulou put on an enlightened expression and played nice. The stout Xihai Hu curled his lip, looked at Sword Immortal Feng, and said, "I told you, these cultivators from within the Immortal Alliance don't understand the West Sea. Senior this, Senior that... look how happily he calls it out. Wang Yulou, the West Sea doesn't care about cultivation base, only about connections. You're Old Feng's little brother, so calling Big Brother Hu is perfectly fine. I don't like being called Senior."
Truth or falsehood, Wang Yulou couldn't see through it. If anyone took Xihai Hu's boisterousness as genuine, they would be an absolute idiot. Yulou dared not forget Ancestor Jingyi's warning: The people of the West Sea are extrely cunning! After pondering for a brief mont, he smoothly smiled, raised his wine cup, looked at Xihai Hu, and said loudly, "Big Brother Hu, it was Yulou who didn't know the rules. I'll punish myself with a cup, I'll punish myself with a cup."
Sword Immortal Feng, sitting to the side, pointed at Xihai Hu and started cursing. "Fat Tiger, have you forgotten when I saved your life? Back then, you were calling 'benefactor' left and right, and now you f*cking call 'Old Brother Feng'. You really are a piece of trash."
Xihai Hu shot Sword Immortal Feng a glance, sneered, raised his cup, and clinked it with Yulou's. "Old Feng, neither of us owes the other anything. As for you, Yulou... how does that little lady of the Zhou Family look? Is she pretty or not?"
Is Zhou Yingxi pretty or not... After draining his cup, Yulou set it down, tried hard to recall what Zhou Yingxi looked like, and finally smiled wryly and replied, "Brother Hu, to tell you the truth, I haven't even seen what she looks like yet..."
And that was the truth. He really hadn't seen her. She wore a veil every single day. Although Wang Yulou had seen her from the left profile and the right profile, he truly had never seen her full face straight on. Who knows, maybe Zhou Yingxi had a pig nose, which was why she wore a veil every day—it was hard to say.
"Hahaha, Yulou, then you'll have to take a good look on the night of your wedding." Sword Immortal Feng was amused by Wang Yulou's words.
"Sigh, if you ask , you shouldn't marry won from major clans. They have big tempers, endless complaints, and if they start making a fuss, they have an ancestor backing them up. Yulou, since you married a Zhou Family woman, your days ahead probably won't be easy, but they probably won't be difficult for too long either, hahaha."
Wang Yulou understood Xihai Hu's words, but what surprised him more was the Shen Guang lineage's lack of concern for Zhou Bojiao, Mang Xiang, and the others. Xihai Hu was a mber of Shen Guang Immortal Venerable's faction stationed in the West Sea. So of his attitudes were actually very intriguing. Combined with the information he got from Gu Qilang, the Ancestor had sent three thousand disciples into the West Sea. Additionally, Perfected Man Fujiao Zhou Bojiao and Haikuo Zhenren Li Haiping, two True Persons from the Red Lantern Sect Faction, were respectively appointed as the Treasure-Wielding True Person and the Pass-Guarding True Person among the three True Persons of the West Sea. Could the stirring winds and clouds over the West Sea beco a helping hand to break his own shackles?
"What you said just now went too far. With Perfected Man Fujiao enjoying a long life, Yulou's path will be smoother. You need to penalize yourself with a cup too." Xihai Hu also realized he had misspoken. With a hearty laugh, he poured himself another cup of Flowing Splendor Nectar. He was more than happy to accept a penalty of Flowing Splendor Nectar, especially since Sword Immortal Feng was footing the bill.
"But Yulou, when are you getting married? Perfected Man Fujiao didn't send an invitation to an idler like , but you're the groom, so you can invite over. He may be a mighty Purple Mansion True Man, but if I bring all the disciples of the Dripdrop Cave outer branch in the West Sea, I can boost your prestige!"
Sword Immortal Feng's suggestion was sowhat absurd, but Yulou actually agreed to it. The Dripdrop Cave outer branch in the West Sea... that was a good thing. Shen Guang Immortal Venerable taking in a bunch of little lackeys surnad Xihai was a great example for Yulou. One needed a force under their command to stand firm and hold their ground. Compared to the vast West Sea, Dripdrop Cave might seem a bit shabby, but things had to be taken one step at a ti.
User Comments
0 comments from readers