"Fellow Daoists, the final two horses are racers bred by the subordinate forces of the Sky Serpent Sect. However, there is a slight difference between their racers and the Green-Steed Horses.
Black Venerable, a Peak Miscellaneous Demon Realm Armored Spirit Horse... Hold it down! Hold it down!"
Just as Zhong Ningyao was giving her introduction, an unexpected accident occurred.
In the staging area, the Armored Spirit Horse nad Black Venerable suddenly went wild, lunging and biting at a nearby Green-Steed Horse.
Covered in snake scales and baring sharp fangs, it bit into the poor Green-Steed Horse until it wailed.
"How shaless! That's no Armored Spirit Horse, it's a snake-skin horse!" Cuiguo cursed, her cheeks puffing with anger.
Accompanying Zhou Yingxi as her companion, she had been raised in comfort and well-protected since childhood. She held a simple hostility toward Hongdengzhao's rival, the Sky Serpent Sect.
The Sky Serpent Sect served the Sky Serpent. While outsiders called it the Sky Serpent, the sect's own mbers referred to it as a Heavenly Immortal.
The magic power and bloodline of the Heavenly Immortal affected many living creatures within the Sky Serpent Sect's domain. This Armored Spirit Horse, for instance, was born with snake scales.
Within the Sky Serpent Sect's territory, to show respect for their so-called Heavenly Immortal, they called these snake-scaled horses Armored Spirit Horses.
Now, seeing the frenzied Armored Spirit Horse from the Sky Serpent Sect savage a Hongdengzhao Green-Steed Horse, the spectators in the grandstands instantly erupted in fury.
Even though they were essentially beasts of burden under Hongdengzhao—re chives waiting to be harvested by the grand cultivators—they surprisingly shared Cuiguo's genuine sense of indignation.
Hearing the angry shouts from the stands, Yulou worried that Zhong Ningyao might lose control of the situation, so he sent her a voice transmission.
'Introduce the second horse imdiately. Don't let them parade on the track. Start the race right after the introduction.
Also, since Black Venerable caused such a ss, rember to penalize it with a three-breath delayed start.'
Now that Yulou had reached the seventh layer of the Qi Induction realm, he had unlocked his divine sense, making voice transmissions incredibly convenient.
Hearing Yulou's guidance, Zhong Ningyao composed herself. She channeled her magic power to project her voice, suppressing the curses of the crowd.
"Fellow Daoists, we have experienced a minor accident. Very well, that horse will not be showcased on the track. Let us proceed directly to the second racer.
Tyrant King, a Peak Miscellaneous Demon Realm Armored Spirit Horse from the Sky Serpent Sect.
The race is about to begin! Restrain Black Venerable and penalize it with a three-breath delayed start!"
Seeing their outrage addressed, the spectators in the grandstands felt a surge of participation and imdiately broke into cheers.
At Zhong Ningyao's command, the racers shot out from the staging area.
The previously unbridled Black Venerable could only watch as the other horses dashed away. Unable to move, it fud with such rage that smoke practically rose from its head.
As the racers chased each other on the track, Yulou sat in the stands, secretly conversing with Zhou Yingxi via divine sense.
'Fellow Daoist Yingxi, I would like to invite you to the Flavorful Bistro tonight to taste so freshly butchered spiritual donkey at. Do you have ti?'
Yulou initiated the private chat.
'Have you agreed to marry into our family?' Zhou Yingxi remained perfectly still, but her heart skipped a beat.
'No. mbers of your Zhou Family have co to the Great Goods Store to purchase a large number of contracts. Does this an your family believes the war between Wondrous Peak Mountain and the Valley Spirit Sect is going to expand?'
The Great Goods Store was the na of the contract exchange. On the surface, the establishnt dealt in bulk wholesale.
However, the wholesale prices were only a fraction lower than the market rate, making it a price where anyone buying wholesale would easily lose money.
The actual business of the shop was brokering contract trades for related goods. Through this venture, the Wang Clan had earned quite a bit over the past few years.
However, beyond earning spirit stones, the Great Goods Store served a unique purpose—it acted as an early warning system.
The Great Goods Store was no duck; it facilitated contract negotiations and trades for war materials.
By observing the entities involved in the trades, the volu of capital invested, and historical profit-and-loss data, Yulou had grasped a lot of unknown information.
For instance, which sects and clans were secretly backing the Valley Spirit Sect, and which were undermining Wondrous Peak Mountain.
The Zhou Family had never participated in these contract trades on a large scale. Yulou knew Zhou Yingxi dabbled in them occasionally, but rely for fun.
Yesterday, however, a steward from the Zhou Family had arrived at Clear Stream Market and spent half the day sweeping up goods, purchasing contracts with a total value exceeding 40,000 spirit stones.
And today, he had returned and spent the entire morning sweeping up more goods.
The Zhou Clan was a Purple Palace immortal clan, and one within Hongdengzhao at that.
What did such sudden behavior represent behind the scenes?
How could Yulou not be worried?
'How should I know, Wang Yulou? Don't tell you don't know how much I've lost at your place!'
Zhou Yingxi felt a touch irritable, annoyed that Wang Yulou made it sound like her family was secretly undermining others or using underhanded tactics.
'You bear your own profits and losses. You didn't buy those contracts from , and you've had your fair share of profitable days.
Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be unreasonable.'
'You're calling unreasonable?' Zhou Yingxi turned her head directly, putting pressure on Yulou.
'Ah, my divine sense is running low. Let's watch the race.'
Yulou rubbed his temple and looked toward the center of the track.
The pack of Iron-Bone Wolves had caught a clumsy horse and were already disemboweling it, making the spectating cultivators' blood boil with excitent.
Yulou's preparations had not failed; this special event was a success.
It was conceivable that many of the new spectators would beco loyal audience mbers after today and return frequently in the future.
The only unhappy party was the owner of the disemboweled horse; his racer was just gone.
But there was no cause for criticism. Since he coveted the appearance fee for the race, he had to bear the corresponding risk.
Seeing this scoundrel Wang Yulou attentively watching the race, Zhou Yingxi hesitated before gritting her teeth and sending a transmission.
'Wang Yulou, I received news that the Valley Spirit Sect has already petitioned the Immortal Alliance to initiate a war of sect annihilation against Wondrous Peak Mountain.
Senior Xianzhou was once one of the most brilliant talents of our Hongdengzhao. Your Wang Clan should get out of that muddy water as soon as possible.'
Yulou's clapping hands stopped. He turned his head and t Zhou Yingxi's gaze.
Zhou Yingxi possessed a beautiful pair of peach-blossom eyes with chestnut-brown pupils.
"Really?"
In his shock, Yulou forgot to use voice transmission. He unconsciously opened his mouth and asked silently.
Zhou Yingxi glared at him before continuing to watch the race.
On the track, the late-starting Black Venerable finally overtook the leading Green Kirin. Its cultivation and realm were higher, after all.
After passing the Green Kirin, Black Venerable delivered a backward kick, knocking the Green Kirin toward the pack of Iron-Bone Wolves currently devouring the horse at.
The wolves stared blankly for a mont, then lunged in unison before the Green Kirin could struggle up.
The Green Kirin's agonizing wails sent a chill through everyone's hearts, but Yulou's expression remained perfectly calm.
Finding two Peak Miscellaneous Demon Realm Armored Spirit Horses—or snake-scaled horses, as they could also be called—was naturally done with the hope that they would win.
If Black Venerable or Tyrant King weren't allowed to win, how could the hype of Clear Stream Market's races be stoked?
---
After imdiately relaying Zhou Yingxi's news back to the clan, Yulou directly closed the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Great Goods Store.
With the war potentially escalating, he temporarily closed the shops to prevent anyone from bottom-fishing. Everything would wait until word ca back from the clan!
Only then did he return to the Flavorful Bistro, where Zhou Yingxi had already been waiting for quite so ti.
"This is the first ti I've known a seventh-layer Qi Induction cultivator to be so arrogant as to keep a Qi Refining senior waiting like this. Don't you think it's inappropriate?"
The best spiritual tea at the Flavorful Bistro was only ninth-grade. Zhou Yingxi took a single sip and spent the rest of the ti just waiting. She felt that criticizing Wang Yulou with just one sentence already showed great restraint.
"My apologies, Fellow Daoist Yingxi. I was a poor host today, but as you know, I'm deeply entangled in mundane affairs."
Wang Yulou smiled wryly.
Zhou Yingxi didn't make things difficult for him. Although they lacked the fate to beco Dao companions, they still got along reasonably well as friends.
"The Wang Clan's way of cultivating you two brothers is quite interesting. It's one thing to arrange for you to co to Clear Stream Market to learn artificing under Redbrow, but to also have you moonlight as the manager of two shops... don't you find it strange?"
"I can only cultivate for a few hours each day, so I have to make use of the rest of my ti."
Yulou didn't find the clan's arrangent strange at all.
With Tie Qinhe successfully achieving Foundation Establishnt while Wang Rongjiang failed on the verge of success, being able to contribute to the family through business was also a good thing.
With Hongdengzhao harvesting and Wondrous Peak Mountain handing out benefits, a single set of Foundation Establishnt resources now cost at least 80,000 spirit stones to purchase.
Over the past seven years, Yulou had managed to scrape together half a set of Foundation Establishnt resources through his own efforts.
Of course, these earned spirit stones couldn't all be used to help Wang Clan cultivators attempt Foundation Establishnt. But for the Wang Clan, which had been harvested down to the bone, Yulou had effectively helped the family recover a massive amount of lifeblood.
Hearing Yulou's words, Zhou Yingxi felt a bit awkward. Having cultivated within a Purple Palace grotto-heaven since childhood, she had finished the entire Qi Induction stage in a re two years.
"What did you want to see about? The news I told you is true; the Ning Clan of the Valley Spirit Sect has ignited true fury.
Their Huishan Prefecture was previously shattered by Wondrous Peak Mountain. Now, they want to seize this opportunity to avenge that destruction.
Within the Immortal Alliance, many grand cultivators and True Persons don't want your family's Patriarch Mangxiang to prove his Golden Core. Striking at Wondrous Peak Mountain can put pressure on Hongdengzhao.
Therefore, the Valley Spirit Sect's application for a war of sect annihilation has a high probability of passing. When that ti cos, Foundation Establishnt cultivators will be able to strike within a limited scope, and Senior Wang Xianzhou will undoubtedly be targeted."
The clan was the clan, and the individual was the individual. Zhou Yingxi truly considered Wang Yulou a friend, which was why she had shared such critical news without reservation.
In truth, Yulou, the Patriarch, and other clan mbers had already guessed at the news Zhou Yingxi brought.
Patriarch Mangxiang proving his Golden Core, Li Haiping opening his Purple Palace.
With Hongdengzhao expanding like this, the Sky Serpent Sect next door would not simply sit by and watch.
He simply hadn't expected this interference to begin with the Valley Spirit Sect attempting to extinguish Wondrous Peak Mountain's orthodox lineage.
Once a war of sect annihilation began, Purple Palace grand cultivators might be able to keep their lives, but with all their disciples gone, the sect's orthodox lineage would disappear.
If Hongdengzhao stepped in to back Wondrous Peak Mountain, the situation would escalate further, potentially delaying Patriarch Mangxiang's path to the Golden Core.
This was the general trend. Yulou pondered, choosing to do what he could.
"...What do you an 'our family's Patriarch Mangxiang'? Our clan doesn't have such great fortune, don't speak nonsense."
Over the last seven years, he had done much and accomplished much, and he could accomplish even more in the future.
"Fellow Daoist Yingxi, I plan to host a special competition under the na of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion—the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition.
I will invite Qi Refining talisman masters from a thousand miles around to Clear Stream Market to compete and see whose talisman-crafting skills are the highest.
Based on their rankings, we will give them so rewards.
Through this competition, we can further boost the reputation of Clear Stream Market while also helping the Hundred Treasures Pavilion reach the next level."
Zhou Yingxi looked at Yulou in shock.
No, seriously?
The danger of war was expanding. It was one thing for him not to panic.
But he was actually telling her that his response was to host so Talisman Master Competition.
Wasn't this inappropriate?
Right, it was truly inappropriate.
"Wang Yulou, a war is about to break out. How do you not seem panicked?"
Yulou shook his head and spoke calmly.
"I only have the cultivation of the seventh layer of the Qi Induction realm, Fellow Daoist Yingxi. When giant beasts clash, what can I do?
Nothing more than cultivate properly and try my best to help the family walk more steadily. As for the rest, I have no right to think about it."
Zhou Yingxi was left speechless.
Indeed, she was born into a large clan, but there wasn't much the Zhou Clan could do either.
What she could do was equally negligible; she would even have her Dao companion arranged by the family.
She wanted to refuse, but when the stormy waves crashed down, without her family's protection, she would be powerless to resist.
Therefore, she actually had no way to refuse.
Yulou didn't mind what the woman across from him was thinking and continued talking about the Talisman Master Competition.
"During the competition, I plan to invite three judges: my master, Householder Redbrow; my clan uncle, Wang Rongsheng; and you.
The judges' main duty is to prevent cheating. Considering the limited room for cheating, this job isn't difficult.
As for the fee, three hundred spirit stones. What does Fellow Daoist Yingxi think?"
Zhou Yingxi originally wanted to say three hundred spirit stones was a bit little, but rembering the Wang Clan's pitiful state, she changed her tune.
"Alright, this Talisman Mas—"
"Master Competition."
"Master Competition, right, Master Competition. When do you plan to hold it?"
Zhou Yingxi secluded herself for half a month at a ti, so she needed to arrange her schedule in advance.
"My thought is that we need to spread the word and ensure every relevant cultivator within a thousand miles knows about it before holding it.
So, I'm setting the date for a month from now. A month should be enough ti for the news to spread."
Yulou had already formulated his plan in his heart. Having his cash flow tied up at the racetrack had already taught him a profound lesson.
"My father is the guarding cultivator, but after knowing you these past few years, I've gradually developed a feeling.
Yulou, you are actually the one suited to be the guarding cultivator. Aside from your lacking cultivation, you're formidable in every other aspect."
The girl with the peach-blossom eyes sighed with emotion. Her father only knew how to line his own pockets and had no intention of managing Clear Stream Market at all.
Yulou, on the other hand, held no official position, yet everything he did was highly beneficial to the developnt of Clear Stream Market.
The war materials futures exchange known as the Great Goods Store gave Clear Stream Market a reputation even within Hongdengzhao.
The Clear Stream Market racing events were only getting better. Zhou Yingxi had watched Yulou build the racetrack up bit by bit; how could she not admire him?
"These things you do might seem driven purely by earning spirit stones, but objectively, they've promoted the developnt of Clear Stream Market.
I can even feel that the number of cultivators in Clear Stream Market this year is visibly larger than in previous years. For this, you actually deserve the thanks."
Hearing Zhou Yingxi praise him so much, Yulou waved his hand humbly.
"Don't flatter . It's actually not as incredible as you think; I just caught the dividend left by the disappearance of Hidden Dragon Market.
Because of the war, Hidden Dragon Market has temporarily disappeared, so the number of custors in Clear Stream Market has naturally increased."
This belonged to the universal category of connection.
On the other hand, Yulou couldn't charge into battle for the Wang Clan like Wang Xianzhou, nor could he be the stabilizing pillar of the clan like Wang Xianmao.
But he also wanted to contribute to the Wang Clan, so naturally he had to seize opportunities in ti and do what was within his capability.
Looking at Yulou, who spoke with such bold vision, Zhou Yingxi felt the gap between them.
She was like a flower raised under protection—high cultivation, strong strength, and a bright future, but lacking tempering. She would even feel fear and confusion over distant, irrelevant things.
But Yulou wasn't bad either. Growing in the cracks where soil was scarce, he was like a weed with vigorous vitality, not letting a single drop of rainwater slip by and striving to grasp every opportunity he could.
"Wang Yulou..."
Yulou hastily swallowed the donkey at in his mouth and asked,
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Yingxi's eyes flickered as she looked at the plate on the table.
"...Your family's donkey at is indeed delicious."
User Comments
0 comments from readers