Shangyuque

Chapter 249 Bi Fang Qing Rui's Chess Game, A Big Gamble, Plans Changed, Wang Yu Lou Directly Ascends to Immortality!
Beyond the heavens, the Dharma body projections of Huanpei Xingzhe and Xiaohu confront each other in the Wuji Palace.

However, this standoff is destined to be fruitless.

Huanpei's cold gaze stemmed from her confidence, a confidence that even a fierce tiger wouldn't dare to act foolishly.

The Mangxiang can be gambled on because it's already doomed to lose in the Immortal Alliance; the Xiaohu cannot be gambled on because there's still a chance it can win in the Outer Heavens.
It's just that Huanpei wouldn't offer it better conditions.

Unlike Xiao Hu, Wang Yulou was weak enough and young, without those shackles of the past.

Therefore, he can easily switch sides, and when considering future plans, he can even treat enemies as potential allies.

However, at Xiao Hu's level, his past, all those countless and untold stories, became shackles on his choices.

The ideal of "I am carefree and forget about worldly affairs" is unrealistic, and the fantasy of "as long as I am brave enough, I can overcome everything" is even more unrealistic. Xiao Hu's problem is no different from that of many Golden Core Immortal Venerables who have long been famous in the world - there is no room for maneuver.

Just like now, the Great Heaven and Earth's Fierce Tiger has become a dead end, so he must rely on the Outer Heaven.
Why, even though the chaotic era is an abyss, do so many Golden Core Immortals still secretly harbor expectations, thus causing the cycle of 'chaos-stability-chaos' to start again and again?
The cyclical evolution of a cultivation civilization reveals the inherent desires and aspirations of its constituent elements.

Of course, the main body here refers to the top Golden Core Immortal Venerables who have survived one era after another, not the countless Ash Cultivators, low-level demon beasts, and short-lived species.

"Huanpei, I, Xiaohu, am also willing, as are the other deacons of Tianwaitian."

Have you thought about how the other deacons will view your sacrifice of me?
People's hearts are like the tide; when the tide surges, everyone gets swept up and things fall into chaos.

"The Dao Lord of Wuji appointed you as Palace Master, and this is how you do it?"

Xiao Hu's skill level is certainly very high. When discussing prices, one cannot only talk about one's own contributions; that would seem selfish and lacking in a sense of the bigger picture.

He first characterized Huanpei's mistake, then took the side of the Heavenly Deacon, using words of concern to express a substantial threat, ultimately demanding a price.

Palace Master Huanpei, you wouldn't want the stewards of Tianwaitian to be in disarray, would you?

You wouldn't want the Daoist Master of Wuji to think you've done a poor job, would you?
Stop rambling. You have to suffer when you do things. I know you're feeling wronged, but it has nothing to do with me.

When we made our move, we anticipated all sorts of scenarios, but who knew things would veer towards the worst possible outcome? Given the complexity of the situation, it's undeniable that Gu Qiyuan took notice of you.

Huanpei calmly said, "Expectations are one thing, but what actually happened didn't meet expectations and was actually much worse. It's best to just accept it."

These entities have long since moved beyond the level of 'breaking down defenses when facts don't meet expectations'.

Even in their long cultivation journey, things not entirely meeting expectations is the norm in most cases.

Take Qingrui as an example. Despite various moves, layouts, connections, and changes in rhythm, she still couldn't win. So, should Qingrui just give up and bury her head in the sand?

Impossible. Mo Yunshu would helplessly watch the turbulent tides of the times with anxiety, while the great cultivators had long been accustomed to advancing through the storms.

Mu Chunze was tied up and had his flesh cut off for decades, physically, but he still survived.
"As for compensation, I've lost the foundation of the Immortal Alliance."

Our plans in the Immortal Extinction Domain are finished. Rakshasa has noticed something's wrong with me, and I can't stay in the Immortal Extinction Domain any longer.

If you don't give me an explanation, what's the point of all my efforts?

Huanpei fell silent. The price that Xiaohu, a near-top-tier Golden Core cultivator approaching the level of Cangshan, demanded was not something a mere Palace Master of the Boundless Heaven could decide.

The fierce tiger knew what it was waiting for, and so, the Wuji Palace fell silent.

Finally, the Dao Lord's voice appeared in the Wuji Palace. The voice was distant and majestic, with an undeniable pressure.

"I will first compensate you with two thousand strands of the essence of the cave, and after the jade pendant, you will become the next palace master."

Xiao Hu pondered for a moment, then bowed and said.

"I will obey the Daoist Master's decree!"

Dao Lord is the official title of the Wuji Dao Lord. As for whether it represents a power higher than that of an Immortal Venerable, Xiao Hu is unsure.

But in its view, even if the Dao Lord is very strong, he is probably not much stronger than Bi Fang, otherwise he would not have retreated to look for an opportunity.

Furthermore, Xiaohu is different from Huanpei. Huanpei is the Dao Master's jade pendant, which is why he calls the Dao Master "Master." Xiaohu, on the other hand, is just a normal subordinate, so it's enough for him to call the Dao Master "Master" to show some respect.

"Also, don't interfere in major wars or anything like that."

Currently, the reforms are still ongoing, and the monstrous elephant has already arrived at the holy land from the immortal kingdom.

Wait, wait for Bifang and the others to make their move. We'll stay in the shadows; there's always an advantage.

The Dao Lord stopped channeling power before he could finish speaking.

It actually values ​​Xiaohu very much. You see, in the past, when Huanpei went to report the changes in the world to it, she would go to see it in person.

Seeing that the Dao Lord disappeared without finishing his sentence, Xiao Hu was stunned for a moment, but he was still very satisfied to become the next Wuji Palace Master.

The treatment in Tianwaitian is no worse than that of top-tier forces. Moreover, because Tianwaitian is hidden in the shadows, the positions of Wuji Palace Master are actually very few. Therefore, this position is considered a top-tier lucrative job with high pay, little work, and great power.

Otherwise, the Wuji Dao Master would not have given this position to his subordinate, the Jade Pendant Spirit.

"Fellow Daoist Huanpei, what I said just now was a bit too much, hahaha."

Having received the promise and the immediate benefits, Xiao Hu's attitude immediately improved. Huan Pei remained silent, quietly extracting a thousand strands of the essence of the cave from her stomach.

Then, it took the opportunity to gather all the cultivators from the Outer Heavens and the Great Heaven and Earth.

There were fifty-seven people in total.

The outer disciples are from the Purple Mansion, numbering twenty-eight, and are scattered among various forces and around a few top-tier immortals as spies.

The inner disciples are all Immortal Venerables, numbering twenty-one, and are widely distributed throughout the Immortal Extinction Domain and the Divine Cave, as well as within other forces.

Every single one of the stewards is an old creature with at least 30,000 years of history, including Xiao Hu, making a total of eight.

The projections of fifty-seven people appeared in the Wuji Palace, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and the once empty palace suddenly became lively.

Compared to the top-tier forces like the Immortal Alliance, Immortal Kingdom, and Immortal Extinction Domain, which often have hundreds of Immortal Venerables, the Heavenly Outer Heaven has far fewer Immortal Venerables, giving it the feel of a second-tier force.

But actually, that's not how it's calculated.
With so many Immortal Venerables in the Immortal Alliance, can they truly stand together in an unbreakable bond?

Impossible. Shui Zun and Qing Rui haven't completely broken ties, but they've already fought countless rounds over the reform.
The Immortal Alliance's inclusiveness will inevitably be destroyed by the ambitions of great cultivators in this chaotic era. At that time, it will be a contest between the Huzhou Sect, the Lesser Immortal Alliance, the Green Snake Sect, and others.

There are quite a few powerful cultivators in the Immortal Extinction Domain, but they are currently vying to see who can sell their goods the fastest and best.
The first half of the chaotic era was an elimination round, eliminating top forces that couldn't keep up with the pace, such as the Immortal Realm, which was torn apart by the reforms.

But the latter half of the chaotic era is the peak competition, where major powers degenerate into more closely knit smaller powers, and then the real life-or-death race begins.

Once most of the things that were supposed to die have died, and most of the things that were supposed to eat have eaten their fill, the universe will return to stability and await the next cycle.

Therefore, the fifty-seven people in Tianwaitian are not few, but many, and a great many.

In fact, the Outer Heavens may be the only faction among all the forces in the Great World that can actually confront Bifang head-on.

Inside the Wuji Palace, Jin Shan, an outer disciple of the Heavenly Outer Heaven, was extremely nervous.

Because he noticed that General Whitebeard and Fierce Tiger were also there.
Previously, he did not know that General Whitebeard and Xiaohu were also cultivators from the Outer Heavens.

That's why they deceived Huanpei Xingzhe by hiding Wang Yulou's hand in the information source of the Five Domains Under One Sky Gathering, only saying that it was Gu Qiyuan who did it.

Now that these two are face to face, if they were to go over the accounts even slightly, Jinshan would be disloyal. How could he not be afraid?

However, no one cared about the thoughts of a mere peak Purple Mansion cultivator. Huanpei cleared her throat and spoke.

"Do not conceal your face. If you feel ashamed to be seen by others, it means you are still unfaithful."

Those who are disloyal can try defecting directly, setting an example for others.

The Outer Heavens is not some random, stray force. Its internal control is so strong that even a Celestial Venerable can be reduced to an inner disciple. With the Supreme Dao Master above, even a fierce tiger has to become a house cat.

There's no reason to cover up internal gatherings; that shows a lack of confidence in the system.

As Huanpei finished speaking, Wuji Palace fell silent. Although the outer disciples of Tianwaitian were all at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, they were actually at the bottom and had long been subservient to orders.

Even though Jinshan was summoned, it was a projection of the Great Dao drawn by the secret method of Wuji Palace. From this point of view, Wuji Palace may even be at a higher level than Qunxiantai.

As beings passively attracted, the twenty-eight outer disciples of Tianwaitian revealed their true forms.

Only a small portion of the inner disciples and stewards are secretive and have rather obvious ulterior motives.

However, under the pressure of the jade pendants, they could only reveal their true appearance.

Jinshan saw two familiar faces suddenly appear and immediately gasped. His awe for the true mastermind of the game, the Wuji Dao Master, from the Outer Heavens grew even stronger.

Jinshan, General Whitebeard, Xiaohu, and two other great cultivators from the Immortal Alliance—that's the five of them.

It can be said that after the Divine Cave and the Immortal Realm, the force most targeted by the Outer Heavens was the Immortal Alliance.
In this area of ​​the Great Heaven and Earth, the Outer Heaven has invested the most effort.

"The Dao Lord has already issued a decree that the compensation for Xiao Hu is to assume the position of the next Wuji Palace Master. I won't go into details about it."

The problem we face now is that Mangxiang has once again been appointed by Bifang as the leader of the reforms. When Mangxiang attained enlightenment, what promises did he make to the immortals of the various top powers? Has anyone received any information about this?

Huanpei glanced around, but no one responded. Clearly, the infiltration of the Outer Heaven could not reach the level of Bifang, the Yellow-Robed Buddha, and the Rakshasa.

Even the powerful tigers at the steward level were cultivated after the collapse of the Outer Heaven tens of thousands of years ago.

Compared to Qingrui, Shuizun, Luosha, and Huangyifo, who witnessed the collapse of the Outer Heaven, none of these later-cultivated Golden Core Immortal Venerable level deacons touched the true top-level Immortal Venerable level.

Therefore, the promise that Mangxiang made when he attained enlightenment was something that Tianwaitian couldn't actually determine for a while.
It can be said that through the Great Collapse, the Outer Heavens became a hidden force.

However, the great collapse at that time also caused a certain period of discontinuity in the Outer Heavens, which was manifested in the scarcity of top-level immortals.

Even this kind of scarcity is unsolvable. How could a top-level immortal being, who yearns for a higher and farther position, possibly have the ambition to be a dog for someone else?

impossible!

It should be noted that Cangshan, who had only attained the Golden Core stage for 42,000 years, had secretly built a "small immortal alliance" with himself at its core before being accepted into the Boluo Association.

This is the real reason why top-tier Golden Core cultivators can never become lackeys of the Outer Heavens—every old cultivator who has cultivated for tens of thousands of years is an existence aiming for the pinnacle.

Suddenly, the white-bearded general spoke up.

“I have a guess, Palace Master, but I can’t guarantee it’s correct.”

Everyone is trying to live. General Whitebeard, as a Golden Core Immortal Venerable with a lifespan of nearly 20,000 years, is the weakest Dragon King of the Five Dragons Gang of the Immortal Alliance. He is also a member of the cross-power organization Heavenly Dragon Hall and one of the important figures in the Green Snake faction.

But in the outer heavens, it still has to respectfully address Huanpei as Palace Master.

This is not to say that General Whitebeard is weak, but rather that there are too many geniuses throughout the ages in this vast world.

Similarly, the wild elephant was quite flamboyant before it attained enlightenment, but by the standards of a Golden Core Immortal, it was undoubtedly just a little brat.

We are all outstanding individuals, but if your level of pride is not high, you have to accept it!
“Speak!” Huanpei said.

Inside the Wuji Palace, all eyes began to converge on the white-bearded general.

General Bai Xu glanced at Xiao Hu and spoke.

"The essence of Mangxiang's reforms can be seen from his behavior; the alliance between Bifang Immortal King and Qingrui Immortal Venerable may actually exist."

Qingrui's tacit approval of Mangxiang's betrayal of the alliance might correspond to her ambition to immediately cease her chaotic era ambitions after crushing the Immortal Realm.

The world is not lacking in clever people. Qingrui and Bifang supported Mangxiang's path to enlightenment together. Why couldn't they secretly join forces?
Don't forget, Qingrui's territory is located northwest of Wunan, bordering the western seashore of the Immortal Kingdom.
As soon as General Whitebeard uttered these words, Wuji Palace erupted in chaos.

Its guess is very far-fetched, but if you take into account Qingrui's skillful move and her recent 'failure', it seems to make sense.

The failure was controlled by Qingrui herself. Without Shui Zun changing course, the Immortal Extinction Domain would have collapsed under the pressure of the reform.

Whether or not the Immortal Realm collapses is not important. The key point is that Qingrui and Bifang joined forces to put on a show to demand reform, while at the same time proving that Bifang's strength and condition were not a problem.

Bifang deliberately started a fire to roast himself, and Qingrui lit the fire in front of him. Once he was almost roasted, he declared victory—everything made sense.

The changes in between were the Water Venerable's change of direction, the Mangxiang's attack, and Qingrui's later realization that she could devour the Immortal Realm. Therefore, she took the initiative to abandon the reform and launched a banquet to destroy the Immortal Realm.

All match
"What is Qingrui's purpose?"

Huanpei returned to the framework of absolute self-interest and realized that the problem was that Qingrui had gained nothing.

Opening a banquet to destroy the Immortal Realm is a good idea, but it's an opportunity that arises after the Water Venerable changes course and the Wild Elephant is attacked.

Prior to this, Qingrui had not received any tangible benefits.

General Whitebeard shook his head; he couldn't understand the problem either.

It was Xiao Hu who took the initiative to speak and proposed a possibility.

"Pretend to be powerful, and take advantage of the time difference."

Qingrui, that bitch, is one of the lower-ranking among the top-tier immortals.

She hasn't made a move for over 10,000 years, and has been transforming in the grotto-heaven for the past few thousand years, which may correspond to a major adjustment of her own methods.

During this critical period, joining forces with Bi Fang could allow her to take a significant step forward in the next ten to twenty thousand years.

When Bi Fangqiang reaches the point where the other figures at the Bo Luo meeting can't hold back anymore, since there are tall figures like the Bo Luo Elder and Shui Zun to protect them, Qing Rui can step back.

On the grand stage of heaven and earth, countless geniuses throughout the ages compete for the Dao fruit. How much pride do you possess?

In any case, Xiao Hu's arrogance is definitely not low.
The fact that Dong Luoche and Mingcheng set a trap for them within the Immortal Alliance was simply because they came from the Immortal Extinction Domain, which put them in a very passive position in many situations.

Later, when its error was noticed, it became an undeserved disaster. In order to show his own importance, Wang Yulou, in a pretentious manner, marked it out with random punctuation.

Looking back, it's fair to say that Xiao Hu was incredibly unlucky.

It was so absurd that even the punctuator, Wang Yulou, himself was unaware of what he had punctuated.
While he and Xiaoyu, that genius young couple, were still scheming about how to demand a price from Qingrui Zun, Xiaohu had already seen the grand alliance between Qingrui and Bifang.

Of course, there is an element of information asymmetry involved, after all, Xiaoyu and Yulou's perspectives are still somewhat limited.

However, if we were to rank those who are arrogant, then Little Fish would definitely not be as high as General Whitebeard, and General Whitebeard would not be as high as Fierce Tiger.

However, this difference in level is not permanent.

Xiaoyu's "I am the only one who can succeed" spirit, along with her own legendary past, determines that she also has the opportunity to compete for that extraordinary finish line, but there are still many places to climb.

Xiao Hu's words made Huan Pei ponder, and she suddenly asked a question.

"What's the situation in the Immortal Extinction Domain?"

If Qingrui's decision to open the banquet to destroy the Immortal Realm was a spur-of-the-moment idea, then there should be clues in the internal strife within the Immortal Realm, and Qingrui's actions would expose her purpose.

"It's a complete mess. Even though the Purple Mansion hasn't even entered the fray, it's already a situation where defeat is inevitable. Nobody is willing to fight back; everyone is thinking about how to sell the Immortal Extinction Domain for a good price."

Three groups of people have already contacted me, and each of them has offered a different plan to sell the Immortal Realm.

Small groups sell in specific areas, large groups sell in large quantities, and after uniting to kill the lower-level Golden Core cultivators, they sell the whole thing in all sorts of ways. "A Celestial Venerable who destroyed the Immortal Realm sighed.

Xiao Hu curled his lip. This kind of thing was really hard to keep up with. Every time a chaotic era came, there would always be an unlucky force that collapsed first.

Moreover, coincidentally, each collapse looked very similar, as if they hadn't even been properly fought before they couldn't be sustained any longer.

A battle of wits to survive?

Who among those who can reach the Golden Core stage would be willing to die for a mere illusionary Grand Alliance?

After the Immortal Extinction Domain collapses, other top-tier forces will have a much-needed respite, and the era of chaos has begun, but its end seems far off.

This is why the Immortal Alliance designed the duration of the chaotic era to be ten thousand years. It's not that the chaotic era will actually last that long, but rather that no one can predict when it will end.

Leaving more room for maneuver in the top-level design, taking a long-term view, and making long-term preparations is the most appropriate response for the Immortal Alliance, which has already gained the first-mover advantage.

"Let's observe this first. Let's continue with the Mangxiang Reforms, Bai Xu," Huan Pei said with a headache.

The Outer Heaven is in darkness, stretching for hundreds of thousands of years. The Outer Heaven created the Cave Heaven Technique, which is incredibly powerful.

But these old bastards in the world are no less despicable.

They are all champions at holding their breath, masters of chess, and old turtles who make every move with the intention of not losing.

Very difficult.

"I suspect that the essence of Mangxiang's reforms was killing people, because he once said that he killed his disciples to show his sincerity."

Of course, this later became the trigger for his predicament, but my judgment is that the risk of the power struggle within the Immortal Alliance spilling over was beyond the control of Immortal Venerable Qingrui.

Qingrui may have pushed Mangxiang to this point, or perhaps she tried to save him, but Wang Yulou could replace Mangxiang, so Mangxiang ultimately sacrificed a lot of his interests.

If the Kaixi Extinction Realm and the Alliance Bifang operate simultaneously, it is possible that the Mangxiang Reform will begin after the Extinction Realm collapses.

The top powers first kill 30%, then 50%, 70%, and gradually up to 90% or even 99%.

With most of the low-level calamities gone, the major powers will suddenly have an additional number of members.

These increases were the very purpose of Wang Mangxiang's reforms.

Ultimately, it was all to prolong the period of stability in the Great World, thereby creating space for the top Golden Core cultivators to compete.

Deacon Xiaohu was right. For Bifang, extending its stabilization period meant it was confident it could become stronger. Similarly, for weaker top-tier Golden Core cultivators, extending their stabilization period also gave them the confidence to become stronger.

It's like a new cowardly game. I know my guess is a bit unorthodox, but no matter how I think about it, it feels very strange that the top Golden Core cultivators from all the major forces supported Mang Xiang's path to enlightenment.

Only this reason makes sense.

After Bai Xu finished speaking, Wuji Palace became so quiet that you could almost hear breathing, but everyone was a projection of the Great Dao and there was no sound of breathing.

It turns out, the wind has picked up.

The ambition of the immortals burned, and the endless creatures of the world were weighed and thrown into the furnace called the price.

The ferocious and terrifying flames were so intense that even the Boundless Dao Lord of the Outer Heavens was moved by them.

"Of course, these are all just guesses, just guesses, and they may not be correct, hahaha."

Whitebeard awkwardly tried to cover up its mistake. It felt a sense of fear from the silence of the Wuji Palace, but it didn't know what this fear specifically referred to.

"Hmm, that guess is indeed a bit far-fetched, but it's a very interesting idea."

Huanpei suppressed her inner worries and eased the atmosphere in Wuji Palace.

"Does anyone else have any ideas or information?"

The speculation is already this extreme; what else can others possibly think?

Jinshan was very fortunate that his foolish act of protecting Wang Yulou was ultimately not significant and was not noticed by Baixu, Xiaohu, and the others.

Of course, this also explains why Xiao Hu was tricked, and why people dare not comment too much on the entanglement between Tianwaitian and Xiao Hu.

On one side is the unlucky Xiao Hu, and on the other is Tianwaitian, who holds everyone's life in his hands. Who dares to speak recklessly?
As I said, not helping Xiao Hu would be kicking him when he's down, and not helping Tian Wai Tian would be asking for trouble.

The first gathering of the Outer Heavens during this chaotic era ended abruptly after Whitebeard's speculation.

However, Huanpei was already on her way to pay homage to the Daoist Master of Wuji.

At first, it thought Qingrui was the clown, because it couldn't win a single move. Now, it seems that it has become the clown.

Ultimately, having been detached from the Great World for too long, sitting within the Wuji Palace, one cannot comprehend the changes within the Great World.

The turmoil began with the reform movement, and now, after going around in circles, it has returned to the topic of reform.

However, this reform is extremely detrimental to Tianwaitian.
If the world remains stable for another few thousand years, Bifang and many other top-tier Golden Core Immortals will become even stronger.
For everyone except those at the highest level of the Golden Core stage, this is an extremely hellish horror story.
-

Qingrui Cave and Lianpeng Cave are not the same cave.

Lotus Seed Cave Heaven, as the smaller version of Lotus Seed Cave Heaven of Green Bud, is only three thousand miles in circumference, while Green Bud Cave Heaven is ridiculously large, equivalent to almost half of Wunan Prefecture.

Qingrui's strength needs no further explanation; the depth of her strategy, the dimensions of her moves, and the audacity to intervene in the course of history speak for themselves.

So, despite being quite confident in front of Xiao Wang, Xiao Yu was still a little apprehensive when she actually stood in front of this old bastard.

It's not that I'm afraid of death, but Qingrui's reputation is just too great.

"White Carp pays respects to the Immortal Venerable!"

Qingrui was still lying in her own Supreme Sword of Transcending Limits and Breaking the Void, a celestial artifact that could help her avoid interference from the laws of the world and the secret techniques of her opponents.

Judging from its endlessly mysterious pale golden shell, the green pistil lying inside seems to be hiding in a protective shield reminiscent of a cultivation novel.

"The situation in the Immortal Extinction Domain is very tense. Why did you come back at this time?" Qingrui asked, puzzled.

Now is the time for the major powers to divide up the spoils of the Immortal Realm. If Bai Li leaves for a day or two and happens to be caught in the moment when the Immortal Realm suddenly explodes, he will suffer a huge loss.

Whether you are involved in the event or not, and whether your person is involved or not, makes a huge difference.

Qingrui can certainly exert her influence from tens of thousands of miles away, but ultimately, it is more useful to use someone less capable than herself in the game.

"Immortal Lord, several demon gods are worried that their demon kingdoms are too far from the Immortal Alliance."

This is actually the problem that Bai Li is worried about. If an interest group is too far apart, it will be unable to form a close alliance.

The special cross-faction organizations within the Great World are such examples. The cultivators within them have the basis for an alliance, but due to spatial barriers, they are scattered into different forces and are unable to truly unite.

But this doesn't mean that cross-sectoral organizations have no value. They can still help out in critical moments, of course, at a price.

Bai Li's concern is that if the faction she and Wang Yulou form in the future becomes severely fragmented, then there will be little opportunity for them to compete for interests as a collective.

"It's alright, go back and tell them not to worry, this is my promise, Qingrui."

However, Qingrui's courage far exceeded Baili's imagination.

This is my promise, Qingrui.
She can disregard a promise made earlier, but the price to pay is high.

It can be said that from Wang Yulou to Xianlongwang to Qingrui, their understanding of promises is consistent: they are very useful cards, so they must be broken at crucial moments.

However, the collapse of the Immortal Extinction Domain is already at a critical moment.

"Immortal Venerable," Little Fish wanted to ask more.

Qingrui woke up from her sleep, opened her eyes, and waved her hand.

"You don't know, the Bamboo Shoot Association has already made a decision."

The little fish appeared obedient, but inwardly it was filled with doubts.

The Boluo Society is a place for exchange. Top-tier Golden Core cultivators are unlikely to form a true alliance based on mutual interests. So what kind of decisions can the Boluo Society make?
-

Under the red light, Zou Tianxing felt completely numb.

Wang Yulou has become the invisible commander-in-chief at the front—a minor matter, he'll be nothing after the ceasefire.

The war continues. The Immortal Alliance needs to reform. Wang Yulou will be appointed as the vice leader—no problem. He's a position where he's willing to risk his life to withstand pressure. Let's get him out of the Red Lantern first and see how many years he can laugh in the Azure Plains!
Wang Yulou took charge of the reform work—and sure enough, his death was imminent.

Wang Yulou has opened his Purple Mansion—
Despite the open conflict between Wang Yulou and Mang Xiang, Wang Yulou remains the vice leader of the alliance.
Mang Xiang betrayed the alliance, and the Immortal Alliance Leader, Jade Palace Immortal, returned to his sect.
It can be said that Wang Yulou rose through the ranks step by step right under Zou Tianxing's nose.

Compared to his own failure, Wang Yulou's success clearly broke Zou Tianxing's defenses even more.

He even heard that Yi Zouri had become Wang Yulou's disciple and lackey.

After Mangxiang led his disciples and even Jingming Zhenren to defect from the Immortal Alliance, the Zhuzhao Sect immediately filled the profit space they left behind.

Wang Yulou's return this time was solely to collect debts and recoup his losses.

Therefore, Zou Tianxing, the former sect leader, along with Jin Xian Zhenren, became part of the team that received Yu Que Zhenren, the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, upon his return to the sect.

How should I put it? I'm feeling bitter inside, but I have to smile and put on my brightest smile.

Hey!
The celestial palace stopped above the red lanterns, and Wang Yuque appeared in the sky with two Purple Mansion Daoist companions.

Master Jinxian hurriedly led his men to greet them.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, it's been a few years since we last met. Your cultivation has improved again, hahaha."

Jinxian, Zhuzhao's disciple, was now smiling with a hint of obsequiousness.

However, Wang Yulou ignored him, simply standing there with a frown, not moving an inch.

Jin Xian's smile turned cold, and Zou Tianxing lowered his head.

How could a cultivator who yearns for a higher level not feel conflicted when they see their former peers become beings they dare not even look up to?

"Fellow Daoist, I heard you were coming, so I've prepared a special banquet for you."

Jinxian tried to make amends, but suddenly a portal opened in the sky.

Wang Yulou nodded to Jinxian and then stepped inside with his Daoist companion.

In fact, he brought not only his Daoist companion, but also the support of the entire Dharma and the East.
As for his indifference towards Jinxian, it wasn't that Wang Yulou liked to pretend, but rather that he needed to maintain a high profile.

Only in this way can a good price be negotiated during the tug-of-war with Zhuzhao.
In fact, it's easy to imagine that, given Wang Yulou's personality, even if a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Immortal Alliance's executive level came, he would still greet him with a smile.

Of course, if those people like to deliberately smash their heads on the floor, Master Yuque can't really stop them.

Ultimately, even the Jade Palace Immortal faces a difficult situation. For the sake of profit, he must be tough when necessary, even if it means offending people.

This is not solely due to his own will; his faction, the expectations and support behind him, are what propel him forward.

We must charge forward, we must strive for more victories, so as to transform the borrowed support into genuine support.

Zhuzhao's grotto is only about 3,000 li in circumference, which is just okay. It is better than Mangxiang and Dishui, but not by much.

The strength of the new method of the cave is not in an absolute sense. Among the methods left by the ancient geniuses, some are powerful. Just because you say that the cave of Dripping Water is small does not mean that Dripping Water has no power to resist in front of Zhuzhao.
That's obviously not the case. Jia Lingxiao's 800-mile-long cave heaven was enough to reach the Golden Core stage, and Xiaoyu's 2,000-mile-long cave heaven is already quite good, at least among the young Golden Core Immortal Venerables.

Wang Yulou and the other two were led in by Zhuzhao, who opened the door for them, and they appeared directly in Zhuzhao's dojo.

Despite being a great cultivator of fire magic, Zhuzhao's dojo was remarkably elegant, resembling the secluded courtyard of a hermit in the mountains, built in the valley at the center of the grotto-heaven, with a stream flowing through it.

"Yu Lou, is this our first time meeting?"

The chivalrous-looking Immortal Venerable Zhuzhao sat on a stone chair by the stream, smiling as he invited Wang Yulou and the other two to take a seat.

Exquisite delicacies, divine wines and fruits, jade plates and golden chopsticks, accompanied by the tranquil sound of a stream, create a unique and elegant atmosphere.

Zhuzhao had put a lot of thought into Wang Yulou's arrival.

Xiao Wang stepped forward, sat down, and replied with a smile.

"Yes, Uncle-Master, you are busy with cultivation, and I am busy with reforms, so it is not easy for us to meet."

You're the top dog in the red light district, and I'm the enforcer of the reforms. There's a power struggle between us, Old Deng, you understand?

"I don't know what Mangxiang was thinking. If I had a disciple as good as you, I would be secretly overjoyed."

Instead, he neglected you and even targeted you quite a bit. Now, he has inexplicably betrayed the Immortal Alliance.

"Ugh, these things are so troublesome. They've put the traffic police in the spotlight, making their lives very difficult."

You two, master and disciple, are too much trouble. You've damaged the sect's interests. Xiao Deng, do you understand?

Zhu Zhao's words were quite unfounded; he was just saying it casually. If he really had a disciple like Wang Yulou, perhaps he, Zhu Zhao, would be the one to achieve the Golden Elixir of Immortal Kingdom.

Are you secretly pleased?
"Yes, life is tough, but I have a plan. My Daoist partner, Qin Churan, is very capable."

Let her take over as the leader of the Red Lantern Sect, manage it well, and allow the sect to catch its breath.

Not having a good time?
Then my people will take over and help you manage things.

Zhu Zhao played his card, but Wang Yulou didn't respond at all and went straight to making demands based on the intensity of the challenge.

Note that this is not because Wang Yulou is stupid; in essence, it is still the same approach he used to deal with Jinxian.

When it's time to be tough, you have to be tough. The core of the game is to play the unresolved cards well. Wang Yulou is a guy who'll die if he doesn't win, so what's there to be afraid of?
If even the candle is afraid, how can he continue?

The consensus and pressure that Wang Yulou embodies alone are enough to justify his tough stance.

Being a coward is not only pointless, but it can also lead to significant losses.

“Yu Lou, I am your senior uncle, you can’t treat your senior uncle like an enemy.”

I know that your master has contributed a lot to the Red Lantern Sect through all these years of trials and tribulations, but... Fuyan, let someone from Fuyan's sect become the sect leader.

"We'll split it fifty-fifty. I'll get 50%, Fuyan 30%, and you 20%, how about that?"

A 20/80 split is about right. The Red Light Group was started by Mangxiang, Chiming, and me. You're a latecomer, you understand?
Zhu Zhao intends to forcefully take over the Fu Yan lineage, then take 80% and give 20% to Wang Yulou.

In Wang Yulou's view, this was simply a way to appease a beggar.

"All the properties in the Western Sea belong to me, and I want 30% of the sect's overall profits."

"Uncle-Master, this is my bottom line. The war to destroy the Immortal Realm is too crucial; I don't have time to linger."

As he spoke, Wang Yulou pulled Chuan Jiangyue into his arms and began to show their affection in front of Zhuzhao.

Immortal Venerable of the East, ascend!

This is actually Wang Yulou's true bottom line: he doesn't covet more, but he must guarantee 30% of the profits.

The Red Lantern Society has weathered many storms over the years, and as one of its founders, the Candlelight Society deserves the lion's share.

However, over the past few decades, both the expansion of the Western Sea industry and the two major battles on the front lines were promoted and overseen by Wang Yulou.

Now, Wang Yulou has allies outside and a large number of cultivators from the front lines of the two major sect wars within the sect.

With strong external support and a solid internal foundation, Wang Yulou is also an undisputed minority shareholder of the Red Lantern Gang.

Mang Xiang took Wang Jingyi away, which was disgusting, but it also helped Wang Yulou untie his bound hands and feet, so he dared to negotiate a lot more with that old bastard Zhuzhao.

Old Deng, don't push your luck.

".good!"

Zhu Zhao finally agreed, and Wang Yulou's more than fifty years of service on the front lines of the two regions were not wasted.

He has a real foundation within the Red Light District.

As the tides of the times surged, Wang Yulou's position at the center of the maelstrom meant that Zhuzhao had to respect him.

“The sect produces talented people in every generation. Mang Xiang is doomed. Yu Lou, the next Golden Core Immortal Venerable in the sect still depends on you.”

Whether Wang Yulou can weather the storm is still uncertain, but let's just make a promise first.

"Haha, Uncle-Master, my mind isn't on attaining the Golden Core stage; it's all too far off for me."

All I'm thinking about now is to develop the sect well and contribute to its success.

Furthermore, it is to ensure that the Immortal Alliance survives this chaotic era for a long time, and to contribute to the Immortal Venerables.

The greater the responsibility one assumes, the greater the power one receives.

The essence of empowerment is to require responsibility. Wang Yulou took the initiative to take responsibility, so he was entitled to a share of the benefits.

He's clear-headed and won't be blinded by immediate gains.
-

The Holy Land is a group of Holy Lands that take turns in charge, and the one currently in charge is the Yellow-Robed Buddha of the Thousand Pagodas Holy Land.

Meanwhile, in front of the golden statue of the Yellow-Robed Buddha at the Thousand Pagodas Holy Land, the savage elephant had been kneeling for half a day.

Suddenly, the giant statue trembled, and the yellow-robed Buddha spoke.

"The Boluo Association will accept Bifang's proposal!"

"After the destruction of the Immortal Realm is resolved, you will preside over the reform."

"Ninety percent is too harsh, let's cut eighty percent first."

"Furthermore, our condition is that the Great Heaven and Earth Rules be changed once again."

“Bifang and we worked together to make the changes.”

"The existing cultivation hierarchy allows Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators to consume too much, and also restricts the actions of various major forces."

"Let's make some changes: 'Guiding Qi into Qi Refining, Qi Refining into Cave Method, Foundation Building into Enlightened Dao,' and senior Foundation Building cultivators with supernatural powers will be renamed Deity Transformation cultivators, and Purple Mansion cultivators will be renamed Loose Immortals."

"The Golden Elixir is divided into two levels: Celestial Immortal and Golden Immortal."

"Those with a lifespan of 30,000 years or less and below the average strength of a Golden Core cultivator are considered Celestial Immortals."

Those with a lifespan of over 30,000 years are called Golden Immortals.

"This is the condition for us to gamble with Bi Fang in this game."

"Mangxiang, go back and report."

Mangxiang looked up in shock, his head spinning, his thoughts frozen in disbelief.

He then altered the rules of the universe, directly becoming a 'celestial being'.
Previously, the stages were Qi Induction, Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Purple Mansion, and Golden Elixir.

There is a severe mismatch between the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators and the Purple Mansion cultivators, and all major forces have put a lot of effort into suppressing Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After the modification, the Foundation Establishment stage was directly split into two levels, and the Purple Mansion stage was transformed into the Loose Immortal stage.
This is the condition for the Bo Luo Society to accept Bi Fang's bet: to reshape the landscape of cultivators in the Great World from the bottom layer of the laws of heaven and earth.

The methods and the level of competition among the top Golden Core Immortal Venerables truly shocked Xiao Mang.

If the changes to the rules of the universe proceed smoothly, Wang Yulou's cultivation level will be able to directly 'leap' from the Purple Mansion realm to the Loose Immortal realm.

In other words, you don't have to do anything; just sit there, and in an instant, you're 'ascended to the ranks of immortals'.
(End of this chapter)