Ascending the Jade Palace Chapter 158: Wang Yulou's Foundation Establishment! Either a

Xihai Longhu's residence was situated right in South Annex City.

In a way, he was trying to set an example.

Of course, since Xihai Longhu was Shen Guang's disciple, his example was considered diocre by others.

Shen Guang had already established East Annex City. Now, pushing against the Immortal Alliance's pressure to develop South Annex City, his actions were not viewed favorably by many.

However, under Mang Xiang's decree, low-level independent cultivators from Hongdengzhao's territory began pouring into the West Sea in large numbers, changing the situation entirely.

At first glance, people could only see the surface of things.

The chess ga of the Immortal Venerables would only reveal its true form the mont the pawns were played.

Because these new West Sea cultivators lacked purchasing power, South Annex City still wasn't very popular. However, with the combat arena and the Western Sea First Auction House present, the foot traffic of cultivators had indeed increased significantly.

Xihai Long dealt with Zheng Yan, who had co to deliver a letter, before personally bringing Wang Yulou's handwritten note to Xihai Longhu.

Xihai Longhu had a very peculiar impression of Wang Yulou. When the man first pulled a sche to get sothing for nothing in South Annex City, it had angered him to no end.

Even with Shen Guang's personal orders, he still couldn't let go of the fact that Wang Yulou had claid a thousand mu of land without spending a single spirit stone. It was a full one thousand mu.

Only now did he realize in hindsight that it wasn't Shen Guang being hasty, nor was it Wang Yulou being greedy. Rather, it was he, Xihai Longhu, who had failed to understand the big picture.

Over the past two years in particular, Wang Yulou had used the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda case to stir up various commotions. As the combat arena and the Western Sea First Auction House grew increasingly prosperous, Xihai Longhu found himself with fewer and fewer complaints about Wang Yulou.

Xiao Wang was a good junior.

However, after reading Wang Yulou's letter, Xihai Longhu's expression beca as foul as if he had been pissed on by a herd of donkeys.

"Elder, what's wrong?" Xihai Long was startled by Xihai Longhu's expression.

Xihai Longhu was the type of person who wouldn't change his expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. For him to react so intensely, the contents of the letter had to involve sothing massive.

"Last month, the combat arena earned a re seven spirit stones. Wang Yulou said he is willing to add nine hundred and ninety-three of his own to make it a round thousand, just so he can send four hundred to our Developnt Office!"

Gritting his teeth, Xihai Longhu crushed the letter in his hand into powder.

"Five thousand spirit stones a year in profit for a thousand mu of land is indeed a bit low, but Elder, the combat arena has only just gotten on track.

Moreover, the current number of cultivators in South Annex City is simply too low. Many people living in the immortal city aren't willing to travel the extra distance to co watch.

Wang Yulou is fairly dedicated to the combat arena. He has dragged in any friends and partners he knows in the West Sea for magical combat."

Xihai Longhu might be furious, but Wang Yulou's attitude was impeccable. Since they couldn't find fault with him, Xihai Long cautiously chose to offer his elder a way out.

"What do you know? It's precisely because he pulled so many people in for magical combat that the combat arena can't turn a profit.

Those friends of his are all from major clans; the independent cultivators don't dare to win!

And after those people win, with Wang Yulou's tacit approval, they redeem the best items on the points list.

Things like Foundation Establishnt support elixirs, spirit pets, and high-grade magical artifacts.

These items are all tangible expenses; there are no hidden discounts.

As a result, the combat arena's public accounts bleed heavily.

In the end, Wang Yulou is using the combat arena to hand out favors to his own friends.

After the bulk of the money is spent, he pulls out a thousand spirit stones to compensate the South Annex City Developnt Office.

Xiao Long, do you think this is appropriate?"

Appropriate or not, what Wang Yulou did wasn't actually too excessive. He had, at the very least, taken out a thousand spirit stones for the sake of splitting the profits.

However, Xihai Long thought about it and still chose to placate his elder's feelings.

"Elder, how about I have Brother Hu go talk to Yulou?"

Within the South Annex City Developnt Office, Xihai Hu's role was to rely on his long-standing reputation for straightforwardness to handle problematic matters—he was the designated scapegoat.

However, Xihai Hu's position as a scapegoat was different from Lian Chengxian's. His was a reusable role, and taking the bla wouldn't actually hinder his own prospects.

Lian Chengxian took the bla because he wasn't considered one of their own. Xihai Hu taking the bla for his own people was considered stepping up for the big picture.

"Proper. In addition, that Western Sea First Auction House, the courtyard the Wang Clan built to rent out to independent cultivators, and oh right, that Immortal in Wine House restaurant—we need to have a good talk with Wang Yulou about all of them.

We take forty percent of the combat arena's surplus, as was agreed upon. However, even though those other businesses aren't the combat arena, they were still built on land that didn't cost him a single spirit stone. They should also give us forty percent!"

Xihai Longhu's grievances with Wang Yulou were by no ans small.

But just as Xihai Long accepted the order and turned to leave, Xihai Longhu called out to stop him and added one more thing.

"Don't forget to remind Xihai Hu to be smart about it. Tell him not to genuinely offend Wang Yulou."

Xihai Long nodded helplessly.

What else could they do?

The cultivation world was just like this. Of course they could fight; if a conflict broke out, they wouldn't be afraid of Wang Yulou at all.

But they weren't Immortal Venerable Mangxiang; they lacked the guts to simply flip the table.

So, it could only be like this.

——

"You want to collect a debt, but you also tell I can't burn bridges. Isn't this just acting like a cowardly lackey!"

With a loud smack, Xihai Hu slamd his palm onto the spirit-wood desk. His thick, dark hand instantly smashed it to splinters.

His relationship with Wang Yulou was the most superficial of brotherhoods.

Wang Yulou hypocritically called him Big Brother Hu, and he hypocritically called Wang Yulou 'Little Brother Yulou'.

This kind of relationship was already precarious enough. Wouldn't collecting a debt ruin it completely?

When handling matters for the faction, one naturally had to do their utmost. However, Xihai Hu saw clearly that Wang Yulou might not necessarily give him face.

That bastard was the type who never barked, but once he did, no one could stop him. The thoughts in his mind were clear as day.

"It's not acting like a cowardly lackey, nor is it collecting a debt—Wang Yulou doesn't owe us anything.

In short, you need to adjust your attitude and show the imposing manner of an Immortal Venerable's disciple.

Get the spirit stones back without acting like a cowardly lackey."

Hearing Xihai Long's analysis, Xihai Hu felt even more stifled.

Isn't that still collecting a debt?

"I need to make Wang Yulou yield, but I can't offend him.

I can't act like a cowardly lackey, and I still have to show the imposing manner of an Immortal Venerable's disciple.

How about you take this job?"

Everyone was living strenuously. Wang Yulou had it hard, but Xihai Hu and Xihai Long had it hard as well.

Facing Xihai Hu's attempt to deflect bla, Xihai Long shrugged.

"The Patriarch of the Wang Clan doesn't welco , you know that."

The concept of ntal illness did not exist among cultivators; effeminate n like Xihai Long weren't well-received anywhere.

Xihai Hu sighed.

"I'm just destined to be a cowardly lackey. Fine, I get your aning. I'll pressure him. I'll pressure him with the most spineless attitude possible!"

Wang Yulou was just like that. By now, he had beco a famous figure in the West Sea.

Even Xihai Longhu, a disciple of Shen Guang, couldn't easily suppress him with direct authority.

Even when holding the moral high ground, he still had to carefully send his subordinates to liaise with Wang Yulou and express his opinions first...

Today, the Jade Palace Estate carried an extra touch of solemnity compared to the past.

Xihai Hu noticed that two gatekeepers were actually standing at the entrance of the Jade Palace Estate.

"Is there so major event today? My good brother didn't notify ?"

Putting away his mount at the entrance, Xihai Hu asked the gatekeeper.

"Senior Xihai Hu, recently our clan's Elder Rongwen has been in closed-door cultivation within the estate attempting Foundation Establishnt. Please co in."

Attempting Foundation Establishnt in closed-door cultivation at the Jade Palace Estate?

This place wasn't on so special spirit vein or a nexus of spiritual vitality, let alone possessing a special spiritual landscape like the Five Splendors Spiritual Essence Pool to increase the success rate of Foundation Establishnt. Going into closed-door cultivation here was inappropriate, right?

Pondering this, Xihai Hu entered the estate and imdiately sucked in a sharp breath.

The spiritual landscape at the entrance of the Jade Palace Estate had been temporarily modified into a special spirit-gathering formation array. Even from outside the array, Xihai Hu could feel the surging spiritual resonance within.

The Wang Clan was directly burning spiritual resonance to increase the success rate of Foundation Establishnt.

Insufficient spiritual vitality?

Burn spiritual resonance!

On the left side of the Jade Palace Estate's courtyard, a small stone table had been set up. Wang Xianmao was lying on a reclining chair, dozing off. Seeing Xihai Hu arrive, he imdiately stood up to welco him.

"Junior Brother Hu is here?"

Xihai Hu smacked his lips. Pointing at the spiritual landscape pool covered by the formation array, he asked,

"I'm afraid this expense isn't low, right?"

Wang Xianmao laughed heartily.

"Hahaha, spirit stones are ant to be spent, after all."

Xihai Hu's eyes imdiately lit up—you said it yourself! You are the Patriarch of the Wang Clan; if you say the Wang Clan isn't short on spirit stones, then I'll definitely believe it!

However, Wang Xianmao was an incredibly cautious person. His next sentence completely blocked any possibility of Xihai Hu trying to collect a debt.

"The Wang Clan's reserves have all been burned up this ti, and we've even ended up owing quite a few spirit stones. I only hope they can succeed in Foundation Establishnt on the first try."

Bastard!

"They? It's not just Wang Rongwen?"

Just as Xihai Hu's words left his mouth, the nearby spiritual vitality beca chaotic. Wang Xianmao did not answer. Instead, he sat up straight in his reclining chair and looked toward the spiritual landscape pool concealed by the formation array.

The spiritual vitality remained in disarray for about half an incense stick of ti before Wang Rongwen's laughter rang out from within the formation array.

"Hahahaha, Patriarch, I've succeeded! I've succeeded!"

Elder Rongwen, having just broken through to Foundation Establishnt, was clearly overjoyed. Worried he might disturb Wang Yulou, who was also in closed-door cultivation inside the spiritual resonance formation array, Wang Xianmao imdiately sent a voice transmission.

"Shut up!"

Looking crestfallen, Wang Rongwen squeezed out of the formation array. Seeing Xihai Hu present, he hurriedly bowed out of habit. Halfway down, he rembered that he, too, had reached Foundation Establishnt.

In the end, he awkwardly changed it to a bow between peers, causing Wang Xianmao to frown.

"Alright, go stabilize your cultivation base first. Show so of the bearing of a Foundation Establishnt cultivator; you'll have to shoulder the responsibilities of the Wang Clan in the future too!"

Wang Rongwen left to stabilize his cultivation base. The Patriarch looked at Xihai Hu and asked warmly,

"Fellow Daoist Xihai Hu, what brings you here?"

He could roughly guess Xihai Hu's purpose; he was rely looking for Wang Yulou to discuss dividing the combat arena's profits. The Patriarch was certainly aware that Wang Yulou had sent Zheng Yan to deliver the letter.

However, Wang Yulou had deliberately chosen to report the accounts right as he prepared for Foundation Establishnt, intending to gloss over the matter for now.

It wasn't that Wang Yulou was being cunning, nor was he disloyal to the Immortal Venerable. It was simply that Wang Yulou found many specific matters hard to manage.

If Chen Yanghe wanted to go play in the combat arena, could he stop him?

Or if the direct lineage of Li Haikuo's family wanted to go to the combat arena to 'prove themselves,' could he stop them?

Neither was easy to stop; Wang Yulou was caught in a difficult position.

With many things, his hands were simply tied.

Regarding how to handle these troubleso matters, Wang Yulou's plan was to deal with them after reaching Foundation Establishnt himself.

In principle, the laws of the Immortal Alliance were greater than the heavens.

In principle, the interests of grand cultivators were the top priority.

But for an individual cultivator, their cultivation base was equally paramount.

Wang Yulou's prestige during his Qi Refining phase was already very high, but it still couldn't compare to the authority he would hold after reaching Foundation Establishnt.

Raising one's cultivation base by an entire realm changed everything.

By then, Wang Yulou would be the unquestioned leading figure among the younger generation, and his words would carry far more weight.

The key point was that it would be easier for him to assert himself.

Putting plans into practice inevitably led to problems, and improving one's cultivation base could solve these problems to a certain extent—a cultivation world version of "solving problems through developnt."

Wang Yulou didn't dare touch the Immortal Alliance's distribution system, but as long as his cultivation base increased, managing the combat arena would naturally beco easier.

"Well, I missed Yulou a bit, so I ca over to have a drink with him. I didn't expect that both he and his wife would be in closed-door cultivation for Foundation Establishnt. How about this, Fellow Daoist Xianmao: I will act as a protector for them alongside you."

Xihai Hu decided to play the part of a close friend—he could keep him company and act as Yulou's protector, after all.

"This..."

Wang Xianmao felt a headache coming on.

Yes, Shen Guang and Mang Xiang had seemingly joined forces; strictly speaking, they were all mbers of allied factions.

But they were ultimately from two different systems. Why was Xihai Hu acting so familiar?

What could he do? It wasn't as if he could chase the man away.

"Alright, please take a seat, Fellow Daoist. Please, sit."

Wang Xianmao turned wood into a chair, instantly conjuring another recliner for Xihai Hu, gesturing for him to lie back and take his ti acting as a protector.

Two days later, the spiritual vitality within the Jade Palace Estate fell into chaos once more.

Not long after, Zhou Yingxi walked out of the formation array, unable to conceal her excitent.

No matter how much pressure she faced, in this mont of successfully reaching Foundation Establishnt, she was genuinely happy.

With the Blood Marrow Restoration Pill improving her aptitude and reinforcing her foundation, Zhou Yingxi's Foundation Establishnt was naturally much easier than Wang Yulou's.

That was a Heavenly Tribulation treasure pill. Over the past two years, Zhou Yingxi had barely absorbed a fifth of its dicinal efficacy.

Perhaps after reaching Foundation Establishnt, the speed at which she absorbed the dicinal power would increase.

If Zhou Yingxi was counted as a mber of the Wang Clan, then the clan now had eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators: five from the direct lineage, two with outside surnas, and one direct lineage Dao Companion.

Eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators—such a scale was sothing even many Purple Mansion families could barely match.

The crux of the matter was that a family's influence and sphere of interest were limited. If there were too many Foundation Establishnt cultivators in the clan, it would be difficult to arrange positions for them, and internal resource distribution might face issues.

However, just as Xihai Zhongcheng had said, they were currently in an era on the eve of a major upheaval.

At least for the Wang Clan, this upheaval was inevitable.

They were Mang Xiang's vassals. If Mang Xiang could take another step forward, let alone eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators, even ten wouldn't be too many for the Wang Clan.

Even if Mang Xiang failed to take that step, having more Foundation Establishnt cultivators would still allow the Wang Clan to secure a better foothold in the coming storms.

"Fellow Daoist Xianmao, with eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators in one family, the Wang Clan is a sizable force even within Hongdengzhao,"

Xihai Hu said with so emotion.

Within a sect, its internal factions didn't gain a competitive edge purely by relying on an absolute nurical advantage.

But when the Wang Clan's eight Foundation Establishnt cultivators united, they wielded imnse influence in Hongdengzhao—perhaps less than a Purple Mansion family, but far more than many ordinary minor Foundation Establishnt families.

The logic behind this was similar to the Yuan Clan and Zhuo Clan in Dripdrop Cave.

Not everyone dared to fearlessly step into that endless infighting.

For the vast majority of Foundation Establishnt cultivators who had no hope of reaching the Purple Palace realm, their main priority was rely earning a few more life-extending pills and spending more ti nurturing their clan's juniors.

"Small, very small! Over these past few years, the number of Foundation Establishnt cultivators in Hongdengzhao has doubled."

Wang Xianmao smiled bitterly.

He actually harbored a speculation: the Ancestral Master might have been preparing for war all along.

The relentless resource harvesting by the Hongdengzhao rit Hall branches seed to be purely for the Ancestral Master's benefit, but in reality, it also provided Foundation Establishnt opportunities for the independent and lower-tier cultivators within Hongdengzhao.

Once Hongdengzhao experienced an explosion of Foundation Establishnt cultivators, fighting the Sky Serpent Sect would no longer be considered difficult.

Even if Hongdengzhao had fewer grand cultivators, they could at least defend their mountain gate.

Moreover, without fighting a civil war, simply escalating the war's intensity to the Foundation Establishnt stage could still achieve the effect of wiping out a sect—flipping the board on the grand cultivators of the Sky Serpent Sect.

If this speculation were true... it was hard to say whether having so many Foundation Establishnt cultivators would be a blessing or a curse for the Wang Clan.

"Fellow Daoist Xianmao is too modest. With Yulou in your family, the future... Hmm?"

Immortal Venerable Mangxiang had activated his Dao-attaining treasure, the Sky Do Crown, and the stars in the sky began to shift!

Across the Four Poles, Five Regions, Eight Desolations, those Purple Palace cultivators still lingering between heaven and earth had long since sensed that sothing was wrong. By the ti Wang Xianmao and Xihai Hu noticed the anomaly, it was already too late.

However, the stars in the sky connected by Mang Xiang only shifted slightly for a mont before falling back into silence.

This was because Immortal Venerable Mangxiang had sensed Tianshe's predicant; after confirming his guess, he withdrew his divine ability and retreated directly.

Grand cultivators had painstakingly cultivated for so many years to reach their heights; how could they take action so easily?

Kings did not easily et kings. No matter how hard-pressed Tianshe was, he was still a genuine, veteran Demon King.

Bullying him a bit was enough. Mang Xiang wouldn't actually risk being dragged down by Tianshe just to posture pointlessly.

"What's happening?"

Wang Xianmao stood up alertly and looked toward the sky, but how could he possibly fathom a struggle at Mang Xiang's level?

The true gap lay in the fact that even when the opponent struck, you couldn't comprehend their moves at all.

"Perhaps soone failed to open their Purple Palace?"

Xihai Hu was also unsure. There were too many bizarre occurrences in the cultivation world. He had only lived for over two hundred years; how could he have seen them all?

Half a shichen after Zhou Yingxi successfully attained Foundation Establishnt, Wang Yulou finally reached the mont of his own Foundation Establishnt.

The dark blue Source Vein Gui Water Qi surged through his broad ridians, which were wide open like four-lane highways.

The experience and foundation accumulated from twenty years of day-and-night cultivation were like two roaring, vigorous engines.

The despair of being manipulated by Shen Guang in Clear Stream Market.

The helplessness of being repeatedly tornted by Yuan Daoshen in Dripdrop Cave.

The fear of having his cultivation base inexplicably elevated by Danri in Hongdengzhao.

The West Sea was vast, yet Wang Yulou could only act as a pawn, pushed by others into his designated position.

His destiny seed to have never truly been in his own hands.

Wang Yulou understood that these were all necessary experiences; the Immortal Alliance's rules operated like this, and the grand cultivators of the world had always been this way.

In truth, Wang Yulou was actually considered incredibly lucky.

In Clear Stream Market, he had the protection of his family.

In Dripdrop Cave, he had the close protection of Old Ancestor Xianzhu, and four Foundation Establishnt cultivators from his family had stepped up to support him in turn.

Even in Hongdengzhao, Mang Xiang and Danri hadn't actually done anything to Wang Yulou.

Having his cultivation base elevated and being assigned to marry Zhou Yingxi in the West Sea—in the eyes of outsiders, Wang Yulou was practically a heavenly genius under the tutelage of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.

He was too lucky.

But the human heart was like water flowing against the current.

Always wanting to rise one level higher, and then one level higher still.

Wang Yulou didn't want to be a pawn, and he especially didn't want to beco a sacrifice or a cultivation furnace.

Gui Water, Gui Water.

Help attain the Dao!

The dark blue Source Vein Gui Water Qi manifested around Wang Yulou, casting a gloomy aura over him.

With the aid of nurous support elixirs, his breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt was absolutely safe.

The Golden Cauldron Foundation Establishnt Pill was even more extraordinary; it was the first breakthrough spiritual elixir he had consud since beginning his cultivation journey.

Moreover, it was the absolute best of its kind.

Yet, Wang Yulou didn't feel the pill's effects.

He only saw himself.

The untiring self who had forged ahead through trials.

The persistent self who had cultivated day and night.

The resolute self who had endured humiliation while bearing heavy burdens.

Every day, every night, for twenty years.

He would never forget the agonizing pain of cultivating the Source Vein.

He would never forget the helplessness of struggling through one vortex of turmoil after another.

Nor would he forget the hope he had never abandoned.

Unwillingness, desire, greed, yearning—he couldn't pinpoint exactly what the feeling was.

In this mont of breaking through to Foundation Establishnt, Wang Yulou saw only his past self.

Feeling no dicinal power from the elixir amidst the spiritual vitality stimulated by the burning resonance, he saw the man who had grown step by step over twenty years—the man who had slowly hoisted the crushing burden of fate onto his own shoulders.

He didn't even notice exactly when he achieved Foundation Establishnt. When he finally realized he had broken through, he simply let out an exhausted sigh.

He had already co so far.

At thirteen, he had left Wang Family Mountain and traveled to Clear Stream Market hundreds of li away to study the artificing path.

In his early twenties, he had completely left his family's protection and headed to Dripdrop Cave to practice Source Vein Gui Water Qi.

At thirty, he had been pushed to the West Sea by Mang Xiang and Danri, coming to understand his status as a pawn.

This long and arduous journey had finally culminated in Foundation Establishnt.

But the road ahead was still so long, so very long.

At that thought, Wang Yulou roused his spirits.

Standing up, he finally felt the tangible changes of reaching Foundation Establishnt.

It was like warm sunlight lting solid ice, spring rain nourishing dusty soil, and new sprouts replacing dead branches.

This was a transformation on the level of life itself. A lifespan of three hundred and sixty years had already touched the threshold of immortality.

Wang Yulou suddenly missed Old Ancestor Xianzhu.

The Ancestor had slain multiple Foundation Establishnt cultivators while still at the Qi Refining stage; he was a heavenly genius no weaker than himself.

Even strictly comparing magical combat skills, the current Wang Yulou might not necessarily be able to defeat Wang Xianzhou.

'Ancestor, Yulou has finally reached Foundation Establishnt.'

Just as Wang Xianmao was growing impatient, Wang Yulou voluntarily deactivated the formation array and appeared before the old Patriarch with a smile.

However, why was the dark, chubby Fat Hu here?

Wang Yulou furrowed his brows and smiled bitterly.

"Patriarch, it took over a dozen Foundation Establishnt Pills to succeed this ti. Yulou is ashad."

Wang Xianmao froze for a mont, then hurriedly lanted.

"Over a dozen Foundation Establishnt Pills just to succeed... that's three hundred thousand spirit stones. Never mind, we'll just slowly pay it off together."

Hearing the words of these two bastards, Xihai Hu's expression turned from joy to a sickly liver-purple.

"Right, Big Brother Hu, what brings you here?"

Only after reporting his "sha" to Wang Xianmao did Wang Yulou finally look at Xihai Hu.

Xihai Hu took a deep breath. He realized that playing the turtle grandson truly was a job that required skill.

Collecting debts was hard; collecting debts from a scoundrel like Wang Yulou was even harder.

'You two aren't even trying to hide your acting, are you?

'Wang Yulou, are you a pig?

'Over a dozen Foundation Establishnt Pills! I can't believe you had the nerve to say that out loud!

'Not even a pig demon could eat as much as you!

'Isn't it just that you don't want to give us that forty percent share? Is there a need for all this?'

"The second elder said that the Western Sea First Auction House and the Immortal in Wine House should also share their profits, just like the combat arena.

"Yulou, I've just co on his behalf to ask for your opinion and pass along a ssage."

Wang Yulou nodded.

"Forty percent is absolutely impossible. The land in South Annex City isn't worth a single spirit stone to begin with. The combat arena is the combat arena; the others must be calculated separately.

"Besides, Big Brother Hu, our businesses have already played a major role in driving the prosperity of South Annex City. Shouldn't this also be taken into consideration?"

Xihai Hu closed his eyes, then opened them, speaking bluntly.

"Give a number. I'm just passing a ssage."

Yulou looked at the Patriarch. Wang Xianmao gave him an encouraging glance, signaling him to decide for himself.

'Decide for myself...'

"Thirty percent. The Immortal Venerable opened up the West Sea, establishing rits for both the Immortal Alliance and the West Sea itself. Toward the Immortal Venerable, our Wang Clan holds nothing but respect."

'Thirty percent?'

Xihai Hu was overjoyed.

He hadn't expected Wang Yulou to be so agreeable. In reality, he had completely misunderstood him.

Wang Yulou—and indeed, the entire Wang Clan—had a working style where they would haggle over every penny, yet still prioritize the big picture.

When it was ti to haggle, they haggled; when it was ti to smooth things over, they smoothed them over; and when they needed to yield for the sake of the big picture, they yielded.

If a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator like Xihai Hu could show up at their door and play the turtle grandson, what couldn't the Wang Clan tolerate?

Making enemies on all sides was a surefire way to cut oneself off from the cultivation world entirely.

"Yulou, then I will report back to the second elder exactly like this. You truly understand the bigger picture."

Wang Yulou spoke modestly.

"You flatter . Now that I've reached Foundation Establishnt, I plan to host an Immortal Ascension Banquet.

"I don't want any congratulatory gifts. I rely wish to invite our fellow Daoists in the Western Sea Immortal City to gather at our Wang Clan's newly opened restaurant, the Immortal in Wine House.

"Of course, all of this depends on Senior Longhu's schedule. But whether Senior Longhu cos or not, I will absolutely not delay that thirty percent."

Xihai Hu silently dismissed Wang Yulou's words as a load of hot air.

What he actually heard was, 'I am collecting congratulatory gifts,' and 'If he doesn't co, don't even think about that thirty percent share.'

"Understood. Just set your mind at ease, Yulou," Xihai Hu promised, patting his chest.

One could only say that his prejudice against Wang Yulou ran far too deep.

——

Within Hongdengzhao, on Illuminating Spirit Mountain, inside a grand hall in the Illuminating Daoist Temple.

Chiming Xianzun's disciple, Fu Yan, sat in the upper right seat, Mang Xiang sat in the upper left seat, and a burning red candlestick was placed at the main seat.

All the Purple Palace cultivators of Hongdengzhao—except for Zhou Bojiao and two others who could not attend—were lined up below the three of them.

As a veteran major sect, Hongdengzhao sounded like a Left-Path Sect, but it wasn't short on grand cultivators. In fact, it had as many as sixteen factions within it.

Speaking more broadly, however, they could be divided into three major factions.

The strongest was the Illuminating Faction: one Golden Core, ten Purple Palaces, and eight spirit mountains.

The second strongest was the Chiming Faction, led by Fu Yan: counting him, they had eight Purple Palaces in total and six spirit mountains.

The third strongest was the Mangxiang Faction, led by Mang Xiang: counting him, they currently had four Purple Palaces and two spirit mountains.

It seed as though Mang Xiang was weak, but in reality, with three Purple Palaces in his direct lineage, he had never suffered a loss in the past, and he certainly wouldn't suffer one now.

It was that sa old logic: in internal struggles, having more people didn't an having more power. Solidarity was far more useful than numbers.

The three major factions were just a generalized calculation. In true political maneuvering, Mangxiang's lineage—with three Purple Palaces in a single branch—was actually extrely formidable.

Moreover, if Zhuzhao pushed too hard, Mang Xiang and Fu Yan would ally together, ensuring they wouldn't be exploited by Zhuzhao.

Yes, Zhuzhao was the only Golden Core True Person in Hongdengzhao, and it seed like he should hold all the power.

But the reality was that Zhou Bojiao had Qingrui behind him. There were also several Purple Palace cultivators in the sect who had connections with the Golden Core True Persons of the Immortal Alliance—individuals who had achieved their realms by relying on the Immortal Alliance system.

If Zhuzhao caused too much of a stir, there was a chance Hongdengzhao might directly beco an Upper-Path Sect.

Furthermore, Mang Xiang had always been special. He had never feared Zhuzhao—the two were, after all, grand cultivators from the sa era who had founded Hongdengzhao together.

"Mang Xiang, are you certain you want to start a war? What if we lose? Are you going to compensate us for our losses?"

Fu Yan wasn't trying to make things difficult for Mang Xiang. When it ca to matters of profit and loss, if the calculations weren't clear, one absolutely could not afford to blindly start a war.

"Yes, I will compensate.

"Furthermore, I don't believe Hongdengzhao will lose. Over these past few years, nearly a thousand Foundation Establishnt cultivators have erged under our sect's jurisdiction.

"Combined with our original Foundation Establishnt cultivators, we no longer have fewer Foundation Establishnt cultivators than the Sky Serpent Sect. If we go to war, we have a very real chance of winning."

Interests ca first. Mang Xiang directly admitted he would provide compensation. This grand promise of his might have been true or false, but his attitude, at the very least, was acceptable.

He was very powerful, but the waters of the Immortal Alliance were simply too deep.

The Immortal Alliance had over a hundred and twenty Golden Core cultivators, and every single one of them was terrifyingly strong.

The Sky Serpent Sect, even more formidably, had two Demon Gods.

Given this landscape, without the full support of Hongdengzhao, it was impossible for him to attain Golden Core.

"Good, then let's go to war. I support you."

The fla on the red candlestick danced. Candlelight Immortal Venerable decisively expressed his support for Mang Xiang.

When it ca to truly major affairs, everyone could see the situation clearly; there wasn't much to debate.

"Directly go to war... Not going through the Gathering Immortals Platform?"

Fu Yan asked with a frown.

The laws of the Immortal Alliance explicitly forbade major factions from arbitrarily dispatching Foundation Establishnt cultivators for territorial disputes or inter-sect maneuvering. Any deploynt of Foundation Establishnt cultivators in a war required the approval of the Gathering Immortals Platform.

The Valley Spirit Sect and Wondrous Peak Mountain had been fighting for over a dozen years. Constant rumors claid they were on the verge of receiving permission from the Gathering Immortals Platform to launch a sect-annihilating war and utterly destroy each other's foundations. Yet, despite a decade of such rumors, that permission had never co.

Such permission was not easily granted by the Gathering Immortals Platform.

"The Gathering Immortals Platform is nothing but a decoration. What, are you hesitating again at a ti like this?"

When Mang Xiang asked this, the grand hall imdiately fell silent.

It wasn't just Fu Yan who was hesitating.

Mang Xiang was not a good person; perhaps he had already sold out the sect.

But the most despicable thing about this bastard was that, over the past twenty-plus years, he had stimulated the ergence of far too many Foundation Establishnt cultivators within Hongdengzhao's jurisdiction.

If Hongdengzhao did not go to war, where would they send all these Foundation Establishnt cultivators?

If the internal pressure grew too high, it would inevitably explode!

Rather than waiting for a passive explosion that would draw the eyes of external enemies, it was better to proactively detonate the situation and fight for the chance to beco an Upper-Path Sect.

"Let's go to war. I support you."

Fu Yan shook his head.

Support?

Support my ass!

But not supporting him wasn't an option.

Stopping him now, and opposing Mang Xiang's war, carried terrifying consequences. Given how Mang Xiang and Shen Guang were in cahoots, it wouldn't be long before a new Hongdengzhao struck from the west!

Yes, a new Hongdengzhao—and this was no joke.

Li Haiping and Zhou Bojiao had already gone to the West Sea!

Wondrous Peak Mountain had already trained its troops for twenty years! (The Wang Clan was on good terms with Wondrous Peak Mountain.)

There were also three thousand Qi Refining cultivators entering the West Sea...

Shen Guang was an Immortal Venerable who had attained his Dao in the West Sea, and Mang Xiang was a ten-thousand-year-old demon. If these two allied together, with the nurous Demon Gods of the West Sea backing them up, the current Hongdengzhao would be truly miserable!

Either they beca the helping hands for Mang Xiang to attain his Dao and went to war against the Sky Serpent Sect...

...Or they beca the price for Mang Xiang to attain his Dao, sitting by and watching a new Hongdengzhao be established, turning the current Hongdengzhao into the frontline of the standoff between the Immortal Alliance and the West Sea's Demon Gods.

This was Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's open sche.

The seats at the pinnacle of heaven and earth were extrely limited. The lifespan of a Golden Core was limitless; no Golden Core wanted to watch soone else co over and squeeze into a seat next to them.

Under these circumstances, every Golden Core was a legend among legends.

Shen Guang had sent countless cultivators to the West Sea to serve as rations for demonic beasts, only then attaining his Golden Core.

In order to achieve Golden Core, Mang Xiang had laid out various sches and delivered various deterrents. How could ordinary people possibly comprehend or unravel them?

Of course, if these grand cultivators of Hongdengzhao were truly opposed to Mang Xiang's demand for war, they could try to pin him to death in Zhuzhao's temple.

After all, the sect's twenty or so grand cultivators were almost entirely gathered here. If everyone worked together, there was still a chance.

However, while everyone could think of this idea, every single grand cultivator sitting in the hall had the sa thought: 'I won't object if you do it, but if I have to do it, I refuse.'

Fight if you want, but we won't.

Cultivating to such a high position was for the sake of enjoying longevity, not to engage in magical combat with people every day.

A single failure in magical combat ant one's body dying and their Dao vanishing. Only fools would risk such a thing.

Of course, this had absolutely nothing to do with the grand cultivators being weak at magical combat or being afraid of it—nothing whatsoever.

They weren't afraid; they were rely cautious.

"Good. Danri, go and deliver the decree."

Mang Xiang looked at his good disciple.

Danri still looked like a chubby little girl. Sitting amidst a crowd of grand cultivators, each possessing an extraordinary and imposing aura, she stood out as conspicuously as a marmot wandering into a pack of wolves.

Being singled out by her master, she hurriedly jumped up and flew out of the grand hall.

"Everyone, go about your business. Those above the Purple Palace realm will not be implicated, and I will provide a certain level of care for your juniors."

The grand cultivators left one after another. Those returning to their grotto-heavens returned to their grotto-heavens, those returning to their mountains returned to their mountains, and those with other business departed.

But the war had already begun.

Danri received her master's order and ascended, rising directly into the void over a hundred li above.

She reached out a hand. From within his grotto-heaven, Zhuzhao stuffed a red lantern into her grasp. This was Chiming Xianzun's bequeathed treasure, the high-grade spirit treasure, the Red Lantern.

Danri's cultivation base was still sowhat too low. Even when channeling her energy with all her might, her face turned pale before she successfully activated the divine ability of this immortal artifact.

In the sky above Wunan, the original sun vanished, replaced by a newer, brighter, and larger sun.

From Wang Family Mountain in the corner of Hongdengzhao, to the scripture repository in the Hidden Dragon Abbey, to the Jade Palace Estate in Western Sea Immortal City, to Wunan, and even across several neighboring provinces—everyone was frightened by that sun.

The stars moved, and a new sun rose...

Holding Yingxi's hand, Wang Yulou looked toward the sky, a guess already forming in his mind.

The other shoe had finally dropped.

Through the power of the Red Lantern spirit treasure, Danri's voice spread across all of Wunan and even reached the West Sea.

"Half a month ago, we lost a disciple. After an investigation, we found out...

"The Valley Spirit Sect has gone too far! They sent our Hongdengzhao disciple to the Sky Serpent Sect to feed their demonic beasts! Every disciple of Hongdengzhao is a mber of the sect.

"The sect will not sit idly by while our disciples are brutally murdered by the vile remnants of the Sky Serpent Sect! Now, hear Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's decree: Hongdengzhao will thoroughly annihilate the Sky Serpent Sect and avenge our disciple!"

Zhou Yingxi's eyes widened in astonishnt, while Wang Yulou found himself sowhat stuck between laughter and tears.

"Yes, we lost a disciple."

Classic.

Find an excuse, and then go to war. As for what that excuse actually was, it didn't matter.

Immortal Venerable Mangxiang, it was already a blessing that the Sky Serpent Sect wasn't attacking you, so why did you have to attack them?

Wang Yulou couldn't guess the reason.

Suddenly, his expression drastically shifted.

"Wife, continue your cultivation for now. I'm heading over to South Annex City to take a look."

Saying this, he let go of Zhou Yingxi's hand and prepared to leave.

"What happened?" Zhou Yingxi hurriedly asked.

Wang Yulou was her pillar of support. With him suddenly in such a rush, how could she not worry?

"Yulou, our Wang Clan must—where are you going?"

Wang Xianmao, having heard the war decree, had also rushed over, seemingly intending to discuss the Ancestral Master's sudden initiation of the war with Wang Yulou.

"There's no ti to explain! The First Auction House!

"Right, Patriarch, let's go together.

"Zheng Yan, you and Uncle Rongwen split up and find Xihai Longhu! Tell him to hurry to the First Auction House!"

The Western Sea First Auction House: though it had "auction house" in its na, it actually dealt in cultivation resource contract business—Xianxia-style futures.

Wang Yulou had earned a considerable amount of spirit stones back then through the Great Goods Store, ultimately exchanging them for a massive sum of resources from the sect.

Today, the Western Sea First Auction House was one of the most bustling places in the West Sea; otherwise, it wouldn't have attracted Xihai Longhu to desire a share of the profits so intensely.

With the news of Hongdengzhao and the Sky Serpent Sect going to war suddenly popping up, how could chaos not erupt in the Western Sea First Auction House?

Seeing Wang Yulou and Wang Xianmao leave in such a fiery rush, Zhou Yingxi wanted to follow and help, but on second thought, she didn't know much about business managent. It was better not to add to the trouble.

Not half a shichen after she returned to the quiet room to resu cultivating, Zhou Bojiao transmitted his voice.

'Co to my residence for a mont.'

Yingxi opened her eyes, her gaze filled with complex emotions.

Since that day, she hadn't set foot into the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence for two whole years.

Now that she had reached Foundation Establishnt, it really was ti for her to pay a visit.

No matter how many evil deeds Zhou Bojiao had committed, he was ultimately her ancestor.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yingxi no longer hesitated. She stood up and headed to the Treasure-Wielding True Human's Residence.

The residence was much more dilapidated than it had been two years ago.

All the servants had been dismissed. The only ones taking orders before Zhou Bojiao were three Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the Zhou Family's vassal clans, as well as her father, Mu Changze.

Upon entering the backyard, Yingxi discovered that her ancestor seed to have disappeared.

Just as she felt confused, a blue ribbon ford of spiritual power dragged her into a concealnt formation array.

Within the formation array, an entirely different set of seemingly incredibly complex formation bases was laid out. At the center of these bases sat a wooden coffin.

Zhou Yingxi wanted to speak, but she suddenly realized that the flood dragon corpse housing her ancestor's soul had vanished.

Her attention had been completely drawn by the complex formation array, so she hadn't noticed this massive difference imdiately.

As if realizing sothing, Yingxi suddenly shuddered violently, her teeth chattering with fear.

"Ancestor, you..."

A spell shot out from the wooden coffin, sealing Zhou Yingxi's mouth shut; she could no longer speak.

The blue spiritual ribbon dragged her forward, placing her atop the coffin.

Zhou Yingxi struggled intensely, but Zhou Bojiao had absolutely no intention of showing rcy, much less suddenly explaining things at such a critical mont.

He rely continued to cast his spell in silence, and Zhou Yingxi fell into a heavy slumber.

The complex formation array activated. Inside the coffin, Zhou Bojiao gathered his focus. He first confird the residual dicinal power of the Blood Marrow Restoration Pill, and only after feeling completely reassured did he comnce the body usurpation.

The Blood Marrow Restoration Pill had an additional special effect: it alleviated the incompatibility between the soul and body following a body usurpation among clan mbers.

The blood and marrow of an entire clan, all condensed into a single pill, to restore the true body of a single person.

This was the Blood Marrow Restoration Pill.

At this mont, Wang Yulou was still doing his utmost to maintain order in the Western Sea First Auction House.

He still didn't know that his own wife was about to turn into an old bastard.