The mysterious grand cultivator who had wreaked havoc in Clear Stream Market that day was a Golden Core. Since Zhou Bojiao had said so himself, Wang Yulou was willing to give it fifty percent credibility in his heart.
If Zhou Bojiao had been the one causing the chaos, it would have been too obvious.
Moreover, the reason Zhou Bojiao gave was entirely reasonable—soone wanted to ss with the ancestor.
There were only so many Golden Core grand cultivators in the Immortal Alliance. Adding one more would impact the Alliance's distribution of interests. The Red Lantern Illumination Sect sending three thousand disciples into the West Sea was a pri example.
And Zhou Bojiao's assertion that a battle between the Sky Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect was inevitable likely stemd from this exact conflict of interests.
However, if a Golden Core was indeed the one causing trouble, how had that Golden Core seen through him to say, "You have the aptitude for the Purple Palace"?
Was it because he broke free from their control that the mysterious Golden Core realized he possessed the Jade Ruyi?
Being secretly spied upon, and even sched against, by a mysterious Golden Core was more terrifying than the most horrifying ghost story.
The ancestor had rely placed a casual pawn, leading to seventeen years of dormancy. When he finally made his move, it changed Wang Yulou's destiny. To what extent would that mysterious Golden Core go?
Yulou didn't dare to think about it anymore. Zhou Yingxi sensed his heavy heart and said, "I'm going to see my father, and then I have to be on duty at the Punishnt Court. Shall we et tonight?"
She still had to go on duty at the Punishnt Court?
Wang Yulou was puzzled, but he didn't show it. It wasn't his place to actively interfere with Zhou Yingxi's arrangents, so he simply said with a hint of regret, "On duty... Wifey, we've only been married for a day. You should take a few days off so we can spend so quality ti together."
Cultivators like Zhou Yingxi typically belonged to the category of people who received a salary without having to work. Now that she was newly married, it was the perfect excuse to take ti off.
Hearing Wang Yulou's phrasing, Zhou Yingxi was about to answer when she realized sothing was amiss.
It was another probe, and a highly brilliant one at that.
Probing the intimacy of their Dao Companion relationship on the first day of marriage—Wang Yulou had absolutely no intention of dragging his feet. He had to clarify what needed to be clarified, as it would affect his next moves.
At this mont, she actually understood Wang Yulou a little better. This Dao Companion of hers was an exceedingly clever cultivator.
From over a decade ago until now, he had always been formidably smart.
Tis had changed, and many things were different, but this trait hadn't changed in the slightest.
She pulled on her husband's arm, pretending to be ntally exhausted, and complained to her newlywed Dao Companion like a spoiled little girl, "The ancestor sent the old ancestor over because he wanted him to stir things up in the West Sea.
"Nearly a hundred direct lineage disciples of our Zhou family have arrived. Among them, over twenty have been directly planted into Western Sea Immortal City.
"My taking a position at the Punishnt Court is partly for experience. You know I've been cultivating for a long ti and am not very well-versed in worldly affairs, so I need the practice.
"On the other hand, it's also to help my father quickly gain control of the Punishnt Court, so he can assist the old ancestor in completing the task assigned by the ancestor.
"That's why I can't delay. If you want to spend more ti with you, I'll go look for you at your... our ho after I see my father."
Faced with Wang Yulou's probing, Zhou Yingxi's response was highly appropriate. It covered everything from emotional expression to factual explanation, and even emphasized their Dao Companion relationship.
However, Wang Yulou was thinking about another matter entirely.
Their relationship was different from the past. Zhou Yingxi had directly revealed a huge piece of information. Just as Yulou and Ancestor Jingyi had guessed, Li Haikuo and Zhou Bojiao taking up posts in Western Sea Immortal City was indeed not simple.
Two True Persons had arrived first, followed by three thousand Qi Refining cultivators. Big moves were always accompanied by massive storms.
West Sea, oh West Sea. This place hid the ancestor's grand chess ga.
"Alright. It's truly because wifey is too beautiful. Being unable to keep you by my side right after we've married due to your busy affairs makes my heart ache with reluctance to part."
The probe had yielded a result. Although it wasn't the result he wanted, Wang Yulou could only temporarily call off his retreat.
Standing at the entrance of the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence, Wang Yulou smiled as he saw Zhou Yingxi off. In his heart, however, he was thinking that he really needed to find a spirit beast mount.
He did have the little stone turtle left behind by the divine ability great demon, the Stone Ancestor, but that little stone turtle was only the size of a palm. It couldn't do anything but eat. If he actually rode the turtle out onto the street... it would have nothing to do with dignity.
Wang Yulou also had an iron-crowned crane, which he had procured for himself under the guiding ideology of 'save where you should, spend where you must'. But in Western Sea Immortal City, one couldn't fly on a spirit crane.
Of course, Wang Yulou could ride the iron-crowned crane and let it walk on its legs within Western Sea Immortal City, but... just like riding a turtle, it was unbecoming.
Spirit beast mounts were sold in the shops inside the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda, but the mount Wang Yulou wanted was no ordinary one.
As the newly minted heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage, the son-in-law of Perfected Man Fujiao, a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the legendary figure who walked out of Dripdrop Cave, and the core leader of the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom's West Sea outer court, Wang Yulou's mount absolutely needed to have a sense of grandeur.
With this in mind, Wang Yulou smiled and decided to return to the estate first to see Ancestor Jingyi.
Last night's bridal chamber had been arranged at Zhou Yingxi's residence within the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence. Wang Yulou could be considered to have enjoyed the treatnt of the Immortal Alliance's West Sea Treasure-Wielding True Person.
As for Ancestor Jingyi, she naturally had no reason to stay in the Zhou family's residence. Like the other guests, she had left early.
——
As the Director of the Punishnt Court, Mu Chunze couldn't afford to be as idle as Mo Xunzhou. The Information Gathering Court was the most marginalized among the eleven courts directly under the Immortal Alliance in Western Sea Immortal City, but the Punishnt Court was hotly contested.
Here, there were spirit stones, power, and status, so naturally, it attracted the pawn placents of all kinds of great immortals.
As the Director of the Punishnt Court, Mu Chunze hadn't been in office for long. Lately, he had been arriving early at the Punishnt Court every day purely to sort out the key points of his work as quickly as possible.
This had nothing to do with him wanting to make contributions to the West Sea as a Foundation Establishnt cultivator born in the region.
The Immortal Alliance's slogans sounded very nice, but the ones who proposed these slogans were the grand cultivators of the Immortal Alliance. The ones who executed these slogans were the followers of those grand cultivators, and the ones responsible for listening to and believing in them were the cultivators under the Alliance's rule.
Mu Chunze clearly understood which group he belonged to, so he was exceedingly attentive to his work as the Director.
Only by becoming familiar with the work could he grasp the power in a legitimate manner, and only then could he redefine the rules for distributing the profits of the Punishnt Court!
After all, he was the kind of person who would water down already diluted water.
At the Punishnt Court's Director's Palace, sensing his daughter's arrival, Mu Chunze stood up and went straight out to welco her.
Mu Chunze still looked the sa, with deer antlers growing from his head and wearing the iconic Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. However, the style was custom-made for him; the orange-red lanterns had been changed to green leaves.
Upon seeing his daughter, this father, who was a live-in son-in-law of the Zhou family, smiled with a hint of fawning eagerness.
"Xi'er, you're here. Co in and sit. By the way, I received a few jugs of good wine yesterday. They are all seventh-grade. Take them back and drink them slowly with Yulou."
Saying this, he took out four jugs of spirit wine from his robes and prepared to give them to Zhou Yingxi.
However, Zhou Yingxi's first sentence made his expression awkward.
"Yulou and I paid our respects to the old ancestor this morning. Yulou asked about the congratulatory gifts.
"The old ancestor's intention was that all the congratulatory gifts received yesterday be given to us to serve as resources for our cultivation.
"Are these congratulatory gifts currently in your hands, or in Uncle Liangzhuo's hands?"
Zhou Yingxi asked.
Fellow Daoist Yingxi had never particularly liked her father in the past.
Coming to see Mu Chunze today was partly because Wang Yulou had brought up his request regarding the congratulatory gifts, and partly because she had questions to ask.
She hadn't intended to ask so directly, but Mu Chunze offered spirit wine right off the bat, looking as if he wanted to gloss over the matter with the wine, which made her a bit worried.
Zhou Yingxi knew exactly what her biological father was like, and because she knew, she had to speak bluntly.
However, Fellow Daoist Yingxi still skillfully used Zhou Liangzhuo as a front. She actually knew perfectly well that the congratulatory gifts were in Mu Chunze's hands.
Suspected by his daughter, Mu Chunze smiled awkwardly. He continued to use his spiritual aura to levitate those jugs of spirit wine right beside Zhou Yingxi, within easy reach of her left hand. Then, he took out a beautiful vine bracelet from his sleeve and personally handed it to Zhou Yingxi.
"Yes, they are in my hands. Wait a mont, they are all packed inside this Storage Bracelet.
"Oh, right, there's also the gift list. Later, have Yulou check it. If anyone among those who gave gifts encounters a joyous occasion and invites you over, you must also return the favor.
"This bracelet was the first spiritual artifact I forged after my Foundation Establishnt. Although it is only mid-grade, it combines storage, defense, fog deploynt, and many other capabilities, so it's quite handy.
"Moreover, it is a wood-attribute spiritual artifact, which you can use once you reach Foundation Establishnt. Accept this as well; consider it my wedding gift to you."
Looking at the faintly glowing vine bracelet spiritual artifact exuding an aura of spiritual energy, Zhou Yingxi was sowhat at a loss and froze for a mont.
As it turned out, Mu Chunze had already prepared to give her the congratulatory gifts.
As a father, Mu Chunze deeply cared for Zhou Yingxi. He worried his daughter might suffer grievances after marrying Wang Yulou, so how could he possibly embezzle these congratulatory gifts and put Zhou Yingxi in a difficult spot in front of Wang Yulou?
Besides sorting out the gifts in advance to give to his daughter, he had even specially prepared the detailed gift list—for Wang Yulou to see. He understood the mindset of soone like Wang Yulou and knew his daughter's difficulties.
Furthermore, his instructions were full of a father's care and advice for his daughter.
Even though Zhou Yingxi had previously been so dissatisfied with her father's choice to willingly be a live-in son-in-law, at this mont, she understood her father's heart.
"Forget about the bracelet, it's too precious. You also need resources for your cultivation, I can't take it."
Seeing that Mu Chunze still wanted to speak, Zhou Yingxi hurriedly interrupted and asked about the matter that worried her.
"Also, I just thought of a question this morning. Where did the old ancestor get the thod to rge Dao foundations and form the Purple Palace?"
Hearing his daughter's question, Mu Chunze's expression turned solemn. He didn't answer but imdiately raised his hand.
The seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator lightly tapped the staff in his hand, and in an instant, the wood-attribute divine ability 'Spring Forest Grows' was deployed.
He had only cultivated one divine ability, which was to transform into an auspicious deer.
But for a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, a high-grade spiritual artifact could also serve as a dium to execute divine abilities. The staff in Mu Chunze's hand was precisely a high-grade spiritual artifact carrying divine ability power, similar to Wang Yulou's rare Red Lantern with its eighty-eight layers of restrictions.
Because it was cast through a spiritual artifact, the effect of 'Spring Forest Grows' was sowhat weaker than if a cultivator had cast it directly, but it could still easily achieve domain-like effects.
Under the domain power of 'Spring Forest Grows', Mu Chunze and Zhou Yingxi wouldn't need to worry about being eavesdropped on during their conversation—not even Jin Shan, the most powerful Dragon Tiger True Person currently in the West Sea, could manage it.
Of course, if Jin Shan shalessly chose to force his way in to eavesdrop, he could still hear them, but Mu Chunze would be able to sense it in ti and stop the conversation.
"Did you think of sothing?"
Within the 'Spring Forest Grows' divine ability filled with pale cyan wood-attribute spiritual light, Mu Chunze calmly asked his daughter.
Zhou Yingxi slightly lowered her head. There were so questions she didn't dare ask Zhou Bojiao, because Zhou Bojiao's high regard for her was only due to her usefulness, not because she was close to him.
That was why she chose to ask Mu Chunze; after all, he was her father.
"rging Dao foundations to open the Purple Palace... it might not necessarily be who opens the Purple Palace.
"Aunt-Ancestor Danri forcibly elevated Wang Yulou's cultivation base, helping him bridge the gap of cultivating without a minor grotto-heaven.
"After his Foundation Establishnt, because of his dual spirit roots, he can complete more Dao foundations earlier than . This ti gap is at least a hundred years."
"A hundred years from now... how will the old ancestor be, and how will the ancestor be?"
When Zhou Yingxi thought of this last night, she had been terrified. She had tried to hide it by closing her eyes and turning her head, but Wang Yulou had still sensed sothing amiss from her pulse. However, he hadn't realized that she had actually seen through everything; he rely thought he had gained the initiative.
Mu Chunze understood his daughter's aning perfectly well. He pondered for a mont, looking toward the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence, and said, "Haven't you realized? There is a problem with Wang Yulou's cultivation speed."
Zhou Yingxi was puzzled at first, but she quickly recognized the issue.
Yes, there was an issue with his cultivation speed!
A major issue!
She and Wang Yulou were born in the exact sa year and month. By relying on Zhou Bojiao's minor grotto-heaven before it collapsed, she had bypassed the world's restrictions on Qi Induction and broken through to the Qi Refining realm in just two years.
But the Wang Clan had no minor grotto-heaven. Since Wang Yulou was the sa age as her, he should be at the first or second layer of Qi Refining at most.
Yet, even before Danri forcibly elevated his cultivation base, Wang Yulou was already at the sixth layer of Qi Refining—his cultivation speed was hugely problematic!
"Does this an the ancestor had made plans for him long ago?" Zhou Yingxi's expression tightened slightly.
In the eyes of Zhou Yingxi and Mu Chunze, Wang Yulou's bizarre cultivation speed could only be explained by one thing: Mang Xiang had intervened.
Information was priceless. Crucial intelligence in the cultivation world was invaluable. Relying on what she knew, Zhou Yingxi had arrived at an entirely incorrect conclusion.
Mu Chunze smiled faintly, his tone quite firm as he said, "It's hard to say. However, Xi'er, you must have confidence in our old ancestor, Fujiao.
"The old ancestor's entry into the Behemoth Lineage was a decision made after heavy consideration. Mang Xiang is very powerful, but the old ancestor is also a stunning talent, a renowned grand cultivator who once dominated an entire generation of outstanding figures in Wunan.
"Perhaps Wang Yulou is Mang Xiang's pawn. However, even if the old ancestor beca Mang Xiang's disciple, it doesn't an he can't play a ga of chess against him. Do you understand?"
This was the truth. Mu Chunze's words were completely genuine.
Three Purple Palace cultivators in the Behemoth Lineage—it was a formidable force.
For Zhou Bojiao to achieve the Purple Palace realm in Wunan under the Immortal Alliance's rule, navigating the complex power structure of the Alliance and the Ten Sects, was also extrely extraordinary.
Although Zhou Bojiao looked half-dead, he wasn't dead yet!
Moreover, Zhou Bojiao wasn't a man without foundations. Above him was his old benefactor, Immortal Venerable Qingrui, and below him were the many vassals and followers of the Zhou family lineage. He was still a prominent grand cultivator.
"But he has a dual spirit root, after all. The speed at which he completes his Dao foundations after reaching Foundation Establishnt will definitely be faster than mine," Yingxi said with a bitter smile.
The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it seed.
She initially thought Wang Yulou was the one suffering grievances in this arrangent. Now she realized that she herself might beco a stepping stone.
"It doesn't matter, Xi'er. Your only task right now is to reach Foundation Establishnt as soon as possible.
"Don't overthink anything else. You don't need to do the Punishnt Court's tasks either; just cultivate diligently."
Mu Chunze comforted his daughter once again. He seed exceptionally confident in Zhou Bojiao.
This wasn't strange. If Zhou Bojiao suffered a sudden death or fell to a plot, Mu Chunze's future circumstances and interests as a live-in son-in-law of the Zhou family would beco very difficult.
As a staunch supporter of Zhou Bojiao, his current situation left him with no way to jump ship.
It was too late to back out, and it wouldn't help anyway. He could only choose to believe.
Moreover, Mu Chunze knew that a massive war between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect was about to begin. When the war between the two sects broke out, chaos would descend, and many things would change once more.
Feeling sowhat helpless, Zhou Yingxi sighed deeply in her heart. She transferred the congratulatory gifts from the vine bracelet into her own storage artifact, then returned the bracelet to Mu Chunze.
"Father, I will not accept this bracelet. Keep it yourself to exchange for cultivation resources."
This was the first ti today that she had called Mu Chunze 'father'. Old Mu felt incredibly gratified hearing it, so he no longer fussed over giving her the vine bracelet.
However, he shoved those jugs of seventh-grade spirit wine into Zhou Yingxi's arms and solemnly instructed her.
"I already saw clearly what kind of person Wang Yulou is back in Clear Stream Market. Don't give this spirit wine to him directly, and don't actively bring it out to drink with him.
"His marriage with you is already complete. There will probably be major moves soon. When the ti cos, he will definitely bring you to et his friends.
"This rascal is incredibly shaless. He won't bring you along because he likes you that much, but rely because he wants to borrow the old ancestor's reputation.
"When he takes you to et Foundation Establishnt cultivators, if the spirit wine at the banquet isn't up to the seventh grade, you should take the initiative to bring out a jug. Say sothing like, 'Yulou, you didn't even prepare good wine. How inappropriate.'
"By doing this, you will give him massive face. Only then will he rember your goodness and not look down on you.
"Xi'er, do you understand?"
Old Mu, oh Old Mu. Xihai Qingfeng had once said that with Mu Chunze around, Zhou Bojiao and Li Haikuo would be perfectly clear about everything happening in the West Sea.
This assessnt was spot on.
At this mont, Mu Chunze's judgnt of Wang Yulou couldn't have been more accurate.
And no matter how one looked at it, it made perfect sense—a person like Wang Yulou really would drag Zhou Yingxi around to leverage her status.
In short, Zhou Yingxi was left stunned by his words.
"Father, so these jugs of spirit wine are ant for Wang Yulou?"
She had called him father again. Mu Chunze laughed heartily and said, "What does spirit wine matter? Xi'er, I am actually very satisfied with this marriage of yours. Wang Yulou is no ordinary person; he built up a massive enterprise right in Clear Stream Market.
"Now that he's co to the West Sea, married you, and beco a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, it's like a river flowing into the sea. I don't know if his future prospects will be boundless or not.
"But if the ancestor succeeds in attaining Golden Core... Anyway, by entrusting you to him, I can be at ease."
Silently observing his daughter's departing back with his divine sense, Mu Chunze didn't retract his perception until she reached the outside of the estate rented by Wang Yulou.
He touched the deer antlers on his head and shook his head with a sigh.
The great war between the two sects was bound to break out any day now, and the chaotic situation in the West Sea was even more exasperating. 'Xi'er, you must reach Foundation Establishnt quickly; you cannot delay.'
——
Returning to his estate, Wang Yulou looked at the newly hung plaque above the entrance and shook his head sowhat helplessly.
Jade Palace Estate—the ancestor understood him too well.
Ancestor Jingyi knew that Wang Yulou was the type of person who harbored grand ambitions and wanted to accomplish sothing great. She also understood why he had built the Golden Platform, so she had custom-made this new plaque for his estate.
Entering the estate, Yulou saw Wang Rongwen leading a few people, currently renovating the landscaping in the front courtyard.
"Uncle Rongwen, this is...?" Yulou asked.
Although it was a rented estate, as long as modifications didn't disrupt the formation array and spirit landscapes, they were easy to both build and dismantle.
Therefore, even though this estate belonged to Fellow Daoist Yun Shu, the Wang Clan wouldn't be blad for remodeling a portion of it.
It was just that... Wang Rongwen had led a few Wang Clan mbers in the West Sea to completely level the estate's front courtyard, digging it into a large pit.
When Yulou walked in, Uncle Rongwen was huddled at the bottom of the pit, working the earth with his own hands.
Hearing Wang Yulou's question, a dirt-covered Wang Rongwen looked up and smiled. "Since the daughter of the Zhou family is moving in, naturally we can't slight her. Second Aunt wants us to build a spirit landscape pond and set up a formation array in the backyard. This way, our Wang Clan won't appear lacking in confidence."
After asking a few more questions, Yulou entered the estate's backyard and t Wang Jingyi.
Ancestor Jingyi's arrangents were very thoughtful. Having saved a sum of spirit stones by not buying a residence, and having received the Golden Cauldron Foundation Establishnt Pill from Zhou Bojiao, Wang Yulou's funds were exceedingly ample. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse Ancestor Jingyi's good intentions.
"...Ancestor, that's the gist of the situation. The main point lies in the question I asked when I paid my respects to True Person Fujiao."
After briefly explaining his and Zhou Yingxi's matters, Yulou reminded the ancestor to activate her private communication divine ability.
Wang Jingyi naturally understood. It could be said that the trait the Wang Clan elders appreciated most about Wang Yulou was this caution carved into his very bones.
The cultivation world didn't have a simple yet highly generalized term like the 'Dark Forest theory', but the elders saw Wang Yulou's cautious performance clearly.
"First, True Person Fujiao asserts that the great war between the two sects will inevitably arrive, though the timing is undecided. This news has already been spreading for over a decade. I don't think there's much to say about it; our family just needs to step up our preparations.
"Second is a new point I just thought of. Ancestor, we can't understand the ancestor's pawn placents, but there is definitely a connection between certain facts."
"Elaborate."
"Two True Persons and three thousand Qi Refining cultivators entering the West Sea—the ancestor definitely wants to accomplish sothing here.
"Once the great war between the two sects breaks out, rogue cultivators could be conscripted at any ti. Compared to perishing in the war, hiding in the West Sea for a bitter errand like demon hunting becos a much better choice.
"After all, no matter how much lineage inheritance a demonic beast has, it is ultimately a brute beast. Before reaching the Great Demon stage, demonic beasts will always be at a slight disadvantage when fighting cultivators.
"Three thousand Qi Refining cultivators coming to the West Sea, and rogue cultivators coming here to hunt demons to avoid the war—all of this brings a massive influx of new population to the Immortal Alliance's seven-thousand-li West Sea territory.
"With this new population arriving, they will need a place to live. The expansion of South Annex City might very well be placed on the agenda under these circumstances.
"Previously, while cultivating in Droplet Cave Heaven, the River Bend Fishing Port under my managent constantly brought in nearby mortals to migrate and settle. In just a few short years, the price of courtyards in River Bend Fishing Port more than tripled."
Wang Yulou's aning couldn't have been more obvious. Ancestor Jingyi naturally understood.
Immortal cities were special safe zones. Within the Immortal Alliance's territory, if sothing happened in these places, it was tacitly understood that the matter would be officially investigated.
Being placed on the scales of justice was a form of protection. The Punishnt Court where Mu Chunze worked, and the Annex City Enforcent Team that Zhang Heng and Xihai Hu belonged to, were the institutions responsible for this weighing.
"It's just that, Yulou, there are three possibilities for the ancestor sending three thousand disciples into the West Sea: to ease the conflict between rogue cultivators and the sects, to prepare for potentially taking back the four thousand miles of the Western Sea Levee in the future, or to act on behalf of the Immortal Alliance to beat down that Immortal Venerable.
"If we buy land in South Annex City, won't it be..."
Wang Yulou shook his head and asked in return, "If a battle between the sect and the Sky Serpent Sect is unavoidable, will the ancestor still care about the affairs of the West Sea?
"Old ancestor, grand cultivators can live long and observe for ages. They don't necessarily have to solve a problem imdiately. The ancestor has enough patience to wait for a better opportunity; this is certain."
It sounded like speculation, but Wang Yulou's logic was exceedingly reasonable and perfectly aligned with the Wang Clan's understanding of how grand cultivators operated.
Ancestor Jingyi slowly nodded, but she was thinking about another matter.
'Yulou, oh Yulou. The family couldn't protect you, letting you be given by the ancestor to Zhou Bojiao as an apprenticeship gift.
'But the family still holds value to Mang Xiang... Therefore, regarding South Annex City and Immortal Venerable Shenguang... the family has the strength to back you up!'
What Ancestor Jingyi understood was that Wang Yulou hoped to use the expansion of South Annex City to build a bridge to Immortal Venerable Shenguang. In the future, this might very well be his opportunity to break free from Mang Xiang's control.
In the vast West Sea, nurous factions were mixed together—from Jin Shan, who was directly under the Immortal Alliance, to the two True Persons of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, to the many West Sea disciples of Shenguang's lineage, as well as the eight local True Persons.
Under such circumstances, how could a Qilin child like Yulou be willing to have his future locked into a predetermined fate?
These were words Wang Jingyi wouldn't ask and wouldn't say, but she understood Wang Yulou and decided to support him.
This was the absolute limit of what the Wang Clan could do for him in this matter.
Any more, and with the Wang Clan's small stature, they wouldn't be able to shoulder the burden.
"I understand your aning. It's just that when you discuss buying land with Xihai Hu of the South Annex City Developnt Office, you must bargain hard. Dragging it out for a year or half a year isn't a problem."
"The expansion of South Annex City is Immortal Venerable Shenguang's will, not the Immortal Alliance's will. An Ning says that the Gathering Immortals Platform decides everything, but you clearly disapprove."
"And from our Wang clan's observation, the Immortal Venerables within the Immortal Alliance fight fiercely in the dark. Immortal Venerable Shenguang's will might not necessarily be carried out."
"Whether it's true or false, we can't fully comprehend it. So, Yulou, you must tread carefully."
"Furthermore, when buying land, the cheaper the better. You absolutely must not be fooled by Shenguang's disciples like Xihai Hu. Land prices in the immortal city and the Subsidiary City shouldn't serve as a reference for South Annex City's prices."
"Handle this matter yourself; the Patriarch and I will act as if we don't know."
"If sothing goes wrong, we will step in to plead for rcy."
"Yulou, do you understand?"
How could Wang Yulou not understand? He knew exactly what he was doing, and he also knew that Ancestor Jingyi clearly understood his intentions.
Ancestor Jingyi's answer and instructions were not only out of love and protection, but also a form of trust—trusting that he wouldn't go too far, and trusting that he could firmly grasp the limits of the matter.
Wang Yulou smiled and replied, "Old ancestor, there's no need to worry. Once we earn spirit stones by riding the eastern wind of South Annex City's expansion, we can just send more back to you.
"In my view, a grand cultivator's capacity for tolerance is equally grand. As long as we still hold value, we can negotiate terms within a certain margin of maneuvering."
The two talked a bit more about Zhou Yingxi, and then it was ti to see Wang Jingyi off.
Ancestor Jingyi had escorted Wang Yulou to the West Sea to take up his post. Since so many things had happened and were now settled, she naturally had to return to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
The Wang clan was currently serving four Purple Palace grand cultivators. It seed prosperous, but it also required them to frequently handle affairs for those grand cultivators. Wang Jingyi was the one who shouldered this task, making her unable to stay with Yulou in the West Sea long-term.
Wang Yulou personally saw her off. Once they reached the gates of the Subsidiary City, Ancestor Jingyi firmly refused to let him escort her any further.
"This is far enough. Go back; it's not safe outside."
"In a few days, other elders will co over to help you stabilize the overall situation."
"As for whether Xianmao can co, I can't say for sure."
"Yulou, you've grown up. Now, you can be considered to have left the family's shelter."
"Tread the road ahead carefully. Do not rush."
"Through storms and rain over one thousand two hundred years, the Wang clan has seen far too many things. Ti will change all that appears solid and unalterable."
"Absolutely do not rush. As long as you are still alive, there will always be hope."
Yulou bowed deeply. When he looked up again, his eyes were brimming with tears. He couldn't say a single word.
Destiny, oh destiny. It stood heartlessly above the nine heavens, equally toying with every mortal and every cultivator.
Was your ambition higher than the heavens?
Did you want to go to the west of the river?
Did you want to grasp your own destiny?
Unfortunately, the strength-supremacist cultivation world only served grand cultivators. Those who didn't beco chess players were all rely pawns.
Ancestor Jingyi, however, couldn't bear to keep looking at this Qilin child of the family. She turned around like an unyielding precious sword, gently summoning her Formless Sword.
With full force, she drew her sword and rose into the air. Instantly, from Dragon Tiger True Person Jin Shan to Treasure-Wielding True Person Zhou Bojiao, and Pass-Guarding True Person Li Haikuo, everyone sensed that sudden surge of spiritual vitality.
The sword light that the Formless Sword had never revealed before finally manifested. It was a dazzling silver wrapped in dim gray. Under the sword light, the bright sky of Western Sea Immortal City seed to be cast in a layer of shadow.
When the cultivators in the immortal city looked up and belatedly gazed toward the horizon, they only saw a dim line between heaven and earth, leaving a long trail across the distant sky.
Going all out, Ancestor Jingyi's flight speed broke through three thousand li. In just an instant, she had left the immortal city far, far behind.
But those who needed to know all knew—Wang Jingyi had left.
Before leaving, she used her profound divine ability to warn anyone who might have designs against Wang Yulou: Put away those improper little sches of yours!
In front of grand cultivators like Mang Xiang and Zhou Bojiao, the Wang clan was a submissive minor family. However, in the eyes of most cultivators, the Behemoth Lineage's Wang clan was already considered an extrely unusual cultivation family.
The Wang clan's Wang Jingyi, a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, possessed strength that was just a fraction short of figures like Dripdrop Cave's number one Foundation Establishnt cultivator, Yuan Daoshen.
And Yuan Daoshen's strength was only slightly inferior to Li Haikuo before he opened his Purple Palace—but searching all of Wunan, how many Li Haipings were there?
Phrased another way, was there a second one?
It was hard to say. Very hard to say.
——
At the sa ti.
In the skies of Wunan, atop the Chitian Immortal Mountain.
In front of the Assembly of Immortals Platform Secret Hub, forged from fifth-grade earth vein colored glaze, Mang Xiang instantly appeared.
In front of this newly arrived, famous Purple Palace grand cultivator of the Immortal Alliance, even Chitian, the artifact spirit of the immortal mountain, could only stand behind him with his hands at his sides in fearful, respectful submission, not daring to speak a single word.
At this mont, Mang Xiang didn't look much like a person. His entire body flowed with white mist. He had no face, no limbs, not even a head. It seed it wasn't his true body, yet it also seed as though it was.
Linking his spiritual vitality with the Assembly of Immortals Platform Secret Hub, Mang Xiang's consciousness used the hub to enter that place of supre power in the Immortal Alliance.
In the boundless void outside of heaven and earth, the divine temple was still filled with endless bickering.
Only today, the primary voices of the argunt had changed.
Tianshe's Dao projection was still a snake. Today, he wasn't looking for trouble with Immortal Venerable Yuehua. After all, Yuehua had a teasing nature and always made him look like a fool in Shabi.
"Shenguang, you are a despicable wretch. The Subsidiary City is built, and now you want to build South Annex City. What, did you open up the West Sea?"
"Don't forget, I am also a Demon God. It's not your turn to call the shots on West Sea's affairs!"
Tianshe clamored as he flicked his snake tongue. He was very dissatisfied with Shenguang's thods.
The Western Sea Levee was over ten thousand li long. The Sky Serpent Sect, as an Upper-Path Sect, only occupied four thousand li, yet Shenguang was pushing to take all seven thousand li for his own use. In Tianshe's eyes, this was truly taking oneself a bit too seriously.
Shenguang's Dao projection was a handso young man, but he only sat facing and communicating with Immortal Venerable Qingrui, completely ignoring Tianshe's words.
"Tianshe is about to go crazy," Shenguang noted, extending so kind of invitation to Immortal Venerable Qingrui.
"He's faking it," Immortal Venerable Qingrui replied.
This renowned Immortal Venerable of the Immortal Alliance had a Dao projection of a cyan sphere of light. It looked very alluring, like a glowing green apple. No one could see her true face clearly.
Seeing that Qingrui was unwilling to talk about Tianshe, Shenguang smiled and brought up another topic.
"Do you think Mang Xiang's matter will go smoothly this ti?"
Mang Xiang's matter was naturally the Golden Core Deliberations at the Gathering Immortals Platform regarding whether he could attain Golden Core.
"If you keep blocking him, he's going to rally people and start a war," Immortal Venerable Qingrui reminded him solemnly.
The fact that Mang Xiang could secure around half the support of the Gathering Immortals Platform ant that he had many allies.
The forces on both sides were quite matched. Mang Xiang's Golden Core Deliberations had failed to pass three tis; the situation was already extrely dangerous.
The might of the Immortal Alliance lay in its accommodation of the powerful grand cultivators within its territory.
If sothing acknowledged by half of the grand cultivators couldn't be passed, it ant that the Immortal Alliance might splinter.
For Shenguang and Qingrui, who were in the process of transforming their grotto-heavens, the Immortal Alliance splitting at this ti would be a massive problem.
Qingrui seeking out Shenguang to talk about this was born from a hope that Shenguang would no longer obstruct Mang Xiang's Golden Core Deliberations.
But... Zhou Bojiao and Li Haikuo taking office in the West Sea was like two knives pressed against Shenguang's neck. Shenguang naturally understood Mang Xiang's intentions.
"If he wants to fight, then let him fight. A battle will allow everyone to go back to cultivating in peace."
Shenguang replied calmly, his words fully displaying the great boldness in his heart.
The large green apple had no intention of continuing to speak.
Immortal Venerable Qingrui understood that grand cultivators who had reached the Golden Core stage each had their own exclusive, absolute pursuit of interests.
Their strength, factions, and status also supported them in expressing these absolute pursuits.
Shenguang's will couldn't be changed with just a few words—not even by Qingrui.
Suddenly, white mist appeared within the Gathering Immortals Platform. The Immortal Venerables' Dao projections all looked over, and discovering that it was Mang Xiang arriving in person, many instantly felt sothing was wrong.
"Mang Xiang, how could you bear to co out? Are you in such a rush to throw your life away?"
Tianshe, who was suspected of acting like a Shabi for a long ti, slithered in front of Mang Xiang once more, flicking his icy snake tongue as he threatened.
Mang Xiang, however, first spoke with several key allies before announcing in a stern voice, "Artifact spirit, comnce the deliberation. Fellow Daoists, if it fails again this ti, I will no longer walk the path of the Gathering Immortals Platform's resolutions."
Immortal Venerable Qingrui's worries had indeed co true!
Everyone knew clearly in their hearts what failing three tis signified.
Starting from the very first ti, Mang Xiang's resolution to attain Golden Core had begun with an aura of inevitable success.
It was a notification, not a request.
It wasn't that he threw out a request to attain Golden Core just to see if the Gathering Immortals Platform agreed.
His strength was sufficient, and thus he could achieve Golden Core. He didn't need the Gathering Immortals Platform's agreent to achieve Golden Core!
The reason he still walked the path of the Gathering Immortals Platform was simply because Mang Xiang was willing to adhere to the overall situation and rules of the Immortal Alliance.
If the Immortal Alliance's rules blocked his path...
Once Mang Xiang drew his sword, it would beco an affair where a heap of Purple Palace or even Golden Core cultivators would have to die before the dust could settle.
"Mang Xiang, a re Purple Palace cultivator, yet you dare to threaten us. If we were afraid of threats like yours, could we have sat on the Gathering Immortals Platform for so long?"
Facing Mang Xiang's do-or-die montum, all the Immortal Venerables remained silent. It was Tianshe who spoke coldly, breaking the silence.
anwhile, on the other side, the artifact spirit of the Gathering Immortals Platform had already begun to tally the votes of both sides.
That clump of white mist suddenly morphed into a human face, and the corners of the mouth revealed an extrely contemptuous sneer—Mang Xiang had ford a face specifically for this purpose—as he said to Tianshe, "Care to guess if I dare to slash my own cultivation base, step out of my grotto-heaven, and slaughter every last disciple of your Sky Serpent Sect?"
Facing the Demon God, who was simultaneously the true controller of the Sky Serpent Sect, Mang Xiang, this Purple Palace cultivator, delivered his threat.
"Co then, I will eat you."
Tianshe's snake tongue continued to flick in and out, showing not the slightest hint of backing down.
"I'm very much looking forward to it. It's been over two thousand years. The last ti you ca out was over two thousand years ago. Tianshe, I am very much looking forward to you coming out to fight . Hahahaha!"
It was the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Immortal Venerable Chiming who took the initiative to speak, saying, "Alright, Mang Xiang, say no more. Tianshe is just provoking you; don't pay him any mind."
Immortal Venerable Chiming was nominally the founder of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; Mang Xiang naturally had to listen to his words.
Thus, everyone waited in silence for the artifact spirit to tally up the grand cultivators' votes for Mang Xiang's fourth Golden Core Deliberation.
So Immortal Venerables thought it would be best for it to pass. That way, the current stable structure could be maintained. Everyone wouldn't need to fight and could just happily continue reaping benefits.
So Immortal Venerables thought that there were a bit too many grand cultivators within the Immortal Alliance's territory. It was ti to prune the branches and clip off those who weren't qualified to take a share of the profits.
After a long while, the artifact spirit's emotionless voice rang out.
"1,861 to 1,860. The fourth deliberation for Mang Xiang to attain Golden Core is rejected!"
From Qingrui to Shenguang, to Tianshe and Yuehua, and all the way to Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Zhuzhao, everyone's expressions changed.
Last ti, a mysterious Immortal Venerable had defected, secretly voting against it. After replacing Li Haiping with Li Haikuo, Mang Xiang's sure-win deliberation had directly turned into a rejection.
This ti, it seed the mysterious Immortal Venerable didn't defect; perhaps Mang Xiang's threat had taken effect.
But... the last ti, it was 1,871 to 1,852, with the opposition outnumbering the support.
This ti it was 1,861 to 1,860, still with the opposition outnumbering the support.
On the opposing side, the mysterious Immortal Venerable didn't defect, so it was missing ten votes, which checked out.
But on the supporting side, there should have been 1,862. Now, there were only 1,860.
Two votes were missing!
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