Shangyuque

Chapter 210 Wang Yuque's Chess Game, Huzhou Undergoes Changes and Expands (1.07W)

At the Qunxiantai, Fang Xinqian hid behind the crowd, standing solemnly with his hands at his sides, but his mind had already drifted to the highest heavens.

He was a seasoned procrastinator. In the Immortal City's Immortal Platform, the Purple Mansions stood in two separate groups, with Vice Alliance Leader Wang Yuque sitting high above.

Some are manipulating loyalty, others are spouting nonsense. Despite being the ruling center of the top-tier Immortal Alliance, they have absolutely no dignity.

Dignity is useless; interests are what truly matter. When tangible benefits are difficult to achieve quickly, the illusory 'loyalty' and 'reliability' to a faction can also be seen as a form of interest.

In the mutual attacks between the conservatives and the reformists, both sides won, but by a small margin, or even a meager one—the illusion is ultimately just an illusion.

Therefore, Fang Xinqian felt perfectly justified in slacking off.

Qi Refining cultivators serve as dogs for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Foundation Establishment cultivators act as lackeys for senior Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Even after opening the Purple Mansion, the Purple Mansion still has to serve as a dog to the Immortal Venerable.

Even after becoming a Celestial Venerable, sometimes one cannot escape the fate of being a dog, like Shenguang.

Fang Xinqian sometimes thinks that cultivating immortality is not that interesting. Very few people become masters on the path, while the rest pass on the role of dogs.

The Foundation Establishment stage officials in the Immortal Alliance are the dogs of Vice Alliance Leader Wang Yuque, who in turn is the dog of Mang Xiang, who in turn is the dog of Taihe Shuizun and Qingrui.

Fang Xinqian didn't think this game of being a dog was interesting—but he was wrong; Wang Yulou wasn't anyone's dog.

If he has a so-called master, it should be the large but internally divided conservative faction of the Immortal Alliance.

Wang Yulou was subservient to the tyrannical elephant.

By appeasing the conservatives and pushing forward with reforms, Wang Yulou would have room to maneuver.

"Haha, it's lively and exciting! The arguments are good; it shows everyone has a lot of enthusiasm for the reforms."

Wang Yuque on the stage interrupted the argument and started rambling.

Fang Xinqian admired the deputy leader from the bottom of his heart—the fact that the dispute showed that everyone was enthusiastic about reform was something an honest person could never come up with in a lifetime.

But despite his admiration, Fang Xinqian could not possibly truly support the reform.

While admiring this young vice-leader, the heads of various departments within the Immortal Alliance felt more worried than anything else.

Mang Xiang's reforms began with cutting redundant staff in the Immortal Alliance, and Wang Yulou's appointment was specifically to address this issue.

Therefore, Fang Xinqian had already made up his mind about the reform—shouting slogans was fine, but if it really went to the Ministry of Personnel, it had to be secretly obstructed.

This has nothing to do with Wang Yulou's background, the importance of the Mangxiang Reform, or the laws of the Immortal Alliance; it only concerns interests.

Strength determines everything, but within the order established by the Immortal Alliance, a bottom-up logic still exists.

Specifically, the more cultivators Fang Xinqian, the more he had under his command, the greater the room for manipulation and exploitation he could have.

The reforms were for the great cultivators above the Immortal Alliance, so Fang Xinqian chose to agree with both hands raised; they were not for the cattle and horses below, and while agreeing with both hands raised, Fang Xinqian had already prepared five ingenious plans to deal with the layoffs.

When it comes to protecting their own interests, even someone like Fang Xinqian who enjoys slacking off can unleash amazing potential in terms of motivation and initiative.

"Fellow Daoist Hongdou, how is your detailed plan for implementing the selection system, which I asked you to prepare, coming along?"

Wang Yuque smiled and nodded at Yu Hongdou, saying...

Upon hearing Wang Yulou mention the plan, Changshui Zhenren's eyes lit up—she thought it was Wang Yulou's hint, like some kind of 'dog whistle,' that Wang Yulou was hinting to them, the conservatives.

What is being implied?
Let's get team building activities going!
This is not even workplace violence. Workplace violence is a narrative constructed under a stable order, based on the practical view of protecting the working class and creating greater value for society.

In theory, workplace violence and infighting are bad; in reality, they are an inevitable consequence of conflicting interests.

For cultivators, those who can't withstand internal strife are considered useless, and they don't receive much psychological comfort.

However, Master Changshui was probably disappointed.

The "Detailed Plan for Implementing the Selection System" that Yu Hongdou presented today was personally approved by Wang Yuque, and every single point in it was designed by Wang Yuque.

His purpose was not to better win over the conservative group leader Yu Hongdou.

"Reporting to the Alliance Leader, is the full implementation of the selection system..."
Of course, specific measures must take into account past habits, so…

Yan Kang's expression was somewhat strange. He didn't understand why Yu Hongdou's words seemed to imply a concession.

Could it be that Wang Yulou said something to her that day that made her wary and afraid to charge forward again?

The details of Yu Hongdou Zhenren's visit to Wang Yuque to deliver gifts are not well known; all that is known is that Yu Hongdou went to see Wang Yuque.

"Based on the recommendation system, a second selection process is conducted on the basis of equal number of recommendations."

Chang Shui's eyes suddenly widened—no, she was serious!
Driven by self-interest, Wang Yulou readily accepted the coveted position of vice-leader, a position as precarious as a volcano.

Driven by self-interest, Yu Hongdou willingly stepped into the center of the reform stage.

Conflicts within the Immortal Alliance have long existed, but they don't necessarily erupt in civil war; they can also escalate into power struggles at crucial turning points in the alliance's history.

This kind of battle is cruel in itself, and Wang Yulou and Yu Hongdou, who are pawns in it, have their own will.

The immortals on the Immortal Platform desire their interests to remain forever secure, while the young immortals yearn to establish their own legends.

At this turning point in history, Wang Yulou completely ignored Kingsoft's warning.

Jinshan's reminder was very reasonable, practical, and considerate, but Wang Yulou had no intention of listening to a word of it.

Seeking stability?

Despite seeking stability for so long, the Wang family remained floundering amidst the turbulent tides of the times, never truly taking control of their own destiny.

To achieve extraordinary returns, one must accomplish something extraordinary.

What kind of career can be considered extraordinary?
The Wild Elephant Reform aims to fundamentally reshape the power structure within the Immortal Alliance, exchanging boundless bloodshed for new 'increments' belonging to the great cultivators. It is ruthless, creative, and extraordinary.

Wang Yulou also wanted to implement his own reforms, a minor reform under the Mangxiang Reforms, proactively creating work resources and opportunities.

In terms of institutional design, the interest order within the core of the Immortal Alliance's executive layer is restructured, thereby ensuring that they can secure their share of the 'Purple Mansion Opportunity'.

"By adopting a recommendation-first, selection-later approach, we will build a more vibrant new Immortal Alliance!"

Silence fell.

Yu Hongdou finished speaking, but the Immortal City's Immortal Platform was completely silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even Fang Xinqian, who was slacking off and daydreaming, was on tenterhooks.

If Yu Hongdou's previous "obstruction" was simply blocking the King's Jade Palace, then her suggestion now has some feasibility.

First, we recommend this to take into account the fundamental interests of the Immortal Alliance shareholders.

The selection process takes into account the relative interests of the Immortal Alliance cultivators.

In the cultivation world where strength is paramount, the monopolistic nature of the recommendation power means that those who rise to the top are still the great cultivators.

For those cultivators who had aspirations and ambitions, the selection process achieved a kind of relative fairness, as if it were a groundbreaking achievement.

That sounds good, however.
"You scoundrel! Wang Yulou, you only met Yu Hongdou once, and she gave you this advice."

Your good master has played a grand game with you. The Immortal Alliance's reforms have reached this point; your ambitions can no longer be hidden.

The Immortal Alliance was established by the Immortal Venerables and the Ancestors, so naturally, they have the final say in matters concerning the Immortal Alliance.

The laws and regulations of the Immortal Alliance are none of your business, you incompetent vice leader. Even your so-called master was just a Golden Core cultivator supported by the Ancestor.

"Don't even mention you, even if your beloved master came in person, I still wouldn't agree to this kind of reform!"

Master Changshui may appear gentle, but when he starts speaking, he becomes incredibly eloquent and unrestrained.

Wang Yulou looked at her quietly, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.

Taihe Water Vessel, what a grand name, truly a grand name.

The Golden Core Immortal Venerable, who has been in existence for 60,000 years, holds a position of near-unrivaled supremacy in Huzhou.

Such an existence is certainly not something that Wang Yulou can directly confront at present.

However, he never intended to confront Taihe Shuizun.

Ultimately, it was this old woman, Changshui, who was spreading rumors and making baseless accusations.

But Wang Yulou is no longer a young man; given his skill level, he could certainly have foreseen today's events.

He had considered this possibility when Yu Hongdou left.

Therefore, Wang Yulou was not angry, not even a trace of emotion; he simply spoke calmly.

"Fellow Daoist Changshui, let's not even talk about whether I've colluded with Yu Hongdou."

Reform is easy to talk about, but difficult to implement.

My idea is to freeze new memberships for Immortal Alliance cultivators. After a hundred years, a large portion of the Immortal Alliance's redundant members will naturally disappear.

However, I haven't received a reply from my master regarding whether this strategy will be implemented.

As for Fellow Daoist Hongdou's suggestion, Fellow Daoist Changshui, you must let someone speak up.

The best course of action is to implement a minor reform, give Yu Hongdou a hard time, and then modify the specific measures, allowing him to personally lead the "recommendation first, selection later" reform.

The middle strategy is to "freeze personnel for a hundred years." After a hundred years, the number of Immortal Alliance cultivators who are still alive will probably be greatly reduced, possibly to only half.

The worst course of action is to follow Kingsoft's advice: uphold the correct principles and proceed steadily.

These three approaches are all good ideas for reform, but they differ in difficulty and face vastly different obstacles.

However, the results would be different. If Wang Yulou had only served as a vessel for the will of the reckless elephant, he could probably have pushed the reforms through even with a less-than-ideal strategy.

After all, the material transactions within Wanlitai and the delivery pressures of Wanlifang clearly point to the true attitudes of the great cultivators within the Immortal Alliance towards the reforms.

There are many who support it, many who don't oppose it, but not many who are truly willing to oppose it.

Mangxiang's approach was excellent.

But this was not good for Wang Yulou, yes, not good.

The interests of Mangxiang, the interests of the great cultivators, the interests of the Immortal Alliance as a whole, and the interests of Wang Yulou are not the same thing at all, but four different things.

It's that complicated, that frustrating—anyone who can't stand these rules doesn't deserve to be the vice leader!
With their support, the reform will likely proceed smoothly and easily, but wouldn't that make me, Wang Yulou, seem dispensable?

Note that this is a very real problem.

Faced with this problem, Wang Yulou devised the best strategy—to proactively create a stage for himself to demonstrate his abilities.

As for whether this best course of action would arouse suspicion from some immortals and directly endanger Wang Yulou's life, he was not too worried.

When he was the unsung commander on the two front lines, his men often preferred to work alone.

In the brutal world of cultivation, fighting against other powerful opponents requires the participants in this gamble to recruit more heroes to serve them. However, capable heroes always have other demands besides loyalty.

Wang Yulou believed he was capable of securing his position as the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance and that he had the 'authority' to make more attempts.

This 'authority' was not written in any rules, nor was it ever promised to Wang Yulou, but he was certain that he had this authority—practice makes perfect.

Even if Wang Yulou's best strategy is not accepted by some conservatives, he can flexibly abandon it.

Just like now, with the Changshui River gushing forth, Wang Yulou immediately offered his middle strategy.

This is actually the normal way of doing things. Even Changshui's slander and false accusations would not arouse the slightest emotion in Wang Yulou.

Where is this?

"freeze?
Freezing new personnel appointments is a good approach, but it also has its problems.

For example, some of the job categories in the Immortal Alliance are key job categories.

You said a few days ago that Wanlifang was going to add more people, but now it's frozen again. Doesn't all the work I've done over this period of time have been for nothing?
Of course, compared to the Immortal Alliance's important mission of serving all cultivators, my personal work is not important.

However, if the freeze cannot be completely lifted, then deciding which departments are fully frozen, which are partially frozen, and which are not frozen at all is a complex issue.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, this reform is a momentous matter. You must consider the whole picture and not act on a whim."

Changshui Zhenren realized that she had just been a bit overreacted and had inappropriately breathed on the monstrous elephant. Now she was much more rational.

It's not entirely her fault; Yu Hongdou's suggestion was so likely to be put into practice that even Yan Kang, Fang Xinqian, and others were taken aback.

If the "recommendation first, selection later" policy is implemented, the department most affected will undoubtedly be the Immortal Selection Division. As the Director of the Immortal Selection Division, Changshui's stress response is understandable.

“Fellow Daoist Changshui, you see, you yourself said that the Immortal Alliance’s responsibility to serve the world is more important than our personal honor and disgrace.”

For me, the position of vice leader is insignificant. I just want to do a good job of the tasks given to me by the immortals on the Immortal Platform and live up to their expectations.

You're right, we need to consider the whole picture.

Wang Yulou made a fuss, subtly criticizing Changshui, but it was a fair exchange.

Then, he added solemnly.

"It is important to consider all aspects. My personal ideas are bound to have shortcomings. We need to work together to make the best of a good impression."

Regarding Fellow Daoist Hongdou's suggestion of "recommendation before selection" and my proposed freezing of appointments, I would like to offer some opinions. Please feel free to speak your minds.

The vice leader said everyone should speak freely, but everyone remained quiet, almost like quails.

While the Purple Mansion cultivators communicated telepathically, Wang Yulou slowly scanned the heads of the various core departments who were at the peak of Foundation Establishment, observing their expressions and states.

No one answered. Even Changshui was worried that if he spoke again, he would seem too presumptuous, but Wang Yulou was not in a hurry at all.

It's normal for no one to answer.

Reform is not something ordinary people dare to touch. Most of the people present were terrified—they couldn't understand the situation and couldn't see the 'truth' that Wang Yulou had already confirmed as real.

What is true?

There is too much consensus on reform and too little resistance; the only problem lies in the specific plan. However, this "truth" does not align with Wang Yulou's interests.

Wang Yulou possesses both patience and composure in facing this complex and challenging task.

He must both become 'good'—good for himself and obtain the opportunity to ascend to the Purple Mansion—and avoid the situation where he himself dies as a result.

After a long while, Yan Kang stepped forward and gave the Vice Alliance Leader face.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque's plan is very good. Freezing personnel can avoid chaos caused by the standards for layoffs."

However, freezing also has its drawbacks.
Furthermore, the idea of ​​recommending first and then selecting is utterly absurd; Fellow Daoist Red Bean has acted without sufficient consideration and should not have even considered it.

Yan Kang was helping Wang Yulou. Wang Yulou wanted to change the rules, but he immediately encountered opposition from Changshui. This opposition was just the beginning. If he really wanted to do it this way in the future, the resistance would be even greater.

For Wang Yulou, letting the matter drop and pinning the blame for being "immature" on Yu Hongdou is the best option right now.

"What Fellow Daoist Yan said makes sense. A normal dismissal would lead to disputes over the standards."

The pursuit of efficient and simple freezing may lead to disputes regarding the determination of freezing.

"Alright then, everyone go back and write down your proposals for reform, and we'll discuss them again next time."

After saying that, Yu Lou looked at Yu Hongdou and teased her.

"Fellow Daoist Hongdou, you don't need to write this time, so I won't be misunderstood again, hahaha."

"I will obey the Alliance Leader's decree."

Yu Hongdou looked unwell, but she was secretly overjoyed—it was finally over, and she wouldn't have to be dragged to team building by Wang Yuque anymore.

Perhaps at some point she harbored the ambition to follow Wang Yuque onto the stage of reform, as arranged by Wang Yulou, but at this moment, that ambition had clearly vanished.

She also saw the 'truth'—the truth that the resistance to reform wasn't that great. She even considered going with the flow and taking advantage of Wang Yulou's need for her to act as a mouthpiece to get on stage.

But she had already opened her Purple Mansion, and it was too difficult to go any further. Her desire to go further was suppressed by her desire for stability.

Changshui, standing to the side, looked disdainful; she still believed that Wang Yulou and Yu Hongdou were in cahoots.

Last time, Yu Hongdou proposed a comprehensive selection process; this time, she proposed a recommendation process followed by selection, taking each step with cunning and scheming.

Thinking of this, she looked at the vice leader at the head of the group.

Coincidentally, the vice leader was also looking at her.

Noticing Changshui's gaze, Wang Yulou smiled slightly and said.

"Fellow Daoist Changshui, you can communicate with me at any time if you have any opinions. I just hope that you will not misunderstand me like that again next time."

We can discuss anything; he's not one to dictate the conversation.

Compromise, confrontation, tug-of-war, game theory, vying for bargaining chips—reform is essentially a battle of wits.

He fought against the resistance within the Immortal Alliance, against the powerful cultivators who wanted the reforms to proceed smoothly and prevent Wang Yulou from displaying his abilities, and against his allies within the conservative faction.

We must fight, but we must fight without breaking apart, and we must also achieve success in reform.

How can this not be spiritual practice?
Yes, it is, and it is an extremely high threshold, a 'top cultivation realm' that the vast majority of cultivators can never reach in their lifetime.

Most people, after a lifetime of struggle, only end up being one in thirty million!
Does such a person have the right to stand in the Immortal City's Immortal Platform and fight with the Changshui True Man under the Taihe Water Venerable's tutelage?

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, you flatter me. As long as we are both thinking of the cultivators of the world, there will never be any misunderstandings."

Master Changshui retorted calmly.

Xiao Deng, who do you think you are?
Wang Yulou nodded with a smile, showing no sign of objection.

As the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, his thoughts naturally revolve around the great cultivators of the world. Even if he doesn't actually think about them, he has to appear to be thinking about them—this is one of his job duties.

By maintaining this stance, he will always remain invincible.
-
"You don't know, that person used to raise donkeys, and he started shoveling donkey dung when he was three years old."

Have you ever seen donkey dung? It's black, smelly, and incredibly stinky.

And yet, this guy who grew up shoveling donkey dung has become the vice leader of the alliance. Who can you complain to about that?

Those who spout nonsense and believe in so-called 'reason' will never achieve foundation building.

In the cultivation world, only strength reigns supreme; all reason is a fabricated lie.

Coincidentally, the speaker was indeed a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, dressed in luxurious robes, and incredibly magnanimous. As he spoke, he was also playing with the lake maiden of Misty Lake.

Beside him were four cultivators, two men and two women, each holding a fairy from the lake and playing with her.

As a top-tier establishment under the Taihe Water Palace, Yinyun Lake has been operating for tens of thousands of years and is one of the most extravagant consumption venues under the rule of the Immortal Alliance.

The cultivators who come here are all wealthy and noble, but these people are all at the Qi Refining stage, belonging to the fringes of the great clans, and their only skill is gossiping.

"Ha, what do you know? I have more secret information. Do you want to hear it?"

"Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me!" a female cultivator who looked to be in her fifties snapped.

"Ha, Wang Yuque once worked as a cook at a donkey meat restaurant in a market under the Red Lanterns. His first Daoist partner was a customer he met at the donkey meat restaurant."

You don't know, that woman is a direct descendant of the Wunan Zifu family, and she likes to eat donkey intestines. Wang Yuque is very good at making donkey intestines.

That donkey intestine, hey, it's where the dung is stored, it's full of dung.

Wang Yuque would get up at the beginning of the morning to shovel excrement, then wash himself, and then prepare the excrement. After that, he would wait for the direct descendant of the Purple Mansion to arrive, and then eagerly deliver it to him.

It was precisely because of his skill in making donkey intestines that he was able to join the direct line of the Purple Mansion and achieve his current status.

"See? I told you you didn't know!"

"Wang Yuque has such a past? I thought he used to just shovel donkey dung."

"Then think about it, he must have embellished it, right? What if people knew that the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance used to be... right? Hahaha."

The old woman lying in the man's arms suddenly got up, waved her hand in dissatisfaction, and then sighed with a look of longing.

"What do you know?
He gets up at dawn to make donkey intestines for his beloved female cultivator; what a wonderful man!

"Lord Alliance Leader, this is wonderful, so wonderful! I wish I had such a caring person."

The unofficial histories of the cultivators in the Immortal City are indeed quite wild.

However, Fang Xinqian found it quite amusing.

Even if you asked Fang Xinqian to say such things, he would never dare to say them, but he loves to hear them, enjoys hearing them, and wants to hear them more.

However, he couldn't listen to too much. Today, after leaving Qunxiantai, he sent invitations to several friends who were also managers of the Immortal Alliance to have a small gathering at Yinyun Lake.

Now that the time was almost up, he hurried forward, left the hall, and entered the private room by the lake.

Inside the private room, two people were already seated: a female cultivator dressed in fine clothes and wearing a crown, and Chen Yangshi with a calm expression and a barely perceptible smile.

"Old Fang, you're late. You'll have to drink two cups of wine as punishment later."

The female cultivator and Fang Xinqian were old acquaintances, and when she saw him come in, she immediately asked him a question.

"If you're treating, I'm willing to drink five cups of wine as a penalty, provided it's good wine."

Chen Yangshi smiled and shook his head, thinking to himself that Fang Xinqian was still the same shameless person.

The three of them grew up together. The female cultivator's name was Deng Mingzhu. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, she entered the sect of the Purple Mansion Grand Master and became his favored concubine. Now she is the head of the Immortal Alliance's Huaguan Workshop.

Fang Xinqian developed his career in the Immortal Alliance. With his decent talent and good character, he was noticed by the elders of the clan and appointed as the seal-bearer of the Seal Bureau.

Chen Yangshi's journey was much more complicated. After all, Qionghai Zhenren was an "outsider" who started in the Western Sea. He became a member of the Immortal Alliance early on, working his way up step by step from a member to a steward and then being transferred to the Immortal City.

It was good luck that I was able to become the Director of the Law Enforcement Bureau. The previously designated Director was rumored to be a laughing stock in the Immortal City because he had an affair with a great demon.

If such a person were to serve as the Director of the Immortal Alliance's Legal Affairs Department, wouldn't the Immortal Alliance's structure become a joke?

Therefore, Chen Yangshi, who had already reached the ceiling of deputy director, was able to go further and become director.

"With such a grand event as Fang Siyin's, even a small amount of money from you would be enough to cover all my expenses. Why would I, a mere woman, need to treat you?"

Deng Mingzhu was too close to Fang Xinqian and Chen Yangshi, and she spoke without any restraint.

Forget it, I wouldn't dare touch you!

Fang Xinqian retorted to Deng Mingzhu and then called over the local host. He was about to order a few dishes that everyone liked, as was their usual practice, but the host said something else.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Si Yin. Our Yinyun Lake has recently launched a batch of new dishes. Would you like to take a look?"

"Oh? Let's take a look."

Upon seeing the jade serving board, Fang Xinqian was delighted.

'Alliance Leader's Spirit Donkey Meat - Nineteen Spirit Stones'

'Alliance Leader Donkey Intestine Head - Twenty-nine Spirit Stones'

'The Alliance Leader's Donkey - 39 Spirit Stones'

'Alliance Leader's Donkey Liver and Lungs - Free Gift for Single Tables Ordering Fifty Spirit Stones or More'

"Haha, you guys are amazing! It's only been a few days. Come on, everyone, have one."

After the guest left with a smile, Deng Mingzhu asked in confusion.

"What's written on it?"

Fang Xinqian pursed her lips and couldn't help but complain.

"Wang Yuque has only been in office for a month, and Yinyun Lake has already started promoting his hometown dishes. I don't know if it's to flatter him or to deliberately disgust Wang Yuque."

Deng Mingzhu's place, Huaguanfang, was too peripheral, and she was not qualified to attend the Qunxiantai, so she did not understand Fang Xinqian's words.

"Intentionally trying to disgust Wang Yuque?"

He pointed at Chen Yangshi and said with a sincere heart.

"Old Chen, you were even kept for a while by our respected Vice Alliance Leader today. He is currently enjoying great favor with you. What do you say?"

Chen Yangshi smiled helplessly and quickly explained.

"The Alliance Leader asked me about the laws and regulations for dismissing Immortal Alliance cultivators. As for Mingzhu, you may not know this, but in the Hall of Immortals, True Person Changshui and the Alliance Leader had a minor disagreement."

Reform is too complex; a gradual, normal process would not only be a long delay but also create various obstacles.

The Alliance Leader's idea is to freeze the recruitment of Immortal Alliance cultivators for one hundred years, without laying off anyone, waiting for people to voluntarily comply, thereby avoiding the internal strife that might result from proactive layoffs.

"Changshui Zhenren and Wang Yuque have clashed? Aren't they both conservative Zhenren?" Deng Mingzhu asked, puzzled.

"Yes, but the Water Venerable has great power. Before the Mangxiang Immortal Venerable reformed the law, his people had already secured positions in the Immortal Selection Division."

Now that Wang Yuque is pushing for reforms, Changshui Zhenren has stepped forward to interfere with the details of the reforms.

Wang Yuque naturally disagreed, so he deliberately suggested freezing the market for a hundred years.

Furthermore, Yang Shi, don't you have a feeling that Hongdou Zhenren and Wang Yuque have joined forces?

Fang Xinqian was just lazy by nature, not mentally challenged, so of course he could understand the situation.

Mang Xiang implemented reforms, but Taihe Shuizun wanted to eat meat.

Taihe Shuizun ate meat, but the price was that Mangxiang's reforms were difficult to advance—Wang Yuque did not agree.

Chen Yangshi savored the donkey meat without looking up, only speaking in a low voice.

"Maybe, just maybe."

First, present a reform approach that is completely unacceptable to everyone, and then present a seemingly acceptable approach with slightly less resistance.

If we're not mistaken, then the Alliance Leader has a clever plan. Freezing personnel for a hundred years is a direct attack on the Immortal Selection Division.

Moreover, when it comes to reforming a system, if you bring out a so-called enemy to fight, and you win, people will think twice before opposing it again.

However, I initially thought this enemy was Master Hongdou, but I never expected it to be Master Changshui in the end.

A good sandbag is very valuable, and any smart person can realize that.

“Wang Yuque may not have been able to foresee that Changshui would come out to obstruct him. That’s not right either, the day he took office, Changshui Zhenren had already opposed him once.”

Fang Xinqian was dizzy from the analysis, while Chen Yangshi took a sip of wine, looked up and smiled.

"It was that time, think back, the Alliance Leader was so majestic, taking office as the Vice Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance, everything was fine."

Suddenly, Master Changshui came out and said, "Adding people isn't something you can do just because you want to."

Deng Mingzhu knew about this. The Immortal City was both very large and very small, and gossip spread faster than flying swords.

"Haha, you mean that 'Do you want it difficult, or do you want it easy' question?"

Chen Yangshi nodded and said.

"Yes, Master Changshui was very polite and pretended to be stupid at first, but the Alliance Leader was probably dissatisfied from then on."

Coincidentally, Yu Hongdou mentioned the selection system, so the Alliance Leader joined forces with Yu Hongdou to provoke Changshui Zhenren again.

And that's how we ended up in the situation we have today.

There are three points here that can be confirmed.

Firstly, Yu Hongdou is not the leader's target, but merely a punching bag.

Secondly, while the reform was agreed upon on the Immortal Platform, the conservative immortals had different ideas during the actual reform process.

At the very least, Changshui Zhenren, who preemptively secured his place in the Immortal Selection Division, clearly did not fully support the Alliance Leader.

Thirdly, regardless of whether Changshui Zhenren or the Alliance Leader wins, once the conflict becomes about who will lead the downsizing, the decision to reform and dismiss people has already been made.

Therefore, I suspect that the Alliance Leader deliberately chose Master Changshui as his 'opponent.'

all hit!

A moment of silence fell over the table, until Deng Mingzhu broke the awkward silence by pouring wine for Chen Yangshi, sighing as she did so.

"Whether or not to lay off employees, and how to lay them off, is not something we can decide."

"Your alliance leader is so powerful, if he really targets my Huaguan Workshop, I'll obediently accept the order."

"Haha, Old Chen, if Mingzhu hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed. You've become a disciple of Jade Palace Immortal?"

"Forget it, if that were the case, I'd call him Master. Stop talking nonsense, can't a donkey's intestines shut your rotten mouth?"

"Hey, Mingzhu, Yangshi, you don't know, but today in the hall, I overheard some unofficial history about the 'Respected Alliance Leader'."

After drinking for more than ten minutes, Fang Xinqian went off to fool around with a female lake girl in the Foundation Establishment stage, leaving Deng Mingzhu and Chen Yangshi alone in the private room.

Mingzhu's cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol. When she saw Fang Xinqian leave, she threw herself into Chen Yangshi's arms.

The couple, deeply in love, couldn't wait to bite and gnaw at each other for quite a while before finally separating, panting heavily.

"Yangshi, do you think you'll have a future if you follow Wang Yuque?"

Leaning against her lover's chest, Mingzhu blinked her eyes, which were full of pity.

Wang Yuque rose to the position of vice leader of the Immortal Alliance at a young age, but how could her lover be any less than Wang Yuque?
Wang Yuque became the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance at the age of 87, Chen Yangshi reached the Foundation Establishment stage at the age of 26 and peaked at the age of 53, and is now only 92 years old.

Wang Yuque was a prodigy, but in Deng Mingzhu's eyes, Chen Yangshi was also a prodigy, only lacking an ancestor or master called Immortal Venerable.

Wang Yuque's chess game was very skillful and ambitious; he even dared to challenge Taihe Shuizun's people. Yet, her lover could see through the intricacies of the game perfectly.

He was just a little less lucky than Wang Yuque, that's all.

"Don't worry, I will definitely open my Purple Mansion. When that happens, things will be much easier between us."

Those powerful cultivators are cold-hearted; I can get you back by offering that old geezer some benefits.”

With Lao Fang gone, Chen Yangshi dropped his pretense, his eyes burning with the same surging ambition and desire.

The immortal lords of the Immortal Alliance desire that their status remain unchanged forever and that their interests never be harmed.

The young cultivators of the Immortal Alliance yearn to create their own legend.

The great cultivators shaped the current cultivation world with the laws of heaven and earth, a cage-like order, and ruthless killing, but they could not extinguish the desire of those who pursued the Dao.

Wang Yulou craved a stage to showcase his abilities, and in this desire, he even regarded the reform plans set by the great cultivators as mere playthings.

Chen Yangshi longed to open his Purple Palace, gain immortality, and marry the girl he loved.

How could these extraordinary souls possibly submit forever?

"Yangshi, that's not what I meant. You know, you're the only one in my heart."

He was on top of me, and all I could think about was you. Whether you opened your Purple Mansion or not, you were the best in my heart.

Deng Mingzhu didn't want to put too much pressure on Chen Yangshi. As a disciple of a powerful clan who grew up in the Immortal City, she knew all too well how difficult it was to open the Purple Mansion.

The Purple Palace is difficult, more difficult than ascending to the heavens.

Qi Refining cultivators can soar to the heavens, but true freedom is like a treasure locked away by layers of iron chains; it's not something you can simply ask for.

"This time is different. Reform, reform, the opportunity for reform that Immortal Venerable Mangxiang sought may very well push the Immortal Alliance into the abyss."

Wang Yulou thought himself clever, but he didn't consider how old he was. Could a Foundation Establishment cultivator from another state really understand the situation of the Immortal Alliance?

Immortal Venerable Cangshan supported Wang Yulou's appointment and also supported Immortal Venerable Mangxiang's reforms. These reforms allowed for the removal of people, and those most affected were likely Immortal Venerable Cangshan's own faction.

Why did he do this?

To achieve the Golden Core stage, the Immortal Venerable Mangxiang even enlisted the help of a legendary great cultivator like Bifang, and now he's initiating another bizarre transformation.
Just wait and see, the Immortal Alliance will surely descend into chaos. Chaos is a stepping stone, our stepping stone.”

In fact, Chen Yangshi knew that Wang Yuque could understand the situation of the Immortal Alliance. Not to mention, Jinshan had invested in Wang Yuque when he was working in Xihai.

Jinshan is a member of the Immortal Alliance's directly affiliated faction of great cultivators. With Jinshan around, Wang Yulou can understand the situation within the Immortal Alliance.

However, since it was in front of his lover, Xiao Chen would occasionally tell a little white lie, hoping to appear more capable and give his lover more confidence.

Perhaps, there is also a subconscious desire to give oneself confidence, thereby further reinforcing the 'correctness' of one's own choices.

Hope, in some people's eyes, is more important than anything else.

"Whether things are chaotic or not, you are the best."

Deng Mingzhu encouraged her lover in a low voice, and the two lingered tenderly for a long while.

……

As Deng Mingzhu carefully straightened Chen Yangshi's clothes, she suddenly asked a question.

"Yangshi, what about that suggestion from Master Hongdou—recommendation followed by selection? If it's implemented, will it be good or bad?"

"It's good for the Immortal Alliance and lower-level cultivators, but not for some high-level cultivators."

Therefore, it will never be implemented; the direction of the Mangxiang Immortal Venerable's reforms is the right one..."

Chen Yangshi said in a low voice. He was also one of the few people who knew the true nature of the Mangxiang Reform, but Deng Mingzhu obviously did not.

The reason he was so certain that the Immortal Alliance would fall into chaos because of the lack of unity within the conservative faction and the uncontrollability of the Mangxiang Reform—with so many people dying, a real fight would break out, and when 30% of the population had died, it would not be something that could be stopped by simply saying "stop."

"Forget it, I don't understand these things, let them change their methods as they please."

Sometimes, I feel like you and I are both cultivators, but we seem to be completely different.

Old Fang and you are very different. Tell me, why is that?

Chen Yangshi embraced his lover, gently kissed her red lips, and said.

"Hard to say."

"itch……"

--------

Huzhou, the southernmost point of the Immortal Alliance.

Huzhou is a vast city, full of myths.

In the vast city of Huzhou, a quarter of the area is covered with images of the Taihe Water God.

Incense offerings, sacrifices, religious ceremonies, and unwavering faith—the grace of the Taihe Water Venerable flows through every corner of the Taihe Water Palace's territory.

Nineteen Immortal Alliance members came to our door, but Taihe Water Palace was the only one with only one Immortal Venerable.

If the Immortal Alliance wants to classify a 60,000-year-old Golden Core as a heretical practice, then it can only be said that the Immortal Alliance should disband.

Huzhou is named so because it has many lakes and a crisscrossing network of rivers, making it easier to travel by boat than by land.

Within the territory of Taihe Water Palace, the number of lakes is unprecedented; the area is filled with lakes, while land is relatively scarce.

This is a manifestation of a top-tier Golden Core cultivator reshaping a localized world with immense magical power.

It can be said that after a long period of development, the Taihe Water Palace site has become the home ground of Taihe Water Venerable.

Why does Bifang call him "fellow Daoist"?

Because in this area, even if Bifang and Taihe Shuizun were to fight, they would have to run around it—they wouldn't fight at all, and they would definitely lose.

Bifang might not lose, but it definitely can't win; that's the strength of Taihe Water Venerable.

However, the Taihe Water Palace was unusual today, even somewhat restless.

Let alone cultivators, even fishermen fishing on the lake could tell something was wrong from the fish leaping out of the water.

It can be said that the entire southeastern corner of Huzhou was trembling.

Ordinary people and cultivators at the bottom of the hierarchy gathered numbly and fearfully before the nearest image of the Taihe Water Venerable, kneeling and praying, hoping that the celestial venerable could protect them.

However, Taihe Water Venerable had no time to care about the fate of these ashes of the calamity. Its incarnation wandered through the waters of a thousand lakes, searching for the traces of that traitor among its disciples.

suddenly!

"Gotcha, little bear. You shouldn't have run away. You'd die right away if you had. It's not worth it."

On a large piece of land in a group of lakes, the embodiment of Taihe Water discovered the disciple's traces.

The surging lake water rose from all sides, like a colossal wave that could destroy the world, pressing down on the land in the center of the lake.

Simple lake water has no power, and even a hundred times more wouldn't harm even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone a Bear King at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm.

But Taihe Water Palace is the Taoist temple of Taihe Water, and the images of him that are worshipped are his meridians and acupoints.

Even without manifesting in his true form, the sheer power of his avatar alone, with the massive waves created by the Taihe Water, could crush the vast majority of those in the Purple Mansions.

As the master of the Bear King, Taihe Shui knew his disciple's weaknesses very well, so he was not worried at all that the Bear King could escape his control.

Amidst the world-ending tidal wave, a majestic giant bear stood upright, roaring to the sky, as if trying to unleash all the pent-up resentment in its heart.

But anger is useless. In the face of absolute power, the anger of the weak only increases the killing pleasure.

"Why are you yelling so loudly, hahaha."

Taihe Shui's laughter was both distant and near, and the Bear King cried out in despair.

"You old monster! I will never let you succeed!"

The profound Dao essence of the Five Elements suddenly erupted, as if a world had suddenly exploded, and the Bear King directly burst open his Dao body.

Its grotto manifested in the vast天地 (heaven and earth), gradually transforming from illusion to reality, eventually turning into endless meteors that crashed straight into the vast territory of the Taihe Water Palace.

'Idiot!'

Taihe Shui cursed inwardly, then began to deal with the probing questions from his neighbors.

A powerful cultivator of the Cave Heaven Technique launched a final act of defiance against his master by self-destructing his own Cave Heaven.

Countless mortals trembled, died, and fell silent under the terrifying natural disaster of meteors falling from the sky, but heaven and earth rejoiced.

On this day, Huzhou expanded its territory by 1,500 li.

The area of ​​the universe, which had been rapidly decreasing over thousands of years, suddenly surged back up by a small margin.

(End of this chapter)