Shangyuque

Chapter 211 Yu'an arrives, reforms accelerate, Yu'an becomes a young general, the predicament of Huzhou! (1.1 words)

When Wang Yulou served as the invisible commander of the Red Lanterns on the two front lines, overseeing the three-line offense and defense, all his information had already been spread everywhere.

After he became the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, his past was spread by countless cultivators within the Immortal Alliance, some true and some false.

It also contains a lot of wild and unofficial historical anecdotes.

The logic behind this is that when immortals reach high positions, or when those who have not yet achieved immortality, like Chen Yangshi, have the ambition to reach high positions, they have a strong desire to actively collect all kinds of important information.

Their desire to collect information would naturally be stronger for Wang Yulou, a key figure in implementing the reforms.

The fact that the immortals on the Immortal Platform could deduce that Wang Yulou might have some connection with the Water-Dripping Immortal by observing the process of the Mangxiang proving the Golden Elixir is a side example of the intensity of this information gathering.

This applies to everyone who sits at the table, including Wang Yulou and Taihe Shui.

As the strongest force within the Immortal Alliance, Taihe Water Palace has countless spies from both inside and outside the Immortal Alliance buried within its territory.

His disciple, Xiong Wang, exploded his cave heaven and returned to the Great Heaven and Earth. The meteor that struck left the southeast of Huzhou riddled with holes. Such an anomaly reached the ears of all the Golden Core Immortals in the Great Heaven and Earth within about two days.

There are no secrets at all; they're just keeping an eye on him and studying him, and the intensity of their research is far greater than that used to study Wang Yulou.
-
In the land of Cangshan, within the territory of the Cangshan Immortal Venerable.

Jinshan and Qionghai are paying homage to the incarnation of the Immortal Venerable.

"Immortal Venerable, Taihe Water Venerable forced the Bear King to self-destruct his cave heaven, but all living beings within a radius of seven hundred miles where the two fought were wiped out by Taihe Water Venerable."

Therefore, even if someone came, it would be impossible to find out why Taihe Shuizun and Xiong Wang reached this point in the final stage.

The unknown inevitably leads to speculation, resulting in widespread anxiety and even unrest in the Purple Palace.

Those below you may not understand the seriousness of this matter, but you do.

One of the supporters behind Mangxiang's attainment of enlightenment was Taihe Shuizun. When Mangxiang killed people, he also killed Xiong Wang.

Now that the Mangxiang Reform has begun, Taihe Shuizun suddenly attacked Xiong Wang, making such a big fuss.

These things are like a huge, suffocating net, and we are both really worried.

"Immortal Venerable, it's time for you to step forward and take charge of some matters."

Jinshan lowered his head, staring at the ground, and spoke in a voice that was still as unpleasant as ever, like metal rubbing against stone.

Before Wang Yulou, this 'ancestor' at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, was a bright yellow gemstone about ten feet in size, emitting a faint bright yellow halo.

This is the incarnation of the Celestial Venerable of Cangshan.

Fang Xinqian believed that for those who had not yet reached the end of the cultivation journey, it was just a long game of being a dog, but he was actually wrong.

Wang Yulou is not the dog of any specific person, and not all the great cultivators directly under the Immortal Alliance, such as Jinshan, have masters.

In terms of relative evaluation, domestic dogs are the lucky ones among cultivators; at least they have something to look forward to. Those who are helpless and fighting alone are the most fearful.

Taihe Shui killed his own disciple in Huzhou, and the aftershocks spread slightly to the Immortal City, frightening Jinshan and Qionghai into coming to pay homage to the Immortal Venerable Cangshan.

Do they like being dogs?

No, obviously not.

"It's not the right time yet. Besides, even I can't interfere in the Water Venerable's family affairs."

"You don't need to be afraid. After Mang Xiang attained enlightenment, many new Purple Mansion cultivators within the Immortal Alliance contacted me, worried about becoming the price for Mang Xiang's reforms."

The 'new Purple Mansion' that Cangshan is referring to here refers to those who opened their Purple Mansions after the establishment of the Immortal Alliance.

The bright yellow halo flashed, and the Celestial Venerable of Cangshan certainly knew what the Purple Mansions were worried about.

Jinshan and Qionghai lacked a strong enough base of support. As powerful cultivators directly under the Immortal Alliance, they feared chaos within the Immortal Alliance and were also afraid of becoming the price to pay in the process.

Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that Kingsoft was so candid with Wang Yulou, even to the point of being almost completely open with him.

As for what kind of price to pay?
Hard to say~
Many things cannot be said explicitly. Practical benefits are important, but so is a sense of dignity. Moreover, Jinshan's hints are already quite clear, so there is no need for Cangshan to point out those sensitive issues.

As the founder of the Immortal Alliance, Cangshan's cultivation and status are very high, and his understanding of the truth is naturally higher and deeper.

"Actually, there's no need for that. You're overthinking it."

Before Mang Xiang attained enlightenment, he came to see me. The matter of reform had been decided long ago.

Why is legal reform necessary?
Because the old Immortal Alliance system was about to collapse, Mang Xiang's five attempts to obtain the Golden Elixir exposed the problems with the existing order of the Immortal Alliance.

Stability is paramount, which is why reform is necessary; reform is meant to make stability even more stable.

Stability is very important. Although the Taihe Water Palace seemed to have been through a lot, it did not suffer any substantial losses.

The impact of this matter will not escalate further, so you can rest assured.

Stable, stable, and more stable.

The drop of water did not lie. The great cultivators who occupy the top of the ecological niche of heaven and earth are most afraid of changes that are detrimental to them, and value the stability of the existing distribution of interests.

Taihe Shuizun slaughtered his disciples like pigs and dogs, but it was ultimately just Taihe Shuizun's 'family matter' and would not be expanded further.

In other words, even the Supreme Water Venerable would not actively challenge the stable order jointly maintained by the other Golden Core Immortal Venerables.

Jinshan was pondering the answer from the Immortal Venerable Cangshan when Qionghai, who was beside him, took the initiative to ask.

“Immortal Venerable, if Immortal Venerable Mangxiang’s reforms were decided long ago, then why is only Wang Yuque placed in front now?”

The saying on the Immortals' Platform is that struggles don't extend to the Purple Palace, but Wang Yuque alone can't push for reform.
Excluding the others, the Red Lantern Gang and the Heavenly Serpent Sect haven't even lost 30% of their forces yet, and this is still the 'war' between the Heavenly Serpent and the Wild Elephant.

If other sects begin to 'reform,' it will be difficult for Wang Yuque alone to push things forward.

"Prolonged delays are a breeding ground for unrest. We in the Immortal City can see clearly that Changshui and Wang Yuque have already begun their battle."

Actually, he was still talking about the Taihe Water Vessel.

The desolate sea is a reminder to Cangshan that Taihe Water God is unreliable, and Mangxiang may not genuinely want to reform.

"Haha, don't worry, Mangxiang will step in when the time is right. Reform is a big deal, so we should proceed step by step to be on the safe side."

However, I am quite satisfied with Wang Yuque's strategy of freezing selection for a hundred years; the loophole of recommending candidates before selecting them cannot be opened.

Judging from Cangshan's words, it seems there's still some trick to the reform.

However, since Cangshan did not speak up, Jinshan and Qionghai naturally dared not bother them any further, and thus bid farewell and left the country of Cangshan.
-
Just as the Western Sea is not a sea and the Azure Plain is not a plain, there is no sea in the cave of the Poor Sea Immortal.

The sea is barren; if you burn it dry, it becomes barren.

There are no wrong titles, only wrong names.

The method that Master Qionghai cultivated was very special. He was a great cultivator of fire magic, and his inner world was filled with death and destruction, like an endless fire domain.

In the Chongyun Palace above the grotto heavens, Jinshan and Qionghai were drinking together.

It was both a drinking party and a conversation. The two were both senior cultivators directly under the Immortal Alliance, and although their relationship was not particularly close, they often visited each other.

With the situation developing to this point, the Purple Mansions, who thought they had a clear view of things, were all filled with anxiety and lived in constant fear.

Sticking together a little won't increase your survival rate when a truly terrible situation comes, but it can at least provide some psychological comfort—more or less.

"Brother Jinshan, your proud grandson-in-law has played a brilliant move this time."

Freezing personnel appointments for a hundred years would allow the reform goal of eliminating redundant personnel to be achieved smoothly with minimal resistance.

Unexpectedly, even the Celestial Venerable of Cangshan approved of his suggestion.

Judging from his appearance, Qiong Hai Nian looked to be only in his thirties, and he had a strong sense of shrewdness.

He's the kind of person that no one would underestimate.

Indeed, he is shrewd and calculating, and dares to seek opportunities in the complex situation within the Immortal Alliance.

It was precisely because of this personality that he came from the West Sea to the very center of the Immortal Alliance to strive and seek further possibilities.

"Fellow Daoist Qionghai, please don't say that. I get scared as soon as you mention the miraculous hand."

When he first took office, I personally reminded him to proceed cautiously and implement reforms steadily.

As you heard today, even the Celestial Venerable of Cangshan values ​​stability.

But what about him?
A miraculous touch?

Stinky hands!

I just hope he doesn't cause trouble and drag me into it.

Despite his entire face being made of metal, Jinshan's complaints caused even his iron-like face to show a look of helplessness.

All I can say is that Wang Yulou has a lot of ideas.

He thought about Jinshan's reminders again and again, and finally decided not to listen to them at all.

Wang Yulou firmly believed that those who only listened to others' lies could never truly reach the end in the world of cultivation.

In fact, his idea was completely correct.

But for Kingsoft, this is a rather helpless situation.

Back when Wang Yulou was being discussed as the vice leader of the alliance at the Immortals' Platform, he was worried that Wang Yulou's tendency to cause trouble would implicate him.

So even though Kingsoft voted in favor, they were still not in a good mood.

In hindsight, those fears have come true.
If Kingsoft wants to succeed, it needs to wait for the next turbulent era.

No matter what Wang Yulou does now, it will be of no benefit to Kingsoft's fundamental interests—which also aligns with the advice that Wang Yulou should not have listened to Kingsoft.

Ultimately, Wang Yulou hadn't yet opened his Purple Mansion, so his interests weren't entirely aligned with Kingsoft's.

"Fellow Daoist, you are overthinking it. The Immortal Venerable's words implied that the Mangxiang Immortal Venerable's reforms have only just begun, and the commotion that Wang Yulou has caused so far is nothing."

But have you ever considered what the fundamental purpose of the reform is?

The purpose of the reform was to repair the old order of the Immortal Alliance, so as to better maintain stability. This was the explanation given by the Immortal Venerable of Cangshan.

This explanation can be said to fit all the disputes surrounding the reform.

From the birth of the reformist faction on the Immortal Terrace, to the conflict between the conservative and reformist factions, to Mang Xiang's five proposals on the Golden Elixir all ending in failure, and now to the conflict between the young reformist Wang Yuque and Changshui, all these events fit this explanation.

However, Qiong Hai clearly did not take this reasonable logic seriously.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked what the purpose of the Jinshan Reform was—did they expect Jinshan to become a parrot?

Jinshan remained silent for a long time, his purple-gold pupils revealing a solemn expression, and he did not answer immediately.

Taihe Shuizun's act of forcing his disciple Xiong Wang to self-destruct his grotto-heaven was no small matter; it directly touched a nerve with the Immortal Alliance's Purple Mansions.

The world is vast, but there are far too many great cultivators, to the point of being overcrowded.

To obtain the Golden Elixir, Mang Xiang needs to kill a large number of people and requires the help of several disciples with Purple Mansions to lock in the limited amount of blood and energy.

So, how should Golden Core Immortals take another step forward?

They devoured large quantities of Purple Mansions, and even Golden Core cultivators devoured each other.

The Cave Heaven Method, as a new method, is indeed a good one. As long as there are enough resources, the Cave Heaven can continue to grow.

The larger the cave grows, the stronger the cultivator will become.

The only drawback of this method is that it causes too much damage to the universe, so much so that the tribulation of lightning gradually became a once-every-few-years occurrence.

It's important to know that tens of thousands of years ago, tribulations occurred once every five hundred years.
For great cultivators of the Cave Heaven Technique, mutual devouring is a very good path.

Currently, the new method has been passed down for over eight thousand years, and there has never been a case of someone relying on their cultivation level and strength to devour another's cave heaven.

Even if it's a Purple Mansion, once you hide in the Cave Heaven, you won't be afraid even if a Golden Core cultivator comes.

But can such things really remain unchanged forever?
Jinshan was a cultivator who had experienced the tail end of the era of cultivating immortality with wisdom. He knew that in the old era when all laws flourished, everyone had the opportunity to open their Purple Mansion.

Anyone can become a prodigy in a particular method, as long as they find one that suits them.

The law itself is almost infinitely possible, and the immense power of an individual cultivator is a concrete example of the extreme development of this infinite possibility.

Therefore, over a sufficiently long timescale, the method of devouring the cave will inevitably be created.

Until then.
"The purpose of the reform is to ensure the stability of the Immortal Alliance, whether it is Taihe Water Venerable, Cangshan Immortal Venerable, or Mangxiang Immortal Venerable."

Each of these celestial beings possesses the magnanimity to serve all cultivators of the Celestial Alliance.

Therefore, we should simply support the reforms. As for the motives, well, whatever they may be, I believe they are good.

Jinshan's answer was utter nonsense, but if you interpret each sentence in reverse, you'll find that he was right.

The reforms were definitely not for the stability of the Immortal Alliance; the Immortal Venerables above were fighting each other over cannibalism.

The purpose is not important, but those in power will not suffer losses; those at the bottom will be the ones who suffer.

Qiong Hai shook his head, poured Jin Shan a cup of sixth-grade Moon Essence Dew, and said.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to worry. What I'm concerned about is that a civil war could break out at any time."

The fact that Wang Mangxiang killed 30% of the people during his reforms was a secret, kept hidden to prevent his subordinates from going crazy.

But in my opinion, this secrecy is a special kind of deception. Mang Xiang, or rather his allies, deceived everyone on the Qunxiantai.

The method to kill 30% is not for each sect to kill on their own, but to bleed each other dry through mutual warfare and localized conflicts.

The Heavenly Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Sect have been exchanging blows for over fifty years, and were chosen as a 'pilot' to accumulate experience through large-scale mutual bloodletting during the reform.

But in reality, there was another underlying factor: the civil war had already begun, and the conservatives were making intensive preparations, waiting only for the right opportunity to launch a war under the guise of reform.

Jinshan felt that Qionghai was being overly pessimistic.

When it really comes to a civil war, these senior cultivators directly under the Immortal Alliance will be like stepchildren, having no say whatsoever and only serving as cannon fodder.

"So what if it is, so what if it isn't?"

It's like the sky is about to rain, a mother is about to remarry, and conservatives might be singing the praises of reform while waging a civil war.

Let them be; we can't stop them.

Moreover, I don't think a civil war will break out. Immortal Venerable Mangxiang must have paid a huge price to attain enlightenment.

There are two paths to this cost. One is that the top powers need to reach a consensus that they will not seize the Dao Fruits of quasi-Golden Core cultivators in other powers.

Another possibility is that Mangxiang hasn't paid the price yet. If so, then the civil war within the Immortal Alliance is impossible to break out. Take Immortal Venerable Cangshan as an example; his support for Wang Yuque as the vice leader shows that he is keeping an eye on Immortal Venerable Mangxiang.

Those conservative immortals, with their mouths brimming with grease, would never willingly disrupt the order that benefits them.

If the Immortal Alliance falls into chaos first, it will naturally be at a disadvantage in the power struggles among the top forces in the vast world.

Cultivating immortality is also cultivating truth; the complex truth is hidden beneath layers of mystery.

Wang Yulou, whose third eye had been opened by the dripping water, couldn't see clearly, nor could Jinshan and Qionghai, who had long been active in the center of the Immortal Alliance.

Perhaps Mangxiang and his allies never intended for their subordinates to see things clearly in the first place.

After all, if everyone could understand the games played by Golden Core Immortals, then the Golden Core Immortals would be of little value.

Following the logic that 'one must first have the spirit of a great cultivator before becoming one, and then match the strength of a powerful great cultivator's core, it is normal for most Purple Mansion cultivators not to understand the situation.
-
"You mean, Wang Yu'an is here?"

Wang Yulou was stunned when he heard the news brought by Bailu.

Wang Yu'an has arrived.
He shouldn't have come; he absolutely shouldn't have come.

It's not that Xiao Wang forgot his good brothers after becoming the vice leader; it's just that the position he holds as vice leader is a volcano.

The complex situation could frighten Jinshan and Qionghai, let alone Wang Yulou, who was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Inside, there is the Immortal Changshui; outside, there are countless Immortal Alliance cultivators and local sects who oppose the reforms; above, there are over a hundred difficult Golden Core Immortal Venerables; below, there are tens of millions of ambitious Immortal Cultivators.

The vice leader of the Immortal Alliance is not yet the leader. It can be said that, excluding the benefits and privileges Wang Yulou received, his position is probably the most difficult to hold in the world.

The mere fact that Huzhou's territory has expanded by 1,500 li is a huge problem.

The expansion of the Great Heaven and Earth is a good thing for the Great Heaven and Earth, and also a good thing for ordinary cultivators.

But for Wang Yulou, this was like the sky falling down.

The matter is not complicated—the Bear King is dead, but he has not forgotten to disgust Taihe Water.

During the process of his cave self-destructing and returning to the world, the Bear King threw his cave to the border between Jingu Garden in the east of Huzhou and Taihe Water Palace in the southeast.

As everyone knows, the Dragon Clan's great cultivators are a unique force in the world, and among the members of various top forces, there are local forces established by Dragon Clan members at the level of Demon Gods.

Anyone, whether human or demon, who cultivates dragon techniques, dragon veins, or dragon nature can find a nearby dragon clan to join after achieving a certain level of cultivation.

Within the Immortal Alliance, three Dragon Kings founded their own sects: the Immortal Dragon King of Immortal Dragon Cliff in Chongxian Prefecture, the Divine Venerable of Golden Valley Garden in Huzhou, and the White-Bearded General of Fulong Temple in Wunan Prefecture.

Among them, the Immortal Dragon King of Immortal Dragon Cliff and the God of Golden Valley Garden are both leaders of forces who have a dragon demon god ally.

Taihe Water bullied his disciple Xiong Wang to death, but before he died, Xiong Wang used a trick to divert trouble northward, directly blowing up his own cave heaven at the border between the Immortal Alliance's Upper Gate, the Dragon Clan's Golden Valley Garden, and Taihe Water Palace.

The Golden Valley Garden God Venerable did not expect such a good thing. He immediately wanted to split the prize 50/50. But could a Golden Core Immortal Venerable just take advantage of the Taihe Water?
You mean you're on equal footing with me?

What's going on?

Taihe Water would certainly not allow the Golden Valley Garden God to take advantage of him, and the Golden Valley Garden God would certainly not easily back down.

The key point is that these two conservative bigwigs couldn't even decide the ownership of this land on the Qunxiantai platform.

This matter has reached Wang Yulou's ears, and in terms of urgency, it is even more important than the reform.

As for the reforms, Mang Xiang hasn't arrived yet, and Xiao Wang has already stirred the waters almost to a boil; there's no rush.

The conflict between Taihe Shuizun and Jinguyuan Shenwang is truly urgent, extremely urgent.

Thinking of these troublesome matters, Wang Yulou rubbed his temples and said.

"Let's arrange for him to stay somewhere first, Mingdu's mansion. It's inconvenient for me to see him."

At this point, Wang Yulou took out an eighth-grade water jade from his storage bag and used his spiritual fire to refine it.

In an instant, the water jade transformed into a smooth and slender jade slip.

Then, using his fingers as a sword, he manipulated spiritual energy to begin crafting a message.

My younger brother is here. Show him around the Immortal City. The Immortal City is a complex place with many powerful factions. Explain things to him properly and make sure he's not manipulated.

The magic seal belonging to the alliance leader is not yet finished, but even if it were, Wang Yulou wouldn't be able to use it; at most, he could use it to stamp his seal.

So he still used his signature Gui Water Dharma Seal to stamp it on. Speaking of which, this low-grade agate seal with four layers of restrictions has been with him for over sixty years.

From the Dripping Water Cave to the Immortal Alliance, the low-grade magic artifact seal with four layers of restrictions has always been sufficient. Power is not determined by the strength of the magic weapon, but only by the strength carried by that name.

Wang Yulou is already the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance. Now, the decrees affixed with the Wang Clan Jade Palace Seal can fetch a price in the cultivation world.

"Have Chu Ran deliver this letter to Fang Xinqian, yes, Fang Xinqian, so that he can show Yu An around the Immortal City."

If Yu'an wants to see me, just say I'm busy and don't have time right now, sigh.

The higher the position, the more relaxed one may seem, but the greater the actual pressure one faces.

There's no other reason than that our opponents—both our current and future rivals—are all far too strong.

Wang Yulou didn't even dare to see Yu'an.

Bai Lu, Guo Chengtai, and others became the price to pay. Wang Yulou might feel regret, but he wouldn't be too sad.

If Wang Yu'an were to be dragged into this and become a victim, Wang Yulou would be heartbroken.

Therefore, it's best to avoid seeing her for the time being; this is actually a form of protection for Yu'an.

As for having Qin Churan deliver the message, that was the purpose of bringing Qin Churan here.

Jin Mingdu was very capable, but Jin Mingdu was, after all, a direct descendant of Jinshan. No matter how close that old man Jinshan was, he was only half of Wang Yulou's ancestor, not the whole ancestor.

We still need to take precautions. If we're going to guard against Jinshan, we can't avoid guarding against Jinmingdu.

But Wang Yulou also needed gold mountains and Jin Mingdu—they were clearly Daoist partners, but their relationship had somehow become a highly realistic competition and cooperation.
"Sect Master, Yu An has been appointed as a steward of the outer courtyard of the Fulong Temple in the Immortal City since he came here this time."

The decree was personally given by General Qinglin, along with a budget of 500,000 spirit stones annually for Yu'an, and he specifically instructed that the timing of the spending should be discussed with you first.

Bai Lu received the imperial edict and then reported the situation to Wang Yulou.

Wang Yulou frowned and said.

"Let him spend it as he pleases. If Fulong Temple is willing to give us these spirit stones, then we'll accept them. Anyway, I won't do anything for Fulong Temple. Don't tell Yu'an the last part."

"understand!"

Bai Lu left quietly, and Wang Yulou sat alone for a long time before letting out a long sigh.

It's difficult, difficult, difficult. Reforming the laws is difficult, working in the Immortal Alliance is difficult, and dealing with the problems of those around us is difficult.

He can be willful, of course, but he can't afford the consequences.

The Wang Yulou who belonged to the Wang family has gradually faded into the distance.

When he was respectfully addressed as Wang Yuque, the leadership role he carried meant that he had to bear immense pressure and responsibility that ordinary people could not imagine.

Although it was difficult, Wang Yulou was very certain that he had not chosen the wrong path.

Unknown cultivators could also reach the Purple Mansion or even Golden Core stage, but that was in the past, a special phenomenon in certain special eras.

In this era where stability trumps everything, only those who dare to plunge into the tide of the times and bring benefits to those who have already attained enlightenment will have the opportunity to go further.

Otherwise, even if you are the son of a great cultivator, many great cultivators will not support you in achieving enlightenment.

The continuation of the clan's bloodline is the desire of short-lived species, and the existence of cultivation families is also based on a survival strategy that balances reason and emotion.

Emotion is naturally feeling, but what is reason?
There are no inherently absolute principles in the universe; most of them are relative concepts within narrative and value systems.

Even Wang Xianmao, the patriarch of the Wang clan, reminded Wang Yulou, from the perspective of separating the interests of the family system, that "you need to be more selfish."

Within the narrative and value systems constructed by others, no matter how hard Wang Yulou tries, he is still just a beast of burden.

When he breaks free from the existing framework and actively chooses his own path, his own life, and his own spiritual practice, even putting aside Jinshan's reminders and admonitions, he can be said to have truly embarked on his own path to enlightenment.

There was no need to heed Jinshan's warning. Jinshan said to play it safe, but Wang Yulou immediately pulled a clever move, making Jinshan so disgusted that he complained endlessly to Qionghai.

Mang Xiang's orders did not need to be obeyed completely. Mang Xiang ordered him to take twenty men with him to his post, but Wang Yulou took more than three hundred.

The interests of the conservatives are both vague and entrenched; as long as they don't violate the general direction, Wang Yulou will even scheme against Changshui.

If this is not enough to become a great cultivator, Wang Yulou cannot imagine what kind of person can become a great cultivator.
Loyalty is certainly important, but a great cultivator doesn't care about loyalty.

Or rather, being loyal is good, but being unfaithful is also acceptable.

Wang Yulou did not believe that he was useless except for loyalty, so he was confident that he could forge his own path to success amidst this wave.
-
On the edge of the two battlefields, the Western Mountain Sect.

The leader of the Xishan Sect was Yang Qi. At that time, Wang Yulou also planned to marry a woman from the An family to help the Wang family gain more influence in the newly established sect.

But times have changed. Wang Yulou is now the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, so of course he no longer needs to arrange a marriage. As long as he remains the vice leader, the sect leader of the Xishan Sect must listen to him!
Yang Qi stared blankly at the imperial edict sent by the Red Lanterns.

"Regarding the war, the Xishan Sect is hereby ordered to dispatch six Foundation Establishment cultivators and thirty late-stage Qi Refining cultivators to serve on the central front of the two sects' battlefield!"

He looked at the inner disciple of the Red Lantern Sect who was delivering the sect's edict and asked in confusion.

"Our Xishan Sect was founded by True Person Yuque. Are we also sending people to the front lines?"

"That inner disciple of the Red Lantern Sect is a real jinx, otherwise he wouldn't have received this kind of mission," he replied with a grim expression.

"The sect has issued a new round of mobilization orders across the entire region. All affiliated sects and families, regardless of size, are to send cultivators to the front lines in proportion to their number of cultivators."

Sect Leader Yang, the people from your Xishan Sect went to the central route, which is only a few hundred miles from the sect gate. It's actually a very good arrangement.

As you know, I'm just delivering the conscription order on behalf of the sect; I can't do anything about the specific arrangements."

Going to the central line was indeed an excellent arrangement. The central line was full of people left behind by Wang Yulou. From this point of view, Zou Tianxing was not actually a bad person.

Yi Zouri wanted to cause trouble, but he's now practically invisible within the faction.

Wang Yuque was appointed as the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance. As the culprit who had harmed the Candlelight Sect and caused enmity with Wang Yuque in the past, Yi Zouri should be grateful to Jinxian Zhenren for not being killed. How could he continue to tear Wang Yuque apart?

He is on the path to enlightenment, so even though he faces a complex situation and a difficult predicament, as long as he keeps going, he will find smooth sailing everywhere.

This has been the case since he took office as the deputy leader of the alliance, and it is also true for the Xishan Sect, which is under his command.

"Alright, but the two-day deadline is too tight. Could you grant us one more day? The sect's arrangements need time."

Yang Qi understood the significance of the red light siren's nationwide re-conscription; he couldn't stop it, and neither could Wang Yulou.

However, there are many complicated matters within the sect. The Xishan Sect has four major families, but it needs to recruit six Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if there are some independent cultivators who have reached Foundation Establishment, how to allocate these quotas is still a big problem.

Small factions don't have room for fierce internal strife, while large factions can survive even with fierce internal strife because they are large and powerful.

If Yang Qi fails to manage the Xishan Sect well, the sect's development could indeed be hindered.

“It’s difficult, but Fellow Daoist Yang, I have a suggestion for you—you should discuss it with the garrison at the central line.”

Yang Qi's eyes lit up. Yes, the cultivator guarding the central pass was Lin Ying, Wang Yulou's Daoist partner.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist has given a good suggestion. You must be tired from your long journey. It would be good for you to rest at my Xishan Sect for a few days so that we can show you some hospitality."

The disciple who delivered the message said helplessly.

"Never mind, I still have four imperial edicts to deliver. Sigh, these are turbulent times, there's never a moment of leisure."

Reform, reform, reform on two fronts.

One approach is to reduce redundant staff and prune unnecessary branches.

The other plan involves killing 30 million people, starting with the Heavenly Serpent Sect and the Red Lantern Gang.

The new round of nationwide conscription by the Red Light District indicates that the reform is accelerating.
-
"Huh? Qin Churan? Qin Churan, Wang Yuque's concubine?"

Upon hearing that Wang Yuque's concubine had come to deliver a message, Fang Xinqian hurriedly jumped up from his concubine's arms.

He didn't even have time to put on his pants before he scrambled off to see Qin Churan.

"Husband! You're not wearing pants!"

His concubine, being alert, quickly reminded him.

Xiao Fang hurriedly put on his clothes and asked his concubine a question.

"Looks alright, right?"

"My husband is always the most handsome!"

"Forget it, what good is being handsome? Wait, where's my jade hairpin?"
"Never mind, I'll leave the jade hairpin out. It'll look more dignified without it."

After a chaotic scene, Fang Xinqian stood before Qin Churan with his eyes downcast, his mind focused on the present, and inwardly cursing Wang Yuque as an idiot.

After receiving the alliance leader's decree and seeing Qin Churan off, Fang Xinqian finally felt relieved.

However, looking at the contents of the decree, Xiao Fang only felt it was absurd.

Accompanying the Alliance Leader's younger brother shopping?

Yes, it's an extremely challenging job, but shouldn't this kind of thing be done by Yang Shi?
Chen Yangshi, with his round face, always had a hard, rock-like expression. He looked like someone you could entrust with important tasks, but in the end, it was me who got the assignment.

Fang Xinqian complained to his concubine about this strange incident, but the concubine said...

"My lord, you are unaware of this. Senior Yangshi has a calm and composed demeanor and can be considered a pillar of strength."

My dear husband, you are witty, humorous, handsome, and you handle matters with great tact and thoughtfulness. You are a good friend to me.

You two each have your own strengths and are both outstanding talents of your time.

But the Alliance Leader is looking for a good friend for his younger brother, not a babysitter, so he has entrusted this important task to you.

Gently rubbing the jade-material decree in his hand, Fang Xinqian exclaimed with some excitement.

"A heavy responsibility, huh, it really is a heavy responsibility. If I do this job well, I estimate I'll be more effective than Old Chen licking Wang Yuque's boots for thirty years."

Whether it's the humerus or not, it ultimately depends on the method.

Fang Xinqian regarded Wang Yuque, who had just taken office, as nothing more than a waste of resources.

However, Wang Yuque had gradually secured his position as the leader of the alliance, and he realized the strength of this deputy leader.

He had already fallen behind many others in the competition to dedicate his loyalty to the Jade Palace Immortal.

Now that he had suddenly received the decree from the Jade Palace Immortal, how could Fang Xinqian not be excited?
Not only must we refine the Alliance Leader's seal, but we must also carry out the Alliance Leader's decrees.

I, Fang Xinqian, will be the most loyal and capable young general!

The young Fang Xinqian was still figuring out how to dedicate himself to the cause.

However, he didn't realize that Wang Yulou handed him the decree in the hope that this suggestive method would motivate him to exert his initiative to the fullest extent, thereby helping Wang Yulou refine the Vice Alliance Leader's magic seal.
As for whether he was loyal or not, Wang Yulou didn't care at all.
-
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Yu'an, look, that's the Misty Lake."

The misty lake is bright and beautiful, a fairyland within the lake, blessed with many fortunes.

Yinyun Lake was an industry run by Taihe Shuizun before he attained enlightenment. It can be said that the services here were all developed by Taihe Shuizun.

This lake spans the four cardinal directions, five regions, and eight wastelands, making it a first-rate place in the world.

You also have a misty lake in Wunan, but it's only located in Shenhou Immortal City next to Datiantai Mountain.

"Fellow Daoist Yu'an, feel free to spend whatever you want today; it's on me. Just have fun!"

Wang Yulou's choice of Fang Xinqian wasn't actually a mistake. Fang was a scoundrel, but he was very good at dealing with people.

He has the kind of personality that seems unreliable, but he gets along well with his like-minded friends.

He brought Wang Yu'an to Yinyun Lake for inspiration right away. It was a bit outrageous, but on the other hand, it could also help Wang Yu'an adapt to the rhythm of the heartland of the Immortal Alliance as soon as possible.

"Fellow Daoist, is it appropriate for you to pay the bill? I don't need those spirit stones."

"Fellow Daoist has broadened my horizons, so it's only right that I pay the bill."

Wang Yu'an had no moral baggage. From Bailixuan to Mingyueye, and from Mingyueye to Yinyun Lake, he encountered the Grand Master Huang Clan, the Golden Core Immortal Venerable Yuehua Immortal Venerable, and the Top Golden Core Taihe Water Venerable.

That's just how the world is; you can oppose it, but you need to adapt.

There are many places for cultivators to socialize, but among male cultivators, the best place is of course the Misty Lake opened by Taihe Water Venerable.

"You may not know this, but I am the Seal Master of the Immortal Alliance's Seal Division. I can take 10% of whatever my subordinates spend in the Misty Lake—but I can only spend in the Misty Lake."

These profits will be cleared every three years, even if we don't use them. Fellow Daoist Yu'an, let's go. Just consider yourself as having slaughtered this nouveau riche today, hahaha.

He pulled Wang Yu'an into the misty lake, and the first thing he did was to choose a lake girl.

In the misty lake, the men and women are divided into four classes. The first class consists of men and women in the Qi-induction stage, who are admitted free of charge. This is the grandeur of Taihe Water Palace.

However, this free offer comes with a condition—spend thirty spirit stones to arrange a first-class male or female lake companion for free.

Offering such a low price is not a sign of the benevolent Taihe Water Venerable, but rather an attempt to lure cultivators down this wrong path.

The top-grade male and female lake spirits are at the Qi Refining stage and practice dual cultivation techniques. They are not cheap, starting at two hundred spirit stones.

The Immortal in the Lake is at the Foundation Establishment stage. That's how big Taihe Water Venerable's business is. Under the rule of the Red Lantern, one can become an ancestor at the Foundation Establishment stage, and within the Misty Lake, one can only do menial work.

In theory, Wang Yulou could actually build a beautiful utopian world in the future, eliminating these oppressions of individuals—this is achievable.

But he needed to kill the Mangxiang first, then kill the Taihe Water Venerable, and then kill the Bifang, who had cultivated for 100,000 years and treated the peak of the Purple Mansion realm like a spirit stone.

Once he has truly overturned these three, he can make the world whatever he wants it to be.

It's a bit difficult.

In the misty lake, the most precious creatures are not the lake immortals, but the Taihe Divine Son and Taihe Divine Daughter.

This is the real 'specialty' of Yinyun Lake.

Taihe Water Palace has been acquiring various talents in Wanlifang for a long time in order to cultivate Taihe Divine Sons and Taihe Divine Daughters.

These trained cultivators, after their cultivation reaches the peak of Foundation Establishment, will be sent to various misty lakes for sale, starting at 10,000 spirit stones per sale, with additional fees required for extended periods.

Why is it so expensive?

Because having sexual relations with the Taihe Divine Son and Taihe Divine Daughter can help cultivators comprehend the Dao.

You might say that Taihe Shuizun is bad, and he really is bad. He exploits the lower-level cultivators and refines 'human talents' to become divine sons and goddesses.

But Taihe Water Venerable is also good in a way, because enlightenment can be achieved by spending spirit stones in the Misty Lake.

How can this not be considered generous? How can this not be considered a form of universal benefit in a narrow sense?

Seeing a long line of female cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage standing in front of him, even though Yu An was no longer a naive young man, he still felt somewhat confused.

High-level cultivation during the foundation-building stage!
He thought that Fang Xinqian would at most bring him to Yinyun Lake to broaden his horizons, have a good meal, and have some conversation, nothing more.

But to his utter surprise, the show was so exciting right from the start; Fang Xinqian didn't treat him like an outsider at all.

“Brother Xinqian, I’m not good at this. Our Wang family has its own family rules.”

Wang Yu'an looked at Xiao Fang with a troubled expression.

"Haha, the fairies in the lake are all beautiful and graceful. It would be nice to just sit there and keep them company. Fellow Daoist Yu'an, there's no need to be so polite."

Xiao Fang smoothly replaced the word "selection of people" with "selection of people to accompany," just to reduce the pressure on Wang Yu'an.

Unable to refuse Xiao Fang's "good intentions," and knowing that he needed to befriend this direct descendant of a powerful clan, Wang Yu'an could only choose one.

In the end, he was no longer the little kid who hid by Wang Yulou's side, and Wang Yulou was no longer Wang Yulou, but Wang Yuque who bore countless responsibilities and burdens.

Wang Yulou arranged for Fang Xinqian to show him around the Immortal City, so he was determined to familiarize himself with the city and befriend Fang Xinqian.

It should be noted that Fang Xinqian, who appears to be unconventional, holds the position of Director of the Immortal Alliance's Seal Division, making him a core member of the Immortal Alliance and a figure with extensive connections in the Immortal City.

If Wang Yu'an insists on refusing, thus rejecting Fang Xinqian's "good intentions" and causing Fang Xinqian to look down on him, Wang Yu'an may not care, but he must consider that Fang Xinqian might pass on this disdain to others.

Of course, the chances are slim, but you never know what might happen.

For example, sayings like "The Wang family are all hypocrites" and "The Wang family members are incredibly good at pretending to be nice" would influence Wang Yulou.

With two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the lake accompanying them, the welcoming banquet was naturally very comfortable.

After drinking for a while, Wang Yu'an finally asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Is my older brother so busy that he doesn't even have time to see me?"

Fang Xinqian pushed away the female cultivator beside him. The two female cultivators knew they shouldn't listen to what was about to be said, and quietly left.

"Fellow Daoist Yu'an, you may not know this, but the Immortal Alliance did not have a position like Vice Alliance Leader before. Even the position of Alliance Leader was only held by Immortal Venerable Cangshan."

After Jade Palace Immortal took office, the duties of the Vice Alliance Leader became a major issue. Currently, it seems that Jade Palace Immortal has basically taken control of the power to discuss matters at the Immortal City's Immortal Platform.

In other words, the True Person has the right to interfere in all major matters of the Immortal Alliance during the deliberation process.

"But too much power isn't a good thing. You and I are both conservative cultivators in the Immortal Alliance. You know what a conservative is, right?"

Xiao Fang's words were very profound, frequently referring to the Celestial Venerable of Cangshan, the conservatives, and the Immortal Platform, which made Yu Anxin feel a sense of unease.

"Of course, of course, our Wang family is a disciple of the Immortal Venerable Mangxiang. Although I am at the Fulong Temple, I am still a member of the Wang family."

Fang Xinqian shook his head and sighed.

"The trouble lies here: the reform is inherently difficult to advance, and Master Yuque is already making progress step by step, which is already quite challenging."

A few days ago, a major event suddenly occurred: Huzhou was in turmoil as Taihe Water Palace and Jingu Garden were vying for power.

The Water Venerable is a half-step supreme being in the Huzhou region, but he is only a half-step supreme being after all. There are two other powerful figures in Huzhou who have come to visit him. Among them, the Golden Valley Garden where the Golden Valley Garden God Venerable resides is the force of our conservative faction.

In other words, it was a conflict between two conservative immortals.

Even if this matter were not discussed at the Immortal Assembly Platform in the Immortal City, but at the actual Immortal Assembly Platform, it would be difficult to reach a conclusion.

However, since the True Person had taken over the decision-making power over major matters of the Immortal Alliance through the council, this matter was pushed onto the True Person's shoulders.

Perhaps the immortals on the Altar of Immortals want to try to get the True Immortal to handle it. If the True Immortal can't handle it well, then the Altar of Immortals can intervene, providing a buffer and a way out.

But think about it, on one side is the Water Venerable, and on the other side is the Golden Valley Garden God Venerable, who was born from a dragon demon god.

The Water Venerable cannot be offended; who dares to offend a Golden Elixir that has existed for tens of thousands of years?

Even the God-Emperor is not someone to be trifled with. The Immortal Alliance has three local dragon clan powers, two of which have come to their doorstep.

The God-Emperor, along with the four Dragon Gods beside him, was a formidable figure within the Immortal Alliance.
What do you think we should do about this?

(End of this chapter)