Sensing Qiu Mile's arrival, Xuanzhuan sighed. Troubleso, troubleso, troubleso.
He looked at Yingxi, seemingly trying to figure out what the girl was thinking, or perhaps just wanting to get a good look at the last remaining seedling of the Zhou Clan.
"It seems neither of you will be able to leave anyti soon. Immortal Venerable Qingrui likely wants to use Junior Brother Zhou's death to cause trouble, and Qiu Mile will not be easy to deal with."
True Person Xuanzhuan's words were intriguing. Wang Yulou heard several different implications, and so did Wang Xianmao.
The old Patriarch gritted his teeth, took half a step forward, and asked respectfully, "True Person intends to send Yulou to the battlefield, but Yulou has only just reached Foundation Establishnt. He hasn't cultivated any cultivation thods or divine abilities yet. This..."
Xuanzhuan smiled. Taking out a precious talisman to send a voice transmission to Mang Xiang, he said, "Xianmao, no matter how formidable a Foundation Establishnt cultivator becos, it is of little use. Since Yulou caught the eye of Immortal Venerable Shenguang, it shows he has so aptitude. Getting tempered early in the war between the two sects will prepare him to shoulder heavy responsibilities in the future. As for you, our lineage plans to foster ten new Purple Palace cultivators. Jingyi is one, Yingxi is another, and you actually have a chance as well. Have you considered taking up a post in the sect again?"
The hall beca so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
For a thousand years, the Wang Clan had been a vassal of the Behemoth Lineage, but their actual direct leader was Xuanzhuan. The three Wang Clan Core Disciples within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, including Wang Jingyi, were all under the tutelage of Xuanzhuan.
Therefore, Xuanzhuan didn't treat Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou as outsiders in the slightest; he spoke directly about everything. First, forget about cultivation thods and divine abilities—they were useless.
In the war between the two sects, even peak Foundation Establishnt cultivators were nothing more than cannon fodder. Second, the fact that Wang Yulou had caught Shen Guang's eye showed he was decent and capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities—what were these heavy responsibilities?
Most likely a chance at the Purple Palace. Third, the Ancestral Master was playing a massive ga this ti, planning to directly raise ten new direct lineage Purple Palace cultivators.
The promise of the Purple Palace for Ancestor Jingyi was actually real. Even Zhou Yingxi could fill a Purple Palace spot, and Wang Xianmao had a chance too.
In the past, facing Ancestral Master Mangxiang's Great Favor Distribution, the Wang Clan had been exploited until they bled, and Wang Xianmao had even shed tears in secret from the sorrow. Now, having received Xuanzhuan's earth-shattering news, Wang Xianmao felt his head spin.
Wang Yulou's speculation was proven right once again—from beginning to end, there was no quota limit, at least not at the Purple Palace stage. Whether one could beco a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator depended solely on determination, strength, and whether one could acquire the relevant thods.
Becoming a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator wasn't the hard part; the hard part was how to secure room for developnt within the already extrely crowded Immortal Alliance after becoming a Grand Cultivator. As for breaking through to the Golden Core...
Mang Xiang was the perfect example. Five councils had failed to pass his advancent, so he forced his way up himself.
How could a cultivator who truly dared to charge toward the supre limits of heaven and earth be bound by rules? Shen Guang didn't follow the rules, and Mang Xiang didn't follow the rules either.
In this regard, they were exactly the sa.
"This... True Person, what is the Ancestral Master planning to do? Why suddenly..."
Although his head was spinning, Wang Xianmao wasn't stupid. This so-called good opportunity was just as suspicious as the Purple Palace thods Shen Guang was selling through the Myriad Dao Origin Hub.
Shen Guang's Purple Palace thods were free; they just had to be paid back after reaching the Purple Palace. Mang Xiang wasn't running a charitable hall either.
He had even less need for juniors to inherit his thods. The price of his promises certainly wouldn't be low.
Moreover, if Wang Yulou's theory that resources determined the number of Grand Cultivators was true, then the Behemoth Lineage suddenly producing so many Purple Palace cultivators ant the Ancestral Master wanted to do sothing truly massive. For example, an Immortal Alliance civil war.
For example, a new Red Lantern Illumination Sect. This still aligned with the current situation.
Using the Sky Serpent Sect to train troops right now—how was that not preparation for an Immortal Alliance civil war? Wang Yulou had guessed as much previously.
Shen Guang and Mang Xiang were both Immortal Venerables in the Immortal Alliance who had achieved their Dao relatively late. Their interests were inevitably restricted severely by the Immortal Venerables who ca before them, so they shared a common interest in banding together.
With the combined strength of these two joining forces, it was truly possible for them to draw their swords and throw the Immortal Alliance into chaos.
The precious talisman was activated, sinking into a gray world.
The hall dimd slightly, then brightened again as the gray world vanished.
"There are many things I cannot tell you. Just trust in Master's arrangents. Master has cultivated for over ten thousand years; his judgnt is rarely wrong."
Xuanzhuan gave a simple explanation, then looked at Yingxi and Yulou again.
"Yingxi, Junior Brother Zhou's matter is not what you think. Master and I truly didn't expect Shen Guang to do this. But since Shen Guang did it, we must temporarily endure it. Therefore, I will support your advancent to the Purple Palace to make up for the Zhou Clan losing a Purple Palace cultivator."
Xuanzhuan's words sounded a bit fake; in Wang Yulou's eyes, they were incredibly fake. Judging from Xuanzhuan just asking him if he wanted to take up the position of Luminous Sect's sect master, it seed he had no objections to letting him work under Shen Guang.
As long as he agreed, Xuanzhuan would let him go. Looking at the tightness of their cooperation, no matter how many tis it was said that Immortal Venerable Shenguang and Ancestral Master Mangxiang hadn't tead up to screw over old Zhou, Zhou Yingxi wouldn't believe it.
"Yingxi dares not have any disrespectful thoughts toward the Ancestral Master. It's just... Master, does Yulou still count as a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect now?"
Smiling with satisfaction, True Person Xuanzhuan said with certainty, "Of course he counts. Although Junior Brother Zhou is dead, Yulou's position as a Core Disciple won't be revoked. Qiu Mile ca with Immortal Venerable Qingrui's orders and will most likely cause a huge fuss. It's precisely because Master was screwed over by Shen Guang that you two cannot leave while Qingrui's people are here—we cannot give them any leverage. However, since I'm here, you no longer need to hide at Li Haikuo's place. Go back and rest."
How to put it?
Even though Wang Yulou's internal evaluation of Mang Xiang had long since beco 'pure beast,' facing True Person Xuanzhuan's attitude, he finally felt a bit of security. The grand stage of immortal cultivation was far too complex.
The intertwined web of profit, factional lineage and developnt, years of mutual trust from following one another, and the puppet-like relationship of being treated as a pawn by Mang Xiang—all these were tangled together, utterly impossible to unravel.
Seeing the three of them leave, Li Haikuo appeared beside Xuanzhuan.
He bowed sowhat cautiously and said, "Senior Brother Xuanzhuan, Haikuo pays his respects."
True Person Haikuo, the heavenly genius and forr sect master of Wondrous Peak Mountain, was also once a renowned existence in Wunan, similar to An Ning of Hidden Dragon Abbey. However, An Ning had failed at the final hurdle, ending up as a pile of mud.
Li Haikuo had leaped through the dragon gate, successfully advancing to the Purple Palace. It was just that...
this True Person Haikuo really lived up to his na; the 'sea' on top of his head was quite 'broad.' He was a rare Grand Cultivator sporting a diterranean-style bald spot.
Normally speaking, Grand Cultivators at the Purple Palace realm could alter their appearance at will; it was a minor trick that could be learned with a little effort. Everyone looked presentable, or at least not ugly.
But Li Haikuo going and giving himself a bald spot, paired with his cowering, short, and fat appearance, and his naively cute pie-shaped face, made things extrely interesting. This guy, similar to Wang Yulou, was also a genius at playing the fool!
Wang Yulou had never been ugly, but he always showed himself with the most remarkably average appearance. The underlying purpose was exactly the sa.
"Don't, I cannot accept this. Li Haikuo, Haikuo, ha, you're doing a great job as this Pass-Guarding True Human! You take a share from the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, a share from the Immortal Alliance, and another share from Shen Guang. Speaking of which, I'm even a little envious of you. Why don't we swap places? Let be this West Sea Pass-Guarding True Human of yours, and you go handle the tasks Master assigned to , how about that?"
It was still that sa logic: when you play the fool, you'd better actually have the strength to back it up.
When Jin Shan faced Qingrui, he was able to refuse her coercion by acting miserable and pitiful, all because he was strong enough. When Li Haiping played the pig in front of Xuanzhuan, Xuanzhuan could truly scold him like a stupid pig!
Facing Xuanzhuan's accusations and mockery, Li Haiping was as obedient as a four-hundred-year-old child, standing straight as a board. Only when Xuanzhuan finished his tirade did he carefully offer an explanation.
"Senior Brother Xuanzhuan, you don't understand. The grand formation of the Western Sea Immortal City suddenly collapsed and vanished, which is why things look so ugly. Besides that, Shen Guang also bought off Jin Shan. At that ti, three Demon Kings and True Person Longhu were all on Shen Guang's side. I had only just achieved the Purple Palace and didn't even have a single magic treasure; what could I do? Haiping was afraid, but Haiping knew that the responsibilities of my position were heavy. That's why I had to compromise for the greater good, swallow my pride, endure hardships, and drag out my ignoble existence—just to wait for you to arrive and report the news of the Western Sea Immortal City to you at the first possible mont!"
His waiting was all for the bigger picture; his endurance was all for the bigger picture.
After Li Haiping finished his nonsense, Xuanzhuan wasn't angry. Simply losing his temper at Old Li was useless.
He hadn't been truly angry just now; it was all just intimidation. He rely stared straight at Old Li and asked, "Shen Guang suddenly told that he wants to establish the Luminous Sect in the West Sea. You've been in the West Sea for so long, have you heard any rumors about this?"
This was also Li Haiping's first ti hearing this news. Shen Guang was going to establish a sect in the West Sea?
"Luminous Sect, Luminous Sect... that Shen Guang is too shaless, actually having the nerve to use such a na. I see the sky in the West Sea as completely black. Why is it black? It's all because Shen Guang is here!"
Li Haiping cursed. Xuanzhuan nodded and pressed on, "Keep going. Do you know the critical details behind this?"
Seeing the look of difficulty on Li Haiping's face, Xuanzhuan's expression finally turned truly ugly.
"Are you a pig? You've mingled in the West Sea for so long, and you don't even know about Shen Guang establishing a sect?"
He could understand and accept the incompetence of the newly advanced Purple Palace cultivator Li Haiping when faced with Shen Guang's backstabbing, but Xuanzhuan would absolutely not accept stupidity!
"It's like this, Senior Brother. The affairs of Senior Brother Bojiao and in the West Sea were mainly managed by Jiuqu and that traitor Mu Chunze. As you know, Mu Chunze's cultivation base is a bit higher, so, actually, he was the one managing things. I normally have to practice my cultivation too, so I don't have ti. Besides, no one expected Shen Guang to act on his own. I thought it was the Immortal Venerable's intention..."
In truth, everyone had thought Zhou Bojiao's death was the joint intention of Shen Guang and Mang Xiang.
After all, Zhou Bojiao did indeed have a conflict of interest with Mang Xiang in the past. Shen Guang's motive for killing Zhou Bojiao also beca clear in the eyes of insiders after Mu Chunze reached the Purple Palace.
"..."
If looks could kill, Xuanzhuan's gaze would have butchered Li Haiping by now.
"So, you're trying to say that we have absolutely no news about Shen Guang setting up the Luminous Sect. This is the result of your diligent work in the West Sea over these years?"
Shen Guang establishing the Luminous Sect was a major event, no less significant than Zhou Bojiao being slaughtered. With Shen Guang's cultivation base and influence, the Luminous Sect would beco the eleventh sect in Wunan, severely impacting the developnt pattern of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect in northwestern Wunan.
Therefore, Xuanzhuan truly needed to investigate this thoroughly. Li Haiping didn't dare to answer yes.
He thought for a mont and said, "Actually, there's another person who might know the situation."
"Who?"
"Wang Yulou—this kid is very close to Shen Guang's people, especially Shen Guang's second disciple, Xihai Longhu."
'Bullshit, could I not know that he's close to Shen Guang? Seeking you out today to ask about the situation was entirely superfluous!'
Xuanzhuan didn't speak, rely waving his hand to signal Li Haiping to get out. Even though the Pass-Guarding True Human's Residence was his own, Xuanzhuan's strength wasn't bad compared to Jin Shan.
Facing the pressure of this veteran Purple Palace cultivator, Old Li acted like a good boy and left looking extrely wronged. What else could he do?
Old Zhou was already dead, so he naturally bore responsibility. If he didn't cooperate with Xuanzhuan, he would end up getting his butt kicked by Mang Xiang later.
Even though they were both in the Purple Palace realm, the gap between one Purple Palace cultivator and another was enormous. If one insisted on comparing the status of Mang Xiang and Li Haiping...
How to put it... Mang Xiang could be considered a bona fide Golden Core.
Except for not actually being at the Golden Core stage, he wasn't much different from other Golden Core Immortal Venerables. Old Li was the type of person who, if Mang Xiang sent a ssage to the group, would scramble to be the very first to reply, "Received."
Why scramble? Because Immortal Venerable Mangxiang only rembered two kinds of people: the very first person to reply, "Received," and those who didn't reply at all.
"Ancestor! Lianpu has been bullied miserably in the West Sea!"
Having finally seen his backer, Qiu Lianpu imdiately began to tattle. He hugged Qiu Mile's thigh, crying as if his heart were broken.
True Person Mile, who resembled a mountain of at, kicked Qiu Lianpu away with a single foot. He floated down and sat on a specially crafted magic treasure chair. The precious chair was a full two stories high, gleaming with gold and purple, and inlaid with countless gems and pearls.
Placed in the courtyard of the Immortal Alliance Emissary's West Sea headquarters, its aesthetic seed particularly out of place. The style of this magic treasure was akin to what a mortal nouveau riche might favor; its overall appearance was rather tacky, far removed from any ethereal immortal aura.
"All Immortal Alliance Emissaries, gather here!"
Qiu Mile didn't open his mouth; his voice transmitted outward from his belly. The Immortal Alliance Emissaries serving in the West Sea filed into the courtyard one after another.
Facing True Person Mile, who had been dispatched from Lotus Immortal City, these core direct lineage children of the Immortal Alliance were as well-behaved as a flock of mute little chicks.
"Go investigate all the running dogs under Shen Guang's tutelage. If there is any violation of the Immortal Alliance's laws, they must be severely punished. You don't need to fear uncovering sothing earth-shattering. I ca this ti specifically because I received the Sacred Decree from the Immortal Venerable to deal with Shen Guang's running dogs! With here, the sky in the West Sea won't collapse!"
Facing Qiu Mile's orders, even though everyone knew the danger, they didn't dare to refuse. They imdiately bowed to receive the command—they would just agree first and slack off later.
Qiu Mile smiled faintly. How could he not understand what these little beasts of burden were thinking?
He had lived for tens of thousands of years. What kind of people and events hadn't he seen?
The mont these little brats' eyes shifted, True Person Mile already knew exactly what kind of foul sches they were holding in their hearts.
"Seventeen Immortal Alliance Emissaries in the West Sea... it's a bit too many. Downsizing redundant personnel has always been a long-term strategy of the Immortal Alliance. Immortal Venerable Qingrui has emphasized that we must downsize every year, and downsize heavily. In this investigation of Shen Guang's running dogs, for those who investigate effectively, I will report to the Immortal Alliance and request rits on their behalf. The seven with the worst results won't need to be Immortal Alliance Emissaries anymore. The Immortal Alliance isn't lacking Qi Refining stage emissaries!"
If they wouldn't do it, there were plenty of others who would!
The Immortal Alliance wasn't lacking Qi Refining stage emissaries. Ultimately, from the perspective of the higher-ups, the establishnt of the Immortal Alliance Emissaries—this sort of regular law enforcent force within the Immortal Alliance—was rely to serve as internal fuses during the Immortal Alliance's stable periods.
The sole reason for selecting Qi Refining cultivators to act as Immortal Alliance Emissaries was that Qi Refining stage emissaries were very easy to kill. The destiny of a fuse was to burn out.
When these Qi Refining stage fuses burned out, their value was fully realized—the Immortal Alliance could detect the location of problems and shifts in the situation based on the location and quantity of the blown fuses. It was just like playing Minesweeper.
In True Person Mile's heart, these Qi Refining stage Immortal Alliance Emissaries were no different from pawns used to sweep for mines. If they died, they died.
If they all died, he could just transfer more over. If they weren't useful, they could be swapped out!
Facing such an order from the True Person, the Immortal Alliance Emissaries dared not delay and left one after another.
"Qiu Lianpu, where are you going? Get back here!" the at-mountain-like Qiu Mile cursed.
Under the envious gazes of his many colleagues, Qiu Lianpu imdiately scrambled back to his Ancestor's side.
He thought to himself that Wang Yulou actually counted as Shen Guang's running dog as well. Wang Yulou had thoroughly bullied him for two whole years.
Now that Zhou Bojiao was gone, his own Ancestor had arrived. Hmph, hmph...
Just as Qiu Lianpu was freely imagining that with his Ancestor here, justice had finally arrived, True Person Mile cursed straight out.
"You're nothing but trash. With as your backer and the identity of an Immortal Alliance Emissary, you still managed to get bullied. Furthermore, having stayed in the West Sea for so many years, you haven't even reached the Foundation Establishnt stage. What do you do all day?"
Qiu Lianpu didn't feel humiliated; he only felt that his Ancestor was indeed his Ancestor—scolding him without rcy, not treating him like an outsider at all.
"Ancestor, you don't know, two years ago there was a special case... Just like that, I was jointly bullied by Wang Yulou, Guo Yaoyue, and Chen Yanghe for two years. During those two years, I barely had any ti to practice my cultivation. Otherwise, I would have reached the Foundation Establishnt stage long ago. Those people still want to investigate the case..."
True Person Mile truly couldn't bear to listen anymore.
Wasn't this just pure trash? He couldn't even win at internal struggles and only knew how to co crying to him to tattle.
How could such a piece of trash possibly shoulder the responsibilities of the Qiu Clan? How did his, Qiu Mile's, bloodline descendant beco such a piece of trash?
Suppressing his anger, he pointed at the trembling Foundation Establishnt stage Immortal Alliance Stewards in the courtyard and said, "Stop making excuses for your incompetence. Take people right now to arrest Guo Yaoyue! You all, follow him. Arrest Guo Yaoyue, beat him half to death, and then deal with Zhang Heng!"
Facing Qiu Mile, a True Person from Lotus Immortal City, the Immortal Alliance Stewards of the West Sea were actually caught in a very awkward spot—they didn't take orders from Lotus Immortal City. If Qiu Mile ordered the Immortal Alliance Emissaries to act as cannon fodder, the emissaries had no way to resist.
But these entities who had already beco Immortal Alliance Stewards naturally had the ability to resist.
"True Person, Zhang Heng belongs to the Annex City Enforcent Team..."
An Immortal Alliance Steward summoned his courage, attempting to push away this miserable chore that was clearly akin to jumping into a fire pit.
"Bang!"
Qiu Mile didn't even move, and that Immortal Alliance Steward with a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivation base exploded into a cloud of blood mist.
Gulp.
A uniform sound of swallowing echoed throughout the courtyard. True Person Mile lightly inhaled through his nose.
That exploded cloud of blood mist, along with the Storage Bracelet, several spiritual artifacts, and the magical robe worn by the deceased, all entered his belly, which was larger than a house.
"Is there anyone else who wants to resist the Sacred Decree of the Immortal Venerable?"
Qiu Mile licked his lips and revealed a cruel smile. This was the first ti he had opened his mouth to speak.
When True Person Mile spoke using his belly, it sounded sowhat normal. When he opened his mouth to speak, his deep, thick, and majestic voice beca terrifying.
Formless power transmitted through the reverberations of his voice. Aside from Qiu Lianpu, who was unaffected due to Qiu Mile deliberately holding back, the other four Immortal Alliance Stewards all felt as though their heads were about to explode.
They truly felt like they were going to explode. The terrifying sensation of surging vitality and blood, coupled with the vibrations inside their brains, struck fear into everyone.
"We respectfully obey the Sacred Decree of the Immortal Venerable!"
Everyone knelt down one after another, no longer daring to show even a trace of resistance.
"Hmph, you lot have grown accustod to running wild in the West Sea. Go!"
Leaving the Immortal Alliance Emissary headquarters with four Foundation Establishnt stage Immortal Alliance Stewards following by his side, Qiu Lianpu felt as though he were walking on air. No matter how formidable Shen Guang was, could he withstand the two Immortal Venerables, Lianpeng and Qingrui?
With his Ancestor here, his own status in the West Sea had skyrocketed in a straight line—second only to the nurous Purple Palace cultivators in the West Sea. As for those seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators...
Heh, if he didn't deal with them, they should be thanking him! And then there was Wang Yulou.
I'll deal with Guo Yaoyue first, and then I'll deal with you! However, the Ancestor didn't seem to have any intention of dealing with Wang Yulou.
He needed to pay attention to this point. When investigating Shen Guang's running dogs, he had to guide the investigation toward Wang Yulou.
With so many businesses set up in South Annex City, there was no fear of Wang Yulou having no connection with Shen Guang's running dogs! Just you wait, Wang Yulou.
You cheap bastard bullied for two years, and I will absolutely not let you off!
In the dilapidated Jade Palace Estate, Wang Rongwen, heartbroken and distraught, led people to dig through the broken bricks and shattered tiles for anything that was still usable or valuable.
"Two clansn died. Among the others, one person was caught in the crossfire and injured, but the situation is not serious and is already under control."
Zheng Yan reported the Wang Clan's losses from this disaster while standing beside Wang Xianmao and Wang Yulou.
"The most troubleso matter isn't the personnel, but our two businesses located inside the immortal city, which were both completely destroyed. Repairing them will be another expense."
Wang Xianmao shook his head.
"There's no need to repair them. The Western Sea Immortal City will no longer exist in the future."
Judging from Xuanzhuan's attitude, there was a high probability that the Behemoth Lineage would still stand with Shen Guang. This ti, with Zhou Bojiao being slaughtered by Shen Guang, Shen Guang would likely give the Behemoth Lineage a certain amount of compensation.
But the final result shouldn't hold any surprises. The Western Sea Immortal City was already rotten beyond recognition.
South Annex City and East Annex City would form the new Western Sea Immortal City, and the true castellan would be Shen Guang.
"No longer exist? Are you saying...?"
Zheng Yan couldn't quite believe it. A perfectly fine immortal city was just going to be abandoned like this?
"Mhm, we have a lot of land in South Annex City. The smashed businesses can just be rebuilt in South Annex City. Right, you should still listen to Yulou regarding this matter and implent it early on," Wang Xianmao exhorted.
Xuanzhuan had revealed that Ancestral Master Mangxiang was going to do sothing massive, providing the faction with ten new Purple Palace cultivators, which was why he told Wang Yulou to go to the warzone of the two sects to temper himself.
Although this arrangent might be delayed by True Person Mile, Wang Yulou would inevitably leave, so many things had to be handled as soon as possible.
In the evening, inside the newly built temporary courtyard next to the combat arena in South Annex City.
'Patriarch, if the Ancestral Master wants to cultivate ten Purple Palace cultivators, why did he snatch away Ancestor Jingyi's grotto-heaven?' Wang Yulou asked via voice transmission.
Just as Wang Xianmao was about to answer, Xuanzhuan suddenly appeared beside the two of them. Ancestor Jingyi's Formless World divine ability was already extraordinary.
As Wang Jingyi's master, Xuanzhuan's Formless World divine ability was even more terrifying; his appearance didn't make the slightest sound. This True Person, who had suddenly appeared beside the two, explained with a calm expression.
"Because the path of directly achieving the new thod Purple Palace from the Foundation Establishnt stage is not easy to walk. If Jingyi wants to beco a Purple Palace cultivator as soon as possible, she cannot take that path; it wastes both spirit stones and ti."
Xuanzhuan had heard Wang Yulou's voice transmission! Wang Xianmao's heartbeat instantly multiplied several tis over.
His eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he imdiately dropped to his knees with a thud.
"True Person, Yulou is still young and ignorant, please..."
Wang Yulou's fingers, pressing against the ground, were entirely white. He understood that this was a life-or-death mont.
Looking at the two kneeling on the ground, Xuanzhuan felt sowhat helpless and asked back with dissatisfaction.
"There are far too many terrifying things in the cultivation world. Why are you so afraid of Master and ? Xianmao, there's no need, there really is no need. There is nothing that cannot be discussed. Your Wang Clan has done your utmost over these years, and we see it all. The truth of the matter is that Master needed the Essence of Grotto-heaven to strengthen his grotto-heaven's foundation. Danri and I have both given more than half of our grotto-heavens to Master. Because the situation was exceptional, we took a half-ford small grotto-heaven from your Wang Clan. You say snatch; yes, Master snatched it, but didn't he also give Yulou a guaranteed chance to reach the Purple Palace? And Jingyi will be given a chance too. You're treating us like Pi Xiu beasts that only take and never give; it really isn't like that."
In the eyes of Xuanzhuan and even Mang Xiang, giving Wang Yulou an opportunity to achieve a partial Purple Palace in the future truly was a bestowal of grace. In fact, such an arrangent, when placed within the entire cultivation world, was a bestowal of grace for the vast majority of cultivators.
At this point, Wang Xianmao's heartbeat finally returned to normal. He forced a smile and said, "It's not that we're afraid, it's really just that Yulou is still immature, he..."
Xuanzhuan grew sowhat impatient. He slightly raised his voice and hauled the two terrified little wretches, who were acting like easily frightened birds, up from the ground.
"Alright, whether he's mature or not isn't for you to say, it's for Shen Guang to say. Shen Guang is already planning to let him be the sect master of the Luminous Sect!"
Looking at Wang Yulou, Xuanzhuan felt quite gratified. Since Shen Guang favored him to be a sect master, it proved that the Behemoth Lineage did not lack capable juniors.
In the future, when their master reached the Golden Core, the faction would ultimately need newcors to step up and handle matters, allowing him and Danri to cultivate in peace.
"Yulou, take to see the businesses you manage in the West Sea. The position of sect master... Shen Guang is truly willing to part with it."
"True Person..."
Wang Xianmao subconsciously wanted to protect him. His relationship with Yulou had always been excellent.
Back when Wang Yulou first learned about the Anning Cave Heaven, he had asked eight questions about the grotto-heaven, yet notably avoided asking whether they should inform Wang Jingyi. From that mont on, Yulou had climbed another step higher in the Patriarch's heart.
"Xianmao, back then you could have beco my disciple. In my eyes, you are half a disciple of mine, and Wang Yulou is half a grand-disciple. You're acting as if I'm about to eat you both. What is the aning of this?"
Xuanzhuan seed genuinely dissatisfied; his usually placid face even showed a trace of emotion.
"Xianmao wouldn't dare," Wang Xianmao said, lowering his head respectfully.
"Danri, Master, and I stay in the grotto-heaven for long periods due to our cultivation thods, so we interact less with you disciples. But we haven't forgotten your loyalty, understand?"
Since Xuanzhuan had said this much, Wang Xianmao truly had no reason to stop him.
"I understand. I understand."
——
"A combat arena... it's a good idea. The only problem is that Shen Guang is taking too large a share. Since he killed your master this ti, I think he should spit out his entire forty percent!"
Interests were always the top priority. Although Xuanzhuan was a Grand Cultivator, accounts still needed to be settled.
"True Person, making him spit it all out might be inappropriate. After all, the combat arena is located in the West Sea."
Wang Yulou remained thoroughly respectful. If he believed a single word of Xuanzhuan's bullshit, his surna wouldn't be Wang.
Putting everything else aside, just the fact that Zhou Bojiao knew the great war was inevitable and tid his pill refinent perfectly proved that the supposedly guaranteed chance for him to reach the Purple Palace was total crap. Pulling Zhou Bojiao in to enter the ga was a decision made a long ti ago.
Wang Yulou—this "gift" prepared for the scenario where Zhou Bojiao usurped Zhou Yingxi's body—had also been arranged early on and had nothing to do with compensation for snatching the grotto-heaven. If what Xuanzhuan said about Shen Guang acting alone was true, then the Ancestral Master's arrangent for Wang Yulou couldn't be considered a favor at all.
Back then, it was Danri who found him suitable and guided him to cultivate the Source Vein Gui Water Qi. The entire process was a deliberate sche to manipulate him. Therefore, Xuanzhuan's warm and enthusiastic displays were purely an act.
Of course, let him act. Being sched against and favored by Grand Cultivators simply ant that Wang Yulou had value.
It was the sa old logic: to enter the ga itself held infinite significance. How many people desperately wanted to enter the ga but had no way in!
Furthermore, far too many things could only be intuitively understood and not put into words. If everything were spoken too clearly, it would be impossible to go on living.
No one would tolerate a person without a bottom line. Everyone was seeking a balanced way to coexist amidst a ga of compromises—and Xuanzhuan was no exception.
"That's also true. He can take thirty percent, Master will take fifty percent, and we'll leave twenty percent for your Wang Clan; we can't let you work for nothing. As for Zhou Bojiao's matter, Yulou, what are your thoughts?"
Wang Yulou truly didn't care about this bit of profit-sharing. To him, as long as the combat arena didn't lose money, it was a gain.
Aside from spirit stones, there were far too many important things in the world. However, Xuanzhuan first offering one sweet date after another to close the distance, then taking Wang Yulou to inspect his businesses, and now asking about Zhou Bojiao... it was all very strange. Thinking of this, Wang Yulou carefully considered his words and replied,
"True Person, Immortal Venerable Shenguang does things with utter disregard for the rules. It was like this for East Annex City, for South Annex City, and also for my master's matter."
Xuanzhuan nodded slightly.
"People who follow the rules cannot achieve the Golden Core. All the rules of top-tier forces are ant to restrict cultivators from climbing higher, or rather, they solely serve the highest echelon. Shen Guang first killed Zhou Bojiao and now wants to establish the Luminous Sect. Having just arrived in the West Sea, I can't quite see what he is trying to do. Li Haikuo said you have a wide circle of friends under Shen Guang's tutelage. Tell about it; give so reference."
Xuanzhuan's conclusion confird that Wang Yulou's long-term observations were correct.
From the sects to the Immortal Alliance, the rules were never established to nurture junior cultivators, but rely to serve those who had already climbed to the top. However, his request was sowhat difficult to answer.
"True Person, regarding our alliance with Immortal Venerable Shenguang, to what extent are we actually united?"
Wang Yulou had to confirm this point first. Hearing his question, Xuanzhuan sowhat understood why Shen Guang had specifically asked for this person by na.
Asking the right question was a very good indicator of one's level. Through this question alone, Xuanzhuan was certain that Wang Yulou truly understood—profoundly understood.
He understood those unspeakable subtleties and grasped what was truly crucial.
"The day Master achieves the Golden Core will be the ti we completely fall out with Shen Guang. Keep these words between us, hahaha."
So that was how it was. There was no 'new Red Lantern Illumination Sect.' Or rather, as long as the Red Lantern Illumination Sect supported the Ancestral Master, the Ancestral Master would never truly commit to a permanent alliance with Shen Guang.
Therefore, Shen Guang dealing with Zhou Bojiao was a textbook case of cashing out early—first leveraging their alliance to snatch a massive wave of benefits. The combined efforts of the Immortal Alliance's two late-advancing Immortal Venerables were extrely impactful.
Mang Xiang used this impact to force the Red Lantern Illumination Sect to support his war with the Sky Serpent Sect, clearing his path toward the Golden Core.
Shen Guang used this impact to cash out early, locking in the profits of South Annex City, while simultaneously gaining other benefits that Wang Yulou hadn't yet noticed.
"Immortal Venerable Shenguang probably had plans to establish a sect long ago. The Myriad Dao Origin Hub... Purple Palace thods. I have a speculation—will my father-in-law be the only Purple Palace cultivator that Shen Guang has hidden in the West Sea?"
Xuanzhuan nodded lightly. Indeed, Mu Chunze was very likely not the first.
Besides offering great potential, the vast West Sea could also be used to hide people—to hide a lot of people. Shen Guang establishing the Luminous Sect seed hasty, but what if he had already hidden a large number of people in the West Sea?
"Continue."
"Another specific point is the Rogue Cultivator Alliance. Immortal Venerable Shenguang controls many rogue cultivators in the West Sea through Zhang Heng, the captain of the Annex City Enforcent Team. Those rogue cultivators who joined the Rogue Cultivator Alliance can connect to the West Sea system built by Shen Guang in many places. For example, the Myriad Dao Origin Hub, or the Demon-Suppressing Treasure Pagoda. One can be seen as the Luminous Sect's Scripture Pavilion prepared in advance, and the other can be seen as their rit Hall. Once the Luminous Sect is established, from the lowest tier Outer Gate Disciples to the slightly more core Inner Gate Disciples, all the way up to Core Disciples and even True Persons like Mu Chunze—they won't lack any of them. Immortal Venerable Shenguang probably envisioned this long ago, only lacking a specific ti to roll it out. The Ancestral Master pushing the sect to go to war with the Sky Serpent Sect allowed Immortal Venerable Shenguang to see an opportunity. That's why he took it a step further to cash out early, locking down South Annex City to acquire the starting resources for the sect's creation."
To put it bluntly, Mang Xiang and Shen Guang were mutually using each other. There were no winners in this wave of secret infighting between them.
Of course, there was a loser—Zhou Bojiao. This reflected the complexity of the gas played by Grand Cultivators.
Grand Cultivators with higher status found it easier to transfer the price they needed to bear onto others. Taking Mang Xiang as an example, his price-transfer system was divided into four tiers.
The first tier was the Immortal Alliance. He was, after all, a Grand Cultivator within the Immortal Alliance, and the Immortal Alliance had to serve him.
The second tier was the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the third tier consisted of his two Purple Palace disciples, and the fourth tier was made up of vassal families like the Wang Clan.
With the failure of the five councils for his Golden Core, Mang Xiang's pressure was actually gradually disappearing because his nurous Conservative Faction allies in the Immortal Alliance could no longer secure an advantage in absolute votes.
Under these circumstances, Mang Xiang's Conservative Faction allies could help him bear most of the pressure of forcefully bypassing the rules to launch a war. The remainder would be partially borne by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
In this way, starting a war was no longer so terrifying. Although Wang Yulou still hadn't figured out why Mang Xiang actively started the war, judging by Xuanzhuan's words about the Ancestral Master wanting to cultivate ten new Purple Palace cultivators, the Ancestral Master definitely had a grand plan.
"Rogue Cultivator Alliance... Shen Guang, oh Shen Guang. He doesn't seem to know that Qingrui is behind Zhou Bojiao. But that makes sense—he did achieve his Dao too late, after all. Let's go. I'll take you to see sothing interesting."
The relationships between Grand Cultivators were intricate and complex, and information regarding such ties was invaluable. There truly was a possibility that Shen Guang was unaware of Zhou Bojiao's background.
Before Yulou could react, Xuanzhuan's divine ability transported him to the second floor of the Bright Moon Night Inn in East Annex City, right to an elegant seat by a window facing the street.
Outside the window, Qiu Lianpu was leading four Immortal Alliance Stewards of the West Sea and over a dozen Immortal Alliance Emissaries, locked in a standoff with the Annex City Enforcent Team led by Zhang Heng. Immortal Alliance Emissaries held a lot of power, and Immortal Alliance Stewards held even more.
However, this was the West Sea. Zhang Heng and his Annex City Enforcent Team were Shen Guang's running dogs; how could they possibly fear people from the Immortal Alliance?
"Refusing to hand over Guo Yaoyue is obstructing an Immortal Alliance Emissary from exercising the Immortal Alliance's right of inspection. You cannot bear the consequences. Senior Zhang, step aside. Do not try to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm."
Qiu Lianpu knew that True Person Mile wanted to smash Zhang Heng along with the rest, but didn't he have to catch Guo Yaoyue first to tailor a confession for arresting Zhang Heng? He had to take things step by step.
Zhang Heng laughed contemptuously and declared grandly, "Tonight's moonlight is quite nice. We are just standing here admiring the moon, wouldn't you all say?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
The cultivators of the Annex City Enforcent Team were like a fully organized army; their answer was not only neat and uniform but also repeated three tis. In truth, the Annex City Enforcent Team was one of Immortal Venerable Shenguang's armies.
He was using the Immortal Alliance's profits to raise his own people, much like how Wang Yulou used the profits from the combat arena to raise his.
"Look at Shen Guang's ambition... he has never experienced any setbacks. A human traitor's path of cultivation is always smoother than an ordinary person's."
Wang Yulou took out the sixth-grade Ei Peak to brew tea for the True Person, saying at the sa ti, "I guess Guo Yaoyue will die. Zhang Heng would rather let him die than let him fall into Qiu Lianpu's hands. Kill Guo Yaoyue, plant the evidence on the Immortal Alliance Emissary, and then force True Person Mile to take the field. True Person, what do you think?"
Xuanzhuan's eyes lit up. "Good idea."
Within his void-like eyes, endless starlight rotated before quickly vanishing without a trace.
"I've already killed that little pawn, hahaha. Let Qiu Mile and Shen Guang bite each other a little harder."
Wang Yulou's tea-pouring motion paused for a mont before returning to normal. After filling the teacup, he pushed it toward the True Person and asked with a smile, "Is True Person Mile very strong?"
Xuanzhuan picked up the spirit tea and sighed. "He is more than just strong; he cultivates the thod of a demon monk, which is very special. Since Shen Guang cannot move right now, he actually doesn't have any good way to deal with Qiu Mile. Immortal Venerable Qingrui sending Qiu Mile here ans she has an issue with Master."
Qiu Mile, the thod of a demon monk.
Immortal Venerable Qingrui had an issue with the Ancestral Master. Wang Yulou nodded thoughtfully.
Yes, as a major leader sitting in the first row of the Gathering Immortals Platform, Immortal Venerable Qingrui occupied two Golden Core shares by herself; she was obviously also a big shot of the Conservative Faction. She wouldn't strike Mang Xiang directly, but she would strike obliquely by hitting his ally, Shen Guang.
Ultimately, it was still because Shen Guang and Mang Xiang had grown too close. For veteran Golden Cores, facing the lightning tribulation once every seven years ant their ti was incredibly precious.
Mang Xiang and Shen Guang were different; they achieved their Dao late. These two might be sowhat lacking in strength, but if they ca together...
Thinking of this, Yulou asked again, "True Person, about how many more years will it take for the Ancestral Master to achieve his Golden Core?"
Xuanzhuan put down his teacup. "Zhang Heng's people discovered that Guo Yaoyue is dead. Haha, there's a good show to watch; dog biting dog."
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