My na is Wang Yulou. I am an ordinary cultivator, currently in the West Sea, having just survived a battlefield.
Perhaps my fate is a little extraordinary.
How should I put it... I seem to bring bad luck to my masters.
Just now, my second master, Zhou Bojiao, was jointly sent to the afterlife by one Immortal Venerable and six Purple Mansion cultivators. The whole process could be called a grand funeral.
He was a grand cultivator of the Immortal Alliance, an elder of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and the Treasure-Wielding True Person of the West Sea. At the sa ti, he was my greatest backing.
In other words, my backing was gone. But for it to be completely gone was also unlikely.
Because my dear, beloved, affectionate father-in-law—as gentle as the spring breeze and as warm as the sun—had attained the Purple Mansion realm using the Divine Ability Demon Transformation Purple Mansion thod under the watchful eyes of thousands.
My cheap master was dead, but my father-in-law had beco a Purple Mansion True Person.
So... could Old Mu, having defected, still be my backing?
No one could answer this for Wang Yulou. Not even the Patriarch could. Today's events were simply too terrifying. Even a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator like Wang Xianmao was so deeply shaken that he couldn't calm down, making it impossible to give Wang Yulou a definitive answer.
'Yulou, we can't worry about that right now. Let's go to True Person Haikuo's residence to seek help. After all, True Person Haikuo is one of our own.'
Wang Yulou held the hand of a dazed Yingxi, walking side by side with Wang Xianmao.
'Seek help for what? Moreover, Patriarch, when you say one of our own, on what level do you an?'
The strength of Foundation Establishnt cultivators could already easily level peaks and fill valleys. Under the rampage of a group of Great Demons, the Western Sea Immortal City was filled with ruined walls and debris. The burned-down areas had to be asured by entire streets.
'Seek help on how to handle the matter of Zhou Bojiao, and how to handle the matter of Mu Chunze. Yulou, the current situation is extrely dangerous. As for what level of "our own" he is, I can't guess either.'
With a grave expression and furrowed brows, Wang Xianmao had truly never considered what level of "our own" Li Haikuo was before.
As the saying went, Mang Xiang's chess ga wasn't sothing just anyone could understand.
'True Person Fujiao imdiately began refining pills after testing the waters in the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda case, and he started the body usurpation right after the war began. Patriarch, was this timing intentionally guided by the Immortal Venerable?'
Ti nodes were a characteristic indicator that rarely caught people's attention. If Wang Yulou hadn't been the lead investigator of the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda case, he wouldn't have noticed the issues hidden within these ti nodes.
If previously, these issues were rely suspicious and impossible to verify...
Then, after Wang Yulou and Wang Xianmao left the Jade Palace Estate, followed imdiately by Zhou Yingxi being dragged away by Zhou Bojiao for body usurpation, and then Shen Guang instantly making his move—this series of events rushing forward step by step made the issue of ti nodes impossible to ignore any longer.
'You an to say?' Wang Xianmao wasn't entirely sure of Yulou's aning. These matters had already progressed from re facts to the truth hidden beneath logical connections. It required in-depth communication to pin down the details.
'True Person Fujiao timing things perfectly, and the Immortal Venerable making a move right after the war began—in essence, they both revolved around the Ancestral Master's actions.'
This ti, Wang Yulou was finally approaching the truth behind the mystery in the West Sea.
Wang Xianmao pondered for a long ti before sending a sowhat sighing voice transmission.
'It is highly possible. Although the Ancestral Master isn't a Golden Core, the Golden Cores in this world are constrained by the Heavenly Tribulation and tend to deeply cherish their ti. Therefore, our Ancestral Master, lacking the Golden Core realm but possessing a quasi-Golden Core status, is indeed an extrely unique existence.'
Many things were often connected. Viewed individually, Zhou Bojiao's actions seed unremarkable, but when linked together, the truth was hidden within.
'Patriarch, True Person Fujiao's actions revolved around the alliance between the Ancestral Master and Immortal Venerable Shenguang. anwhile, Immortal Venerable Shenguang kept a close eye on the Ancestral Master placing a piece on the board that couldn't be taken back: starting the war. In other words, from the very beginning, the truth of the whole matter was that the Ancestral Master and Immortal Venerable Shenguang joined hands. Otherwise, Immortal Venerable Shenguang wouldn't have calculated the timing so perfectly!'
Wang Yulou had guessed wrong. Zhou Bojiao had actually seized the initiative; when he perford the body usurpation, Old Mu had not yet reached a level where he could threaten him.
Shen Guang's so-called "perfect calculation" was rely bringing in three Demon Generals. Even if his timing hadn't been perfect, that overwhelming force would have made it perfect.
When the three Demon Generals slaughtered their way into the Western Sea Immortal City, when Jin Shan was won over, and Li Haiping was forced into neutrality, it was already an absolute death trap for Zhou Bojiao.
The West Sea was Shen Guang's territory. With the Immortal Venerable treating Old Zhou with such "hospitality," perfectly embodying the principle of a lion using its full strength to hunt a rabbit, how could any accidents happen?
'Are you saying that the arrangents made for you were also a step by the Ancestral Master to bluff Old Zhou?'
Wang Xianmao felt a bit of joy in his heart. It was a complex emotion, much like a landlord's beast of burden working hard for a year and feeling happy that the landlord didn't slaughter them after they outlived their usefulness—a rather abstract feeling.
'No, Patriarch. It was the Immortal Venerable who wanted to kill True Person Fujiao; the Ancestral Master had no such thought.'
Xihai Zhongcheng had once reminded Wang Yulou on behalf of the Immortal Venerable, warning him not to be a busybody.
Looking back now, Xihai Zhongcheng's promise that "it's best if you don't move" could be considered fulfilled.
Considering further that the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda case was directed and acted out by Shen Guang himself, it proved that from the very beginning, Shen Guang never planned to be an intimately close friend of the Ancestral Master.
So, what made Shen Guang an ally of Mang Xiang?
The significance of Li Haikuo and Zhou Bojiao taking up posts in the West Sea beca prominent once again.
That was why Wang Yulou asked the Patriarch what kind of "one of our own" Li Haikuo was.
'What I'm worried about is that with Immortal Venerable Shenguang killing True Person Fujiao, the Ancestral Master will be put in the most difficult position.'
Shen Guang's support was what Mang Xiang needed, but it wasn't just needed on the Gathering Immortals Platform.
After Zhou Bojiao died at Shen Guang's hands, Patriarch Mangxiang would find it hard to easily sever ties with this ally, forcing him to pinch his nose and swallow the bitter pill.
Why couldn't he sever ties?
Only after Mang Xiang laid out the idea of harboring demons to assert dominance and split the Immortal Alliance as a bargaining chip did he force the grand cultivators of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect to support him.
The concept of a new Red Lantern Illumination Sect was highly plausible. Li Haikuo might be the closest kind of "our own." From the mont he and Zhou Bojiao entered the West Sea, the new Red Lantern Illumination Sect had been in preparation.
This even aligned perfectly with how Wang Yulou had so easily obtained a thousand acres of land—it all lined up.
If Mang Xiang and Shen Guang fell out, the result might be facing enemies on two fronts. An excellent situation would instantly beco perilous.
In this move, what Wang Yulou saw was Shen Guang consuming while Mang Xiang paid the bill.
The Ancestral Master had taken a massive loss.
'With things having developed to this point, the sect surely wouldn't stop supporting the Ancestral Master now, right?'
Wang Xianmao felt Yulou was worrying over nothing. Even if the alliance between the Ancestral Master and Shen Guang hit a snag, it shouldn't affect the Ancestral Master attaining Golden Core.
At the end of the day, many conceptual and possible threats could rarely be turned into real deterrence; they rely stayed on the level of potential threats.
It was just like village dogs barking at each other through thin air; if you actually let them fight, they wouldn't.
How could soone like the Ancestral Master fail to calculate the step of Zhou Bojiao being slaughtered by Shen Guang?
If Wang Xianmao couldn't think of it before, it was because he was dull and couldn't read the Immortal Venerables' chess ga.
Now that things had deteriorated to this point, if Wang Yulou insisted that an old scoundrel like Patriarch Mangxiang could easily swallow a loss, Wang Xianmao wouldn't believe it.
Of course, the impact of Zhou Bojiao being killed by Shen Guang was indeed massive, but in the end, how it was handled would depend on the Ancestral Master's will, wouldn't it?
When the ti ca, wouldn't a few words from the Ancestral Master resolve the issue?
It wasn't that Wang Xianmao blindly believed in Mang Xiang; it was that he didn't know Zhou Bojiao's ultimate backing was Qingrui.
'That's true. I'm overthinking it. The sect still has its foundations.'
Wang Yulou laughed with so self-deprecation.
It really was possible that he was overthinking this whole matter.
Maybe it was Shen Guang and Mang Xiang working together to deal with Zhou Bojiao, and they had long figured out how to wrap things up afterward.
Hm?
No.
That wasn't right.
The more he thought about how to wrap things up, the more terrifying it beca. For example—did they even have to wrap it up?
Consequently, Zhou Yingxi watched as her husband's expression shifted from the heavy shock of the ruined walls to a sudden smile, but after a brief smile, it suddenly stiffened.
It was like a rapid change of masks.
"What's wrong?"
Wang Xianmao also noticed that sothing was wrong with Wang Yulou. Under the concerned gazes of his two closest family mbers, Wang Yulou answered calmly.
"It's nothing. I just thought of the spirit scenery at the Jade Palace Estate. It took a lot of effort to set it up."
How could it be nothing?
Wang Yulou did not have the height of True Person Longhu Jin Shan, nor could he foresee early on the possibility of the Three Sects east of the West Sea directly turning into the vanguard of the Immortal Alliance against the West Sea. But now that the chess ga had progressed to this stage, if he still couldn't see it, what qualifications did he have to plot his ascension to the Purple Mansion?
The Purple Mansion thods in this world were not inherited through sects, but rely circulated among grand cultivators.
Under a frawork where major top-tier factions controlled different territories to form a balance, no single cultivator could break away from the system and beco a grand cultivator fighting alone.
If Wang Yulou wanted to advance, he had to clearly understand where his path lay as early as possible.
However, while he might now understand where his path lay, that path was rather terrifying.
There was a peculiar circumstance: why did the Red Lantern Illumination Sect proactively declare war on the Sky Serpent Sect?
Couldn't the Ancestral Master attain Golden Core directly?
The Ancestral Master was so strong—strong enough to withstand the pressure of a group of Immortal Venerables on the Gathering Immortals Platform and express his demands for benefits. Why did he delay attaining Golden Core until now?
Shen Guang was the most recent Golden Core to attain the Dao in the Immortal Alliance in recent years. The Ancestral Master would be the next.
These two had now joined forces, and both were faction leaders on the edge of the West Sea. anwhile, the Sky Serpent was also a Demon God.
Was the war truly started because of a conflict?
In Wang Yulou's eyes, if Wondrous Peak Mountain training troops for twenty years was preparation for the "new Red Lantern Illumination Sect" card—a chip of harboring demons to assert dominance, ant to force the sect to fully support the Ancestral Master in attaining Golden Core—then how could the great war between the Sky Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect not also be a way to train troops for an even greater future war?
On the Gathering Immortals Platform, when Shen Guang and Mang Xiang were seemingly at each other's throats, they had already secretly stood together.
Then what about the Sky Serpent?
Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth.
It could be said that at this mont, Wang Yulou's mind was racing faster than it ever had in his entire life.
The ti node of Zhou Bojiao refining pills, the ti node of the body usurpation right after the war started, the ti node of Shen Guang killing Zhou Bojiao after the war began—grand cultivators all placed great importance on the crucial nature of ti nodes.
Therefore, if the ti nodes hid the truth of the West Sea's mystery, what kind of truth was hidden in the ti node Mang Xiang chose to attain Golden Core?
Mu Chunze had already entered the depths of the West Sea, becoming one of its many demons. His benefactor, Shen Guang, was Mang Xiang's ally, and Mang Xiang was a grand cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Golden Core realm.
If Zhou Bojiao's death was indeed calculated by Shen Guang and Mang Xiang, then what was the wrap-up thod they had designed?
Yulou understood that he was slipping into over-analysis; these worries had spiraled far, far beyond the concrete facts.
Yet his intuition told him that such worry was necessary. Marching forward blindly would only guarantee a fatal misstep on so future day.
So, where was his path?
Walking among the ruins of the immortal city, Wang Yulou saw an old man weeping while clutching his dead son. He saw young cultivators digging through the rubble of destroyed shops, and he saw ownerless spirit beasts wailing around their masters' corpses.
The water that overturns the boat is the tears of the common people; you do not know until it overflows?
No, Shen Guang knew. He had known from the very beginning.
But Shen Guang was not the boat; he was Shen Guang. Therefore, he did not care.
Yulou realized that his small, original intention upon stepping onto the path of cultivation was likely correct. It didn't need to change.
He simply didn't want to beco the "cost" in "at all costs."
But that was already incredibly, incredibly difficult.
A sea of bitterness. A sea of suffering.
The sea of bitterness, much like the West Sea, was not truly a sea, yet it drowned every individual struggling and drifting in this world.
—
The ruined Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence.
Jiuqu was quite surprised by the arrival of Wang Xianmao and the other two.
However, Wang Xianmao was Mang Xiang's man after all, and Wang Yulou was even more so a part of the Behemoth Lineage... well, that was hard to say, but he was a mber of the Wang Clan, and the Wang Clan's relationship with Wondrous Peak Mountain had always been good.
As for Yingxi, even setting aside Fujiao, for Chunze's sake, they absolutely could not be neglected.
It was just that these two had actually both reached Foundation Establishnt. Old Zhou, oh Old Zhou, your death was quite well-tid.
Thinking this, Jiuqu smiled and ushered the three into the residence.
He couldn't decide whether Zhou Bojiao lived or died, and he had no idea what his master was thinking. Regardless, maintaining decorum was necessary.
As for the kind of thing where one would humiliate Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi to their faces or insult Zhou Bojiao right after he died—even Lian Chengxian wouldn't do sothing so crass if he were here.
That kind of existence didn't deserve to waste resources by breathing; even if used as alchemy materials, an Alchemist Master would disdain them out of fear of tainting the dicinal efficacy.
"How is the True Person? Is he injured?" Wang Xianmao asked, walking in front.
"It's impossible to escape completely unscathed. Master has only just reached the Purple Mansion. Two fists are no match for twelve hands. Even though he gave it his all, he couldn't protect True Person Fujiao. He's suffering greatly in his heart. Sigh."
Following a massive pivot so obvious even a dog could hear it, Jiuqu accurately conveyed True Person Haikuo's true intentions.
Two fists were no match for twelve hands. The two fists were Li Haiping; the twelve hands belonged to Shen Guang, Jin Shan, the three Demon Generals, and the backstabbing wolf, Mu Chunze.
Of course, there was also a layer of shirking responsibility mixed in.
I'm injured, so please don't co bother .
When it ca to avoiding responsibility, grand cultivators were actually all the sa. Jin Shan was like this, Li Haikuo was like this, and back in Clear Stream Market, Zhou Bojiao had been like this too.
Mindful of Yingxi's presence, Wang Xianmao took a step forward, stood by Jiuqu's side, and sent a voice transmission.
'Understood. I understand everything Junior Brother ans. It's just that Martial Uncle Fujiao has passed away, so in the immortal city now, True Person Haikuo naturally presides over the overall situation for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. They have broken through to Foundation Establishnt, and their future cultivation will require soone to take charge. Even disregarding cultivation, their positions in the West Sea need adjustnt. That is why I brought the two of them here to pay a visit.'
With his master's prior instructions, how could Jiuqu dare take on such a troubleso matter? He imdiately replied:
'Old Brother, their situation is too unique. How about waiting for the sect's other True Persons to arrive?'
Now that Zhou Bojiao was dead, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect would definitely send soone over to wrap things up. Because of Zhou's special status, the arrival would highly likely be Xuanzhuan or Danri.
Therefore, Jiuqu's actual aning was that the affairs of the Behemoth Lineage should be handled by the Behemoth Lineage themselves.
Wang Xianmao discovered with pleasant surprise that Li Haikuo didn't quite seem to be one of their own.
If Old Li wasn't one of their own, then Wang Yulou's guess might be wrong, and the "new Red Lantern Illumination Sect" card didn't exist.
If that card wasn't in play, then the future would still belong to Mang Xiang of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and the Wang Clan wouldn't need to follow Mang Xiang through wind and waves into perilous waters.
'How about this? I see that the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence has collapsed quite a bit. Yulou and I will help the True Person repair it. The True Person has rendered ritorious service by fending off the demons and protecting the immortal city. As his juniors, it's only natural we exert our utmost effort for him.'
Neither Jiuqu nor Li Haiping had expected Wang Xianmao's skin to be this thick.
His intention was very simple: he was afraid of more accidents, so he wanted Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi to seek asylum in the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence.
Thinking this over, Li Haiping stopped pretending.
Wang Xianmao had a very good relationship with Wondrous Peak Mountain's Abbess Kongshan, who was Li Haiping's junior martial sister. Moreover, Wang Xianzhou had previously led the Wang Clan's cultivators to help hold the front lines for Wondrous Peak Mountain for a long ti.
The relationship between the Wang Clan and Wondrous Peak Mountain was much like the relationship between Mang Xiang and Wondrous Peak Mountain. It didn't seem conspicuous on the surface, but it was actually very good.
Because of this, Li Haiping obviously couldn't actually let Wang Xianmao huff and puff to repair his residence for him. It would be inappropriate.
"Xianmao, stop talking about repairing my residence. Rest well. I've already sent a ssage; I assu the other sect elders will arrive soon."
Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi exchanged a glance, their suspended hearts finally settling down.
Shen Guang was too ruthless. The Western Sea Immortal City had been completely smashed. Who wouldn't be afraid?
Being able to take shelter in the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence at this ti to wait for the sect's other True Persons to provide support was naturally excellent.
—
One incense stick of ti ago.
Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Mang Xiang's dojo.
In the grand hall atop the mountain peak, Xuanzhuan sat with his eyes closed. He seed to be cultivating, seed to be dozing off, and yet seed to have his mind wandering beyond the heavens.
Suddenly, a flash of white light streaked past, tearing open the space within the dojo.
From the Immortal Alliance's immortal city tens of thousands of miles away, Mang Xiang used a great divine ability to send his Sacred Decree directly in front of Xuanzhuan.
This slightly dark-skinned, lean, middle-aged man opened his eyes. Within them shone a boundless, dark light, resembling a bottomless black hole.
The white light halted, revealing a streak of Dao rhythm that flowed with a water-like spiritual aura. Hidden within that white Dao rhythm was Mang Xiang's will.
Xuanzhuan raised his hand, and the white Dao rhythm was absorbed by him.
In the next instant, this grand cultivator of the Behemoth Lineage vanished from the grand hall, leaving behind only a freshly uttered sigh.
"The West Sea... sigh."
—
Half an incense stick of ti ago, exactly right after Jin Shan and Li Haiping had warily sent away those Demon Generals while guarding against each other.
Qingrui's grotto-heaven.
A bubble floating in mid-air was slowly circulating in accordance with the principles of the cosmic cycle. Within the bubble, a shallow little pool had accumulated.
The water in that pool flowed crystal clear yet viscous, possessing a sowhat tallic and stony quality, yet harboring the nature of water.
Lying within the pool was a female cultivator wearing absolutely nothing.
She seed human yet non-human. Her entire body was a verdant green, yet she was transcendently beautiful, akin to the most extraordinary sprite between heaven and earth.
The female cultivator also had her eyes closed. But unlike Xuanzhuan, she was truly sleeping—or rather, her spirit was wandering through heaven and earth.
This unique female cultivator was none other than the grand leader of the first row on the Gathering Immortals Platform, one of the founders of the Immortal Alliance, the owner of Lotus Immortal City, the true shot-caller of the northwestern corner of Wunan, and a veteran scher who occupied two Golden Core shares all by herself—Qingrui Xianzun.
Jin Shan's grotto-heaven voice transmission startled Qingrui awake. She stood up, raised her arms, and stretched her body; her breathtakingly beautiful figure blood like a blossoming flower.
Only then did she leisurely answer Jin Shan's grotto-heaven voice transmission from seven thousand miles away.
"Immortal Venerable, Shen Guang has gone mad. He killed Zhou Bojiao. I was afraid he'd kill along the way, so I could only feign compliance. I failed to stop him."
Qingrui smiled, yet replied with an angry tone.
"Good, very good. Shen Guang, Shen Guang. Fine, I understand. Is there anything else?"
"Shen Guang brought in three Demon Generals, one of whom only had half a head. In the end, the Western Sea Immortal City was destroyed."
This news genuinely exceeded Qingrui's expectations. She asked:
"What exactly happened to the great formation? Why was it suddenly broken?"
"It wasn't broken; it vanished. It suddenly vanished. Immortal Venerable, I suspect Immortal Venerable Shenguang might have secretly had soone set up so counterasures beforehand, causing the great formation to vanish in an instant."
Qingrui didn't reply imdiately this ti. She pondered for quite a while before speaking slowly.
"Shen Guang has gone a bit too far. The Western Sea Immortal City was established to fend off the demonic beasts from the depths of the West Sea. With him acting like this, those who don't know the truth would think he's working for those Demon Gods of the West Sea. Jin Shan, make a move. Doesn't Shen Guang have many disciples? Kill them all. Give him a warning."
Jin Shan wanted to die.
Why on earth did he inform Qingrui?
Oh right, he had surrendered a pledge of loyalty to Shen Guang, but didn't want to truly be victimized by a ruthless bastard like Shen Guang, so he sought Qingrui's understanding.
So, was this Qingrui making him submit another pledge of loyalty to her?
"Don't be afraid. Just kill. Shen Guang can't make a move," Qingrui said with a smile, yet her tone brokered no refusal.
True, he was currently transforming his grotto-heaven and couldn't move. But what about later?
Jin Shan wasn't crazy, much less stupid. Ultimately, he didn't dare act as this expendable pawn.
Before, he didn't have the guts to deal with Shen Guang.
Now that Shen Guang had smashed the Western Sea Immortal City, acting as if the Immortal Alliance's rules were total dogshit, he had even less courage to cross him.
"Immortal Venerable, I feel the situation is sowhat amiss."
After weighing the pros and cons, Jin Shan decided to put so pressure on Qingrui.
So what if you're an Immortal Venerable? I don't believe you fear nothing at all!
"What is amiss?" Qingrui asked in dissatisfaction.
She just thought Jin Shan was being slippery.
You damn well cooperated with Shen Guang to kill Little Zhou. Yes, I don't care whether he lives or dies—he was just a fleeting romance from the past—but he was still my bargaining chip.
Now that I've tossed my bargaining chip onto you and told you to offer a pledge of loyalty, what the hell are you playing at?
"Shen Guang, Mang Xiang, and Sky Serpent might have already joined forces. Mang Xiang used the war between the Gu Shen Sect and Wondrous Peak Mountain to send all the vassals of the Behemoth Lineage out for a round of training. Later, he sent Li Haikuo and Zhou Bojiao into the West Sea, joining hands with Shen Guang to put pressure on the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, sparking the great war between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect. This great war might just be another round of training. Once the cultivators of the Sky Serpent Sect and Red Lantern Illumination Sect are thoroughly trained, the newly advanced Foundation Establishnt cultivators can grow into seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators. They will comfortably devour the spoils, then take the opportunity to lead the demons into Wunan, initiating a war between the West Sea and the Immortal Alliance. Immortal Venerable, the internal conflicts within the Immortal Alliance are massive, and the conflicts within the West Sea are not small either. When I traded with several Demon Kings in the West Sea over the past few years, I learned that their lives haven't been easy either. Sky Serpent, Zhuzhao, Mang Xiang, and Shen Guang—they are all Demon Gods. We must guard against them!"
Jin Shan's scare tactics had an effect. Qingrui's expression turned extrely stern, but her tone remained domineering.
"Bullshit! By your logic, any grand cultivator who practiced the Demon Transformation thod to reach the Purple Mansion might betray the Immortal Alliance, and even I might betray the Immortal Alliance—is that what you an?"
Slapped with such a serious accusation, Jin Shan could only explain in frustration.
"No, no, naturally Little Jin knows what kind of existence you are, Immortal Venerable. But with Shen Guang and Mang Xiang joining hands now, I truly don't dare kill his disciples."
When Xihai Longhu told Xihai Hu to collect the debt from Wang Yulou, what were his instructions?
Play the coward!
Jin Shan, this leader of the Immortal Alliance in the West Sea, now acted shalessly submissive in front of Qingrui Xianzun.
Immortal Venerable, I've already admitted I'm useless. I'm begging you, please don't tornt , okay?
Of course, such a negotiation strategy could not be used lightly.
You had to be extrely powerful to negotiate by playing the fool. Otherwise, you would truly be treated as useless.
"This won't do, that makes you scared. Jin Shan, oh Jin Shan... Fine, I'll send Qiu Mile!"
Qingrui was also helpless. She couldn't completely offend Jin Shan to death just because one minor bargaining chip failed to yield perfect results. In the end, she could only choose to dispatch her own subordinate to the West Sea to have a chat with Shen Guang.
And concurrently, to see exactly what Shen Guang and Mang Xiang were plotting.
As for Jin Shan's worries, in Qingrui Xianzun's eyes, they weren't a big deal. She truly didn't take them to heart.
What she was worried about was the alliance between Shen Guang and Mang Xiang.
The way she saw it, Little Zhou was killed by these two conspiring together.
These two attained the Dao too late; their way of thinking might differ from the established veteran Immortal Venerables of the Immortal Alliance.
At the end of the day, the seats at the top were just too crowded. Soone like Qingrui, who occupied two seats all by herself, took up entirely too much room.
—
Not long after Wang Yulou entered the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence to take shelter, the sky over the West Sea suddenly darkened.
The hearts of the cultivators in the immortal city, having just survived the demon horde's attack, instantly tightened again.
They feared that the demonic beasts had returned.
Li Haikuo and Jin Shan, however, weren't worried—this was obviously Xuanzhuan.
With Zhou Bojiao dead, the Behemoth Lineage was bound to send soone over.
Danri belonged to the junior generation among Purple Mansion cultivators; if she ca to the West Sea, it really might end up being a suicide mission. Therefore, sending Xuanzhuan was the most certain option.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanzhuan, it's been a long ti. Your deanor remains as elegant as ever."
Jin Shan's unpleasant voice echoed out.
The darkening of heaven and earth brightened. Xuanzhuan crossed from the Formless Heaven into the Great World, appearing in the sky above the Western Sea Immortal City.
Clad in a black magical robe with a stern expression, he swept his divine sense over the West Sea twice, like a plow turning over the earth.
The power of a veteran Purple Mansion cultivator was truly extraordinary. Just the sweep of his divine sense made the many cultivators in the West Sea feel the chilling sensation of being stared down by a terrifying existence.
After listening to the reports from the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's disciples in the West Sea and gaining an understanding of the situation, Xuanzhuan finally spoke solemnly.
"Master attaches great importance to the matter of Junior Brother Fujiao. As a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Mu Chunze has committed such a great sin and must be executed! Passing on the Sacred Decree of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang: Whoever kills Mu Chunze shall be rewarded by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect with ten million spirit stones or equivalent resources. This bounty remains eternally valid until Mu Chunze is dead!"
Wang Yulou, Zhou Yingxi, and Wang Xianmao looked at each other in dismay.
Yingxi and Wang Yulou exchanged glances because of their special relationship with Old Mu.
Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou exchanged glances because the current developnts seed sowhat amiss.
Shen Guang had killed Old Zhou, yet Xuanzhuan made no ntion of it whatsoever.
Even if it truly was a case of "Shen Guang consuming while Mang Xiang paid the bill," paying the bill like this seed entirely too... how to put it... too hasty.
Was Old Zhou's death only worth ten million spirit stones?
Converted, that was only fifty ninth-grade spiritual objects. That was five hundred—no, three hundred acres of land in South Annex City.
Zhou Bojiao was a Purple Mansion True Person of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; how could he be so cheap?
However, Xuanzhuan had absolutely no intention of explaining further. After delivering Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's Sacred Decree, he entered the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence.
'You didn't die?'
Seeing Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou in Li Haiping's residence, Xuanzhuan asked in surprise via voice transmission—it hadn't been appropriate to scan Li Haikuo's residence earlier. He had swept the immortal city twice, and the second sweep had been specifically to find these two.
Thus, the Behemoth Lineage didn't truly treat the Wang Clan like disposable toilet paper. At the very least, Xuanzhuan, whom the Wang Clan had directly followed for a long ti, wasn't callous to that extre.
Wang Xianmao looked left and right, not knowing where Xuanzhuan was, so he had no choice but to bow and answer the empty air.
"Thanks to the Ancestral Master's protection, Xianmao and Yulou are safe and sound. However, during this demon beast attack, the sect's properties in the immortal city suffered heavy losses, and our Wang Clan's properties were completely destroyed."
True Person, Old Zhou's revenge can be taken slowly.
But when it cos to collecting the debt, you absolutely cannot be vague!
Before long, Xuanzhuan materialized in the small hall where the three were located. These grand cultivators seed to have all mastered the Five Elents Evasion Arts to their peak; appearing and disappearing without a trace had practically beco standard issue.
Wang Yulou and the others hurriedly offered their greetings. Xuanzhuan nodded and looked at Zhou Yingxi.
"You practice wood-attribute arts. It would be simplest to choose for your Core Disciple position. Junior Brother Fujiao is dead, but the Zhou family still needs soone to support it. What do you think?"
Old Zhou was dead, quite possibly killed by a conspiracy between Mang Xiang and Shen Guang, but at the very least, Mang Xiang was willing to grant Little Zhou a Core Disciple position.
"Yingxi deeply thanks Master!"
Xuanzhuan nodded, then looked at Wang Yulou and asked with a peculiar expression.
"Shen Guang plans to establish the Luminous Sect in the West Sea, and he intends to pull you over to act as the sect master. Are you willing to go?"
As soon as these words were spoken, forget Wang Yulou—even Wang Xianmao, with his profound cultivation, couldn't quite hold his composure.
Good, very good. You guys aren't even pretending anymore, are you?
How could Wang Yulou agree? Was Shen Guang even human?
No, bastards like Shen Guang and Mang Xiang weren't human at all. But at least the Wang Clan had survived under Mang Xiang for so long and were familiar with the situation.
On Shen Guang's side, his three disciples were already fighting intensely among themselves, and each one was fiercely capable. Wang Yulou didn't have much confidence in suppressing those three.
Furthermore, now that he was no longer in danger of being used as a cauldron, the necessity of jumping ship to Shen Guang had vanished.
Moreover, the situation in the West Sea—and even the entirety of Wunan—was changing. Many past preparations and expectations had long lost their viability.
Shen Guang was a severely flawed ship, and Wang Yulou had entirely too many reasons not to jump aboard.
"True Person, Yulou has no thoughts of becoming a sect master, much less any thoughts of going to the West Sea's Luminous Sect. Yulou only wishes to follow by the Ancestral Master's side and serve him."
Xuanzhuan shook his head and said,
"There's no need for you to serve by his side. However, it is good that you have such intentions. Then head to the battlefield."
Wang Xianmao's expression changed abruptly, Yingxi's face tightened, and Wang Yulou's body swayed.
Head to the battlefield...
So much had already happened in the West Sea, yet the Red Lantern Illumination Sect had only declared war on the Sky Serpent Sect half a day ago.
If they went to the battlefield now and fought for over a decade, what were the chances they would co back alive?
"True Person..."
Wang Xianmao spoke in a panic, wanting to negotiate, but Xuanzhuan looked into the distance instead.
The ground of the Western Sea Immortal City trembled faintly. It was a grand cultivator, traveling by leaps and bounds.
Only, with every leap, he smashed a massive crater into the earth, soaring dozens of miles through the air.
Qingrui's subordinate, Qiu Mile, had arrived.
As everyone knew, although True Person Fujiao was a True Person of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, his true backing was Immortal Venerable Qingrui of Lotus Immortal City.
Was the war truly because of a conflict? In Wang Yulou's view, if Wondrous Peak Mountain training troops for twenty years was a card to establish a new Red Lantern Illumination Sect that would leverage demons for influence—a preparation by the Ancestral Master to force the sect into fully supporting his attainnt of Golden Core—then how could the war between the Sky Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect not also be a troop-training exercise for a future massive war?
When Shen Guang and Mang Xiang were going tit for tat on the Gathering Immortals Platform, they had already secretly joined forces.
Then what about the Sky Serpent Sect? Truth hidden in falsehoods, falsehoods masquerading as truth.
Right now, Wang Yulou's mind was racing faster than ever before in his life.
The timing of Zhou Bojiao refining pills, the timing of initiating the body usurpation after the war began, the timing of Shen Guang killing Zhou Bojiao right after the declaration—grand cultivators highly valued the criticality of timing. Therefore, the truth behind the West Sea mystery was hidden within this timing.
And what kind of truth was hidden in the timing Mang Xiang chose to attain Golden Core? Mu Chunze had already entered the depths of the West Sea, becoming one of its many demons.
His benefactor, Shen Guang, was an ally of Mang Xiang, and Mang Xiang was a grand cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Golden Core realm. If Zhou Bojiao's death had been perfectly calculated by Shen Guang and Mang Xiang, then what was the endga they had planned?
Yulou understood that he was overthinking. These worries strayed too far beyond the established facts.
But his heart also told him that this caution was necessary; blindly moving forward would inevitably lead him into a trap soday. So, where was his path?
Walking through the wreckage of the immortal city, Wang Yulou saw an old man weeping while holding his dead son. He saw young cultivators digging through the ruined walls of shops, and spirit beasts that had lost their masters whimpering around their corpses.
The water that overturns the boat is the tears of the common people; you do not know until it overflows? No, Shen Guang knew; he had known from the very beginning.
But Shen Guang was not the boat; he was Shen Guang, so he did not care. Yulou found that his modest initial aspiration when he first stepped onto the cultivation path had probably been right all along, and did not need to change.
He just didn't want to beco the "cost" in "at all costs."
But that was already incredibly, incredibly difficult. A sea of suffering, an endless sea of suffering.
The sea of suffering, like the West Sea, was not actually a sea, yet it drowned every individual struggling and drifting through the world.
— The dilapidated Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence —
Jiuqu was quite surprised by the arrival of Wang Xianmao's group of three. However, Wang Xianmao was Mang Xiang's man, after all, and Wang Yulou belonged even more closely to the Behemoth Lineage...
Well, it was hard to say, but he was a mber of the Wang Clan, and the Wang Clan had always maintained good relations with Wondrous Peak Mountain. As for Yingxi, even if they didn't give face to Perfected Man Fujiao, they had to give face to Mu Chunze, so she could not be slighted either.
It was just that these two had actually both reached Foundation Establishnt together. Old Zhou, oh Old Zhou, you died at quite an opportune ti.
Thinking of this, Jiuqu smiled and led the three into the residence. He had no say in Zhou Bojiao's life or death, and he had no idea what his master was thinking.
In any case, maintaining a sense of decorum was necessary. As for humiliating Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi to their faces or insulting Zhou Bojiao right after his death—even Lian Chengxian wouldn't be foolish enough to do that if he were here.
That kind of person didn't deserve to waste resources by living. Even if they were used as alchemy materials, an Alchemist Master would despise them for fear of ruining the pill's efficacy.
"How is the True Person? Is he injured?" Wang Xianmao asked from the front.
"It's impossible for him not to be injured. Master just broke through to the Purple Mansion realm, and two fists are no match for twelve hands. Even after giving it his all, he couldn't protect True Person Fujiao. He's suffering greatly in his heart. Sigh."
After delivering a clumsy transition so obvious even a dog could hear it, Jiuqu accurately conveyed True Person Haikuo's true intentions: his two fists were no match for twelve hands.
The two fists were Li Haiping, while the twelve hands belonged to Shen Guang, Jin Shan, three Demon Generals, and the backstabbing wolf, Mu Chunze. Of course, there was also a layer of dodging responsibility in this.
I'm injured, so don't co bothering anymore. When it ca to dodging responsibility, the grand cultivators were all the sa.
Jin Shan was like this, Li Haikuo was like this, and back then, Zhou Bojiao in Clear Stream Market was like this too. Mindful of Yingxi's presence, Wang Xianmao stepped forward to Jiuqu's side and sent a voice transmission.
'I understand. I understand exactly what Junior Brother ans. It's just that Uncle-Master Fujiao has already passed away.
Currently in the immortal city, it is naturally True Person Haikuo who presides over the overall situation for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. They have broken through to Foundation Establishnt.
Soone must oversee the big picture for their future cultivation, and even setting cultivation aside, their positions in the West Sea need to be adjusted. Therefore, I brought the two of them over to pay their respects.'
Jiuqu had been strictly instructed by his master, so how could he dare take on such troubleso matters? He imdiately replied.
'Old Brother, their situation is too unique. How about we wait for the other True Persons from the sect to arrive?'
Since Zhou Bojiao was dead, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect would definitely send soone to clean up the ss.
Because of Zhou's special status, the person coming would highly likely be Xuanzhuan or Danri. Therefore, Jiuqu actually ant that the affairs of the Behemoth Lineage should be resolved by the Behemoth Lineage itself.
Wang Xianmao was secretly overjoyed to discover that Li Haikuo didn't seem to consider himself one of their own. If Old Li wasn't one of their own, then Wang Yulou's speculation might be wrong, and the sche for a new Red Lantern Illumination Sect didn't exist.
If that sche didn't exist, the future would still belong to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and Mang Xiang, and the Wang Clan wouldn't need to brave the wind and waves alongside Mang Xiang.
'How about this? I see that the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence has collapsed quite a bit. Yulou and I will help the True Person repair it.
The True Person has rit in repelling the demons and protecting the immortal city. As his juniors, it is only natural that we do our best for him.'
Neither Jiuqu nor Li Haiping had expected Wang Xianmao to be so thick-skinned. His aning was simple: he was afraid of more accidents, so he wanted Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi to seek shelter in the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence.
Thinking of this, Li Haiping stopped pretending. Wang Xianmao had an excellent relationship with Master Kongshan of Wondrous Peak Mountain.
Master Kongshan was Li Haiping's junior sister, and Wang Xianzhou had once led Wang Clan cultivators to help Wondrous Peak Mountain hold the frontline for a long period.
The relationship between the Wang Clan and Wondrous Peak Mountain was just like the relationship between Mang Xiang and Wondrous Peak Mountain: it didn't seem like much on the surface, but it was actually very deep.
Therefore, Li Haiping naturally couldn't actually let Wang Xianmao huff and puff to repair his residence for him. It would be inappropriate.
"Xianmao, stop talking about repairing my residence. Go get so proper rest. I've already sent a ssage, and I expect the other elders from the sect to arrive shortly."
Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi exchanged a glance, their tense hearts finally relaxing. Shen Guang was simply too ruthless.
Western Sea Immortal City had been smashed to pieces; who wouldn't be afraid? To be able to seek shelter in the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence at a ti like this and wait for reinforcents from the other True Persons of the sect was naturally an excellent outco.
— The ti it takes an incense stick to burn earlier. Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Mang Xiang's Dao ashram. —
Within the grand hall at the mountain's peak, Xuanzhuan sat with his eyes closed. He seed to be cultivating, seed to be dozing, and seed to be letting his mind wander beyond the heavens.
Suddenly, a flash of white light streaked past, tearing open the space within the ashram. From the Immortal Alliance's immortal city tens of thousands of miles away, Mang Xiang used a great divine ability to deliver his Sacred Decree directly in front of Xuanzhuan.
This sowhat dark-skinned, gaunt middle-aged man opened his eyes. Within his eyes swirled an endless gloomy light, like a bottomless black hole.
The white light ca to a halt, revealing a Dao charm with a spiritual resonance flowing like water. Within that white Dao charm lay Mang Xiang's will.
Xuanzhuan raised his hand, and the white Dao charm was absorbed into him. In the next instant, this grand cultivator of the Behemoth Lineage vanished from the grand hall, leaving behind only a lingering sigh.
"The West Sea... sigh."
— Half an incense stick of ti ago, right after Jin Shan and Li Haiping had warily seen off those Demon Generals. Qingrui's grotto-heaven. —
A bubble floating in mid-air slowly circulated in accordance with the principles of the cosmic cycles. Within the bubble rested a shallow little pond.
The pond water flowed crystal clear yet viscous, possessing the heavy quality of tal and stone while still harboring the fluid nature of water. Lying inside the pool was an unclad female cultivator.
She seed human yet inhuman, her skin a verdant green, but she was exceptionally beautiful, like the most exquisite spirit sprite in the world. The female cultivator also had her eyes closed, but unlike Xuanzhuan, she was truly sleeping—or rather, her spirit was wandering the heavens and earth.
This unique female cultivator was none other than the grand leader of the front row on the Gathering Immortals Platform, one of the founders of the Immortal Alliance, the owner of Lotus Immortal City, the true shot-caller of the northwest corner of Wunan, and an old player who consud two shares of the Golden Core quota—Immortal Venerable Qingrui.
Jin Shan's grotto-heaven voice transmission awakened Qingrui. She sat up, raised her arms, and stretched; her breathtaking figure blood like an opening flower.
Only then did she slowly connect to Jin Shan's grotto-heaven voice transmission from seven thousand miles away.
"Immortal Venerable, Shen Guang has gone mad. He killed Zhou Bojiao. I was afraid he would kill in passing, so I could only pretend to comply and failed to stop him."
Qingrui chuckled, but replied with a furious tone. "Good, good, good. Shen Guang, oh Shen Guang. Fine, I understand. Is there anything else?"
"Shen Guang found three Demon Generals, one of whom only has half a head but possesses the greatest power, and Western Sea Immortal City was destroyed."
This piece of news actually exceeded Qingrui's expectations. She asked.
"What exactly happened to the great array? Why was it suddenly broken open?"
"It wasn't broken open; it vanished, suddenly vanished. Immortal Venerable, I suspect that Immortal Venerable Shenguang might have secretly had soone set up so hidden counterasures beforehand, causing the great array to vanish in an instant."
Qingrui didn't answer imdiately this ti. She pondered for a long while before slowly speaking. "Shen Guang has gone a bit too far. The Western Sea Immortal City was built to defend against the demonic beasts from the depths of the West Sea. Acting like this, those who don't know any better would think he's working for the Demon Gods of the West Sea. Jin Shan, make a move. Doesn't Shen Guang have many disciples? Slaughter them all and give him a warning."
Jin Shan wanted to die.
Why did he have to notify Qingrui? True, he had offered a token of fealty to Shen Guang, but he didn't want to actually be victimized by soone as unscrupulous as him. Therefore, he had co to seek an understanding with Qingrui.
So, was Qingrui now asking him to offer another token of fealty?
"Don't be afraid. Kill them. Shen Guang cannot make a move right now," Qingrui said with a smile, though her words carried undeniable killing intent.
True, Shen Guang was currently converting a grotto-heaven and couldn't make a move, but what about later? Jin Shan wasn't crazy, and he certainly wasn't stupid.
Ultimately, he didn't dare to act as her pawn. Even in the past, he lacked the guts to deal with Shen Guang.
Now that Shen Guang had shattered the Western Sea Immortal City, treating the Immortal Alliance's rules like absolute dogshit, he had even less courage to oppose him.
"Immortal Venerable, I feel like sothing is wrong with this situation."
After much deliberation, Jin Shan decided to put so pressure on Qingrui. So what if she was an Immortal Venerable?
He refused to believe there was nothing she feared!
"What's wrong?" Qingrui asked, clearly dissatisfied.
She only felt that Jin Shan was being slippery. You damn well cooperated with Shen Guang to kill Little Zhou.
Yes, I don't care whether he lives or dies—he was just a past fling—but he was still my bargaining chip. Now that I'm tossing this chip to you and telling you to hand over a token of fealty, who the hell are you pretending to be?
"Shen Guang, Mang Xiang, and the Sky Serpent Sect may have already joined forces," Jin Shan explained. "Using the war between the Gu Shen Sect and Wondrous Peak Mountain, Mang Xiang sent all the vassals of the Behemoth Lineage out to train their troops."
"Later, he sent Li Haikuo and Zhou Bojiao into the West Sea, joining forces with Shen Guang to pressure the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, sparking a great war between them and the Sky Serpent Sect. This massive war might just be another round of troop training."
"Once the cultivators from the Sky Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect are adequately tempered, the newly advanced Foundation Establishnt cultivators can grow into seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators."
"They will gorge on the benefits and then seize the opportunity to lead the demons into Wunan, initiating a war between the West Sea and the Immortal Alliance. Immortal Venerable, the internal contradictions within the Immortal Alliance are imnse, and the conflicts within the West Sea are no less severe."
"Over these past few years, through my transactions with several Demon Kings in the West Sea, I've learned that their lives haven't been smooth sailing either. The Sky Serpent, Zhuzhao, Mang Xiang, and Shen Guang—they are all Demon Gods.
"We cannot afford not to guard against them!"
Jin Shan's fear-mongering took effect. Qingrui's expression turned extrely solemn, though her tone remained domineering. "Bullshit! Going by what you're saying, any grand cultivator of the Purple Mansion who cultivates the demon transformation thod could betray the Immortal Alliance. By that logic, I might betray the Immortal Alliance too—is that what you an?"
Having such a massive accusation slapped onto him, Jin Shan could only explain in frustration.
"No, no, naturally Little Jin is well aware of what kind of existence you are, Immortal Venerable. But with Shen Guang and Mang Xiang joining forces now, I truly do not dare to kill his disciples."
When Xihai Longhu told Xihai Hu to collect the debt from Wang Yulou, what were his instructions? Play the weakling! Jin Shan, the leader of the Immortal Alliance in the West Sea, was currently playing the absolute weakling in front of Immortal Venerable Qingrui without an ounce of sha.
Immortal Venerable, I've already admitted I'm a piece of trash. Please, stop tornting , okay?
Of course, this kind of negotiation strategy could not be used casually. You had to possess extre capability to negotiate by playing the fool; otherwise, people would genuinely treat you like trash.
"You can't do this, you're too scared of that. Jin Shan, oh Jin Shan. Fine, I will send Qiu Mile!" Qingrui was also helpless.
She couldn't possibly alienate Jin Shan entirely just because a small bargaining chip didn't achieve the perfect effect. Ultimately, she could only choose to send her own subordinate to the West Sea to speak with Shen Guang.
Along the way, her subordinate could see what exactly Shen Guang and Mang Xiang were planning. As for Jin Shan's worries, they were barely worth noting in Immortal Venerable Qingrui's eyes; she truly didn't take them to heart.
What she worried about was the alliance between Shen Guang and Mang Xiang. In her view, Little Zhou had been killed by a conspiracy between those two.
Those two had attained the Dao too late, so their mindsets might differ from those of the veteran Immortal Venerables of the Immortal Alliance. At the end of the day, the seats at the top were simply too crowded.
Soone like Qingrui, whose stance was vast, occupied two seats by herself, taking up far too much room.
Not long after Wang Yulou entered the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence for shelter, the sky over the West Sea suddenly darkened.
The hearts of the cultivators in the immortal city, who had just survived the demonic beast attack, tensed up again. They worried that the demonic beasts had returned.
Li Haikuo and Jin Shan, however, weren't worried—this presence obviously belonged to Xuanzhuan. With Zhou Bojiao dead, the Behemoth Lineage was bound to send soone.
Danri belonged to the younger generation within the Purple Mansion realm. If he ca to the West Sea, he really might end up as a free al.
Thus, sending Xuanzhuan beca the most obvious choice.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanzhuan, long ti no see. You still maintain your elegant deanor."
Jin Shan's unpleasant voice rang out. The gloom covering heaven and earth brightened as Xuanzhuan entered the greater world from the Formless Heaven, appearing in the sky above the Western Sea Immortal City.
Wearing a black magical robe, his expression was cold and stern. Like a plow tearing through a field, he ruthlessly swept his divine sense over the West Sea twice.
The power of a seasoned Purple Mansion cultivator was so overwhelming that rely sweeping his divine sense across the area instilled a terrifying dread in the myriad cultivators of the West Sea, as if they were being stared down by an eldritch horror.
After listening to the reports from the disciples of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect in the West Sea and gaining an understanding of the situation, Xuanzhuan finally spoke solemnly. "Master takes the matter of Junior Brother Fujiao very seriously."
"As a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Mu Chunze has committed a grave sin and must be executed! I relay the Sacred Decree of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang: whoever kills Mu Chunze will be rewarded by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect with ten million spirit stones or equivalent cultivation resources.
"This bounty remains eternally valid until Mu Chunze is dead!"
Wang Yulou, Zhou Yingxi, and Wang Xianmao looked at each other in dismay. Yingxi and Wang Yulou exchanged glances because of their special relationship with Old Mu. Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou exchanged glances because the current developnts felt entirely off.
Shen Guang was the one who killed Old Zhou, yet Xuanzhuan made no ntion of him whatsoever. Even if this really was a case of "Shen Guang dines, Mang Xiang foots the bill," paying the tab like this seed a bit too... well, careless. Was Old Zhou's death only worth ten million spirit stones?
Converted, that was fifty ninth-grade spiritual objects, which was equivalent to five hundred... no, three hundred acres of land in South Annex City.
Zhou Bojiao was a Purple Mansion True Person of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; how could his life be so cheap? However, Xuanzhuan had absolutely no intention of offering further explanations.
After relaying Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's Sacred Decree, he descended into the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence.
You didn't die?
Seeing Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou in Li Haiping's residence, Xuanzhuan asked via voice transmission in surprise—he hadn't found it appropriate to sweep Li Haikuo's residence earlier.
He had swept the immortal city twice, and the second pass had been specifically to search for these two. So, it could be said that the Behemoth Lineage didn't truly treat the Wang Clan like disposable rags.
At the very least, Xuanzhuan, whom the Wang Clan had directly served for a long ti, wasn't that callous. Wang Xianmao looked left and right. Not knowing where Xuanzhuan was, he could only bow and answer into thin air.
"Relying on the Ancestral Master's protection, Xianmao and Yulou are safe and sound. However, during this demonic beast attack, the sect's properties in the immortal city suffered severe losses, and our Wang Clan's properties were completely destroyed."
True Person, Old Zhou's vengeance can be slowly extracted later. But when it cos to collecting debts, we absolutely cannot be vague about it!
Before long, Xuanzhuan materialized in the small hall where the three of them stood. These grand cultivators seed to have mastered the Five Elents Escape Arts to their absolute limits, appearing and disappearing without a trace as if it were second nature.
Wang Yulou and the others hurriedly bowed in greeting. Xuanzhuan nodded and turned his gaze to Zhou Yingxi.
"You cultivate the wood elent. It would be easiest to place you under for your Core Disciple status."
"Although Junior Brother Fujiao is dead, the Zhou family still needs soone to support it. What are your thoughts?"
Old Zhou was dead, possibly killed jointly by Mang Xiang and Shen Guang, but Mang Xiang was at least willing to give his lineage a Core Disciple position.
"Yingxi thanks Master for his grace!" Zhou Yingxi bowed.
Xuanzhuan nodded, looked toward Wang Yulou, and asked with a peculiar expression, "Shen Guang wants to establish the Luminous Sect in the West Sea and intends to poach you to act as its sect master. Are you willing to go?"
The mont these words were spoken, never mind Wang Yulou, even Wang Xianmao with his profound cultivation couldn't quite maintain his composure.
Good, good, good. You guys aren't even pretending anymore, are you? How could Wang Yulou possibly agree?
Was Shen Guang even human? No, scumbags like Shen Guang and Mang Xiang weren't human at all, but at least the Wang Clan had mingled with Mang Xiang's faction for a long ti and understood their ways.
Over on Shen Guang's side, his three disciples were already locked in a vicious internal struggle, and every single one of them was incredibly ruthless. Wang Yulou had no confidence in his ability to suppress those three.
Furthermore, now that he was no longer in danger of being used as a cauldron, the necessity of jumping ship to Shen Guang had vanished entirely. Moreover, the landscape in the West Sea, and even Wunan as a whole, was rapidly changing.
Many of his past preparations and expectations had long since lost all viability. Shen Guang's ship was full of holes, and Wang Yulou had too many reasons not to board it.
"True Person, Yulou has no intention of becoming a sect master, much less of going to the West Sea to join the Luminous Sect. Yulou only wishes to stay by the Ancestral Master's side and serve him."
Xuanzhuan shook his head. "There's no need for you to stay by his side to serve, but having the intention is good enough. In that case, go to the battlefield."
Wang Xianmao's expression changed drastically, Yingxi's face tightened, and Wang Yulou's body even swayed.
Go to the battlefield...
So many things had already happened in the West Sea, yet the Red Lantern Illumination Sect had only declared war on the Sky Serpent Sect half a day ago. Going to the battlefield now and fighting for over a decade—what were the chances of coming back alive?
"True Person..." Wang Xianmao spoke up in a panic, desperately wanting to change his mind, but Xuanzhuan was already looking off into the distance.
The ground of the Western Sea Immortal City was trembling slightly. A grand cultivator was rapidly approaching, moving in massive, leaping bounds.
Every ti he launched himself, he smashed a massive crater into the ground and soared through the air for dozens of miles. Qiu Mile, who was under the tutelage of Qingrui, had arrived.
It was known to all that although Perfected Man Fujiao was a True Person of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, his true backing was Immortal Venerable Qingrui of Lotus Immortal City.
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