In the racetrack stands, Bailu stood behind Wang Yulou, her palms slick with cold sweat from sheer nerves.
Ti had changed so much. Back when Wang Yulou hosted the first Talisman Master Competition in Clear Stream Market, she had been nothing more than an irrelevant spectator.
Now, Wang Yulou had beco the most dazzling heavenly genius of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Standing at the center of the crowd, he had inadvertently drawn Bailu into the spotlight alongside him.
Beside Bailu stood Guo Baichi, True Person Danri's disciple, Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciple, and Clear Stream Market's Town Guardian Cultivator; Yang Duilie, the seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivator and Western Sea Dragon Tiger Guard Commander; and Qi Xie, a Wondrous Peak Mountain elder and Haikuo Zhenren's disciple.
She had no right to stand among them, but Wang Yulou already possessed the power to effortlessly change the fate of a Qi Refining cultivator.
Not all cultivators were equal, and the disparity between Foundation Establishnt cultivators could be astronomically vast.
Wu Jinyan was also at the Foundation Establishnt realm, but after he broke through, his only value lay in serving as a baseline for combat power.
Yang Duilie and Qi Xie were also Foundation Establishnt cultivators. One was a peak Foundation Establishnt Dragon Tiger Guard Commander, while the other was the disciple of a Purple Palace True Person. Yet, compared to Wang Yulou, they were far, far weaker.
Wang Yulou was at Foundation Establishnt, but more importantly, he was the core figure of a massive, newly ergent faction.
The Ancestral Master had sent Wang Yulou to cleanse Shen Guang's residual poison in the West Sea. In reality, this was to force Wang Yulou's head down and compel him to cut ties with Shen Guang, but outsiders did not know that.
In the eyes of outsiders, Wang Yulou was a heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage who had caught the eye of Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.
By now, Wang Yulou's age at reaching Foundation Establishnt was no longer a secret.
Most people only knew he was under forty. Only a small fraction of those familiar with Wang Yulou could guess just how fast his cultivation speed truly was.
In the eyes of outsiders, Wang Yulou's cultivation speed was yet another piece of evidence proving his status as a heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage.
Furthermore, Zhou Bojiao's attempt at body usurpation on Zhou Yingxi was a tightly kept secret that outsiders had no way of knowing.
Therefore, Wang Yulou marrying Zhou Yingxi first, and then Jin Mingdu, was seen as further proof of his status as a Behemoth Lineage heavenly genius.
No, it wasn't just the Behemoth Lineage. Strictly speaking, Wang Yulou's current status was exceptionally rare even among the entire younger generation of the Immortal Alliance.
He had two Purple Palace backers: one was his father-in-law, and the other was a veteran peak Purple Palace cultivator.
On top of that, there was Mang Xiang—a Mang Xiang who was on the verge of attaining Golden Core. Nowadays, no one doubted his ability to reach the Golden Core realm.
First striking the Sky Serpent Sect, then suppressing and humiliating Shen Guang; Mang Xiang's ruthlessness was not brainless recklessness, but a calculated move backed by absolute strength and power.
It seed he had rely let Bailu stand among the Foundation Establishnt cultivators, but this casual arrangent essentially signaled that Wang Yulou no longer planned to endure silently and act like a cowardly lackey.
Having served as Mang Xiang's guard for so many years, Wang Yulou knew in his heart that he was second to none.
Shen Guang had given him a Purple Palace cultivation thod, but his best option remained opening his Purple Palace with the support of the Behemoth Lineage, rather than cultivating alone as a rogue cultivator.
"Fellow Daoist Yuque, this Talisman Master Competition of yours is a brilliant idea. In fact, the West Sea could host one too."
Yang Duilie sighed with emotion as he watched the Qi Refining cultivators drawing talismans in the arena.
He too had once been a rogue cultivator, climbing up step by step from the very bottom, and he could also draw a fine talisman.
But in the eyes of Western Sea Immortal City's leadership, the sole purpose of rogue cultivators was to go to the front lines and trade their lives for those of demonic beasts.
And those rogue cultivators who survived these life-and-death battles would eventually beco vested interests in Western Sea Immortal City—even Shen Guang himself had only officially risen to power after reaching Foundation Establishnt.
That was why Yang Duilie felt so moved.
The rewards offered by Wang Yulou's Talisman Master Competition were rather shabby, but it effectively gave rogue cultivators a chance to stand out without risking their lives.
For the vast majority of cultivators, the ideal scenario was to avoid risking their lives if at all possible.
After all, the mont one risked their life, there was a chance they might suffer a setback, and a setback could very well an death.
This held true even for grand cultivators; otherwise, Shen Guang wouldn't have cowered so pathetically.
Wang Yulou nodded slightly and said,
"Yes. If not for the Ancestral Master needing my services, I might have already started on these matters in the West Sea, and not just organizing the Talisman Master Competition.
In a market town deep in the Wunan hinterlands like Clear Stream Market, the number and overall strength of cultivators are sowhat lacking. Hosting the Talisman Master Competition alongside the racetrack is already pushing the limit.
The West Sea is different. There are more cultivators there—enough to support the operation of a combat arena."
Everything after that was nonsense; the key was the first sentence—the Ancestral Master needed him.
The mont Wang Yulou said this, an unspoken understanding passed through the group, and everyone imdiately began to flatter him.
Yang Duilie was the most enthusiastic. After all, he had narrowly avoided being labeled as residual poison, and was now exceedingly cautious.
With Wang Yulou about to return to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Old Yang had only one thought in his mind—send him off safely!
Listening to the nurous West Sea Foundation Establishnt cultivators fawning over Wang Yulou, Qi Xie smiled rather ambiguously. He was from Wondrous Peak Mountain, after all; he didn't need to genuinely kiss Wang Yulou's boots.
Guo Baichi couldn't even be bothered to fake a smile, rely lanting inwardly that the new generation was indeed formidable.
What did Wang Yulou count for in the past? Yet now that he had gained power, he completely disregarded a senior Behemoth Lineage predecessor like him.
Was this appropriate?
It was completely inappropriate!
But Guo Baichi truly had no way to deal with Wang Yulou. He could only calculate inwardly, wondering if he could dig a few pitfalls for him in the future.
This was the price of competition.
The cultivation world did not lack talent, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect did not lack talent, and the Behemoth Lineage certainly did not lack talent.
Opportunities were never simply handed out; they had to be snatched. And snatching them inevitably bred resentnt.
True Person Danri's words were correct. The fact that the Wang Clan hadn't produced a Purple Palace cultivator in 1,200 years was perhaps because they were too stable. They were unwilling to fight with others over opportunities, making it naturally difficult to reap extraordinary gains.
Just as the crowd was fully invested in their flattery and Wang Yulou was happily listening...
"Boom!"
With a loud boom, a spiritual explosion erupted in the arena. Soone had botched their talisman crafting, causing it to detonate.
Everyone turned to look at the site of the blast. They saw a Qi Refining cultivator with a bitter expression, looking as though he wanted to cry but had no tears left, staring blankly at the ruined talisman crafting table in front of him.
Wang Rongsheng didn't dare delay and imdiately went down to inspect the situation.
Wang Yulou rembered Che Zengye. He was from Hundred Talisman Hall, the sa shop that had previously tried to throw dirty water on Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Speaking of which, they were old acquaintances.
However, Wang Yulou naturally wouldn't bicker with such a minor character. Hundred Talisman Hall had already been beaten to a pulp by Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Although they had copied Hundred Treasures Pavilion's model of creating blind boxes for talismans, spiritual artifacts, and pills, they were ultimately just picking up scraps.
Cultivators in the know all spent their money at the Wang Clan's Hundred Treasures Pavilion rather than wasting it at Hundred Talisman Hall.
This minor incident did not dampen everyone's mood. Wang Yulou continued to recount the origins of the Western Sea First Auction House and the Great Goods Store.
"It's rigged! You purposely made it blow up! This is rigged!
Wang Yulou, they're running a rigged competition! Are you going to do nothing about it?"
There was no shortage of people in the cultivation world who liked to kneel before the imperial carriage to beg for justice.
The cultivator causing a scene right now was similar to Cui Yanzong back in Dripdrop Cave; he hoped a greater, more just existence would step in and solve his problem.
What was his problem?
He had lost so badly that he grew desperate.
This was the helplessness of the majority. Even as gamblers, when they were clearly frad and scamd, attaining justice was practically impossible.
But Wang Yulou's presence gave him a glimr of hope, so he chose to boldly voice his complaint.
Unfortunately, Wang Yulou was not his parent. He rely shook his head and spoke to a mid-Foundation Establishnt Clear Stream Market Town Guardian Cultivator standing beside him (after the war, the number of Town Guardian Cultivators had expanded to eight):
"Why are you just staring? Drag this person slandering the Talisman Master Competition away, and deal with him however he should be dealt with."
Whether it was rigged or not, one had to accept their losses in a gamble. Wang Yulou could indeed manage many things within the Talisman Master Competition, but he wouldn't do it right now.
If he dealt with it now, and there really was a problem, wouldn't that be openly admitting that the Talisman Master Competition was rigged?
Wang Yulou didn't care whether it was or wasn't. In the developnt process of any organization, subordinates skimming off the top was completely normal.
Making outsiders believe there wasn't—that was what Wang Yulou truly cared about.
Wang Yulou's command held imnse deterrent power. Very quickly, the unlucky fellow who lodged the complaint was dragged away by the Town Guardian Cultivator—who also belonged to the Behemoth Lineage—and his n.
In the racetrack stands, the audience witnessed this grand drama, each holding different thoughts in their hearts.
"Old Cui, is this the fair, just, and open system you were talking about?"
Among the residual poison rogue cultivators, a mber of Cui Baihao's squad glared hatefully at Wang Yulou and the Foundation Establishnt cultivators as he spoke.
Over two thousand rogue cultivators had also been brought into the racetrack today to watch the Talisman Master Competition. This was considered part of their collective team building.
Wang Yulou wasn't sure if this kind of team building would be effective, but he believed that if done often enough, a sense of belonging would eventually be born among these people. And that would be enough.
"What do you know? That person was just spouting slander!"
Cui Baihao naturally didn't know if the man was actually spouting slander. But for his part, he had briefly shown his face in front of Wang Yulou and had even been appointed as a squad leader.
Given Wang Yulou's current status, as long as he could survive the battlefield between the two sects, his advancent to Foundation Establishnt was practically guaranteed.
After all, he had once been the sect master of a small sect. Cui Baihao fully understood Wang Yulou's emphasis on the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, and he understood even more that the bright future Wang Yulou had painted for them was real.
Therefore, he had to defend Wang Yulou. He needed to be a good squad leader to secure a solid foothold within the faction Wang Yulou was building.
"Slander? You know it's slander without even checking a single thing?"
Cui Baihao was left speechless by the retort. Rogue cultivators who had grown up wildly in the West Sea were simply like this. In front of everyone, Old Cui could only darken his face and snap, "Shut your dog mouth if you don't want to die!"
He was genuinely anxious.
It could only be said that Old Cui's background was ultimately too low and his foundation lacking; he still needed much more experience.
Up on the stage, Wang Rongsheng suddenly sent a voice transmission to Wang Yulou.
'Yulou, the situation isn't right. Several people who should have easily entered the finals of this competition failed their talisman crafting inexplicably. I fear soone is colluding behind the scenes to ruin the reputation of our Talisman Master Competition.'
In reality, considering Wang Yulou's current status and his developntal bottlenecks, the Talisman Master Competition was no longer an important matter to him.
But since a problem had arisen, it naturally had to be dealt with. Otherwise, the Talisman Master Competition would implicate the racetrack and Hundred Treasures Pavilion, ultimately dragging down the developnt of the Wang Clan's businesses in Clear Stream Market.
Moreover, if, as Wang Rongsheng said, there really was an organized group operating behind the scenes to damage the Wang Clan's reputation, then it absolutely had to be investigated.
At this thought, Wang Yulou cleared his throat and spoke.
"Fellow Daoists, I am Wang Yulou, a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and a Special rit Hall deacon of the sect.
Clear Stream Market is where I used to cultivate. The racetrack and the Talisman Master Competition were both founded by . Their affairs are my affairs.
The fellow Daoist just now claid the competition was rigged, but since the matches were still ongoing, I asked him to leave first.
Now that the competition has concluded, any allegations of rigging must naturally be thoroughly investigated right here and now!"
Towards the end, Wang Yulou suddenly raised his voice.
"None of the participating cultivators are to leave. We will start the investigation with Che Zengye.
Che Zengye, I rember you being a very formidable talisman master, and the talisman you were drawing just now was not difficult. Why did it explode? Think carefully before giving your reason!"
When Wang Yulou flared up in anger, it was as if an invisible hand had clamped around the necks of the many cultivators present; they subconsciously felt a hint of fear.
Even though he hadn't used any techniques, the imposing presence brought by his power and status already made him a towering figure in the eyes of ordinary cultivators.
Facing Wang Yulou's questioning, Che Zengye still wanted to quibble, but two Dragon Tiger Guards imdiately flashed into the arena and pinned his shoulders from behind.
"Kneel!"
Forced to his knees, Che Zengye raised his head and looked at Wang Yulou on the stage, taking in the dense crowd of Foundation Establishnt cultivators standing firmly by his side.
As for whether the matches were rigged, Che Zengye knew better than anyone. He looked at Guo Baichi.
With just that single glance, Guo Baichi's expression drastically changed.
How could Old Guo not panic?
He suspected Wang Yulou had intentionally set a trap to screw him over—otherwise, why would Che Zengye look at him?
"What are you looking at for? Spit it out!" Guo Baichi snapped anxiously.
At this point, Che Zengye was backed into a corner.
If he reported Guo Baichi, the man wouldn't necessarily face any consequences, but Che Zengye himself would undoubtedly die.
But if he didn't confess to the rigging, the fact that he had so obviously thrown his match would clearly implicate him anyway.
Just as he hesitated, the Dragon Tiger Guards followed Wang Yulou's orders and forced down the heads of several other suspicious talisman masters.
"If none of you are going to speak, then I'll start killing. I'll begin with the one whose performance deviated the most from their usual standard. Che Zengye, you threw the match the hardest, so I'll start with you."
Che Zengye couldn't hold out any longer. He hastily cried, "The Wang Clan's chief manager, Tang Nianqiu, sought out and told to do this. I didn't dare refuse!"
The one who lost his composure even before Wang Yulou was Guo Baichi. Shocked and enraged, he demanded, "Che Zengye, have you gone mad?"
Beside them, Wang Yulou smiled.
"Senior Brother Baichi, why are you so anxious?"
Even though Tang Nianqiu was the one being accused, Old Guo was the most frantic. He furiously explained, "Wang Yulou, I didn't do anything! He's been slandering from the very start!"
Old Guo was terrified.
In his view, he had only had a minor conflict with Wang Yulou, making things a bit awkward on the surface.
Yet Wang Yulou had imdiately laid out this vicious plot the very next day to ruin him.
From Tang Nianqiu to Che Zengye, this was Wang Yulou intentionally saring dog shit on the Wang Clan, just to drag Guo Baichi down with him in the ss.
"Alright, Senior Brother, don't be anxious. If Old Tang is the problem, we'll investigate Old Tang. Go on, Little Bai, call Old Tang over."
Wang Yulou provided a solution. He was finding this matter increasingly interesting.
Guo Baichi was clearly the one trying to sabotage the Wang Clan, but instead, he was crying thief to catch a thief, executing underhanded tactics to the extre.
Soon, Old Tang was brought forward. Facing Wang Yulou, he wanted to explain himself, but seeing the dozens of Foundation Establishnt cultivators beside his master, he ultimately didn't dare to hide the truth.
"Gao Jian approached and asked to persuade the participating talisman masters to throw their matches. At the sa ti, he had Lao Gui contact the cultivators who wanted to gamble.
"For this matter, I take two portions, Lao Gui takes two portions, and Che Zengye and the other match-throwers take three portions."
Two plus two plus three—anyone with a brain knew those numbers didn't add up.
Where did the missing three portions go?
Naturally, they had been pocketed by Gao Jian, who had orchestrated the entire sche.
Che Zengye had wanted to survive, which was why he hadn't dared to recklessly expose Gao Jian earlier.
But Gao Jian had always been a decisive and ruthless jackal. Without any hesitation, he leapt from the spectator seats, fully activating his escape light to flee.
Wang Yulou didn't move. Beside him, Yang Duilie wanted to show his loyalty and pursue, but Wang Yulou held him back.
In the end, it was a dark-faced Guo Baichi who personally captured his "good disciple" and hauled him back.
"Speak! Why are you trying to fra ?!"
He threw Gao Jian onto the ground and furiously interrogated him.
Gao Jian, his bones and muscles completely shattered, coughed up a mouthful of blood; he was already half-dead.
He raised his head and glared at Guo Baichi, his eyes filled with hatred.
", fra you?
"I gave you thirty thousand spirit stones, and you said it wasn't enough. You said it was too little.
"What could I do?
"Where was I supposed to magically conjure spirit stones for you?
", fra you?
"It is clearly you Core Disciples of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect who extort us far too ruthlessly!
"Jiang Baobian forced all the shops to pay tribute, and pay tribute, and pay tribute again.
"Mu Changze not only demanded tribute but even resorted to diluting the resources.
"Then you ca, bringing seven Town Guardian Cultivators along to extort us with you.
"The cultivators' spirit stones have already been squeezed completely dry by you people, by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and by the Immortal Alliance!
"I have served as a disciple to five consecutive Town Guardian Cultivators of Clear Stream Market, but not a single one of you was willing to pull up.
"Guo Baichi, you people aren't human; you're all beasts!"
Before the spirit stone crisis, Ancestral Master Mangxiang's Great Favor Distribution had caused a wave of supply shortages to sweep outward from the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, engulfing the entire Wunan Basin and even the Immortal Alliance.
With cultivation resources in short supply, many sects and clans brought out their hoarded spirit stones to purchase materials, desperate to prevent their own boats from falling behind the rising tide. As a result, spirit stones—acting as the common currency—flooded the market.
However, as the Immortal Venerables on the Gathering Immortals Platform began preparing for war, spirit stones were consud at an even faster rate, and the spirit stone crisis erupted.
There weren't enough spirit stones left to go around, yet Clear Stream Market now had eight Town Guardian Cultivators to feed because of the war between the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and the Sky Serpent Sect.
When it ca down to it, Gao Jian—the glove used for their dirty work—was simply crushed by the spirit stone crisis.
"Stubborn and irredeemable!"
Being so viciously cursed by Gao Jian under the gazes of thousands, Guo Baichi was infuriated and imdiately moved to kill him.
"Stop!"
Wang Yulou finally made his stance clear, but Guo Baichi didn't dare let Gao Jian live.
If he was kept alive, what if he blurted out even more damning secrets?
Smiling bitterly through a mouthful of blood, Gao Jian had his bones crushed and ashes scattered by his dearest master. Wang Yulou instantly flew into a rage.
"Guo Baichi, when did the sect give a Core Disciple the authority to execute an Outer Gate Disciple without permission? Answer !"
Answer !
Even though everyone had sensed sothing was wrong earlier, it was only when Wang Yulou interrogated Guo Baichi that they finally confird it: the two Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciples of the Behemoth Lineage had actually turned on each other!
Why would Guo Baichi be afraid of Wang Yulou? He said calmly, "I am the Town Guardian Cultivator of Clear Stream Market. He is the captain of the Clearbrook Market Security Patrol. Naturally, I have the right to deal with him.
"Yulou, your mission is to escort people back to the sect and take up your post as a rit Hall deacon. It's best if you interfere less in the affairs of Clear Stream Market, otherwise my work will be difficult to carry out."
Very overbearing. Even though he had failed to control his own disciple, Guo Baichi remained extrely forceful.
His master was True Person Danri. Why would he fear Wang Yulou?
However, just when everyone thought Wang Yuque would stubbornly engage in a dogfight with Guo Baichi without yielding an inch...
Wang Yulou instead revealed a satisfied smile, a smile that made Guo Baichi's blood run cold.
At this mont, he finally realized that truth, right and wrong, and justice didn't matter at all.
Perhaps they hadn't mattered from the very beginning. Even if Che Zengye hadn't bitten Gao Jian, Tang Nianqiu would have, using excuses like Gao Jian demanding tribute from Flavorful Bistro and other Wang Clan businesses.
What Wang Yulou wanted was for the conflict to escalate. He wanted to officially sever ties with Guo Baichi.
Shen Guang's disciples tore at each other like rabid dogs, but did that stop Shen Guang from using them?
No!
Making the conflict public, competing, winning, and then securing the Ancestral Master's favor.
The crux of the matter was that, under the current circumstances, the one causing trouble was Guo Baichi!
"You plotted against !"
Guo Baichi hadn't expected Wang Yulou to be so ruthless, completely disregarding their unity. By killing Gao Jian with his own hands, he had actually played right into Wang Yulou's trap.
In truth, from the mont Wang Yulou left the West Sea with over two thousand Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivators and headed for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, he had stepped onto the thorny path leading to the Purple Palace.
Guo Baichi's blunder today lay in his failure to perceive, or rather, properly value Wang Yulou's transformation.
Wang Yulou was not his junior, but his competitor!
In Guo Baichi's impression, Wang Yulou was still that kid who only knew how to eat at banquets. Now that Wang Yulou was essentially telling him, 'Old Guo, I'm going to snatch the Ancestral Master's favor from you'—it was difficult for Old Guo to accept such a massive shift.
Only twenty re years had passed. Twenty years might not even be enough to master a divine ability, yet Wang Yulou had forcefully cultivated from Qi Induction to Foundation Establishnt, becoming a heavenly genius of the Behemoth Lineage.
It was precisely because he hadn't realized this that Guo Baichi had ended up playing the clown so thoroughly.
"One mont you say Gao Jian frad you, and the next you say I frad you.
"I think you are only harming yourself. I will report this matter to the Ancestral Master."
Of course, he wasn't going to report a trivial matter like Guo Baichi executing Gao Jian. Wang Yulou was talking about Guo Baichi indulging his disciple to secretly sabotage the Wang Clan in Clear Stream Market!
Just as Guo Baichi was rendered speechless and filled with anxiety, a voice drifted over from afar.
"There's no need to report to Patriarch Mangxiang!"
The Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Co-Sect Master, Candlelight Immortal Venerable's disciple, Yi Zouri, had arrived.
"Wang Yulou, you cleansed Shen Guang's residual poison in the West Sea. You cleansed and cleansed, but in the end, you let these two thousand-plus people off the hook.
"The Ancestral Master is very dissatisfied with this, so he ordered to co here and help you properly deal with this residual poison!"
The mont he said this, the rogue cultivators instantly beca suspicious and uneasy.
What? Was he saying that Wang Yulou, this grand cultivator's running dog, had actually let them off the hook?
This revelation had a massive impact on the rogue cultivators. Of course, so among them had already realized that Wang Yulou was going easy on them and cultivating Mang Xiang's forces.
But those with that level of awareness were in the minority. Only when his intentions were spoken out loud in such a blatant manner did the majority finally understand what Wang Yulou had actually done.
"Senior Brother Zouri?"
Wang Yulou knew of Yi Zouri. Although he hadn't stayed in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect for long, the Wang Clan was familiar with the sect, and Wang Yulou had heard of its intricate internal politics.
Yi Zouri was a pillar among True Person Jinxian's disciples and was responsible for managing the daily operations of the Illuminating Faction within the sect. The position of Co-Sect Master was one of the most critical roles among the many key posts in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
"Everyone, cooperate with to cast the net. Not a single trace of Shen Guang's residual poison is allowed to escape!"
Yi Zouri ignored Wang Yulou's greeting and directly commanded the Foundation Establishnt cultivators he had brought with him, as well as the Red Lantern Illumination Sect Foundation Establishnt cultivators present.
Cast the net and begin the slaughter!
If Wang Yulou really brought these two thousand-plus rogue cultivators into the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, things would get extrely troubleso.
Just the thought of the Behemoth Lineage gaining an additional two thousand Outer Gate Disciples—even if they were only special cannon fodder ant to fill the front lines—made it hard for Yi Zouri to sleep at night.
Therefore, he had brought over forty Illuminating Faction Foundation Establishnt cultivators this ti, among which were more than a dozen seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
With these forces, no matter how many West Sea or Wondrous Peak Mountain Foundation Establishnt cultivators Wang Yulou had by his side, they wouldn't be able to stop Yi Zouri!
After all, they wouldn't dare truly offend the Illuminating Faction within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect just for the sake of these rogue cultivators' lives.
Seeing Yi Zouri deploy his n into formation, looking as if he were about to destroy Wang Yulou's foundation, Guo Baichi suddenly felt like laughing.
Young man, ignoring martial virtue and plotting against your senior—you're getting your retribution now, aren't you?
However, Wang Yulou wasn't easily intimidated. He directly blocked Yi Zouri's path and asked,
"Wait, Senior Brother Zouri said 'the Ancestral Master is very dissatisfied with this.' Which Ancestral Master are you referring to?"
Wang Yulou did not believe for a second that Yi Zouri was transmitting Patriarch Mangxiang's orders.
How stupid would Mang Xiang have to be to kill the fresh blood Wang Yulou was bringing in for him?
It was widely known that Mang Xiang, who could walk Shen Guang like a dog, couldn't possibly be stupid. Thus, the Sacred Decree Yi Zouri was relaying was definitely not Mang Xiang's.
"What, you want to stop ?"
Yi Zouri didn't answer, which made Wang Yulou even more certain in his heart.
He raised his hand and ordered, "Stop them!"
Yang Duilie and Chen Yongzhong exchanged a glance and ultimately took to the air.
Their actions seed to be a signal. Seeing the two Dragon Tiger Guard Commanders move, the nurous West Sea Foundation Establishnt cultivators also took to the sky to support Wang Yulou.
Wang Yulou had only stayed in the West Sea for a little over two years, but during his ti there, he had been deeply involved in every step of the West Sea's upheaval.
By cleansing Shen Guang's residual poison, Wang Yulou had also helped Mang Xiang complete the preliminary groundwork for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's forces to enter the West Sea.
He held imnse influence over the nurous cultivators of the West Sea.
Although the West Sea still couldn't be considered Wang Yulou's core base, the current West Sea effectively was his to command—True Person Jinshan was still in power, after all.
Qi Xie, who had originally wanted to slack off and avoid deep involvent in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's internal strife, had no choice but to follow along when he saw Jiuqu fly up as well.
With this, the nurous Wondrous Peak Mountain Foundation Establishnt cultivators didn't dare to hold back either.
Although Haikuo Zhenren was at the absolute bottom tier of the Purple Palace realm—effectively the Purple Palace version of Wu Jinyan—he was still a genuine Purple Palace True Person, and one from Wondrous Peak Mountain at that.
Since two of Haikuo Zhenren's disciples had stepped up to assist Wang Yulou, the others had to follow suit, no matter how reluctant they were.
Therefore, not a single spirit stone had been spent in vain.
The 200,000 spirit stones to buy Jiuqu's help and the 15,000 spirit stones to secure the Kongshan Sect Master's assistance were finally showing their worth.
"Wang Yulou, what is the aning of this? Are you trying to shelter Shen Guang's residual poison?"
Yi Zouri was entirely unafraid. They were rely a disorganized mob.
He had received explicit orders from True Person Jinxian.
Shen Guang's residual poison had to be eradicated.
If Wang Yulou refused to cleanse them, Yi Zouri would just cleanse Wang Yulou while he was at it—he was nothing but Mang Xiang's tool anyway!
This logic was actually similar to the Sky Serpent Sect's fear of going to war with Mang Xiang.
Raising a broadsword to hack people to death was simple, but once the killing started and bloodlust took hold, sheathing the blade again was not a decision any single person could make.
Mang Xiang could use the excuse of cleansing Shen Guang's residual poison to let his own people swallow up the West Sea's benefits, thereby expanding his sphere of influence.
But if Mang Xiang could use the excuse of Shen Guang's residual poison, Candlelight naturally could too.
The hit list of Shen Guang's residual poison designated by Mang Xiang had omitted Wang Yulou. Candlelight Immortal Venerable had the qualifications, and more importantly, the strength, to include him.
"Who am I sheltering? I am having them serve the Red Lantern Illumination Sect on the front lines of the war between our two sects, using their military rit to offset their cris. Senior Brother Zouri, please choose your words carefully."
Wang Yulou still didn't want to completely tear away all face. Since there were so many Foundation Establishnt cultivators standing on his side, and Yi Zouri couldn't possibly slaughter all those rogue cultivators anyway, enduring this slight wouldn't cost him anything.
"Wang Yulou, what are you? The 'Illumination' in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect belongs to Candlelight Immortal Venerable!
How dare you arbitrarily let these rogue cultivators, polluted by Shen Guang, enter our Red Lantern Illumination Sect?"
Yi Zouri had no intention of stopping. After denouncing Wang Yulou's actions, he shouted, "Why are you spacing out? Do it!"
The Illuminating Faction Foundation Establishnt cultivators he brought with him attacked instantly. In a flash, over a hundred rogue cultivators died in the racetrack's stands.
"Senior Brother Baichi, quickly, help !"
Wang Yulou called out, then led the others to protect the pitiful rogue cultivators.
Fighting head-on was impossible; all they could do was shield them as best they could.
However, Guo Baichi didn't hesitate at all.
When Wang Yulou called for his help, he imdiately unleashed his divine ability, drew his spiritual artifact, picked a random unlucky bastard, and attacked.
Old Guo's adaptability was indeed frightening. He made the best choice for himself at the very first mont.
Of course, what was best for Guo Baichi wasn't necessarily best for the sect, and it certainly wasn't best for Wang Yulou.
Guo Baichi's sudden attack struck true on the very first blow; his unlucky target was instantly and severely injured.
Seeing that blood had already been drawn, the Foundation Establishnt cultivators brought by Wang Yulou no longer hesitated.
Compromise and the big picture—all of that vanished in an instant. The only thing left was the supremacy of strength determined by magical combat.
But this fierce magical combat only lasted for a single breath. The Illuminating Faction Foundation Establishnt cultivators hadn't expected Wang Yulou's people to actually dare to fight back, and they scattered from the airspace above the racetrack in sheer shock and panic.
Yi Zouri's expression turned extrely ugly.
"Wang Yulou has already betrayed the sect! Anyone who continues to help him is setting themselves against the Red Lantern Illumination Sect! I advise you Fellow Daoists to think this through!"
Infighting was not a shaful matter.
In a world where no one had beco the Sole Venerable, true peace could never erge in the cultivation realm. However, rather than risk their lives in bloody, life-and-death struggles, everyone preferred to fight without breaking ties, scheming internally to snatch benefits without actively putting their lives on the line.
Wang Yulou shot Old Guo a complicated look. He felt no dissatisfaction, nor any gratitude; it was purely complicated.
Old Guo had wanted to screw him over, but his bad intentions had inadvertently done a good deed.
Yi Zouri accusing Wang Yulou of treason was utter bullshit.
The illumination of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect might belong to Candlelight, and Candlelight could dispose of Wang Yulou at will, but Yi Zouri couldn't, and he knew it.
The reason Yi Zouri backed down was because he was startled by the sheer audacity of the Behemoth Lineage—Guo Baichi was also from the Behemoth Lineage.
Before coming here, he never could have imagined that Wang Yulou could rally so many Foundation Establishnt cultivators to escort the Rogue Cultivator Alliance's rogue cultivators.
Even so, he still hadn't been afraid, certain that Wang Yulou and the Foundation Establishnt cultivators wouldn't dare offend Candlelight Immortal Venerable's faction for the sake of re rogue cultivators.
In truth, Wang Yulou indeed hadn't dared to strike first himself, nor had he dared to let the escorting Foundation Establishnt cultivators strike first.
However, Old Guo had made the decision for him.
Although the thod was rough, Guo Baichi had helped Wang Yulou resolve the crucial hurdle of forcing Yi Zouri to retreat.
After that first strike of resistance, the other Foundation Establishnt cultivators were naturally dragged in. Bound by mutual interests, they had no choice but to brave Candlelight Immortal Venerable's pressure and fight.
The nurous Foundation Establishnt cultivators of the West Sea had to obey True Person Jinshan, and the Foundation Establishnt cultivators of Wondrous Peak Mountain knew their own sect leaned toward Patriarch Mangxiang.
Cut the crap and just do it! Fight!
In the end, all of this was possible because Wang Yulou had grown sufficiently overbearing. This was why he could borrow the strength of the escorting Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and why the people Yi Zouri brought had suddenly faltered.
Everyone was afraid. Under Yi Zouri's forceful suppression, they had to obey his orders.
But the situation had clearly blown up. It was fast escalating from cleansing Shen Guang's residual poison into a civil war within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Naturally, no one dared to act recklessly anymore.
How did the saying go? The running dogs of grand cultivators were often just paper tigers.
When Wang Yulou showed no fear, Yi Zouri's paper tiger act fell apart.
This clash was a localized suppression of Candlelight Immortal Venerable's influence, achieved through Wang Yulou's long-term, painstaking managent.
An Immortal Venerable's power was naturally overwhelming, but Wang Yulou's power at this ti and in this place was not weak either.
"Senior Brother Zouri, casually killing people at the drop of a hat is not a good thing. Sect unity is very important.
As for your claim about Yulou betraying the sect, that is sheer nonsense.
Whether or not Yulou has betrayed the sect is not for you to judge."
Yi Zouri didn't think Wang Yulou amounted to anything, and Wang Yulou didn't think much of Yi Zouri either.
Looking at Wang Yulou trading tit for tat with him, and at the dense swarm of Foundation Establishnt cultivators filling the sky by his side, Yi Zouri knew his objective today would be difficult to achieve.
Restraint was a very profound concept.
When Wang Yulou's people were rely shielding those Qi Refining cultivators, Yi Zouri could naturally lead his team to slaughter them.
But once both sides started fighting with real intent to kill, the situation escalated. What Yi Zouri faced was no longer just the issue of cleansing Shen Guang's residual poison.
This matter would not end easily.
"Wang Yulou, don't deflect the issue with your rambling.
Not only did you fail to kill Shen Guang's residual poison, but you even promised them the status of special Outer Gate Disciples.
What, is our Red Lantern Illumination Sect a garbage dump? Just anyone can be accepted into the sect?"
He was still forcibly pinning labels on him; Wang Yulou had already lost count of how many accusations had been thrown at his head.
"They are not garbage; they were rely used by others.
The Immortal Alliance serves all cultivators, which is why True Person Jinshan was willing to give them a chance.
The sect is the most sacred place in Yulou's heart, which is why Yulou brought these rogue cultivators back to protect it.
Senior Brother Zouri, is wanting to protect the sect a cri?"
Yi Zouri sneered.
"Sweet words and flowery speech! If you like protecting the sect so much, why don't you go directly to the front lines?
Wang Yulou, I will report today's matters to Patriarch Candlelight! Let's see how you explain yourself then!"
Wang Yulou didn't plan to explain. His backer was Mang Xiang. In the context of their internal conflict, Candlelight was practically an enemy.
As for an enemy's opinion, he didn't give a damn. How could Wang Yulou genuinely be affected by it?
"Good. Then I ask Senior Brother to hurry back and report. I will be waiting."
Yi Zouri had wanted to throw out a few more harsh words, but he noticed that Wang Yulou was surprisingly calm.
Unlike Yuan Wu, Yi Zouri had reached his current position entirely because he had a good brain; otherwise, he wouldn't have made the decision to intercept them halfway and start a massacre.
So, dropping the low-level trash talk, he turned to Guo Baichi.
"Baichi, I don't understand. Why did you attack your fellow sect mbers for the sake of Shen Guang's residual poison?"
Instantly, Old Guo's expression twisted as if he had been drowned in a donkey dung pit for three days and three nights—foul and hideously ugly.
Eating one loss after another, and even doing a good deed out of bad intentions...
Was he just destined to gorge himself on losses today?
"I didn't! I didn't do it! If you don't believe , ask Junior Brother Yulou."
Guo Baichi decided to disgust Wang Yulou a little. Wang Yulou wanted their conflict to beco public, and Guo Baichi naturally understood why—it was nothing more than treating him as a competitor.
Since that was the case, he might as well disgust Wang Yulou as much as he could.
After all, they were both under the tutelage of Mang Xiang; he couldn't possibly slaughter Xiao Wang for real.
"Hahaha, good, very good! Having loyal and reliable disciples like you around is truly Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's fortune. We shall see what the future holds!"
Tossing down a final harsh remark, Yi Zouri led the Illuminating Faction Foundation Establishnt cultivators away.
It was just that... listening to the underlying aning of his words, this Co-Sect Master seed to view Guo Baichi and Wang Yulou as true martial brothers.
---
"I told you, Senior Yuque is a good senior.
Since we could survive in the West Sea until today, we naturally have a chance to survive on the front lines.
Staying in the West Sea would have been a true path to death. No matter how well we understand demon hunting, we would have eventually ended up as demon dung.
Entering a sect is different. The sect issues a stipend every year, and once our cultivation base rises, we can even take in three or five pretty disciples.
When there's work to be done, have the disciples do it. And when there's nothing to do... you guys understand, right? That is the benefit of a sect."
While flying along with the group, he was voluntarily brainwashing the others for Wang Yulou—Cui Baihao simply wanted to climb the ranks too badly.
"Old Cui, you just don't understand. Even Red Lantern Illumination Sect Core Disciples don't have it easy.
That Yi Zouri who wanted to kill us is the most formidable among the Core Disciples, yet even he couldn't do as he pleased.
If you ask , instead of counting on the unreachable Foundation Establishnt realm, rogue cultivators like us might as well think about how to enjoy the process of cultivation. This—"
Cui Baihao interrupted his squad mber's rambling and pointed at the towering mountain gates to the southeast. "Look, that is where the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's mountain gate is located!"
Peaks clustered together, the mountains were high, the forests dense, and the palaces majestic.
After flying steadily for ten whole days, Wang Yulou finally delivered this batch of Shen Guang's residual poison to the foot of the sect's mountain.
Almost five hundred people had died along the way, primarily killed by Yi Zouri and his n.
Even though the situation had been quickly brought under control, the strength of Foundation Establishnt cultivators was simply too great. Just a casual strike was enough to butcher the Rogue Cultivator Alliance's rogue cultivators until they wailed in despair.
Right after Wang Yulou rode his Black Dragon Steed into the sect, he imdiately noticed Yingxi.
Yingxi seed to have just arrived as well. Likely because she hadn't received prior notice that Wang Yulou was escorting people back, she looked as if she had rushed over in a hurry to welco him.
"Husband, you're finally here!"
Upon seeing Wang Yulou appear, Yingxi imdiately moved to fly toward him.
However, halfway through her flight, she noticed Jin Mingdu.
Jin Mingdu reached out and hooked her arm around Wang Yulou's, smiling as she said, "Fellow Daoist Yingxi is still as beautiful as ever. Husband's taste has always been good."
Wang Yulou only felt helpless.
The blessing of having multiple wives?
Forget it. He was better off thinking about how to quickly process the special Outer Gate Disciple identities for those two thousand rogue cultivators.
Wunan did not lack talent. Among these rogue cultivators, there were plenty of unlucky bastards whose talents went unrecognized and who had no place to utilize them.
Only by employing these people well would they beco Wang Yulou's true core base in the future.
User Comments
0 comments from readers