The Ancestral Master issued a Sacred Decree through Xuanzhuan, allowing Wang Yulou to take office as the seal-holder of the West Sea's Information Gathering Court and participate in purging Shen Guang's toxic remnants.
In essence, this was pressing Wang Yulou's head down and forcing him to kill—to execute Shen Guang's disciples and anyone associated with them—thereby swearing allegiance to Mang Xiang and using his actions as a blood pledge to prove his loyalty.
Wang Yulou's choice to turn around and send Shen Guang's toxic remnants from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance to the battlefield between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect was actually a brilliant move.
Borrowing Shen Guang's forces and the prestige of the alliance between Mang Xiang and Qingrui, he had gathered a team of his own. Of course, this team was severely disunited; to varying degrees, everyone in it harbored hatred toward Wang Yulou.
But whether they hated him or not didn't really matter. Many people hated the Immortal Alliance, yet had the Immortal Alliance collapsed?
As long as Wang Yulou could provide a tangible path for their advancent and survival, a portion of them would eventually beco the core foundation for his foothold within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. However, faced with the grand promises Wang Yulou painted for them, many imdiately sensed that sothing was wrong.
Yang Duilie even quietly distanced himself from Wang Yulou. The situation felt very wrong.
The mbers of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance were cultivators of the Immortal Alliance, and Wang Yulou was the seal-holder of the Punishnt Court in the Immortal Alliance's Western Sea Immortal City. What right did he have to transfer these cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect?
This completely violated the rules! By killing a jailer inside the Punishnt Court's prison, Wang Yulou had already displayed a ruthless, stop-at-nothing cruelty.
Now, by sending the rogue cultivators who made their living in Western Sea Immortal City to the front lines of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect under the charge of being "Shen Guang's toxic remnants," he was straying even further down the path of disregarding the rules. Yet, despite everyone muttering in their hearts, no one dared to criticize Wang Yulou's transgressions to his face.
This bastard was Mang Xiang's loyal hound; if provoked, he would truly bite! Seeing that the rogue cultivators dared not voice any dissent, and that Yang Duilie and the others kept their mouths shut, Wang Yulou nodded in satisfaction and spoke.
"Brother Duilie, arrange for soone to record their roster."
How should it be put? Calling him "Brother Duilie" so affectionately carried an implication that could not be more obvious. This was the final push to force the matter through, so even if it seed overly opportunistic, he had to win over Yang Duilie and show him goodwill.
Once past this hurdle, no one would be able to stop Wang Yulou's plan! Perhaps those in the Purple Palace realm could stop it, but Mang Xiang now dared to attack even the Sky Serpent Sect, and was pulling Qingrui along to encroach upon the West Sea's interests; ordinary Purple Palace cultivators simply wouldn't dare to interfere.
As for those extraordinary Purple Palace cultivators who stood in opposition to Mang Xiang and the Immortal Alliance's Conservative Faction, it would be useless even if they did try to stop it—the opposition's opinions were simply bullshit! It was a bitter reality!
Yang Duilie let out an inward sigh of lant. His eyes darted around as he cautiously transmitted his voice to Wang Yulou.
"Fellow Daoist Yuque, the origins of the West Sea's rogue cultivators are complex. Many of them are actually disciples of vassals under the tutelage of major sects, rely operating under the identity of rogue cultivators. You..."
What bad intentions could Old Yang possibly have? He rely wanted to avoid taking the bla without openly disrespecting Wang Yulou.
Many people might not understand why Old Yang was so cautious when facing Wang Yulou. What kind of position was a Dragon Tiger Guard Commander?
A high-level security guard, a high-level enforcer. The na of the Dragon Tiger Guards sounded impressive, and Old Yang's strength was formidable, but his status in the West Sea and within the Immortal Alliance was completely incomparable to that of Wang Yulou, a heavenly genius under the tutelage of Mang Xiang.
The Dragon Tiger Guards were just there to do the grunt work. People like Wang Yulou were the true cultivators the Immortal Alliance served.
Faced with Wang Yulou's rule-breaking assignnts, even if Old Yang wanted to object and keep his hands clean, he could only handle it cautiously. However, perfectly reasonable as his excuses were, they couldn't hide the fact that he was trying to dodge responsibility.
This was similar to how Chen Yongzhong had initially pretended to be proactive and enthusiastic, only to smoothly slack off and exert no effort. In essence, it was all passive resistance against Wang Yulou's orders.
Noticing the look Wang Yulou was giving him, Old Yang—despite his dignified cultivation as a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator—actually broke out in a cold sweat.
"Yang Duilie, when did Shen Guang's poison seep into you?" Wang Yulou asked coldly.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was horrified, and Chen Yongzhong's body began to tremble. In purging Shen Guang's toxic remnants, Wang Yulou actually intended to extend the purge to Yang Duilie!
Old Yang imdiately dropped to his knees before Wang Yulou, pressing his head tightly against the ground.
"Duilie wouldn't dare, Duilie wouldn't dare, it's just... just..."
He was terrified! What did a massive power purge resulting from the struggle between three Immortal Venerables entail?
It ant that Shen Guang retreated and Purple Palace cultivators bowed their heads! Wherever Shen Guang's toxic remnants flowed, heads would roll like chopped scallions!
Mang Xiang was a Quasi-Immortal Venerable of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the ten-thousand-year entrenched local tyrant of the northwestern Wunan Basin, and he was currently leading the Red Lantern Illumination Sect in an attack on the Sky Serpent Sect.
Qingrui was a founding mber of the Immortal Alliance and one of the controllers of Lotus Immortal City. Qiu Mile, the pawn she sent out, had dared to point directly at Shen Guang's nose and humiliate him.
In the great West Sea purge initiated by these two, let alone washing away Yang Duilie, even purging Hansong could be considered reasonable. Why did Xuanzhuan and Qiu Mile imdiately leave the West Sea after forcing Shen Guang to retreat?
Because Mang Xiang and Qingrui had won! Immortal Venerables never made a move lightly.
Once Mang Xiang and Qingrui made their move and secured the victory, naturally no one dared to casually oppose them—unless they wanted a showdown with these two and the forces backing them. The compromises and political maneuvers involved in this were incredibly deep and terrifying.
At least in the northwestern Wunan Basin, no one could withstand the joint forces of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and Lotus Immortal City, especially when Shen Guang had handed Mang Xiang and Qingrui the perfect excuse.
Therefore, despite Wang Yulou's low cultivation base, he held the purging authority granted by Mang Xiang—an absolute authority where whoever he targeted for purging would die.
"Just what? Why aren't you speaking? Are the words caught in your throat?" Jin Mingdu tugged on Wang Yulou's arm, stepping to the side and slightly in front of the kneeling Yang Duilie as she asked.
The significance of marrying a Dao Companion, and marrying a good Dao Companion at that, was perfectly reflected here. Do not forget, what Shen Guang had smashed was the Western Sea Immortal City that Jin Shan was responsible for!
With Li Haikuo and Jin Shan both acting as Wang Yulou's backers, Wang Yulou was practically the third most powerful person in the West Sea—Shen Guang had already been kicked out of the ga of power.
At the very least, before the transformation of his grotto-heaven was complete, it would be very difficult for him to get a seat at the West Sea's table again.
"Duilie understands, Fellow Daoist Yuque. I will arrange for soone to compile their information right away!"
Closing his eyes, Yang Duilie decided to completely give up his resistance. Perhaps he realized that what he was resisting had never been Wang Yulou's autocracy.
The mont Wang Yulou decided to bring these two thousand-plus people into the Red Lantern Illumination Sect to serve as outer gate disciples and front-line fodder, the true stakeholder behind this matter beca that Quasi-Immortal Venerable, Mang Xiang.
—— At the Dragon Tiger Platform, Jin Shan frowned as he finished reading the docunt Wang Yulou had submitted, and instructed him with concern. "Yulou, I sowhat understand your idea, but if these people go to the front lines, they might also run over to the Sky Serpent Sect.
"If that happens, you could easily bring a lot of trouble upon yourself. Think about it."
Investing in a high-potential stock was not a matter of placing a bet and then ignoring it. Wang Yulou's prospects were excellent, so Jin Shan was naturally happy to look after him more.
"Patriarch, the rogue cultivators of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance are not really considered Shen Guang's toxic remnants on their own, but if they run over to the Sky Serpent Sect, then they can be counted as Shen Guang's toxic remnants. What do you think?"
Jin Shan stood in silence for a mont before smiling and shaking his head.
"Oh, you... Fine, this plan is feasible!"
Clearly, Jin Shan understood Wang Yulou's underlying aning. The logic here was rather complex.
First, one point had to be clear—the result of Mang Xiang's fifth discussion on the Golden Core at the Gathering Immortals Platform did not an that the Immortal Alliance's Conservative Faction behind him had fallen from power.
In terms of votes, the Conservative Faction and the Reformist Faction were evenly matched; they only appeared slightly weaker, but the mbers of the Conservative Faction were all grand cultivators within the Immortal Alliance who had long occupied advantageous positions in resource distribution.
With every Purple Palace cultivator having one vote and every Golden Core Immortal Venerable having ten votes, such a vote count could not represent absolute strength.
Taking the weakest Immortal Venerable, Shen Guang, as an example: if he were sent to fight Qingrui, although it wouldn't quite be serving himself up on a silver platter, he would definitely be beaten to pieces.
Taking the weakest Purple Palace cultivator, Li Haikuo, as an example: having him fight Mang Xiang would be just like having a three-year-old infant duel Mike Tyson—there would be absolutely no suspense.
Within the Conservative Faction, there were many seasoned Golden Core cultivators like Qingrui and Zhuzhao, and many seasoned Purple Palace cultivators like Mang Xiang and Qiu Mile.
Therefore, if the rogue cultivators dared to defect to the Sky Serpent Sect, then given Mang Xiang's status in the Immortal Alliance's Conservative Faction, his people could mobilize the power of the Immortal Alliance to legally and legitimately enter the Sky Serpent Sect's territory to purge Shen Guang's toxic remnants, while the Sky Serpent Sect could only watch helplessly. At the end of the day, it was simply because Shen Guang had been far too efficient, smashing the Western Sea Immortal City all too cleanly.
"It's just that, Patriarch, escorting these two thousand-plus rogue cultivators from the West Sea to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect is a troubleso matter. After all, those are over two thousand cultivators, not over two thousand donkeys.
"Yulou ca here hoping that Patriarch could issue a Sacred Decree, getting those who usually just hold nominal positions in the various courts and platforms to make a move, so as to lend a hand."
When Wang Yulou did things, he never treated himself as an outsider. Anyway, Jin Mingdu was his Dao Companion, so calling Jin Shan Patriarch was perfectly appropriate. Since it was appropriate, he would simply respect Jin Shan as his true patriarch. He was just testing the waters. If Old Jin didn't agree, the worst that could happen was that Wang Yulou would have to brazenly go and invite so people personally.
"This matter is not difficult," Jin Shan replied. "Speaking of which, because you killed so many of Immortal Venerable Shen Guang's disciples, many positions opened up and a batch of newcors have entered. It is the perfect opportunity to let them follow you to gain so experience."
Just the perfect opportunity to let them follow him to gain so experience.
Wang Yulou was truly moving up in the world now; he had actually reached the level where he could be the one training others.
"This ti, let Mingdu co with as well, Patriarch. Aside from taking up my post as a steward of the Special rit Hall upon my return to the sect, there are still many matters that I need Mingdu to help with."
Jin Shan nodded thoughtfully and asked with a smile, "She won't be a burden to you, will she?"
How could Wang Yulou ever be dissatisfied with Jin Mingdu? This beauty was simply far too clever.
"Not at all. By betrothing Mingdu to Yulou, True Person has done Yulou a trendous favor. How could she possibly be a burden?"
Jin Shan put away his smile and turned his head to look toward the depths of the West Sea, his gaze profound. The great war between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect had been brewing for years.
Now, the strongest heavenly genius of the younger generation from the Behemoth Lineage had also joined the fray. The Immortal Alliance's internal strife might just begin from the northwestern corner of Wunan.
What would beco of the West Sea in the future? With these thoughts, he made up his mind.
"Yulou, over the past few years, I have accumulated quite a bit of property in the West Sea. However, it is of no great use to , so I will hand it all over to you. Consider it a helping hand."
He was a Purple Palace cultivator directly affiliated with the Immortal Alliance; ultimately, he would have to leave the West Sea and Wunan. In these troubled tis, it would be difficult for these properties in the West Sea to thrive in the future.
It was better to gift them all to Wang Yulou, placing a heavy wager on the young man's future. After all, from the very beginning, True Person Longhu had favored not only Wang Yulou, but even more so Mang Xiang, who was dragging Qingrui into his fight against Shen Guang.
Shen Guang had gifted cultivation thods, while Jin Shan gifted properties. Showcasing potential was a form of strength in itself, and expected future returns could indeed be cashed out in advance.
It was just that Wang Yulou's ability to cash out was exceptionally efficient. He naturally understood that he ought to be even more grateful to Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.
If Mang Xiang were not on the verge of reaching the Golden Core realm, and if he had not beaten Shen Guang black and blue, Wang Yulou would never have received so many benefits—even as a heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage.
"Yulou will engrave the True Person's kindness in his heart and will never dare to forget it," Wang Yulou said.
Jin Shan waved his hand, using his grating voice to put on a display of hypocritical affection. "What is all this talk of kindness? We elders simply hope that you young people will grow stronger and encounter smoother paths. That is all."
Two days later, thirty li east of Western Sea Immortal City. Riding the Black Dragon Steed, Wang Yulou stood in the air alongside Jin Mingdu, who was mounted on a Great Demon-level spirit bird, the Red-Nosed Golden Rooster.
Jin Shan and Li Haiping had co to personally see him off, fully demonstrating their high regard for Wang Yulou. Below the four of them, flying at a low altitude, were Jiuqu, Mo Xunzhou, Yang Duilie, and several others.
With Feng Jianxian and Xihai Hu dead, he did not have many friends left in the West Sea. Further below were the densely packed rogue cultivators of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, their faces completely numb.
Surrounded by over a hundred Foundation Establishnt cultivators from Western Sea Immortal City, they were about to be escorted to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. All gatherings must eventually co to an end.
"Yulou, you are a child I watched grow up. Now, you can finally hold your own," Li Haiping hypocritically praised, coincidentally slipping his own na into the flattery. However, his overall attitude remained very affectionate. "It has not been easy. Returning to the sect now is exactly the right move for you. The sky is high enough for birds to fly, and the sea is vast enough for fish to leap. If you do well as the steward of the Special rit Hall, even becoming the sect master in the future will not be difficult."
He was a Purple Palace cultivator of Wondrous Peak Mountain, and the relationship between Mang Xiang and Wondrous Peak Mountain had always been good; the Wang Clan's long-term friendship with Wondrous Peak Mountain as Mang Xiang's vassal was just one such example. Therefore, he was very polite and considerate.
"Fellow Daoist Jin Shan, over the past few years in the West Sea, Yulou has always been devoted to his duties and brave in taking responsibility. Whenever there is a mission, he always charges at the very front. It can be said that for the many Immortal Alliance cultivators in the West Sea, Yulou has served as an exemplary model. Look..."
Li Haiping was asking for a reward on Wang Yulou's behalf!
Jin Shan was the patriarch of Wang Yulou's Dao Companion, Jin Mingdu. He could not simply hand things over in private, as it would look bad if word got out. Of course, Wang Yulou did have his rits in the West Sea. Whether it was... well, in any case, he definitely had rits. No one dared to question that point, and that was that.
"Ah, it would be inappropriate," Jin Shan said, putting on a hypocritical show in front of thousands of people. "Yulou has already married my family's Mingdu. If I were to give him any further rewards, it might cause misunderstandings and tarnish his reputation. It is inappropriate, truly inappropriate."
Yang Duilie imdiately voiced his indignation. "True Person! It is completely appropriate! Fellow Daoist Yuque's contributions to the West Sea are obvious to all! Over the years, he has worked day and night, charging on the front lines for the prosperous and stable developnt of the West Sea. We have all seen it with our own eyes. If anyone has a problem with Fellow Daoist Yuque's contributions, I, Yang Duilie, will be the first to disagree!"
Mo Xunzhou felt a wave of nausea. I, Yang Duilie, will be the first to disagree~ Don't think we don't know you were almost purged to death by a single sentence from Wang Yulou just two days ago. Keep bootlicking, just keep aggressively bootlicking!
Suddenly, Li Haiping looked at Mo Xunzhou and spoke with a genial smile. "Xunzhou, what are your thoughts? You used to be Yulou's superior, so tell us your opinion."
Mo Xunzhou shivered. Not daring to hesitate, he spoke up as quickly as if a Demon King were chasing his backside. "Reporting to the True Person! On his very first day arriving in the West Sea, Fellow Daoist Yuque reported to the Information Gathering Court without the slightest delay. I have personally seen how Fellow Daoist Yuque has acted with total disregard for his own safety for the sake of the Immortal Alliance's developnt and the West Sea's stability!
"Speaking of which, I have lived over two hundred years longer than Fellow Daoist Yuque in vain! As a cultivator of Western Sea Immortal City, I am far inferior to him! Martial Uncle Li, Martial Uncle Jin, an exceptional talent like Fellow Daoist Yuque should remain in the West Sea! Can we not let him go? Let him stay! With him staying, he can serve as a long-lasting model and example for us all!"
Chen Yongzhong felt intensely nauseated, silently cursing Mo Xunzhou for being so incredibly disgusting. Yet, he too chid in with a loud voice filled with rich, sincere emotion: "Two True Persons, Fellow Daoist Yuque cannot leave! If he leaves, our West Sea will lose its most outstanding Immortal Alliance cultivator! If he leaves, our West Sea will lack a role model! Could we please have Fellow Daoist Yuque stay?"
The successive declarations of Mo Xunzhou and Chen Yongzhong were like a dog whistle. Imdiately, the many core Foundation Establishnt cultivators of the West Sea present, as well as the Foundation Establishnt cultivators escorting the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, all began barking like a pack of village dogs.
"Two True Persons, let Fellow Daoist Yuque stay!"
"Stay!"
"He must stay, I can't bear to let him go..."
Everyone was extrely enthusiastic, acting as if Wang Yulou had saved their fathers; they truly could not bear to see him leave. Faced with this scene, Wang Yulou found his expression a bit hard to maintain. It seed this play had gone slightly off script...
In truth, the reason was not complicated.
Mo Xunzhou, Chen Yongzhong, and the others saw clearly that Wang Yulou was about to leave, and the two True Persons wanted to reward him with so items—billing it all to Western Sea Immortal City's accounts. But for a reward, there always needed to be a justifiable reason. Thus, these people put on a grand performance, only wishing to bustle this bastard Wang Yulou out the door as quickly as possible. It didn't matter if the acting was fake; as long as the procedure and emotions hit the mark, it was enough.
As long as Wang Yulou scramd, it was a good thing. After all, with Wang Yulou remaining in the West Sea wielding Mang Xiang's blade of the Great Purge, no one could sleep soundly.
"Hahaha! Yulou, it seems you have indeed done a lot of work for Western Sea Immortal City over these years," Li Haiping stroked his rather ugly chin and continued the performance with a dry laugh. "Your fellow cultivators are very reluctant to let you go. Fellow Daoist Jin Shan, one shouldn't avoid rewarding talent just because of family ties. For such an outstanding junior and excellent mber of the Immortal Alliance like Yulou, rits must be rewarded!"
At this point, Jin Shan finally "made up his mind," speaking with feigned hesitation. "Ah, very well. I must consider everyone's opinions. Yulou has ultimately done a lot of work, so it is only right to give him so rewards."
However, after saying this, Jin Shan fell silent again. Just as the cultivators were feeling sowhat puzzled, Old Jin pulled a decree from his sleeve—a low-grade spiritual artifact crafted from the skin of a Great Demon, bearing the grand seals of both True Person Longhu and the Pass-Guarding True Person.
Unfurling it, he read aloud: "To Wang Yuque of the Wang Clan, Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, for your deeds in the West Sea... the Western Sea Immortal City's Military rit Court is hereby ordered to reward you according to your rits.
"Three hundred thousand spirit stones.
"Four pieces of each of the five-elent spiritual materials of the seventh grade... One high-grade spiritual artifact, the Kite Holder.
"One high-grade spiritual artifact, the Water Spirit Immortal Chariot. One high-grade spiritual artifact, the Blazing Sun Spirit Pearl.
"Twenty bottles of Immortal Reishi Condensation Pills, twenty bottles of Purple Gold Rosy Cloud Pills, and forty bottles of Body Nourishing and Marrow Cleansing Pills. May these serve as encouragent."
From the mont he heard "three hundred thousand spirit stones," Mo Xunzhou's expression beca sowhat hard to maintain. When he heard "four pieces of each of the five-elent spiritual materials of the seventh grade," his look toward Wang Yulou completely changed. By the ti he heard the end, Mo Xunzhou had completely lost the ability to manage his facial expressions right in front of the two True Persons.
One must know, he was a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator—a seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator who would absolutely never make a fool of himself!
But he was not the only one who lost his composure. In the face of such blatant embezzlent, the color drained from many people's faces.
Three hundred thousand spirit stones was roughly equivalent to seven hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones prior to the spirit stone crisis. Four pieces of each of the seventh-grade five-elent spiritual materials ant twenty seventh-grade spiritual materials in total. At the absolute minimum, they were worth two hundred thousand spirit stones, which equated to five hundred thousand spirit stones prior to the crisis. As for the three high-grade spiritual artifacts, every single one had a starting value of over a hundred thousand spirit stones...
Then there were the eighty bottles of rare spiritual pills used by Foundation Establishnt cultivators. The Immortal Reishi Condensation Pill was a general-purpose cultivation pill, while the Purple Gold Rosy Cloud Pill was specifically prepared for Jin Mingdu after she reached the Foundation Establishnt realm. As for the forty bottles of Body Nourishing and Marrow Cleansing Pills, those were ant for refining a Foundation Establishnt cultivator's Dao Body; a single bottle was priced around fifteen thousand spirit stones...
Adding all these rewards together, the total value was roughly one and a half million spirit stones—equating to about three and a half million spirit stones prior to the spirit stone crisis. There were many things that, unless witnessed with one's own eyes, even soone like Mo Xunzhou could never imagine.
He could never have imagined that the true core figures of the Immortal Alliance exploited the system in such a way. In the past, he had believed that, hailing from the tutelage of True Person Hansong, he was already considered an outstanding figure within the Immortal Alliance. Even among the elite second-generation cultivators, his hard work, background, talent, and strength were all absolutely top-tier. Only after seeing Wang Yulou did he finally behold a true, towering mountain.
Wang Yulou was truly going all out—taking absolute, shaless advantage of the situation! How could he be so unscrupulous?
How did he dare...
"I will absolutely not let down the expectations of all my fellow Daoists in the West Sea," Wang Yulou announced. "In the future, I shall forge ahead with determination and make even greater contributions to the Immortal Alliance!"
Amidst the obscure gazes of nurous cultivators filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred—so even wishing he would just drop dead—Wang Yulou accepted that low-grade spiritual artifact-level decree, tucking it away as if it were a precious treasure.
Soon, wearing a beaming smile with eyes full of envy, the seal-holder of the Military rit Court ordered his subordinates to present Wang Yulou with the many rewards granted by Western Sea Immortal City. At the end of the day, Wang Yulou had only been in the West Sea for a few years. He was the kind of bastard who ca over, married a Dao Companion or two, and then ran off. In such a short period, what kind of contribution could he have really made to Western Sea Immortal City?
It was nothing more than the fact that he had married Jin Shan's Jin Mingdu, and that Li Haiping happened to be a True Person under the banner of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. The play was over, Wang Yulou's paynt had been secured, and it was ti for him to hit the road.
"Patriarch, True Person, Yulou is taking his leave now. Please return."
The two True Persons gave Wang Yulou a slight nod, and then vanished.
"Work hard. Do not have any misgivings, and complete the task the Immortal Venerable has given you." This was Jin Shan's final instruction to him.
"The road ahead is long. If you need any help, you can contact Kong Shan of Wondrous Peak Mountain. She is my junior sister and also a good friend of Xianmao's. She is now the sect master. We are all on the sa side, and she will help you." This was Li Haiping's instruction to Wang Yulou.
It could be said that regarding Wang Yulou bringing over two thousand Qi Refining cultivators back to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the two True Persons saw everything with piercing clarity. They both greatly appreciated Wang Yulou's ambition. How could soone without ambition ever go far on the path of cultivation?
With the two True Persons gone, Wang Yulou activated his Dharmic powers and announced loudly:
"Fellow Daoists, run! I will wait for you at the Western Sea Levee, two hundred and thirty li from here. I will appoint the first three hundred people to arrive as squad leaders. From then on, they will receive two inner gate points every year."
The rogue cultivators hadn't expected Wang Yulou to pull a stunt like this, and many failed to grasp his intent. However, sharp-minded individuals like Cui Baihao, who were sowhat familiar with Wang Yulou's thods, imdiately began to sprint.
Cui Baihao, in particular, knew of Wang Yulou—though Wang Yulou hardly rembered him. Back when Wang Yulou established the Racetrack and organized the Talisman Master Competition in Clear Stream Market, Cui Baihao had witnessed it all.
In his eyes, Wang Yulou was different from the ordinary direct descendants of major clans; he greatly favored "fair and just selection."
Within the Immortal Alliance's system, there were very few "survival of the fittest" selection models, let alone "fair and just" competitions like grand tournants or minor contests. The true rule of the ga within the Immortal Alliance was a non-standardized nine-grade rank system hidden beneath the surface.
By organizing selections to give opportunities to commoners, Wang Yulou was a heretic among heretics. But to Cui Baihao, Wang Yulou wasn't a heretic; he was hope.
There were many things he hadn't understood in the past, but after wandering the West Sea for years, his perspective had changed.
As this was a frontier of the Immortal Alliance, the rogue cultivators here frequently exchanged information, giving them a much deeper understanding of the rules and inner workings than the average rogue cultivator in the Alliance's core regions.
Therefore, from Wang Yulou's warning to Yang Duilie, Cui Baihao could faintly deduce his purpose in sending them to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. As a result, the mont he heard Wang Yulou's command, he desperately pushed his movent techniques to the limit.
He slapped expensive movent-enhancing talismans onto his body as if they cost nothing. Cui Baihao clearly rembered that he and Wang Yulou had t twice before.
Once at the Fortune Source Residence, and once at the Racetrack.
Thus, he had a chance—a chance to climb the ranks within the faction Wang Yulou was building. He was only one hundred and nine years old; he still had a chance to reach Foundation Establishnt!
Over a thousand cultivators took to the air simultaneously, scrambling ahead, desperate to fly out of the West Sea and escape this sea of bitterness. anwhile, Wang Yulou pulled Jiuqu aside and swiftly handed him a return gift of two hundred thousand spirit stones.
Li Haikuo had been generous, so Wang Yulou had to respond in kind. Even if Old Li was at the bottom tier among Purple Palace cultivators, he was still in the Purple Palace realm.
Moreover, he had just done him a massive favor. Returning two hundred thousand spirit stones to the man was perfectly appropriate.
"Brother Yuque, isn't this a bit too much...?" Jiuqu asked, holding the spirit stones with a troubled expression.
Two hundred thousand was simply too much; he didn't dare accept it carelessly. Jiuqu feared that if he did, the favor his master had done for Wang Yulou would devolve into a pure transactional exchange. If that happened, accepting the two hundred thousand spirit stones would be an idiotic move.
"It's no matter," Wang Yulou said. "Fellow Daoist Jiuqu, there is sothing you do not know. I have long admired True Person Haikuo. The Wang Clan has many disciples, and many of them wish to join Wondrous Peak Mountain. However, given your esteed sect's current situation... I was thinking that, should the opportunity arise in the future, I hope the Wang Clan's disciples might have the chance to be accepted under the tutelage of True Person Haikuo."
In truth, there were no such complicated reasons. Wang Yulou simply understood Li Haikuo's value. Old Li's strength was pitifully weak, but he was ultimately the youngest Purple Palace cultivator in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. For many years to co, Old Li would be active on the front lines of every major event within the sect—not because of his prominent status, but because he had no choice but to serve as a beast of burden for those old geezers.
Therefore, for Wang Yulou and the Wang Clan, who wished to advance further, maintaining a good relationship with Old Li was an absolute necessity. In the long run, as long as Old Li didn't die suddenly, given Wang Yulou's ability to wheel and deal, he would definitely find an opportunity to earn those two hundred thousand spirit stones back.
"In that case, I will accept one hundred thousand on behalf of my master first," Jiuqu said. "Two hundred thousand is truly too much. As for the matter of accepting disciples, I will have to ask my master before giving an answer."
Wang Yulou was generous, but his generosity ca with strings attached.
Jiuqu didn't dare agree hastily on behalf of his master.
"Hahaha, True Person Haikuo has always taken great care of over the years, and I naturally keep that in mind."
Pressing down on Jiuqu's hand, Wang Yulou smoothly shoved the spirit stones into his sleeve. Patting him on the shoulder, he instructed him as if lecturing a disciple: "If Brother Jiuqu refuses again, it ans you're looking down on . Am I, Wang Yulou, the kind of person who lacks vision?"
He had vision, but he was also overbearing. Wang Yulou was doing this intentionally.
He had endured for so long, swallowing his pride step by step from Qi Induction all the way to Foundation Establishnt; was he supposed to keep enduring forever?
Perhaps in front of grand cultivators like Mang Xiang and Xuanzhuan, Wang Yulou still needed a certain degree of restraint. But in front of Foundation Establishnt cultivators like Jiuqu, he no longer needed to blindly act subservient.
The two thousand-plus Qi Refining cultivators he was bringing back to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect ford the bedrock of his confidence.
The Ancestral Master had sent three thousand Qi Refining cultivators possessing the aura of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect into the West Sea to expand the sect's influence there; those people were never going back.
By losing so many people, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect—whose overall scale was already slightly smaller than the Sky Serpent Sect's—was now at a slight disadvantage in terms of low-level Qi Refining cultivators.
With Wang Yulou bringing people back to the sect at this ti, although it couldn't quite be called sending charcoal in a snowstorm, it was still highly significant.
Moreover, with Mang Xiang currently presiding over the overall situation at the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Wang Yulou only needed to put in two parts of effort to reap ten parts of reward—just as he had recently been collectively rewarded by Jin Shan and Li Haikuo.
Calculating it this way, the significance of bringing nurous Qi Refining cultivators back to the sect was actually even greater than sending charcoal in a snowstorm. Faced with Wang Yulou's overbearing attitude, Jiuqu naturally didn't dare refuse any longer.
He rely promised repeatedly that he would try his utmost to secure an opportunity for Wang Clan disciples to be accepted under the tutelage of Li Haikuo.
On the outer bank of the Western Sea Levee, Wang Yulou, Jin Mingdu, Jiuqu, and the others only waited for about half a quarter of an hour before the fastest-flying Qi Refining cultivators arrived. Wang Yulou didn't recognize the first few, but when the seventh person showed up, he finally recognized Cui Baihao.
He asked, feigning confusion, "Sect Master Cui? How did you end up in the West Sea?"
Instantly, Cui Baihao's state—which had been on the verge of collapse from flying so quickly—recovered to perfect condition. He needed no spiritual pills, no rest, and no ti to regulate his breathing.
With just a single sentence from Wang Yulou, Old Cui's waist no longer ached, and his legs were no longer sore.
"Senior Yuque, I am unworthy of the title of Sect Master. I ca to the West Sea to seek an opportunity to reach Foundation Establishnt," Old Cui replied with the utmost respect.
Wang Yulou gave a slight nod. "Work hard. Although going to the front lines is dangerous, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect does not lack opportunities. As long as you make corresponding contributions to the sect, I will naturally request rits on your behalf!"
Wang Yulou's answer left Cui Baihao sowhat disappointed, but he still echoed his agreent and expressed his loyalty, just like the rest.
There was never a shortage of clever people anywhere, much less those willing to strive for advancent. In truth, Wang Yulou didn't care in the slightest about old acquaintances; he only cared whether these people could bring him value.
If Old Cui managed to survive on the front lines of the war between the two sects, he would naturally give him a chance.
After waiting for nearly two hours, all the rogue cultivators had flown to the Western Sea Levee.
There had indeed been a few bold ones along the way who tried to sneak off, but they were naturally slaughtered by the escorting Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
"You will join the Red Lantern Illumination Sect with the status of special outer gate disciples," Wang Yulou announced. "Although you will not receive the corresponding welfare benefits, your treatnt regarding military rits and contribution points will be no different from ordinary outer gate disciples. As long as you establish rits, you can utilize the sect's system to exchange for everything required for cultivation.
"Furthermore, you will also have the chance to beco inner gate disciples. As long as you participate in battles on the front lines, you will earn three inner gate points each year. Military rits can be converted into inner gate points at a ratio of ten to one. Once you accumulate fifty points, you will beco an inner gate disciple!
"And among the inner gate disciples of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the proportion of Foundation Establishnt cultivators is extrely high! Now, I will appoint the squad leaders.
"For the rest of the journey, you will travel together in squads, supervising each other. If anyone escapes from a squad, the other mbers will be implicated and punished alongside them. Anyone who flees will beco a wanted fugitive. Have you understood?"
The taming and reorganization had begun. Cultivators were extre egoists, and these rogue cultivators harbored deep grievances toward Wang Yulou.
He didn't expect to forge consensus through ideals or shared ideology; he only intended to build a temporary, stable frawork using fear and profit. First, stabilize the situation. As long as this frawork held, Wang Yulou would have plenty of ti to slowly win over their hearts.
When fifty Foundation Establishnt cultivators erged from these two thousand-plus Qi Refining cultivators, Wang Yulou's voice would carry true weight on the front lines. When one hundred Foundation Establishnt cultivators erged, his voice would beco one that everyone within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect had to listen to.
"Understood!" the rogue cultivators roared.
The rogue cultivators were gradually realizing the situation—Wang Yulou didn't intend to kill them; he wanted to recruit them as dogs. Going to the front lines of a war between two sects to serve as cannon fodder was certainly hellish, but was demon hunting in the West Sea not dangerous?
It was all the sa. The demons of the West Sea possessed inheritances, and their strength was on a completely different level from the demons in the core regions of Wunan.
Sotis they would even intentionally lure cultivators in, and there were Great Demons who hid themselves to suddenly launch sneak attacks.
Compared to being rogue cultivators hunting demons in the West Sea and having to pay alliance fees to the Rogue Cultivator Alliance just to form a team, serving as outer gate disciples for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect—even as special outer gate disciples—was actually acceptable.
"Cui Baihao, captain of the first squad..."
"Good, all two hundred and seventy captains have been appointed, and you've had enough rest. Now, the next destination is the inner bank of the Western Sea Levee. All squads must travel in squad formation. I will be waiting for you at the inner bank. The first one hundred squads to arrive will each be rewarded with one hundred spirit stones!"
One hundred spirit stones wasn't much, but the distance from the outer bank of the Western Sea Levee to the inner bank was only a few dozen li. Wang Yulou's action of casually tossing out ten thousand spirit stones still appeared excessively ostentatious.
As the rogue cultivators imdiately began a new sprint in squad formations, Jin Mingdu voiced her concerns. "That was ten thousand spirit stones just now. Aren't you spending it a bit too freely?"
Wang Yulou kissed her on the cheek and replied, "You are very thoughtful, my wife, but there's no need to worry. We just need to go to the sect master to write it off as an expense once we return. It's all petty cash. Moreover, the money spent here will be incredibly, incredibly worth it!"
"Incredibly worth it?" Jin Mingdu didn't understand.
People persuading others was useless.
Wang Yulou's attempts to persuade the rogue cultivators had been similarly ineffective. After all, in their eyes, he and they were two entirely different species. He was a damned direct descendant of the Immortal Alliance, a damned child of a major clan. But if a rogue cultivator persuaded other rogue cultivators, the situation was completely different.
Right now, Cui Baihao was busy persuading his squad mbers. "If we run, we might not succeed. Even if we get lucky and actually escape, we'll likely be hounded to death by the wanted posters. Scraping by in the West Sea, even if we make it to the end and reach Foundation Establishnt, we still have to join the Immortal Alliance.
"And once in the Immortal Alliance, we'll still be marginalized figures. But if we operate within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, once we reach Foundation Establishnt, we will be core disciples of the sect.
"Naturally, our future developnt will be boundless! Senior Yuque is benevolent! He has given us an opportunity, so we must naturally seize it! Everyone, put in a bit more effort! Put all thoughts of running away out of your minds!"
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