Whether the Ancestral Master was considered an immortal or not, Wang Yulou dared not comnt.
Facing Xuanzhuan, he had to keep a low profile and act humble. If the Ancestral Master truly beca an immortal, wouldn't he, Wang Yulou, be completely reduced to a cowardly lackey for all eternity?
"True Person, I have yet to choose a primary cultivation thod. The Patriarch's intention was for to seek guidance from you or True Person Danri after returning to the sect. I didn't expect so many twists and turns along the way; just returning to the sect has been so difficult."
Wang Yulou bowed with a bitter smile, voicing his request while simultaneously playing the victim to emphasize his hardships.
"Hahaha, you little monkey, no one is sharper than you. It's just that sotis, being too smart isn't a good thing. Yingxi is a good girl, and you should treat her well. Cut it out with all these unnecessary tricks with . What are you afraid of? It's not like I'm going to eat you."
What did it an to be "one of our own"?
The Wang Clan had been loyally following Xuanzhuan and running errands for him for a thousand years. If Wang Yulou still wasn't considered one of Xuanzhuan's own people, then he had no one to call his own.
Therefore, True Person Xuanzhuan was more than just approachable; he directly reprimanded Xiao Wang—you are too smart, which instead makes things seem unnatural.
Among this, the most crucial point was "do not be afraid."
Wang Yulou guessed that Xuanzhuan's reminder wasn't just about avoiding a distant relationship between the two of them, as Xuanzhuan was already annoyed by the daily probing and testing.
The deeper logic likely ant that Wang Yulou shouldn't appear afraid of Mang Xiang.
As a junior, being loyal and close to the Ancestral Master was enough. If you were so terrified, did it an you held so resentnt toward the Ancestral Master in your heart?
Of course, the Ancestral Master naturally knew how miserably he toyed with these little playthings below him, and he also understood that the people below would fear him.
But... if Wang Yulou guarded against the Ancestral Master more fiercely than against a thief, how would the Ancestral Master view Wang Yulou?
"Yulou understands."
In front of Xuanzhuan, Xiao Wang was as obedient as a kitten, not daring to say a single unnecessary word.
Seeing Xiao Wang like this, Xuanzhuan ultimately didn't continue pressing the issue of not being afraid. A person like Wang Yulou knew everything in his heart and would handle it well in the future.
The True Person stepped forward and grabbed Wang Yulou's arm, checking the state of his cultivation.
"You've cultivated the Source Vein Gui Water Qi quite well. Even the minor ridians are as thick and robust as the main ones. Your cultivation now needs to be divided into three aspects.
"First, the improvent of your cultivation base. Open all thirty-six acupoints as quickly as possible and raise your cultivation base to Peak Foundation Establishnt.
"In terms of cultivation thods, practice the Return to Origin, Return to Truth Minor Formless Art. This thod first returns to origin, then returns to truth, and it evolved from my master's Formless Art. With your cultivation base, practicing it won't be difficult. As long as you have enough resources, your progress will be thousands of miles a day.
"Second, it's ti to learn so magical combat and settle down. Your cultivation base has risen too quickly. Although your journey has had its twists and turns, it has generally been too smooth. Without tempering, you cannot achieve greatness. But if your strength is too weak, a little bit of tempering will cost you your life. Moreover, without strength, even if we support you to take charge, you will inevitably encounter people who refuse to submit to you, and that will be troubleso.
"Within the Return to Origin, Return to Truth Minor Formless Art, there are four divine abilities: Lesser Formless Numinous Energy, Lesser Formless Manifestation, Return to Origin, Lesser Formless Dharma Seal, and Lesser Formless Heavens and Earth. These four are all divine abilities unique to our Behemoth Lineage. You must practice them diligently. Of course, choosing two should be enough. Learning too many is useless; at the end of the day, divine abilities do not provide any beneficial effects for opening the Purple Palace.
"Third, you cannot just spend every day scheming against others. Cultivating immortality ultimately depends on strength, and you have already passed the stage where you needed to plot against others. After returning to the sect, focus on your cultivation. Advancing your cultivation base is one thing, but I rember you have so talent for artifact refining. Your practice in artifact refining must not be neglected either. For a cultivator, having a mind as deep as an abyss is only ordinary, powerful magical combat is a must, and an extraordinary level in auxiliary dao arts is also crucial."
Wang Yulou didn't expect True Person Xuanzhuan to understand him so well. For a mont, he was at a loss for words.
"True Person, I never thought I could be valued so highly by you."
Wang Yulou truly didn't know what to say.
Repay with his life? He didn't dare say it recklessly; if he did, it might actually cost him his life.
Give his all until his dying day? That seed too ordinary, lacking emotional tension.
So, he ultimately chose to look overwheld by the unexpected favor, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Hahaha, you kid, you put on quite a convincing act. Alright, in this dharma seed, there are seventeen artificing path inheritances. It's enough for you to practice whatever you want. I bestow these two thods upon you as a reward for your work in the West Sea. It's just that you are no longer a lowly Qi Refining stage cultivator. You need to realize that your every word and action will have consequences. If you want to take risks in the future, you must report to us and discuss it before making a decision. Do you understand?"
Did he understand?
How could he not understand?
The solution to cultivating immortality had never been solely through magical combat. By wielding a blade to purge Shen Guang's lingering poison, and by leading two thousand West Sea Qi Refining cultivators into the sect to fill the frontlines, the benefits Wang Yulou obtained were things many Peak Foundation Establishnt cultivators could hardly reach in a lifeti.
The Return to Origin, Return to Truth Minor Formless Art evolved from Patriarch Mangxiang's thod. Its level naturally didn't need further explanation.
Just the dharma seed Xuanzhuan planted in Wang Yulou's arm alone, the dharma seed hiding seventeen artificing path inheritances, couldn't be exchanged for even five million spirit stones.
Besides lacking direct thods to refine magic treasures, all the artificing path thods Wang Yulou had heard of, and those he hadn't, were quietly presented within it—he could look at and learn from them as he pleased.
There were no hardships, obstacles, or twists and turns. Wang Yulou simply completed the Ancestral Master's task, and this priceless reward was fed directly into his mouth by Xuanzhuan.
This was the treatnt of a heavenly genius. It could be said that from Clear Stream Market until today, whether within the Wang Clan, inside Dripdrop Cave, or in the West Sea and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Wang Yulou had never walked the cultivation path of a normal disciple.
Of course, he also paid a small price, such as almost becoming Zhou Bojiao's cultivation vessel, or offending Shen Guang.
"True Person, I will definitely cultivate diligently and reach Peak Foundation Establishnt as soon as possible, so I can relieve the worries and solve the problems of the True Person and the Ancestral Master."
Xuanzhuan nodded in satisfaction.
As for Wang Yulou, he understood him; his ambitions couldn't be any more obvious.
However, it was precisely this kind of smart and ambitious person who could gain a firm foothold in the cruel cultivation world.
Although from Xuanzhuan's perspective, Wang Yulou was far from perfect, in reality, by his standards, not many Foundation Establishnt cultivators could be called "qualified."
Cultivators were not immortals; all cultivators had their own flaws. Whether Wang Yulou was the Yangtze River or the Yellow River was unimportant. What mattered was that he knew to suppress Danri's disciples, and that was enough.
"I plan to arrange for you to go to the Northern Front. We are attacking fiercely on the Southern Front, and the Sky Serpent Sect is attacking fiercely on the Middle Front. Only on the Northern Front, where Wondrous Peak Mountain and Valley Spirit Sect continue to glare at each other, is it sowhat safer.
"You have quite a talent for managent. When you go there this ti, aside from taking on the role of Special rit Hall Steward, you'll carry an additional burden and serve as the Town Guardian Cultivator at Fragrant Bamboo Market.
"Additionally, Nan Ye Ke, the ancestor of the Southern Leaf Kingdom, has been sowhat timid and hesitant. I have urged him twice, but he remains unwilling to send cultivators from the Southern Leaf Kingdom to aid the frontlines. You will act as the Assisting Minister to the King of the Southern Leaf Kingdom and push them."
How should one put it? Xuanzhuan truly believed in Wang Yulou.
Special rit Hall Steward, Town Guardian Cultivator at Fragrant Bamboo Market, Assisting Minister to the King of the Southern Leaf Kingdom... gathering people, seizing profits, and conscripting troops. Xuanzhuan was treating Wang Yulou like a beast of burden!
The frontlines of the great war between the two major sects were certainly no fertile paradise. On this trip, Wang Yulou bore heavy responsibilities and faced massive dangers.
However, how could Wang Yulou be an ordinary mortal?
If he couldn't withstand this bit of pressure, he wouldn't have made it to this day. In Wang Yulou's view, True Person Xuanzhuan's three appointnts weren't enough. These burdens weren't enough!
"True Person, since I'm already heading to the frontlines, how about arranging the position of Frontline Patrolling Inspector for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect for as well?"
Wang Yulou put forward his own little request, adding with a bitter face.
"Of course, even if it can't be arranged, I won't reject the True Person's heavy trust. It will just an I must spill my heart's blood and work with total disregard for life and death!"
You old geezer, I'm practically working my heart out and disregarding my life and death, aren't you going to show so token of appreciation?
Looking at Wang Yulou, whose face was written all over with "Even if I die, I must carry out the True Person's orders well," Xuanzhuan thought for a mont and said, "There should be a chance. Just wait a bit. The matter with those two thousand people hasn't settled yet. Rest in the sect for a few days first. Once that matter concludes, the situation will be mostly clear."
Yulou imdiately reeled in the expression on his face.
"True Person, Yi Zouri, he..."
Xuanzhuan waved his hand, cutting off Wang Yulou's speech, and said helplessly.
"You handled things very well at Clear Stream Market, but the 'Zhao' in Hongdengzhao truly belongs to Zhuzhao. An Immortal Venerable is an Immortal Venerable after all. Even if my master attains Golden Core, his strength will still be far inferior to Candlelight Immortal Venerable."
"However, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect was built and maintained by all of us together. This matter is almost over. We are just waiting for to negotiate a final result with them. Go back and wait for now."
Xuanzhuan looked at Yingxi, a rare hint of teasing showing on his dark, gaunt face.
"Go back and spend so quality ti with Junior Martial Sister Yingxi. Technically, you should actually call her Martial Aunt, hahahaha."
The seniority and relationships among cultivators were unaffected by ordinary mortal relations.
Just as they were now: Wang Yulou's wife had beco his Martial Aunt, and Wang Yulou had beco Ancestor Jingyi's Junior Martial Brother.
Could he really call Ancestor Jingyi "Senior Martial Sister"?
It wouldn't be appropriate.
Could Zhou Yingxi really call Wang Yulou "Martial Nephew"?
That would be inappropriate too.
However, Yulou had thought of another problem.
As he walked out with Yingxi, he sent a voice transmission to Xuanzhuan to ask for instructions.
'True Person, Perfected Man Fujiao is dead. Although I am now a Core Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect...'
Inside the great hall, Xuanzhuan returned to his seat at the far end and narrowed his eyes as he watched their retreating figures.
'You don't need to overthink this. If you need anything, just co to . Anything goes. Not entering under my tutelage actually has its benefits. Do you know what to do?'
What benefits?
What to do?
Tear into the people of Danri's faction!
But Wang Yulou didn't think this was a suitable path. If he truly allowed himself to be reduced to Xuanzhuan's blade in internal strife, how would he compete for resources with the Yan Family under Xuanzhuan's tutelage in the future?
The Ancestral Master couldn't possibly be pleased to see Xuanzhuan monopolize power and watch his faction dominate the Behemoth Lineage.
Yet True Person Xuanzhuan's treatnt of Wang Yulou truly couldn't be faulted.
But from another angle, Xuanzhuan's "goodness" could also be seen as an advance paynt for "internal strife rewards."
Having accepted Xuanzhuan's advance paynt for internal fighting, Wang Yulou would have no choice but to bite at Danri's people.
Sigh, difficult, difficult, difficult.
Despite becoming the most prominent heavenly genius within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Wang Yulou's path was still hard to tread—perhaps even more damnably difficult than before.
Perhaps, this was also why those Peak Foundation Establishnt cultivators, having witnessed the difficulty of Mang Xiang Attaining Golden Core, chose to give up chasing the Purple Mansion opportunity.
Cultivating to the Purple Palace was actually quite easy. Compared to the difficulty of obtaining the opportunity itself, practicing a Purple Palace thod was extrely simple.
But becoming a Purple Palace cultivator recognized by the system was difficult—as difficult as ascending the azure heavens.
——
Walking hand-in-hand with Yingxi along the trails of Mang Xiang Mountain, Wang Yulou asked in a businesslike tone:
"How many people are currently in the Goods Contract Workshop?"
Even though the True Person had personally stepped in to diate their relationship, Wang Yulou still didn't dare openly display his intimacy with Yingxi.
He didn't know that Mang Xiang had previously gone to the Immortal Alliance's Azure Plains Immortal City, nor did he know that Mang Xiang had already ventured deep into the West Sea.
The gaze of a grand cultivator was unknowable and unpredictable. Wang Yulou's caution seed laughable, but also not laughable at all.
Struggling to cross the sea of bitterness in search of the other shore, how could he not be careful and cautious?
"About seventy or so. A dozen or so Foundation Establishnt Inner Gate Disciples, and the rest are in Qi Refining.
The previous Steward was also a Core Disciple from Fu Yan Zhenren's lineage, but because the managent was so terrible, he was dismissed."
Within the system of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, there was no strict hierarchical difference between these palaces, workshops, pavilions, terraces, cabinets, halls, courtyards, gardens, bureaus, and observatories; it was all the result of gas of power over a long period of developnt.
So gardens were incredibly powerful, so palaces were already defunct, so bureaus seed inconspicuous but were crucial, and in so halls, the sect master clearly sat there, but couldn't accomplish a single thing.
There were only so many key positions. If a clear hierarchical system were established, an internal demand for promotion based on seniority would arise within the sect, which was sothing the Purple Palace and Golden Core cultivators did not want to see.
Therefore, in na, the various departnts within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect shared the sa rank, all managed by Foundation Establishnt cultivators serving as Stewards or Managers, but the actual gap between them was larger than the difference between the Qi Induction and Purple Palace realms.
Under this logic of power play, the key positions beca the wrestling arenas for the grand cultivators, with little relevance to personal struggle.
The Wang Clan looked after the interests of the direct lineage, Dripdrop Cave looked after the interests of Foundation Establishnt cultivators, and the Red Lantern Illumination Sect revolved around the interests of the Purple Palace and Golden Core cultivators.
Wang Yulou didn't express an opinion, instead directly asking about the specific situation of the Goods Contract Workshop.
"With over seventy people, how many Goods Contract Workshops have been opened?"
Yingxi was his Dao Companion. By helping Yingxi firmly secure her position as the Goods Contract Workshop Steward, Wang Yulou's influence within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect could rise another notch.
"Four."
The mont this number was ntioned, a surge of anger welled up within Zhou Yingxi.
"Over seventy people, and only four Goods Contract Workshops. Four people per shop adds up to just sixteen.
The remaining sixty or so spend every day in the sect researching how to ss with those four Goods Contract Workshops, euphemistically calling it 'providing guidance'.
There are over sixty of them! Every ti one of them randomly cos up with an idea, the four Goods Contract Workshops below have to run their legs off.
I told the sect master that this couldn't go on, but he just told there was nothing he could do.
If he has no solutions, why is he even the sect master?"
How could Zhou Yingxi not be anxious? The previous Goods Contract Workshop Steward had already been unceremoniously transferred away.
An incompetent person, even if they were a disciple of a Purple Palace True Person, could not establish a firm foothold within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
The situation she now faced was more than just precarious. If she failed in her position as the Goods Contract Workshop Steward, would Mang Xiang give her another chance? Would Wang Yulou give her a chance?
When Zhou Bojiao was around, she had a backer behind her. Now that Old Zhou was gone, Yingxi's difficulties were beyond what words could describe.
"Let's not ntion Old Huang's matter. He probably doesn't want to advance any further; the Ancestral Master will likely replace him soon."
Hearing Wang Yulou's words, Zhou Yingxi was startled. Old Huang was going to be replaced?
Wang Yulou had clearly only been back for half a day, yet he had already noticed signs of this, while she, who stayed in the Red Lantern Illumination Sect every day, had missed it entirely.
Thinking of this, Yingxi's mood beca even more depressed.
"Mm, I should go with you to the Goods Contract Workshop and have a look. They are just bullying you because you don't know how to deal with them.
Our Martial Uncle Linghu Qishang was transferred to the Sect Law Enforcent Bureau the year before last. Co, let's go find him first."
This was Zhou Yingxi's first ti experiencing the world of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect from the Wang Clan's perspective. Wang Yulou told her about the history between the Linghu family and the Wang Clan.
"But is finding him going to be useful? Can't we just directly report this to True Person Xuanzhuan?"
Pulling Yingxi onto the Black Dragon Steed, Wang Yulou smiled and explained.
"You're wrong. The Goods Contract Workshop is not an asset of our Behemoth Lineage; it generates revenue for the sect.
When there's a problem, we shouldn't let the grand cultivators of our Behemoth Lineage lose bargaining chips to solve it.
If we beg the True Person to step in for every little thing, how much value do we disciples really have?"
"Are you saying that Purple Palace cultivators can't necessarily decide the matters within the sect?"
As the direct lineage daughter of a Purple Palace grand cultivator, Yingxi had never imagined that the logic of conflict within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect actually didn't depend on the Purple Palace cultivators, but on those below.
"Wrong again. The grand cultivators can certainly decide, but many tis there is no need.
Exchanging pieces—you might win, or you might lose, but it's ultimately just an exchange of pieces.
Exchanging pieces won't cause the Purple Palace True Persons and Golden Core Immortal Venerables to lose their own interests.
Therefore, exchanging pieces has instead beco the choice in most situations.
In this eternal ga, whoever loses their temper first is the one who enters the arena, thus starting an even bigger gamble."
Zhou Yingxi felt slightly dizzy, perhaps because it was the first ti she understood the logic of conflict within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and even the Immortal Alliance, or perhaps because Wang Yulou's embrace gave her a long-lost sense of comfort.
When there was nothing else to rely on, even a false reliance could leave a person feeling satisfied.
Yingxi had the determination to stand on her own in the world, but this didn't conflict much with her desire for soone to lean on. After all, a properly raised daughter from a prominent family couldn't be so black and white.
With the Black Dragon Steed's vigorous strides, they quickly arrived at the Sect Law Enforcent Bureau.
Wang Yulou was the first to jump off the horse.
Zhou Yingxi followed her husband and dismounted as well, silently thinking to herself that it wasn't good for a spirit beast to be too fast either.
"Yulou, you don't know this, but aside from our Law Enforcent Bureau, there are also the Regulations Courtyard, the Patrol Terrace, the Penalty Palace, and the Clear Heart Observatory within the sect.
It's like five dragons managing the floods, and they are all departnts with real, solid power. If you only co to , this matter will be hard to handle.
Yes, I am currently a Steward of the Law Enforcent Bureau, but even I can't guarantee that a single command will be strictly obeyed by the entire bureau. I'm not like you."
Although the Linghu family and the Wang Clan were family friends of many generations, and although the Red Lantern Law Enforcent Bureau was supposed to manage the useless good-for-nothing disciples within the sect, "supposed to" and "able to", and "able to" and "willing to do it", were three entirely different matters.
Simply put—you had to pay extra.
Yingxi watched helplessly as her husband took out a piece of seventh-grade spiritual material, a asure Law Stone, from his robes and shoved it into Linghu Qishang's hands.
Linghu Qishang's expression instantly changed. Staring at the asure Law Stone in his hands, he looked at Yulou with alarm and suspicion.
"How far do you want to take this?"
The asure Law Stone was a valuable item. It could serve as the core for setting up formation arrays. Although it wasn't particularly useful for artifact refining, its outstanding utility made it more expensive than many ordinary seventh-grade spiritual materials.
A single asure Law Stone was priced at upwards of twenty thousand spirit stones. And that was during a crisis when spirit stones were scarce.
With Wang Yulou gifting such a valuable item, Linghu Qishang didn't dare accept it recklessly.
When doing a job for the Wang Clan—or rather, for a rising heavenly genius with a boundless future like Wang Yulou—accepting a gift ant the job had to be done right.
Wrapping his arm around Yingxi's slender waist, Wang Yulou looked like a man furious enough to overturn the heavens for the sake of a beautiful woman as he spoke.
"Kill three or five Qi Refining disciples who have no real background, and then kill the Foundation Establishnt cultivator who's jumping around the most. As for the rest, dismiss those who should be dismissed, and send whoever needs to go to the frontlines straight to the front.
"It's a critical ti during the great war between the two sects. Rather than thinking about serving the sect, those people are hiding inside, occupying their positions without doing any actual work.
"These are no longer your average Red Lantern Illumination Sect disciples. They must be severely disciplined!"
Linghu Qishang smacked his lips, thinking to himself that this was indeed the man who had purged Shen Guang's lingering poison in the West Sea. Xiao Wang had truly been tempered by experience; his ruthlessness was palpable.
With that in mind, he pushed the asure Law Stone back to Yulou and put on a righteous, completely selfless expression as he vowed solemnly.
"Yes, discipline them and send them to the frontlines! Yulou, wait here for a mont. I'll go gather the n right now and have everyone in the Law Enforcent Bureau help you discipline them!"
As the people from the Law Enforcent Bureau gradually assembled, Wang Yulou reminded Yingxi:
"Call all those bastards to the Goods Contract Workshop. Tell them I'm coming. I'll see who dares not show up!"
His domineering aura spilled out, though it was the kind of overbearing aura of a tyrannical boss fiercely protecting his delicate little wife. It could be said that Xiao Wang had truly made a na for himself now.
As a subordinate departnt of the Comrce Hall of Elders of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, the Goods Contract Workshop was, in theory, under the managent of the Purple Palace True Persons in the Comrce Hall of Elders.
However, in practical operation, since the True Persons rarely showed themselves, the leaders of both departnts were Core Disciples of the Red Lantern Sect. Therefore, Zhou Yingxi's only superior was the Sect Master's Palace, the Sect Master's Hall.
Old Huang might not make things difficult for Zhou Yingxi, but with Yi Zouri as the Assisting Minister to the Sect Master, and considering Wang Yulou was currently at odds with him, how could Wang Yulou possibly feel at ease letting the Goods Contract Workshop continue in chaos?
They were no longer just ordinary useless trash; it would take five punches a second to beat them senseless and wake them up!
Soon, the sixty-plus pieces of useless trash of the Goods Contract Workshop were in place. They gathered in the grand hall. Although their faces appeared calm, their interactions fully revealed their unease.
"What's so scary about Wang Yulou? He's only just reached Foundation Establishnt. I can crush him with one hand!"
"You guys still don't know, do you? Yi Zouri went up against Wang Yulou, and Wang Yulou was beaten black and blue, nearly dying out there. He's just a paper tiger."
"What the hell does he count for? He's just a donkey breeder. The last ti I saw him, I could sll the sll of donkey dung from far away."
"Oh, the sll of donkey dung. Yingxi, did you sll it?"
Although Yulou possessed self-restraint, he was already beyond furious. Yes, it was precisely because of that phrase, "sll of donkey dung."
Wang Yulou absolutely hated it when people said he slled of donkey dung. It made him think of Old Ancestor Xianzhu, of the humiliation Old Ancestor Xianzhu had once endured, and of the tragic ending where the ancestor, despite his extraordinary talent, found no path forward on his dao journey.
The useless trash of the Goods Contract Workshop inside the hall looked toward the main doors, only to see Steward Zhou following behind a man who was also wearing a Ten Thousand Nights Everbright Robe.
Zhou Yingxi walked at Yulou's side, trailing half a step behind him, a hard-to-describe sense of joy welling up in her heart. 'It seems he actually cares about .'
"I sll it. I sll the immortal scent on my husband, haha."
Wang Yulou stopped at the doorway, and Yingxi stood beside him.
On both sides of them, Linghu Qishang's subordinates flooded into the hall, quickly surrounding everyone inside.
Finally, Linghu Qishang made his appearance at an unhurried pace, as if he were fashionably late.
This powerful Red Lantern Sect Core Disciple swept a disdainful glance over the crowd in the hall and spoke.
"The Red Lantern Law Enforcent Bureau is enforcing the law. Nobody move!"
The Foundation Establishnt cultivator who had just said he slled donkey dung pursed his lips in fear, attempting to save himself.
"Wang Yulou, Linghu Qishang, what do you Red Lantern Sect Core Disciples think you're doing? We haven't done anything. On what grounds are you enforcing the law on us?"
Indeed, the situation was bizarrely presenting three Red Lantern Sect Core Disciples leading cultivators of the Red Lantern Law Enforcent Bureau to discipline the various cultivators of the Goods Contract Workshop.
This was the Red Lantern Illumination Sect; this was the operating order of Wunan and even the entire cultivation world.
"Cripple him. I want to send him back to our ho to pick up donkey dung."
Wang Yulou didn't answer him, rely looking at Linghu Qishang.
Linghu Qishang's cheek twitched, and he ultimately shouted:
"How dare you attack a Law Enforcent Envoy of the Red Lantern Law Enforcent Bureau? You are courting death!"
Imdiately, a Foundation Establishnt cultivator from the Law Enforcent Bureau eager to show his loyalty charged forward, pinning the man to the ground like a ravenous wolf.
"I..."
The Foundation Establishnt cultivator still wanted to struggle, but no one helped him; no one dared to help him.
The order built by the weak huddling together was like a bubble in the face of absolute power—blow on it gently, and it pops.
"Yingxi, is there anyone else who needs to attack a mber of the Law Enforcent Bureau? Point them out."
Wang Yulou held his wife, calmly looking at the people who were now overwheld by fear.
Were they evil? Was Wang Yulou good?
There was no answer. Yingxi was Wang Yulou's person, and Yi Zouri was an enemy. Wang Yulou couldn't leave such an obvious weakness for Yingxi, which would trap her and drag him down as well.
He needed to remain loyal to his own interests. This was closely tied to his fate, and the fates of too many people connected to him.
He didn't know how far down the line one had to look before man-made morality finally had its turn.
If morality itself had any aning, then in Wang Yulou's eyes, its aning lay solely in satisfying human ego and desire.
The point of constructing morality to achieve collective interests was also realized by satisfying the inner desires of those who believed in moral values—ideological programs and the dog whistles of dostication were all like this.
Wang Yulou's desires had already broken free from the moral constraints of the collective. Immortals themselves were inevitably free from mortal moral bounds.
If a being who had beco an immortal was still just like an ordinary person, then what did they rely on to beco an immortal?
Luck?
Heaven and Earth were treated as food by grand cultivators; sothing as illusory as luck couldn't be trusted at all.
Strength?
If simply having enough strength could make one an immortal, then there would only be one immortal in the world—even if Mang Xiang beca a Golden Core, he still wouldn't be an immortal.
——
A few days later, in the Sect Master's Hall.
Yi Zouri walked briskly into the hall, first glaring at Linghu Qishang.
Linghu Qishang's expression didn't change; he couldn't even be bothered to force a smile.
Everyone here was under the tutelage of Zhuzhao, but they didn't answer to the sa Purple Palace True Person. Just because Yi Zouri had good luck and a good birth, becoming the daily workhorse of the Illuminating Faction, didn't an Linghu Qishang had to give him face.
"Zouri, co quickly, we've been waiting for you for a long ti."
Huang Qiusheng greeted Yi Zouri with a chuckle, yet Yi Zouri gave Old Huang absolutely no face.
"Where is Wang Yulou? Don't tell he was too scared to show up?"
Coincidentally, Wang Yulou had made his first attempt at refining a spiritual artifact that morning. The delay resulted in him walking in right as Yi Zouri was spewing nonsense.
"What's wrong with the sect these past few years? Why are there so many idiots? Who said I didn't dare to co?"
The voice drew near as Wang Yulou walked into the grand hall holding his beautiful wife's hand, arriving last—even later than Yi Zouri.
One could say that in this exchange, Wang Yulou had launched a challenge against Yi Zouri that combined both ntal and subtle status attacks.
"You..."
"Oh? Senior Martial Brother Zouri, I wasn't talking about you. Why are you so agitated?"
"Enough!"
It was Huang Qiusheng who spoke up loudly, putting an end to yet another aningless squabble.
"I invited you all here today to make you understand the aning of sect unity, not to have you bicker!
"Wang Yulou, you are the junior. How can you speak like that? Hurry up and apologize to Senior Martial Brother Zouri!"
Today, all the departnt leaders of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect who were still within the sect had gathered in the Sect Master's Hall.
This was the will of the True Persons. It was ti for this matter to reach a conclusion, and simultaneously, they needed to emphasize sect unity to the restless crowd.
Therefore, Old Huang wasn't actually suppressing Wang Yulou.
The apology was a necessary step that had been negotiated beforehand.
Letting go of his wife, Wang Yulou didn't hesitate. He imdiately walked up to Yi Zouri, bowed, and said with a respectful smile:
"Senior Martial Brother Zouri, Yulou was ignorant and offended you. I ask for your forgiveness."
Yi Zouri looked at Wang Yulou and squeezed a few words through his teeth, making it sound impossible for anything good to follow.
"Forgive you..."
"Zouri!" Zou Tianxing, standing to the side, stopped Yi Zouri's outburst.
That was enough. The sect still had to support Mang Xiang's Golden Core advancent; this was unavoidable.
Shaking his head slightly, it was unknown what Yi Zouri was lanting over. Perhaps he was just expressing his disdain for Wang Yulou. In any case, he sneered and said:
"Fine. You need to know your place in the future.
You should grow up, Wang Yulou."
"You can't always rely on the True Person to protect you, right?"
Yi Zouri made no effort to hide his dissatisfaction, but he was ultimately forced to bow his head and accept the results negotiated by the True Persons above him.
"Senior Martial Brother is right. Yulou will keep this in mind."
Wang Yulou, however, was in exceptionally good spirits.
In this exchange, the Illuminating Faction won the "face," while the Mangxiang Faction secured the "substance."
From the Illuminating Faction's perspective, Candlelight Immortal Venerable had once again cented his leadership over the Red Lantern Illumination Sect during an internal power struggle. That was a win.
From the Mangxiang Faction's perspective, securing two thousand Qi Refining cultivators as laborers and having Wang Yulou assu the post of frontline patrolling inspector was a win.
From the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's perspective, the storm of internal strife had been quelled. Everyone was now united around the Purple Palace and Golden Core cultivators to fight for the sect's continued glory. That was a win.
Note that this was continued greatness, not greatness restored. The Red Lantern Illumination Sect had been great in the past, was great now, and would remain great in the future; there was no need to be great "once again."
To so observers, Wang Yulou bowing his head might have seed frustrating—a humiliating act befitting a cowardly lackey.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
This internal compromise within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect reflected the consensus on governance among its many grand cultivator leaders. Even after intense conflicts had erupted, the balance of interests was reshaped without anyone from their own side paying the ultimate price.
This demonstrated the brilliance of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's top leadership, maintaining a state where they could contend without resorting to all-out war and preventing extre internal power struggles.
A triple-win wasn't a joke; it was a tangible achievent of their governance.
Wang Yulou hadn't suffered any actual grievances either. What he obtained in exchange were status and practical benefits officially recognized by the sect.
In other words, if bowing and apologizing just once could yield such a bountiful harvest, Wang Yulou would gladly stand in the Sect Master's Palace and bow every single day until he beca an immortal and a founding ancestor.
If anyone had truly suffered a grievance, it was probably Yi Zouri.
He had gone to trendous lengths to stop Wang Yulou from bringing people back to the sect. In the end, he was preemptively outmaneuvered by Wang Yulou, and then treated as a bargaining chip by the sect's True Persons. All these twists and turns left Yi Zouri feeling imnsely wronged.
——
Inside the grand hall of Mang Xiang's Daoist ashram, Wang Yulou was currently asking his superior for support.
"True Person, look. I am now the Special rit Hall Steward, the Town Guardian Cultivator of Fragrant Bamboo Market, and the frontline patrolling inspector. I also bear the heavy burden of serving as the Assisting Minister to the King of the Southern Leaf Kingdom.
"With such heavy responsibilities, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle everything alone. Could you transfer ten people from the sect to help establish a foothold?"
Why had Mang Xiang been so arrogant within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect these past few years?
It was because he had made a terrifying military pledge. Under the weight of this pledge, the many cultivators within the sect had to temporarily avoid the brunt of Mang Xiang's sharp edge.
Whoever dared to stand in his way would be rcilessly suppressed by the sheer montum of that military pledge.
Wang Yulou taking on four concurrent positions could also be seen as making his own special military pledge. That was exactly why he dared to ask Xuanzhuan for personnel.
"Ten people is too many. We still need capable hands to hold key positions within the sect. How about this: I will assign five people to you and give you five blank transfer orders. You can recruit anyone you want with them, provided their status isn't too sensitive."
Five transfer orders?
Joy imdiately lit up Wang Yulou's face. As for what "isn't too sensitive" ant, he didn't need to ask; he understood perfectly.
In short, he wouldn't do sothing as idiotic as trying to transfer Yi Zouri to work under him just to tornt the man.
"True Person, can I transfer people from Dripdrop Cave? Yingxi ntioned that Dripdrop Cave's situation is unique—they accept transfer orders but refuse regular summons. What exactly is going on there?"
Hearing the question, Xuanzhuan was taken aback.
He pondered for a long mont in complete silence. Just as Wang Yulou was beginning to panic, Xuanzhuan finally spoke.
"My master has failed five Golden Core Deliberations. Among them, the third and fourth tis were supposed to be guaranteed victories.
"Yet, both tis he lost by a re handful of votes. Behind the scenes, it's highly likely that the people of Dripdrop Cave were playing tricks.
"We suspect that Di Shui Xianzun is currently completing the final transformation of her grotto-heaven. As such, she does not wish to see my master achieve his Dao at this ti.
"If you are looking to transfer people, it's best not to consider Dripdrop Cave. They are nothing but trouble."
Xuanzhuan truly didn't treat Wang Yulou as an outsider, freely revealing such closely guarded inside information.
During the Ancestral Master's third Golden Core Deliberations, shortly after Li Haikuo attained his Dao, the vote had been 1,871 to 1,852. Mang Xiang lost solely because a single Immortal Venerable suddenly switched their stance, changing their vote from support to opposition.
During the Ancestral Master's fourth Golden Core Deliberations, after Shen Guang sided with him, the vote had been 1,861 to 1,860. Mang Xiang lost yet again. With Shen Guang standing on Mang Xiang's side, the vote should have passed easily, but two votes suddenly went missing entirely...
One could argue that those two missing votes on the Gathering Immortals Platform directly accelerated the preparations for the Immortal Alliance's impending civil war.
The grand cultivators and Immortal Venerables were no fools. Even while secluded within their grotto-heavens, their grasp of the outside world's movents remained incredibly sharp. They didn't believe a civil war would break out imdiately, but they invariably began hoarding resources and preparing for the worst.
As a direct result, the severe spirit stone crisis that was currently gripping the Six States of the Immortal Alliance slowly began.
Wang Yulou once again realized the supre importance of intelligence. Truly crucial information was far, far more precious than gold.
"True Person, if soone opens a Purple Palace using the old cultivation arts, can they transform it into a grotto-heaven Purple Palace from the new thods after breaking through?"
The matters surrounding Dripdrop Cave ran too deep, so Wang Yulou didn't dare pry any further, choosing instead to ask about the secrets of the Purple Palace.
"Of course they can. But you shouldn't be thinking about that right now. Yulou, whether or not a cultivator can reach the Purple Palace realm doesn't just depend on possessing the right cultivation thod. You know this.
"If our faction cannot expand its territory and resources, successfully raising any new Purple Palace cultivators is utterly aningless. Sigh. Therefore, when you head to the frontlines, you must do a stellar job!"
Wang Yulou left with a heavy heart.
The strict quota limiting the number of Purple Palace cultivators was real, but the underlying reason was purely a matter of resource distribution and vested interests. The finite pool of resources directly dictated the quota.
At the sa ti, the quota was entirely fake. As long as a cultivator possessed a thod to open their Purple Palace, combined with enough luck or raw strength, many Peak Foundation Establishnt cultivators could seize the chance to break through while protected by their divine abilities.
Wang Yulou had finally grasped the full, ugly truth behind the Purple Palace quotas, but seeing the complete picture only left him feeling deeply dissatisfied.
——
Ming Du had entered the Inner Gate of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and was preparing to undergo his Foundation Establishnt breakthrough there.
Yingxi left the sect to begin her inspection tour of the Goods Contract Workshop's four branches.
Wang Yulou left alongside her. This ti, he wasn't just accompanying Yingxi on her inspection; he was heading out to officially assu his new posts while using the personnel he'd drafted to provide her with solid backing.
Xuanzhuan had handed over the blank transfer orders quite readily. However, since most of the unaligned Foundation Establishnt cultivators had already been shipped off to the frontlines, Wang Yulou didn't have many options left to choose from.
He ultimately selected seven Foundation Establishnt cultivators from a vassal Foundation Establishnt family, two seasoned Foundation Establishnt cultivators directly from within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, and one from the Gu Family—the Gu Family's second elder.
"Old Gu, are you telling that the title 'Second Elder' in your Gu Family is nothing more than a job description?"
Wang Yulou asked Gu Tongming curiously. As a cultivator of the "Tong" generation, the man held the second-highest tier in the Gu Family's rather comrcial "purchasable and upgradable generation-naming system."
"Correct. First Elder is also just a job title. mbers of the 'Qi' generation are designated as First Elders, while those of the 'Tong' generation serve as Second Elders.
"Fellow Daoist Yuque already knows that our Gu Family's primary business is operating teahouses. Giving our shopkeepers lofty and respectable titles makes our visiting guests feel much more valued."
The cultivation world truly was vast and full of strange customs. Yingxi asked curiously,
"So if you go down the hierarchy, are there Third Elders and Fourth Elders?"
Gu Tongming smiled awkwardly. Not daring to flatly tell Yingxi she was wrong, he tactfully replied, "Sotis we use those. But most of the ti, the shopkeepers managing a Gu Family Tea House start at the rank of Second Elder.
"As for the rest of our staff, they haven't reached the Foundation Establishnt stage yet, so it really doesn't matter what they are called."
Wang Yulou nodded thoughtfully. In reality, he was silently wondering if the Gu Family's extensive intelligence network might possess any valuable information regarding the Sky Serpent Sect.
After escorting Yingxi through her entire inspection tour, Wang Yulou led his new team directly toward Fragrant Bamboo Market and the Southern Leaf Kingdom.
His newly assigned territory was actually quite awkward. Fragrant Bamboo Market anchored the southern section of the Northern Front, while the Southern Leaf Kingdom sat at the northernmost edge of the Middle Front. Essentially, Wang Yulou had been handed control over the entire central-northern warfront.
anwhile, the Special rit Hall had only just been established. The war hadn't been raging for very long, so figuring out exactly how this new hall would operate would require Wang Yulou's comprehensive planning.
As for his final title—the position of frontline patrolling inspector that he had gone to such great lengths to squeeze out of the sect—it served a purely functional purpose. It was a formal endorsent, using the sect's official authority to legitimize Wang Yulou's actions on the frontlines.
That was the true reason Wang Yulou had apologized so submissively to Yi Zouri back in the hall.
In this political exchange, Yulou had won completely and utterly.
Two thousand Qi Refining cultivators to use as labor—the imnse value of such a workforce went without saying.
His nurous official positions were all powerful levers he could use to forge connections and extract favors from the sect's various cultivators.
Of course, there were also highly troubleso aspects to his new assignnt, such as serving as the Assisting Minister to the King of the Southern Leaf Kingdom.
The founding ancestor of the Southern Leaf Kingdom, Nan Ye Ke, was a Purple Palace grand cultivator. He was fiercely protective and naturally unwilling to let his own citizens be used as cannon fodder by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. Yet, Xuanzhuan had explicitly dispatched Wang Yulou to round up the kingdom's populace—and the Nan Ye family itself—to fill the at grinder of the frontlines...
As the frontlines gradually ca into view, Wang Yulou finally reached a grim realization. His greatest obstacle on this assignnt wouldn't be the enemy; it would likely be the Southern Leaf Kingdom itself.
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