Shangyuque

Chapter 230 A rare look of astonishment appeared on the young immortal's face, and Mang Xiang smiled with relief.

"Haha, Brother Yulou, you never like to suffer any loss."

There's not much to say about the Bo Luo Society. It was founded by the Bo Luo Elder, with the aim of exploring the limits of cultivation and the Great Dao.

Legend has it that the strongest Golden Core Immortals would share some of their cultivation experiences there.

Tianlong Hall sounds impressive, but it's actually a disorganized mess. In this day and age, it's hard to say how many true dragons are still real.

Different true dragon demons and gods would endorse different ideologies, thus choosing different factions. As a result, the Heavenly Dragon Hall lost its appeal.

Below the Golden Core, all was deathly still; above the Golden Core, life was vibrant.

The value of Xiaoyu's words is still increasing.

What does the suffering of lower-level cultivators have to do with the Golden Core Immortals at the top?
The death of 100,000 mortals is just a number, and the death of 100 million low-level cultivators is also just a number.

For those who have lived for a long time, they and the cultivators at the bottom level are already two completely different species.

The cultivators at the lower levels cannot even come into contact with proper supernatural powers and secret techniques, and it is difficult for them to obtain proper Purple Mansion methods through any channel. However, the Golden Core Immortal Venerables at the top share their experiences of breaking through the limits of the Great Dao in the Bamboo Basket Gathering.

While the clan cultivators were still constrained by the clan's rational and ethical operating model, and trapped by their original aspirations formed in a few decades that were as short as the hundreds or thousands of years of lifespan of the immortals, the true dragons of the same kind firmly chose their own paths.

"I see, I see. Could there be some kind of secret, small, cross-sectoral organization that even you, Brother Qiyuan, are unaware of?"

Wang Yulou quickly realized that cross-factional organizations have unlimited potential and immense value for participants' needs in internal power struggles.

Therefore, they are likely to exist, and their numbers may be quite large!
“Of course, of course, Brother Yulou, we, the spies among the major powers, actually have our own small power.”

Old Gu dropped all pretense; he was indeed one of the evil monk's men, and he had achieved enlightenment with the monk's support.

However, as Wang Yulou rose to a higher position, many rules, order, and truths also changed.

The Ash Clan must constantly proclaim their loyalty to the Immortal Alliance, giving the Purple Mansion cultivators the luxury of choosing whether or not to jump ship. For Golden Core Immortal Venerables to change sides is not jumping ship, but rather splitting up.

Within different factions, the current stable situation means that there are relatively few cases of switching sides.

When the chaotic era truly arrives, it's possible for half a state to switch sides.

For example, if Qingrui leads her 'Green Serpent' gang to switch sides with the Immortal Kingdom or Holy Land—who would dare to stop her?
"Oh?" Wang Yulou was truly surprised at this moment.

The idea of ​​all the traitors standing together to create a cross-faction force is quite unique.

Their opinions and actions will directly reflect the urgency of the coming era of chaos.

"If you all compare the changes together, doesn't that mean you are the ones who understand the trend of the coming chaotic era best in the whole world?"

By the way, how many of you are there?

Gu Qiyuan smiled slightly helplessly. What was the point of knowing the trend of the coming chaotic era? It was just something necessary for survival.

If given a choice, no one would want to be born a traitor.

"There are probably more than forty people, including those at the Purple Mansion and Golden Core stages. The top forces from all walks of life have infiltrated each other, but we are also afraid of being crushed, so we banded together."

Realizing that Xiao Wang had steered the conversation off-topic, Gu Qiyuan quickly steered it back to what had happened on the Qunxiantai platform.

"Brother Yulou, many things are not as important as you think. The idea that they are secrets is completely impossible."

Some immortals want to keep secrets, while others want to leak them. Often, what is truly confidential will not be told to others.

What can be shared with others is not a closely guarded secret. I'm contacting you simply to save time and get the most crucial information.

Actually, I already have a general idea of ​​what happened that day.

In short, my dear brother, you've just opened your Purple Mansion, and I've come here to help you. I'll just give you a fifty-year report of secrets.

But my dear brother, you are too upright and incorruptible. I was afraid you wouldn't accept it, so I made a small, insignificant request, just so you wouldn't feel bad about it.

Old Gu's nonsense is like a cow wearing a bear's hood—one set after another.

"Brother, you're mistaken. We're like brothers, why would I be so polite with you? How could I feel bad about it?"

Since you've said you know, I won't go into details. I'll gladly accept this report on the secrets of the Five Realms Unified Gathering over the past fifty years.

Old Gu, you said all of these things yourself!
Gu Qiyuan stared at Wang Yulou in silence for a long while, and only after confirming that this bastard really did not intend to reveal the news from the Immortal Platform did he finally give up his plan to test him.

“Yu Lou, I know you’re having a hard time. They say that Mang Xiang seems to have a problem with you. The reason the Golden Valley Garden God Venerable supported you this time was because he saw how well you handled things in Huzhou.”

Old Gu stopped pretending. He knew a lot about what was happening on the Immortal Platform, and he was even aware of the whole process. He was looking for Wang Yulou just to drag Wang Yulou down with him.

What was said on the Altar of Immortals was not intelligence; the truly crucial intelligence lay in the undercurrents beneath the water.

First, drag Wang Yulou into the mess, then support him every now and then, emboldening him—Old Gu's plan was actually quite sound.

The Holy Land is a top-tier power. The demon monks are not afraid of the Immortal Alliance. If Wang Yulou dares to sell out the Immortal Alliance, the Holy Land might even accept it.

Of course, Wang Yulou wouldn't sell it either. After all, infighting is common among top-tier forces. If he dared to sell the Immortal Alliance, there's no guarantee that anyone would protect him when he's purged in the future.

"There was a small misunderstanding, but it's not important. In cultivation, I've experienced my share of setbacks."

However, Brother Qiyuan, I will never forget your kindness in coming to see me today. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to come to me if I can help.

As he spoke, Wang Yulou reached out and grabbed Gu Qiyuan's arm, staging a cliché scene of half-brothers.

With little acting skill, Wang Yulou's eyes only held longing.

Explode it!
Wang Yulou didn't want to be drawn too deeply into Lao Gu's scheme, but he really couldn't bear to give up the secret reporting service of the Five Regions Under Heaven.

A fifty-year-old secret reporting service requires only twenty-five strands of the essence of the grotto heaven.

Yes, using only twenty-five strands is not quite appropriate; the value of a single strand of celestial essence is roughly between six hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand spirit stones.

Twenty-five strands, which is between fifteen million and seventeen million five hundred thousand spirit stones.

Gu Qiyuan's promise to send it couldn't have been empty talk; it meant he had genuinely considered it.

Wang Yulou asked himself, "Shouldn't I be worth Gu Qiyuan's investment, given that I am recognized by the Immortal Alliance as the Vice Alliance Leader, the leader of the reform, and the first person in the history of the Immortal Alliance to open my Purple Mansion and require a joint decision from all the great cultivators of the Immortal Alliance?"

Old Gu, spend boldly, I, Wang Yuque, am worthy of it—of course, when it comes to specific tasks, I'll only do what I can.

Master Qiyuan lowered his head and looked at Wang Yulou holding his hand. Then he looked up and saw Wang Yulou's grateful expression. He cursed his bad luck in his heart.

He underestimated Wang Yulou when he quoted the price. If he didn't let Wang Yulou take advantage of the twenty-five strands of celestial essence today, Wang Yulou might hold a grudge against him for being stingy in the future.

“In this way, I will send you eighty years at once, but the news of the last thirty years will be delivered to you half a year later. This way, I will be better off. My dear brother, it is difficult for me too.”

Gu Qiyuan hesitated before giving his conditions: "You can take advantage of this, but you have to cooperate with me in submitting false accounts."

Even with Wang Yulou's shrewdness and cunning, he never expected that even a Grand Master of the Purple Mansion would need to submit false accounts.

This cultivation world is indeed too realistic. Old Gu, who goes out on missions for the holy land, has probably made a lot of money in the past.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing, but brother, I have another question. I’d like to ask you for a cup of tea.”

Wang Yulou released his hand, smiled, and sat back down in his seat.

In fact, even if Gu Qiyuan hadn't come, Wang Yulou would have gone to see him or secretly contacted him.

Because Wang Yulou also had information that interested him, and it was very important.

"What do you want to know?"

Old Gu immediately became interested. Running errands for the Five Realms and the Holy Land was his job, but making money by trading intelligence on the side was how he could generate income for himself.

Not the same thing!

"Why did the Celestial King Bifang remove Shunmu from the position of Prime Minister and put my Lord Taishan in it?"

Is there something special about my esteemed father-in-law?
Moreover, is this method of first cutting off flesh and drinking blood for decades before reused a Bifang (a mythical creature)?

Long, long ago, Wang Yulou didn't think there was much difference between himself and the Golden Core Immortal Venerable. They were both cultivators, the only difference being that the old ones had gone further.

At that time, Wang Yulou believed that as long as he continued to progress slowly, he could even open his Purple Mansion through his own efforts.

Whether it was the past or the present, after witnessing Qingrui's move and the ability to activate all five sides, Wang Yulou's respect for the top-tier Golden Elixir that has survived for so long and lived through one era after another has almost reached its peak.

Qingrui's entry point is far too flamboyant. It allows for numerous internal and external changes. It's high-profile and ambitious, while also buying time for the final stages of her transformation.

That wasn't even something that could be described as skillful; it was a truly miraculous layout, a "divine guidance" level of artistry.

If Qingrui is like this, then what about Bifang?
When Wang Yulou first learned that Mu Chunze had been appointed as the prime minister of the Immortal Kingdom, he concluded that old Mu was weak enough.

But from another perspective, there are plenty of powerful beings in the Immortal Kingdom, and every top power has plenty of powerful beings in the Immortal Kingdom—it doesn't matter if there's a good-for-nothing like Mu Chunze.

So, how did he rise so quickly to become the prime minister of the immortal kingdom?

In the past, Wang Yulou could put this matter aside and ignore it, but now that he has obtained the opportunity to enter the Purple Mansion, and the reforms of the Immortal Kingdom have begun to be promoted and implemented, many situations are different.

That's why he asked about Mu Chunze's appointment as Prime Minister of the Immortal Kingdom at this time.

“Brother, you’ve asked a good question. It seems that no one has revealed any earth-shattering inside information about His Majesty Bifang’s move so far.”

My understanding is roughly as follows:

Gu Qiyuan stopped talking, but picked up his teacup without drinking, and just kept rubbing the lid against it.

Pay up!

Wang Yulou frowned slightly, realizing that Lao Gu no longer considered him a brother.

“Brother, I haven’t even opened my Purple Mansion yet, so how could I possibly have any essence of a grotto heaven for you?”

"How about this, once I open my Purple Mansion, I'll pay you right away, okay?"

Old Gu couldn't hold back any longer and shouted.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, you have long since obtained the resources and benefits of a fifth-grade Purple Mansion from the Immortal Alliance. You may fool others about this, but you cannot fool me!"

Xiao Wang gasped, puzzled.

"Which bastard leaked such a secret of the Immortal Alliance? Aren't the resources and benefits of the Immortal Alliance's Purple Mansion kept secret?"

Old Gu waved his hand and said.

"Never mind that, I won't charge you more than three strands, just three strands. I'll tell you everything I've seen!"

Old Gu only accepted three strands not because he was kind-hearted, but because he was now earning extra money for himself.

Earning extra money is a form of income outside of work, so of course, you should earn as much as you can.

Wang Yulou realized that he might have been taking advantage of Gu Qiyuan for too long, so he painfully took out a beautiful spirit-sealing bottle.

“Alright, but I need to pay it off in three years. Here, brother, please accept this wisp of the essence of the cave.”

Old Gu looked at the wisp of celestial essence that Wang Yulou had handed over, then looked at Wang Yulou again, still somewhat incredulous.

Are they really that stingy?
"Brother, don't look at me like that. I've only been receiving Immortal Alliance supplies for two years. Where would I get so much extra essence from the grotto heavens? Sigh."

After their tug-of-war today, Wang Yulou was actually exhausted, and besides, he couldn't bully Gu Qiyuan too much.

Wang Yuque certainly deserves it; his position and the era he lived in brought him tremendous empowerment. But this does not mean that Wang Yulou can take advantage of his rare and valuable status to bully those who want to get close to him.

Master Qiyuan is still very valuable. He has a past relationship with Wang Yulou, and maintaining this relationship will benefit Wang Yulou's development within the Immortal Alliance and even in the greater world.

If the Immortal Alliance doesn't allow Wang Yulou to prove his Golden Core, and the Immortal Kingdom has no chance, then the Holy Land's loyalty is still something that can be claimed.

Maintaining communication channels and mutual trust in exchanges has enormous long-term value for Wang Yulou.

Ultimately, proving the Golden Elixir was just too difficult, and Wang Yulou was truly afraid that he would reach a point where he had nowhere to go.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Yuque, everyone knows about His Majesty the Immortal King's situation; it's quite special."

Therefore, I have a fairly detailed understanding of his behavior and actions.

As for your esteemed father-in-law being able to take office, there are four possibilities.

Firstly, it showcases the grandeur of the immortal kingdom. Just as you always keep those less-than-stellar cultivators by your side for their use, His Majesty the Immortal King's use of Mu Chunze is like spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones.

Secondly, the appointment of Mu Chunze was a pretense; the real purpose was to wait for Shen Guang to return. On the Immortal Platform, Immortal Venerable Cangshan dismissed Shen Guang. After Shen Guang returned to the Immortal Kingdom, he might directly take over Mu Chunze's position.

Thirdly, Shunmu has served as the Prime Minister of the Immortal Kingdom for hundreds of years, which is too long. His Majesty the Immortal King needs to replace him with a new person to prevent Shunmu from going too far. Otherwise, it might start eating its own people again, and at this point in time, such behavior would be chilling.
Finally, here's a bold guess: your and Mu Chunze's appointments to the reform implementation positions in the Immortal Alliance and the Immortal Kingdom seem to be a way of winning you over.

Yu Lou, to be honest, everyone in the world is watching you. You are a cultivator from the Dripping Water Cave, and it is very likely that you have a connection with Dripping Water.

When the Drips of Water returned to the Great Heaven and Earth, it withstood ninety-nine heavenly tribulations without suffering any harm, and you, on the other hand, have risen to prominence at an astonishing speed.

Many people suspect that you are some special being favored by heaven and earth, or even a reincarnation of a great being.

For example, wouldn't it be strange if the Golden Valley God suddenly supported you on the Immortal Platform and supported your opening of the Purple Mansion?

Nobody's a fool. Wang Yulou's rapid rise to power inevitably attracted attention.

His connection with Drip Water had been under scrutiny for a long time.

However, Wang Yulou remained remarkably calm in the face of Gu Qiyuan's speculation.

There's nothing to be afraid of; being afraid is useless.

"Hahaha, Brother Qiyuan, if I were truly a reincarnation of a great being, would I still be lacking your two strands of celestial essence?"
Besides, I was fortunate enough to become a pawn of my master and Qingrui Immortal Venerable on my cultivation journey, and later became a pawn of Water Venerable.

During this process, I became involved in the power struggle between His Majesty the Immortal King and Immortal Venerable Qingrui, and later participated in the great war between the two sects. It was only when my master had no one else to rely on that I was fortunate enough to become the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance.

You've been aware of all of this step by step; everyone even knows that my Daoist partner likes to eat donkey intestines.

If you insist on guessing that I am some kind of powerful being reincarnated, or that I am favored by heaven and earth, I really don't know how to explain it.

Moreover, sigh, many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators can easily defeat me. If Heaven were truly in favor of me, I wouldn't be so incapable of even engaging in combat!"

This is also why Gu Qiyuan couldn't understand Wang Yulou, because, judging from Wang Yulou's development trajectory, everything was traceable.

Furthermore, within the Five Realms Unified Gathering, some have already compiled statistics on Wang Yulou's current power, the possible support and backers behind him, and what treasures might be inside Wang Yulou's storage bracelet.

It's not exactly one-way transparency, but in this era, the power structure among the higher-ups of cultivators in the Great World is frighteningly stable, and the research enthusiasm of the newcomers is indeed quite high.

In particular, Wang Yulou's fighting ability is generally considered to be weak.

In some small circles, Wang Yulou even had a special nickname – 'the Unlawful Immortal'.

He never engages in magical battles, yet he can still open his Purple Mansion.

This is called the 'Illegal True Man'.

It's hard to say how much envy is behind this title.

If given a choice, who would be willing to risk their life fighting and gambling round after round?

Unable to understand what was going on with Wang Yulou, Gu Qiyuan stopped worrying about it. After all, Wang Yulou was still the vice leader recognized by the Immortal Alliance, and he should still get closer to him.

However, driven by his instinct as an information broker, he inquired about Wang Yulou's plans for the future.

“You entered the Dao through water magic, and your destiny contains the Gui water. Yu Lou, have you ever considered becoming a Water Venerable?”

Although the Golden Valley God and the Water God have long had conflicts, it seems that they have formed an alliance to prepare for the next chaotic era together.

Both the Water Venerable and the Divine Venerable approve of you. If you were to join the ranks of these two powerful figures in Huzhou, your situation might not be worse than it is now.

“I have never had such thoughts, Brother Qiyuan. When you encounter other people trying to find out about me, please tell them that in my heart, Wang Yulou, there will always only be my master.”

"Hahaha, yes, yes, yes, yes, I understand, I understand."
-
After sending that bastard Gu Qiyuan away, Wang Yulou quickly summoned his new disciples.

"Chen Yu'en, Zhang Moyunshu."

When he called her name, Mo Yunshu's soul trembled.

My former friend is now on the verge of opening the Purple Mansion, while I am still stuck in the Qi Refining stage.

Fate, oh fate, fate is never fair.

“I have remembered your names, but becoming an apprentice does not mean I am in charge of everything you do.”

Once you join my sect, you must abide by the rules. Your ancestor, my master, the Mangxiang Immortal Venerable, was a person who placed great importance on rules. For those disciples who do not follow the rules, no matter which family you belong to, or even if you are a true disciple's own flesh and blood, I will expel you from the sect without discrimination.

In addition, there is the matter of your foundation building. All of you must complete your foundation building in the Western Sea, which can be considered as helping me to promote the comprehensive reform of the Western Sea.

I will give the first two or three Foundation Establishment cultivators a top-tier spiritual artifact as encouragement.

As for difficulties in cultivation, one can seek help from the three True Immortals of the Immortal Alliance stationed in the Western Sea.

The Immortal Alliance's mission is to serve cultivators, and I've already spoken to several fellow cultivators about this.

Therefore, your task is to cultivate diligently and strive to achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!

He accepted disciples, but had no intention of managing them at all, and was prepared to send anyone who broke the rules home.

Wang Yulou, this master, seems quite unreliable.

But setting aside the constructed illusions of the master-disciple relationship, its essence is mutual benefit—the emotional value of self-realization and the sense of moral superiority are also part of what each party seeks. The teacher who considers himself selfless (this refers not only to teachers in contemporary schools, but also to teachers in the master-disciple relationship constructed in online novels) also gains help in his own path to fulfillment.

Therefore, a teacher need not teach a disciple, and a disciple need not seek knowledge from a teacher.

What the Eight Purple Mansions of the Western Sea wanted was for Wang Yulou to be a little more friendly towards them, while what Wang Yulou wanted was tangible benefits.

It's just an exchange of value.

Wang Yulou's only requirement for these eight disciples was that they receive sufficient tuition fees.

"I will respectfully obey Master's decree."

Wang Yulou nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

"Alright, everyone go back and cultivate diligently. Yun Shu, you stay."

The other seven disciples looked at each other, and ultimately dared not question it, so they obediently left.

He became the disciple of Wang Yuque, the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, a great cultivator at the quasi-Purple Mansion True Person level, and a new legend of the West Sea. However, this discipleship seems to be not what he expected.
Mo Yunshu knelt on the ground with her head down. Wang Yulou looked her over for a long time before speaking.

"Yun Shu, it's been many years."

After many years, the young man Wang Yulou, who once worked as a red lantern, has become Wang Yuque.

But Mo Yunshu, who longed to speak out for rogue cultivators and those struggling at the bottom of the cultivation world, still hadn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Her original aspirations contained a kind of universal love that was almost like a utopia, but her abilities could not support her ideals. The shackles of reality, no, the sharp edge of reality, carved her soul with a cold blade, destroying her into the way she is today.

Therefore, Mo Yunshu dared not look up. She had a peculiar thought: she was afraid that if she looked up, all her meaningless persistence over the years would turn into a mockery of reality.

It wasn't Wang Yulou who mocked her, but rather Wang Yulou's success that mocked her—she was wrong, and wrong for a long time.

Seeing that Mo Yunshu remained silent, Wang Yulou felt a pang of sadness.

He saw his own reflection in Mo Yunshu, and this feeling was the most painful.

He hopes to see Mo Yunshu succeed, to see Mo Yunshu realize her ideals or be on the path to realizing them.

That means that another possibility that Wang Yulou yearned for exists, and he has other paths to choose from.

But he knew clearly that his old friend had not had an easy life these past few years; in fact, it had been quite difficult.

Those who pursue the Dao truly yearn for their own Great Dao. Wang Yulou and Mo Yunshu chose two very different paths in their pursuit of the Great Dao.

But now, the facts tell Wang Yulou that he made the right choice, but he still feels so disappointed.

Just like the love between ordinary people, perhaps the regret of not being able to get what one wants, or even daring not to want it, is what we can never forget?
Hard to say~
"Now that you have joined my sect, you can establish your foundation. But don't call me Master, just call me Yulou."

Speaking of which, after all this time of spiritual practice, I only have three and a half friends.

Half of it is Yingxi from Qingxifang, one is the foolish Feng Jianxian, and the other is you.

Yun Shu, I plan to set up an organization similar to the Loose Cultivator Alliance in the West Sea, but it will be called the 'West Sea Loose Cultivator Guidance and Persuasion Association'.

I don't trust anyone else to do this, so would you be interested in becoming the president?

Shenguang and Mangxiang were just floor tiles at the Golden Core Immortal Venerable level, but the paths they took before attaining enlightenment were not problematic; they were all 'at least not bad' paths.

The divine light's act of sending cultivators to feed the demon beasts not only helps the Immortal Alliance relieve internal pressure but also provides food for the Western Sea and the demon kingdom behind it, all of which align with the idea of ​​'creating value'.

Its industrial layout in the West Sea ranges from the Wanfa Yuanliu Shu, which sells cultivation techniques, secret teachings, and supernatural powers, to the 'Zhenyao Baolou', which seizes the functions of various departments of the Immortal Alliance and even the War Merit Court, and the 'Loose Cultivator Alliance', which controls independent cultivators.

These are all excellent examples. After Wang Yulou became the vice leader, it was inconvenient for him to copy the Myriad Laws Source Pivot and the Demon Suppressing Treasure Tower, but he also had businesses such as the West Sea First Auction House, the Fighting Arena, and the Wine Immortal.

The 'West Sea Loose Cultivator Guidance and Persuasion Association' was Wang Yulou's key point for further controlling the cultivators of the West Sea from the bottom up, which is why he needed to get support from the eight local Purple Mansions of the West Sea (the apprenticeship gifts of the eight disciples were injected into this organization as start-up capital).

This even involves the power struggle between the Candlelight Immortal and Wang Yulou's virtuous master within the Red Lantern Sect.

Before obtaining the Purple Mansion opportunity, Wang Yulou had to be wary of and loyal to Mang Xiang. But now that he has obtained the Purple Mansion opportunity, Wang Yulou's survival strategy needs to undergo a fundamental change in order to adapt to the needs of the new development stage belonging to a great cultivator.

"This master, my cultivation level..."

Wang Yulou waved his hand and spoke with a hint of melancholy in his voice.

"Call me Yulou. Also, cultivation level is not important. I can become the vice leader even with only Foundation Establishment cultivation."

Besides, didn't you pass the Foundation Establishment Seed Battle Selection? I will personally help you reach Foundation Establishment.

After you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you can become the president of the 'Rogue Cultivator Association'.

Many things, in the end, can never be undone.

Wang Yulou, who had once been caught in the whirlpool of the West Sea, was overwhelmed by the complex situation. Yun Shu and Feng Jianxian were among his few friends at the time.

But now, a chaotic era has arrived, the top powers of heaven and earth are all changing their methods, the Immortal Alliance is on the verge of civil war, top immortal venerables are making their moves, and Wang Yulou's identity is being heavily suspected.

Any one of these issues and pressures, taken out individually, is more severe than all the pressure Wang Yulou faced in the West Sea.

Despite this, Wang Yulou was still able to withstand it.

After cultivating for so long without making any progress, what makes you think you can hold onto the position of vice leader?
High winds and rough waves?
No, it's because the water is big and the fish are big!
Of course, to make a difference in the tide, every step must be carefully planned.

Just like now, Wang Yulou could even imagine that he was being secretly watched.

His process of winning over and befriending Mo Yunshu was both a re-enactment of his past life experiences and a further display of his inner cowardice.

It's troublesome, but it has to be done.

"Thank you, Yulou."

Yun Shu finally raised her head, her eyes filled with an inescapable weariness, which made Wang Yulou somewhat lost in thought.

The once radiant female cultivator from the Western Sea is now almost crushed by this world.

Thinking of this, Wang Yulou said in a deep voice.

"Yun Shu, if you want to achieve something, you must first climb up the ladder. Climbing up is more important than anything else."

The future of this world doesn't depend on whether someone is at the Qi Refining stage or the Foundation Establishment stage; at the very least, you need to be at the Golden Core stage.

There's nothing that can't be said. A group of Golden Core Immortals, represented by the Water Drop Immortal, strongly disagree with the current special development model.

Chaos—stability—chaos, the era is going through a cycle that leads to a kind of near-rotten end. They don't like this dead silence, and these people are not few in number.

The future of the Great World has always been a key concern for Golden Core Immortals, on par with their concern for Bi Fang.

Looking at the reforms from a different perspective, the fact that all the top forces in the world are simultaneously implementing reforms is itself a kind of 'transcendence' of this cycle.

However, at this level of the game, the qualification to enter is limited to Golden Core Immortal Venerables. Wang Yulou only dared to say a few words because he participated in the reform and became the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance.

"Yu Lou, there's something I've never understood: in order to achieve more, we constantly sacrifice a part of ourselves."

Once you actually get there, new difficulties and troubles arise. The right opportunity never truly arrives. There's a saying: "Because you believe, you see."

Xiao Wang smiled. Mo Yunshu came from a high-ranking family, had experienced life at the grassroots level, and had worked in the Immortal Alliance. Her vision and level of understanding were also very high.

Wang Yulou enjoyed communicating with people like that.

He raised his head slightly, his gaze unfocused as he looked ahead, and said in a low voice.

"Going up there will bring new problems, but it will also make it easier to solve old problems. And whether or not you go up is not a decision you can make yourself."

So, Yunshu, don't be misled by distant difficulties; focus on the present.

You are one of my few good friends, and I hope we can meet again in the Purple Mansion. I hope so.

After ascension, there is a new path to climb, so does that mean there is no more ascension?
Qi-guiding, Qi-refining, and Foundation Establishment cultivators are like ashes of calamity, while those in the Purple Mansion are just larger ashes of calamity; if things get chaotic, they might still die.

But does that mean we shouldn't open the Purple Mansion?

Climbing step by step, striving for higher levels of cultivation and status, but until reaching the highest level or the position of supreme authority, one will always be subject to others. Such a sea of ​​suffering is indeed difficult to cross.

But this doesn't mean that climbing is a scam, or that climbing is meaningless.

Just like now, Wang Yulou can easily solve Yun Shu's foundation building problem. Isn't that significant?
Don't want to ascend? Don't want to climb?
Only a fool would believe such an excuse from a weakling.

Ascension and climbing are meaningful; not wanting to ascend is a scam!

Of course, this is not to say that Mo Yunshu is stupid, but that Yunshu's position is too low and there are too many things she doesn't understand.

"Master, Yun Shu understands."

The female cultivator from the Western Sea on the ground answered respectfully.

"Go, go, and establish your foundation as soon as possible."

I've entrusted all matters concerning the West Sea to Zheng Yan. If there are any problems, discuss them with him.

Chen Yangshi is not one of my men, don't get the wrong idea.

Wang Yulou was tired, both mentally and physically.

With many matters in the Western Sea settled, and after Shenguang's departure, Hongdengzhao and Wang Yuque have gained a dominant influence in the Western Sea, and there will be no more resistance to the comprehensive reform.

But after Wang Yulou left the Western Sea, he needed to meet with Zhuzhao and Mangxiang. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

He secretly resented Mangxiang, but if he were to openly break ties with Mangxiang, the pressure would be immense.

Although the Immortal Venerable Mang was the Immortal Venerable on the child's table, he was still an Immortal Venerable.
"Yu Lou, you said you have three and a half friends. Who is the third one?"

Before leaving, Mo Yunshu couldn't help but ask the question.

Wang Yulou smiled and said.

“Immortal Venerable Mangxiang, although he is my master, we are also friends, and I estimate we will remain friends for a long time.”
-
The vice leader's entourage left the West Sea and discreetly headed towards the Red Lantern Mountain Gate.

One fact is that Wang Yulou's initial judgment that "after Mangxiang attained enlightenment, the Red Lantern Sect wanted to expand into the Western Sea, so Mangxiang made advance arrangements to establish a foothold in the Western Sea" was wrong.

The expansion of the Red Lanterns in the Western Sea will only benefit the Candlelight, as can be seen from the Candlelight's declaration at the Immortal Terrace that drew the attention of the Cangshan Mountains.

Therefore, even though Wang Yulou had already fallen out with Mang Xiang, the eight local Purple Mansions of the West Sea still gave Wang Yulou a lot of face.

The giant elephant with the big tail no longer coveted the Western Sea, but the Candlelight Immortal Venerable of the Red Lantern had his eye on it.

Wang Yuque wields immense influence in the Western Sea and is a new generation legend following Shenguang. With Mangxiang and Wang Yuque breaking ties, Wang Yuque, who rose to power from the Red Lantern Sect, will inevitably become the focal point for Zhuzhao Immortal Venerable to seize the interests of the Western Sea.

Wang Yulou also needs to follow this line of interests and find development opportunities after opening the Purple Mansion.

Qi Refining cultivators have their own troubles, and Purple Mansion cultivators have their own pursuits. As Wang Yulou's cultivation and status improve, his methods and practical views need to be adjusted in a timely manner according to his cultivation and circumstances.

Of course, when I return to Hongdengzhao, I still need to see that "mentor and friend" Mangxiang.

The Golden Crow Chasing the Sun and the Immortal Palace stopped atop the mountain gate illuminated by red lanterns, and the disciples of the sect all looked up in awe.

Wang Yuque, the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, rode his black dragon horse down from the Golden Crow Chasing the Sun and headed straight for Mangxiang Mountain.

Looking at that handsome and composed figure, Yi Zouri clenched his fists in resentment.

The loser has no right to lament; he doesn't even dare to utter a single careless word.

It was either death or obedience; Wang Yulou didn't even bother to retaliate.

But for Yi Zouri, it's hard to say whether this behavior was more humiliating than simply killing him.

Mangxiang Mountain was still the same Mangxiang Mountain. Wang Yulou first entered the residence of Ancestor Jingyi.

"Yu Lou?"

Wang Jingyi heard about the turmoil at Qunxiantai, but the truth is always so precious. The rumors circulating within the Red Lantern Gang dared not contain even the slightest information about the conflict between Mang Xiang and Wang Yulou.

Therefore, the ancestor was actually unaware of just how dangerous his situation was.

"I heard that you have been recognized by the Immortal Platform and are now able to open your Purple Mansion. This is great news, you should thank your master properly."

Wang Jingyi gave her earnest advice.

The fate of cultivators is so unpredictable; too many things happen and end in absurdity, and the mysteries within are beyond human comprehension.

"Understood, Ancestor. How is your progress in opening the Purple Mansion?"

Wang Yulou remained calm and made no attempt to explain.

"It will probably take another three to five years. You have given me so many spiritual items. I need to refine them little by little into the Suspended Seal Cave Heaven in order to improve my control over it."

How despicable is Mang Xiang?
The Purple Mansion Dharma he gave Wang Jingyi was an improved version of the Formless Purple Mansion Dharma and the Grotto Heaven Purple Mansion.

Because Wang Jingyi and Xuan Zhuan both practice the formless Dharma, which originates from the wild elephant.

Therefore, Wang Jingyi could quickly absorb the hidden treasure cave in a way that was almost like stealing a chicken, thereby realizing his own Purple Mansion.

But anyone with a brain can see there's a problem with doing it this way.

After Wang Jingyi opens his Purple Mansion, he will inevitably be subject to the control of the wild elephant.
This operation, how should I put it, is very much in line with Wang Yulou's stereotypical impression of Mang Xiang.

"That's good. You should continue your cultivation. I'll go thank my master."

Wang Yulou smiled and agreed, then left Wang Jingyi's residence.

The fact that the old ancestor was alright meant that Mang Xiang's mind was still relatively clear, so Wang Yulou was no longer so uneasy.

In fact, his ideal state would have been to meet Mang Xiang with full confidence, so as to better ensure that he would at least not be at a disadvantage in the contest with Mang Xiang.

However, the pressure that Mang Xiang put on Wang Yulou was still too great.

This pressure is etched in the more than 1,000-year-old tradition of the Wang family submitting to Mang Xiang, in the time when they erected Mang Xiang's memorial tablet in Qingxifang at the age of thirteen, and in every past instance of cultivating in the world of immortals under Mang Xiang's name.

Both teacher and friend.

Mang Xiang did not teach Wang Yulou any magic techniques, but he was indeed a teacher worthy of Wang Yulou's respect.

Mang Xiang never truly had any good intentions towards Wang Yulou, but he was indeed Wang Yulou's fellow Daoist.

Both of them are essentially seekers of the Dao, so how can they not be fellow Daoists?
At the summit of the Mangxiang Dojo, after crossing the Five-Colored Spirit Pool that he had stolen clean, Wang Yulou took three steps at a time and knelt directly outside the main hall.

Tears streamed down Wang Yuque's face like a continuous brook. His voice choked with emotion as he spoke loudly.

"I will never forget the kindness of my master in helping me attain enlightenment!"

Then came the familiar, loyal, and grateful symphony of the floor.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Listening to Wang Yulou's words outside, and that absurd symphony on the floor.

A rare look of astonishment appeared on the young immortal's face.

The incompetent disciple had taken in so many disciples, but finally he received a real Qilin.

However, this real Qilin's body, from its toes to its skull, was covered with rebellious bones.

The elephant opened its mouth as if to say something, but in the end, it only smiled with relief.

(End of this chapter)