However, to pacify the outside, one must first stabilize within.
Preparing a few plans is enough. The rest can only rely on improvisation.
Thus.
Three months later, at the end of the ninth month, in the fifth year of Wang Yu’s career as an executive.
The Flying Cloud Boat arrived at a vast and unfamiliar region. At first glance, countless green reeds swayed with the wind. They grew in very shallow waters.
The shallowest parts barely covered the toes, while the deepest reached only to the neck of an adult.
This region stretched for three thousand li.
It was also known as the Three Thousand Li Reed Marsh.
The waters were vast but shallow, clear yet not fertile. Only small fish and shrimp the size of a thumb lived in this region. Occasionally one could find a larger fish, but even those weighed less than ten jin. Combined with the thick mist unique to Cloud Ridge, from a distance, it truly looked like one had entered an immortal realm.
The mist clung to the water’s surface. Fishern punted their small covered boats, as though sailing across a sea of clouds. The scenery was magnificent beyond description. Every casual glance resembled a masterful ink-wash landscape painting.
“What a fine place.”
Wang Yu was instantly entranced. Feeling an itch in his hands, he quickly pulled out his Ghost-Weeping Flute, but nearly forgot its special nature. He hurried to change it for an ordinary flute.
He played in the skies while fishern rowed through the cloud sea below.
In the stillness above and the movent below, there was an inexplicable harmony.
His heart seed cleansed. As his flute techniques shifted with higher refinent, he vaguely grasped a thod to blend emotion into music.
He did not know how much ti passed.
When Wang Yu awakened at dusk, the three dual-path soul sound techniques inherited from Master Yin Crow had all advanced a great step forward.
Only then did he realize and muttered,
“So it was this simple. To rge the corresponding emotions.”
Below, the boatman had long since vanished. Wang Yu sighed, yet a smile rose on his face. What had just happened was exactly the legendary mont of enlightennt.
Only a very few people ever had the chance to encounter this.
Unfortunately, he had only comprehended shallowly for a single day, unable to enter a deeper state of awakening. Had it lasted ten days or half a month, stepping into great perfection would not have been impossible.
Mastering more perfected techniques gave Wang Yu far greater understanding of dao principles than others of the sa realm. One might even say he was not on the sa level at all.
When his mind settled, Wang Yu resud his journey toward Jade Spirit City. The Three Thousand Li Reed Marsh was already not far. After another thousand li he would arrive.
By sunrise he would certainly be there.
Just as the Flying Cloud Boat sped up, a soft voice suddenly sounded behind him.
“Daoist friend, please stay.”
Wang Yu was startled. To encounter such a thing right after arriving in Cloud Ridge Prefecture was not a good on. He was about to accelerate away, but the other’s flying vessel was higher grade and faster.
In the blink of an eye, it blocked his path.
It was much larger than his Flying Cloud Boat, twelve or thirteen ters long, in the style of a flower boat, with a small two-story crimson pavilion at its center.
From the second floor, a pearl-and-jade curtain was lifted slightly.
That soft and graceful voice sounded again.
“Daoist friend has remarkable attainnts in the art of music. Might I invite you to join my Cloud Dream Pavilion. Our sect is a branch descended from the Joyous Union Sect, adept in the Dao of Yin and Yang.
“If Daoist friend is willing to join, when matters of the bedchamber are practiced, if you play wondrous lodies in our building, spirit stones, secret thods, or beauties can all be granted to you.”
Joyous Union Demonic Sect? Wang Yu frowned slightly. Why was it that everywhere he went, there were always people from their line. The Dao of Yin and Yang, human relations, indeed could flourish anywhere.
Even Confucius once said, this is human instinct. There is nothing shaful about it.
Looking at the direction this pleasure boat sailed, could it be…?
Wang Yu cupped his hands and replied,
“Daoist friend flatters . Might I ask, are you headed toward Jade Spirit City?”
“Naturally. Daoist friend is cautious by nature. If you do not wish to join, that is fine. How about traveling together for now. Cloud Dream Pavilion is located in the northern district of Guiling.”
“That is acceptable.”
After agreeing, Wang Yu thought further.
The north of the city. Was that not under the jurisdiction of the City Lord’s Mansion. This was perfect. He could take the chance to inquire into matters. He guided his Flying Cloud Boat close to the second floor window of the flower boat.
“Would Daoist friend be willing to tell about Jade Spirit City. I ca from Blood Abyss Prefecture, new here and planning to settle nearby for cultivation.”
“A newcor?”
The voice inside paused, then spoke again.
“If Daoist friend has confidence, then co aboard my Rouge Boat. Cloud Dream Pavilion does business openly. We also deal in information. It simply depends on what grade of information Daoist friend desires.”
After a mont’s thought, Wang Yu decisively stowed away his Flying Cloud Boat and stepped onto the second-floor balcony.
Since ancient tis, casinos, brothels, and restaurants were always the most well-inford places. Cloud Dream Pavilion’s flesh business combined with intelligence trade was nothing unusual.
The surface information given by Three Young Master was already very detailed. The hidden information was better known by locals, and also more up to date.
Inside, a beautiful mature woman with hair styled in the Morning Clouds and Fragrance bun lay sideways on a soft couch. Before her was a short table with a tea set, wisps of steam rising from jade cups.
One slender jade hand propped her chin, the other played with a string of beads.
She wore an outer robe of peony-red phoenix-patterned golden fabric. Her inner clothing was small and tight, a plain short corset skirt. From its hem extended loose white translucent gauze trousers.
Her inner garnt pushed up her full chest, revealing an alluring cleavage and a great expanse of snowy skin.
Altogether, her outfit was seductive without being vulgar, enticing without being wanton.
The beauty was revealed to its very limits, especially her plump legs beneath the sheer gauze. One could not help but let the gaze wander upward into that absolute domain.
Wang Yu’s expression remained calm, with only a trace of appreciation for beauty. The phrase “having the will but lacking the strength” was made for him.
“Daoist friend, how should I address you.”
“Wang Yu.”
“Chao Yun-niang.”
“An honor, an honor.”
After the greetings, when it ca to business, Chao Yunniang finally sat up and poured Wang Yu a cup of tea.
“Daoist Wang is indeed handso. I wonder, regarding this intelligence trade, what exactly do you wish to ask about.”
“The situation of Jade Spirit City. The forces inside the city, the forces outside, nearby blessed lands and treasure grounds, and so on. The more complete the better. I have just arrived and must be careful not to offend the local powers.”
“Indeed.”
Chao Yunniang nodded and took out three jade slips.
“I have three sets of information, lower, middle, and upper. The prices are one thousand, three thousand, and five thousand lower-grade spirit stones. Daoist Wang, which one do you choose.”
“The upper-grade information.”
Wang Yu tossed out a storage pouch and imdiately began reading, which made Chao Yunniang laugh.
“It seems Daoist Wang is quite strong.”
“Just a skill to rely on, nothing more.”
In a short while he had finished digesting the jade slip. Sure enough, it contained much that could not be found openly.
The Bai, Guan, and Jiang families.
The Bai family excelled in spiritual planting techniques, owning the most spiritual fields. They cultivated a type of spiritual rice called Blood Fang Rice. Their family foundation was deep, producing nearly two hundred thousand spirit stones annually.
The Guan family owned a bamboo grove and a mountain of rare stones. They ran the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone trade of the cultivation world. Ranked second among the three families, they had many strong cultivators and produced about one hundred fifty thousand spirit stones annually.
The Jiang family inherited the four great crafts: alchemy, artifact refining, talisman crafting, and array formation. They had several lineages in each craft, though most were first-rank. Only their alchemy inheritance reached second-rank.
They ranked third, with an annual production of nearly one hundred thousand spirit stones, but their expenditures were even greater, already showing signs of deficit.
Fortunately this was only one source of inco for the three great families. Though it was the main stream, they also had other ans of earning spirit stones.
Among them, the Bai family secretly traded with Yellow Springs Monastery, apparently helping to collect the souls of deceased cultivators, which was a large amount of gray inco.
Aside from the three great families, there were many small forces founded by Foundation Establishnt cultivators within the city. They were spread evenly throughout various districts. Cloud Dream Pavilion was among them, though not much was ntioned in the intelligence.
As for the City Lord’s Manor, there was very little information, only a few stewards who appeared regularly.
Wang Yu was sowhat glad to have t Chao Yunniang.
The financial reports, the minor factions, the Bai family’s dealings with Yellow Springs Monastery, and so on were not ntioned in the official intelligence.
The five thousand spirit stones were well spent.
The intelligence also ntioned external powers. The Core Formation forces Ink-Water Sect, Purple Dragon Mountain, and Scent-Hearing Cult were the overlords near Jade Spirit City.
They also had branches within the city, mostly in the northern district.
In other words, the northern city was a region divided among four powers. The competition there was fierce. Though nominally under the jurisdiction of the City Lord’s Manor, they seed powerless to control it.
Satisfied though he was, Wang Yu still had questions.
“Why is there so little information about the City Lord’s Manor, not even the number of people inside.”
Hearing this, Chao Yunniang hesitated.
“This...”
Expressionless, Wang Yu tossed out another storage pouch.
“Three thousand spirit stones.”
Whatever he spent now, once he reached Jade Spirit City he would have others repay him threefold. He was not a devil.
With spirit stones in hand, Chao Yunniang smiled and began speaking.
“Jade Spirit City’s Lord’s Manor belongs directly to the Blood Reversal Sect. Aside from the city lord appointed by the Sect, all stewards, servants, and subordinates must be recruited personally by the city lord.
“The previous city lord returned to the sect nearly a hundred years ago and has not been heard from since. Within the city, the people only know of General Tuoba, not the city lord.
“The Tuoba family rose only recently. Their foundation is far weaker than the three great families, but his strength is formidable. It is said he has already broken through to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishnt and has hopes of reaching Core Formation.
“The entire City Lord’s Manor is under the control of the Tuoba family. They have about three hundred Qi Refining cultivators and two Foundation Establishnt cultivators.”
Wang Yu imdiately understood. The previous city lord, nad Zhuo Kuangsheng, had been at the peak of Foundation Establishnt. When he attempted Core Formation, sothing went wrong. He perished in his cave abode without even summoning tribulation lightning.
Among the three Nascent Soul families with deep foundations, this was extrely rare. Even in the worst case, one should at least summon lightning.
Because of this, outsiders believed he was still waiting for an opportunity. Only after three or four decades was it realized he had failed. The matter of Jade Spirit City had been fought over by internal factions.
Until Zhuo Shouqing secretly sent people to help Wang Yu take control, ending the matter.
This much Wang Yu already knew.
As for the Tuoba family usurping the manor, even if they had Foundation Establishnt eighth layer, facing him they would kneel. Let alone Core Formation early stage. To occupy the City Lord’s Manor was courting death.
They had lived long enough. They would serve well as a stepping stone for him to establish his authority.
No wonder when he set out, the three young masters felt there would be no great trouble. With such a target, things would indeed go more smoothly.
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