Shangyuque

Chapter 258 Thirty thousand years, thirty thousand years, guess why it's thirty thousand years?
The bet between Bifang and the Boluo Society involves a battle between top-tier Golden Core cultivators and a momentous upheaval in the future of the world, making it extremely valuable intelligence.

However, extremely valuable intelligence does not mean it needs to be kept secret. After all, there are so many people at the meeting, it is impossible to maintain an airtight state for long.

Moreover, in Wang Yulou's eyes, Lao Jin is also a smart man who knows what's important and won't go around telling the whole world, "Hey, guess what? Eighty percent of you are going to be eliminated."

As long as they don't go mad, they'll know what they're talking about. In any case, in the power struggle among the top Golden Core Immortals, even if those below know, they can't defy their collective will.

The invitation to a contest between the Boluo Society and Bifang actually signifies that the top immortals are beginning to attempt to unite.

Under such a united front, even Bifang would have to bow down. The opposition from a few lower-level cultivators would naturally not cause any major waves—but if someone deliberately spread rumors, they would be walking into the line of fire.

However, even with such a complex and deep web of interests, Wang Yulou's willingness to share crucial intelligence with Lao Jin free of charge was still enough to move Jinshan.

Of course, Xiao Wang also had his own ulterior motives.

Just like when he married Lin Ying, after truly coming into contact with the cultivation laws belonging to the rulers of the cultivation world from inside the Dripping Water Cave, Wang Yulou embarked on a cultivation path that was completely different from the vast majority of cultivators.

This road is a main thoroughfare, but its darkness and complexity are beyond description.

Marrying Lin Ying means marrying into the Lin family. If Wang Yulou develops his business in Dishuidong, he will have his own faction to support internally and the support of the Wang family of the Red Lanterns externally. He can then refine the Lin family's foundation inside and outside Dishuidong and add bricks and tiles to his own foundation.

This is the reason why Wang Yulou did not choose the Yuan family or the Zhuo family.

Now it's Xiao Wang's turn to 'marry Jinshan'.

Jinshan, an old man thousands of years old, doesn't look like a human, but he's quite powerful and has decent seniority, and he has the air of a potential Golden Core cultivator.

Wang Yulou is only one hundred years old; he is still a long way from achieving the Golden Elixir.

However, he has already begun his cultivation journey towards the Golden Core stage, a process that includes enhancing his own wings.

It's not necessarily about supporting Jin Yong to achieve the Golden Core stage. Kingsoft's promise to Wang Yulou is "to make you the second Immortal Venerable within your faction," but that doesn't affect Wang Yulou's future promise to Jin Yong: "I'll achieve the Golden Core stage first, then help you achieve it later."
Even more iron-like than an iron discus, they can just feed each other. Since everyone is at the Purple Mansion level, even if the discus is iron, they have good teeth and can chew it.

Of course, even if Old Jin's brain were completely devoid of brains, filled only with metal and stone, he still wouldn't believe Wang Yulou's utter nonsense.

But this doesn't affect the collusion and exchange of interests. Who can predict what will happen in the future?

If Wang Yulou has a good opportunity to break through to the Golden Core stage, while Jinshan does not, their current close relationship with Lao Jin could be transformed into a force to help Wang Yulou break through to the Golden Core stage in the future—at least that's a possibility.

Donglai, Zhuzhao, Qingrui, and even the Little Immortal Alliance are all too far away.

Within Wang Yulou's core network of relationships, there are only two powerful cultivators who can provide him with significant assistance: Xiaoyu and Lao Jin.

That's why Wang Yulou valued Lao Jin so much.

"Yu Lou, you don't know this, but this matter is much more complicated than you think."

Your past cultivation experiences have been compiled into a secret manual and circulated throughout the world, but it's actually poorly written, you know that?

Wang Yulou was surprised that Lao Jin would start with this, but still nodded in agreement.

As for "The Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's Secret Cultivation Records," even the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable himself sometimes doesn't quite understand it. How come those people are so good at figuring it out, and can even analyze his nonsense and lousy operations in such a creative way?

"Ancestor, let's not talk about that, it's embarrassing."

Wang Yulou was genuinely ashamed. This thing was just as outrageous as Xu Jifan's "You Are Not Our Sun" in Xihai, and he didn't even know who wrote it, let alone who the editor was.

nausea!

"Haha, not at all. The person who wrote that should only be at the early or middle stage of the Purple Mansion realm. They didn't discover the real key to your cultivation."

That's not surprising. Those with higher cultivation levels wouldn't bother earning such small amounts of money, and their vision wouldn't be so shallow.

This was the first time in a long time that Wang Yulou of Kingsoft Investment had truly opened up to him. Xiao Wang understood that Lao Jin was deliberately trying to attract his attention, so he naturally listened attentively.

In the purple light of annihilation, the voice of the Old Ancestor of Jinshan was still as unpleasant as ever, but the words he spoke were of an unparalleled level of sophistication.

"The secret to your cultivation lies not in any specific methods. The 'Collection of Secret Transmissions of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable' focuses solely on the techniques you employ."

Even going to great lengths to break down and analyze everything you did during those two major battles is a waste of effort, merely fooling those ignorant fools.

Old Jin's words are interesting. It's like making a sweeping generalization. In Old Jin's definition, most of Xiao Wang's subordinates have become idiots.

"Your cultivation follows the key points that cultivators need to focus on at different stages of cultivation, but you are often one step ahead of ordinary geniuses."

When you are practicing Qi cultivation, you are focused on seeking truth; after you establish your foundation, you begin to pay attention to changes.

Only by seeking truth and seeing through falsehoods can one find the right path to progress. Understanding the importance of seeking truth is the true entry into the gate of spiritual practice.

Change is the biggest problem faced by cultivators. There are too many geniuses, and most of the past experience is nonsense. The times and the methods of cultivation are always changing.

Only cultivators who can adapt to change can find the right direction amidst change, follow the trend, and become great cultivators of the Purple Mansion.

Even if what is said in "The Secret Record of the Cultivation of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable" is that you obtained the opportunity to become the vice leader of the alliance by presiding over the great war between the two sects, thus laying the foundation for your rapid rise, it is actually talking about how you kept up with the changes, one after another.

This is the true secret of your cultivation, the key that countless cultivators throughout the world cannot comprehend in their entire lives.

At this moment, Wang Yulou became even more certain that Old Jin, that bastard, did indeed have the potential to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Putting everything else aside, the sheer quality of his summary and conclusions alone demonstrates that Jinshan has grasped the key to cultivation for cultivators of the Great Heaven and Earth.

The biggest challenge for cultivators is how to survive in a rapidly changing competitive environment, and thus live on and continue their journey.

But since you're not a top-tier Golden Core Immortal Venerable, strength isn't important, at least not absolutely crucial or the only crucial factor.

In fact, the most important thing is to see the road ahead, seize the opportunity, and grasp the chance. Lao Jin's thinking and vision have already reached this level - he has a bit of the appearance of the Immortal Jinshan.

Seeing Wang Yulou nod silently, acknowledging his conclusion, Lao Jin stopped pretending and continued.

"But your ability to adapt to change can only make you a Purple Mansion."

Those who adapt to change are able to act in accordance with the trend and become a Purple Mansion.

Only by predicting the direction of change and making advance arrangements in line with future changes can one seize the difficult and precious opportunities in the game.

That's why I said before, don't rush, wait for the right opportunity.

You need a better time, and I need a better time, so we can make accurate judgments, bet on future changes, and seize the opportunities that belong to us.

Jinshan's words were somewhat ambiguous, but also profound.

The ambiguity lies in the fact that his opportunity is not the same as Wang Yulou's opportunity. He hated Wang Yulou's ostentation at the time, but Wang Yulou needed to be ostentatious, which is a manifestation of the conflict of interests between the two.

In order to avoid being implicated by Wang Yulou, Jin Shan even considered killing Jin Mingdu directly to sever the relationship between the two.

However, because doing so would seem too deliberate, Kingsoft ultimately didn't dare to actually kill him.

It can be said that this reluctance was forced upon them by Wang Yulou's relentless pressure!

You, Lao Jin, invested in Wang Yulou so early and successfully. Wang Yulou is also very respectful to you. Why don't you befriend Wang Yulou and instead keep your distance? Is there something wrong?
Pressure is something that cannot be physically manifested, but in the process of a game, it is like an undercurrent hidden beneath the surface of the water, and it is real.

However, Jinshan's conclusions are also very, very, very profound, even reaching the level of "a single sentence conveying the true essence".

Qingrui's teachings revealed to Wang Yulou the true thoughts of the great cultivators—that if there was no way, no possibility, and no future, then they should fight their way out, strive for possibilities, fight for a future, and then continue on their path.

Jinshan's evangelism, based on Qingrui's evangelism, is more specific.

Qingrui's preaching conveys a certain idea and outline, or rather, a vague general direction.

The teachings of Jinshan, however, are the practical methods for a Purple Mansion cultivator to reach the Golden Core stage in the arduous world of cultivation.

In other words, this old man truly has the potential to become a Golden Core Immortal.

Only by seeing through the illusions and fabricated illusions, and passing through those artificially constructed cages, can one become a true practitioner, rather than a fool led by the nose.

Only by perceiving change, adapting to change, utilizing change, and acting in accordance with the trend can one have the opportunity to reach the Purple Mansion level on the path of cultivation and become a rare great cultivator in the vast world.

However, the path to the Golden Core is extremely difficult. It requires cultivators to predict future changes and make preparations in advance in order to achieve victory in the future and stand out from their peers.

Wang Yulou could even imagine that, as time went on, this kind of cultivation would become increasingly difficult.

As Xiaoyu once said, what great cultivators fear most is change, but they also crave change the most.

Therefore, those opportunities and those possible changes were all being watched closely by the old Dengs.

The older generation of players are more skilled, have a broader perspective, and have more resources than the younger generation.

They captured the changes, and they bet on the possibilities of those changes. The future hasn't arrived yet, but the old Dengs have already reached out and begun the distribution in advance—a stable standoff and a shared distribution of benefits. Whatever changes occur, in the stable standoff among the top powers, the old Deng will take more, and the young Deng will take less.

In this situation, a latecomer cultivator who wants to win the gamble truly needs to rely on the times.

Just as Jinshan once said, waiting for the next chaotic era, which is the current chaotic era, to begin before seeking an opportunity to attain the Golden Core is one of the few options under these difficult cultivation rules.

"Ancestor, Yulou has learned a lot."

This time, Xiao Wang addressed him with unusual care, calling him "Ancestor."

Old Jin deserves it.

The true teaching is summarized in one sentence: Old Jin, as a senior peak Purple Mansion cultivator, has long gazed at the Golden Core from the depths of the Purple Mansion and has truly figured something out.

"I'm not saying this to teach you a lesson, but rather because I have some feelings about it."

I have been expecting, I have been waiting, I have endured for so long, and the chaotic era has finally arrived.

However, the immortals at the Bamboo Basket Gathering, as well as Bifang, were thinking about restoring stability to the world once again.

Stability is good, stability is good. For those who are already standing at the top, stability means no change, no major changes, and they will win forever.

However, my chance to attain the Golden Core... alas!

Jin Shan is a veteran actor; he was simply trying to win over Wang Yulou.

After all, Xiao Wang was clinging to him every day, always on his mind, so he had to reciprocate. A fool could comfortably enjoy Wang Yulou's kindness without giving anything back, but Jinshan wasn't a fool. He knew that Xiao Wang's debt was not easy to owe.

You dare to take advantage of Wang Yuque's kindness for nothing? Don't you want to live?

As for the key to his Golden Elixir, it does not lie in whether the Great Heaven and Earth are in chaos or not, but in the Heaven beyond Heaven.

The Heavenly Realm gave him the opportunity, allowing him, an outer disciple, to reach the Golden Core stage.

Tianwaitian didn't give him a chance. He didn't dare to approach Bifang either, because not everyone is as strong as Xiaohu.

You can laugh at Xiao Hu's pathetic escape after killing Mang Xiang, but if you stand in front of Shui Zun, Qing Rui, Cang Shan, and others, you would still die even if you ran ten thousand miles, while Xiao Hu at least managed to escape alive. Isn't that a demonstration of strength?
"Ancestor, there is no need to worry. It is still difficult to determine what will happen in the future. However, the distinction between Loose Immortals, Celestial Immortals, and Golden Immortals is quite interesting."

The average strength of a Golden Core cultivator who has reached 30,000 years is above that of a Golden Immortal. Why was it designed to be 30,000 years?

Wang Yulou pondered, for he himself couldn't quite understand this dividing line.

Could it be that there are few Golden Core Immortals who have lived for more than 30,000 years?

However, unnoticed by Wang Yulou, Jinshan's heart, made of iron and stone, suddenly tensed up under Wang Yulou's unconscious punctuation once again.

It was truly an unconscious punctuation mark. In Wang Yulou's eyes, the division of 30,000 years was related to the distinction between Golden Immortals and Celestial Immortals. Since he couldn't figure it out himself, it was a very normal and appropriate little thing to study it together with the Old Ancestor of Jinshan, who was willing to pass on the "true teaching in one sentence".

However, fate always has its moments of favor for Xiao Wang. Along the way, in this messed-up world and in this messed-up era, Xiao Wang has walked a tiring and difficult path, always on edge. Unfortunate things, obstacles, and people who disgust him have appeared one after another.

The journey was difficult, but Wang Yulou accomplished so much and participated in so many crucial moments of the era. Fate would always, in terms of probability, occasionally favor Wang Yulou, and this chance occurrence is the glimmer of inevitability.

So at this moment, fate favored Xiao Wang, Jinshan, and Tianwaitian, allowing Wang Yulou to ponder this question. In front of Jinshan, he naturally asked the question and tried to invite Jinshan's patriarch to study it together.

Thirty thousand years, thirty thousand years, why thirty thousand years?
The details are terrifying, so detailed they can't be more so, yet the horror hidden within them is enough to overturn the world once more.
"Haha, Yu Lou, how could I, an ordinary member of the Immortal Alliance Purple Mansion, possibly know what the top Immortal Venerables think?"

Jinshan's face remained as calm and composed as ever, but he seemed to sense that at the pinnacle of the world, a group of terrifying beings were watching him.

The gazes of terrifying giants from the heavens stirred up a sea of ​​iron and gold in Jinshan's heart, which was as hard as stone.

Just one glance at those horrifying details was enough to crush Jinshan's Dao heart.

terrible!
He forced a smile and agreed, but seeing that Wang Yulou was still frowning and deep in thought, he carefully spoke.

"However, I have a guess."

If the distinction between Loose Immortals and Purple Mansion Immortals represents a further squeeze on the status of Purple Mansion Immortals, then the division between Celestial Immortals and Golden Immortals represents a different kind of squeeze.

Previously, Mangxiang was a Celestial Venerable, Qingrui was a Celestial Venerable, Bifang was a Celestial Venerable, and, well, hahaha, you are also a Celestial Venerable, the Jade Palace Celestial Venerable.

However, after the division into Celestial Immortals and Golden Immortals, Mangxiang could no longer stand alongside the established Immortal Venerables, and new problems would arise in the distribution of benefits above the Golden Core stage.

The restructuring of the cultivation levels at the bottom level corresponds to the restructuring of the order of the cultivation world, which will inevitably be revolutionary.

It's just that it's impossible to determine whether this restructuring of cultivation levels is simply a renaming of existing names, or a change in the rules of heaven and earth, or perhaps a change at the lower levels while the higher levels are simply a name change.

Either way is possible. Given the principle of betting on the future, we both need to prepare for potential changes. That's troublesome.

Previously, Mangxiang was the Mangxiang Immortal Venerable, Wang Yulou was the Yuque Immortal Venerable, and Qingrui was the Qingrui Immortal Venerable. They were all immortal venerables, but they were completely different.

Xiao Wang is a nominal Immortal Venerable, Mang Xiang is a lower-level Immortal Venerable, and Qing Rui is a top-level Immortal Venerable. No matter what kind of Immortal Venerable you are, you are still an Immortal Venerable.

In the future, the restructuring of the hierarchy will overturn the current ruling order of the cultivation world, causing great upheavals. However, it is not a good time to bet on this, because the changes are too great, and it seems difficult to win no matter how you place your bet.

"Ancestor, I have the general idea, but have you figured out how to do it?"
I suggest that we take the initiative to apply to Qunxiantai to go to the front line of the fight against the demons in Chongxian Prefecture.

By the way, how much longer do you have left to live? If you have enough lifespan, you can fight the entire war between the Immortal Alliance and the Immortal Extinction Domain.

After all, the war could suddenly end at any time.

However, Jinshan ultimately declined Wang Yulou's invitation, as he had more important things to do.

"Haha, I'm not in a hurry, I'm not in a hurry. I've waited so long, a little more time won't make a difference."
-

If planning for the Golden Elixir is like gazing at the stars, then Wang Yulou did a decent job.

He's just turned one hundred and is preparing to attain the Golden Elixir.

This speed of cultivation is unparalleled among all the geniuses throughout history.

It wasn't Wang Yulou who won; it was simply that he won more and went with the flow, and now the momentum he had accumulated was large enough.

It could even be so powerful that the leader of the Little Immortal Alliance, Cangshan, would try to win him over indirectly.

If someone like Xiao Wang doesn't even have the chance to break through to the Golden Core stage, and isn't even qualified to start preparing to compete for it, then probably very few people in the entire world will have the opportunity to become Golden Core cultivators.

Of course, obtaining the Golden Elixir is an extremely difficult process. The higher you go, the more difficult the path becomes. This increase in difficulty is not linear, but rather explosive.

Therefore, Wang Yulou cannot simply crane his neck and expect the golden elixir to fall from the sky and directly into his stomach. That's unrealistic. He still needs to take solid steps towards the golden elixir.

But this is the most outrageous aspect of the cultivation world: the Drip Cave transmits skills but not methods, and the methods of cultivation are not the same as the methods of cultivation.

The same applies to the cultivation world. The method to open the Purple Mansion needs to be found by oneself, and the method to attain the Golden Core is different for everyone. All the paths of the predecessors can only be learned from, not copied. One must walk one's own path in order to have a chance to reach that level.

This is an individual's struggle, and Wang Yulou's fighting spirit is naturally very strong.

But his struggles have progressed beyond the point where he has to charge forward on his own—at least most of the time.

In the Western Sea, after politely declining the kneeling pleas of hundreds of cultivators to stay, Chen Yang, with great difficulty and amidst the pulling of the crowd, resolutely flew into the sky.

This reformist general from the Water Venerable faction paused in mid-air, then turned around and bowed deeply towards the direction of the Western Sea Immortal City.

The Western Sea gave him a huge stage, allowing him to truly achieve a breakthrough and gain key credit in the reform within the Immortal Alliance system.

The help of Qionghai Zhenren in his rise to power in the Western Sea, Shui Zun's support for the reforms, Wang Yulou's recognition of him, and Chen Yangshi's own talent.

Favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships—all three are indispensable. Chen Yangshi left, taking with him millions of 'apology stones' and the deep hatred of the Western Sea cultivators.

What remained, besides the hundreds of actors who cried and begged him not to leave, was a new Xihai, surnamed Wang.

Chen Yangshi gained fame, and Wang Yulou gained profit; it was quite fair.

He pushed his escape speed to its limit because the opportunity of the Purple Mansion was waiting for him in the Immortal City.

Chen Yangshi devoted most of his life to the Purple Mansion, and the hardships and twists and turns he experienced are sure to excite and inspire us.

If given a choice, who would want to be a dog?
When he took office in the Western Sea with the portrait of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, only Chen Yangshi himself knew what he was thinking.

Upon returning to the immortal city he had longed for, there was no welcoming party for Chen Yangshi.

The Dragon-Tiger Immortal Assistant of the Western Sea is nothing more than a tiny ant in the Immortal City.

But Chen Yangshi didn't care. He immediately returned to Qionghai Palace in a low-key manner to meet his ancestor.

"Now I'm caught up in this situation. Ancestor, it's all Yangshi's fault for not thinking things through and getting a little anxious."

Those cultivators from the Western Sea resented me. Since they had offended me, they started spreading rumors that if I didn't give them 'apologetic spirit stones,' I would be investigated by the Jade Palace.

While I was in the Western Sea, I relied on the help of several senior cultivators from the Purple Mansion realm to investigate and punish them, but even though some people were apprehended, this nonsense still managed to spread.

Chen Yangshi spoke with a bitter tone.

He painstakingly obtained the opportunity to enter the Purple Mansion, but then dug a huge pit for himself.

His ridiculous display of loyalty, which he used to oppress the other cultivators in the Western Sea, resulted in him being outmaneuvered.

The Immortal Alliance as a whole is thriving, but Xiao Chen's opportunity to enter the Purple Mansion is teetering on the brink of collapse.

"You're too clever for your own good, you're just too clever for your own good, and that's why you're acting so recklessly without thinking!"

Qiong Hai had no choice. Chen Yangshi was his most outstanding disciple. He gave Chen Yangshi the best opportunity and provided him with ample support, which led to Chen Yangshi's seemingly effortless success in Xihai.

But now.
"Ancestor, Yangshi knows he was wrong." Chen Yangshi lowered his head and answered obediently.

The fact that even his own ancestor was willing to scold him shows that there is room for redemption.

"You'll have to wait a few days; it's not easy to see Fellow Daoist Yuque right now."

A few days later is the day of the Qunsentai regular meeting, and on that day he will receive the cultivators who have requested an audience at the Qunqing Hall.

Then, I will personally take you to see him.

Even a seasoned Foundation Establishment expert over a hundred years old can sometimes slip up. These things are hard to predict; mistakes are inevitable, aren't they?
However, Chen Yangshi had Qiong Hai to clean up his mess.

Why is it said that the anti-corruption campaign of the Immortal Alliance, as implemented in "The First Decree of the Jade Palace," is essentially an obstacle to the future of lower-level cultivators?

The reason is this: lower-level cultivators no longer have the opportunity to overstep their bounds, and those who have advantages in terms of foundation and early accumulation will become the relatively dominant ones in the most recent era.

In the next, slightly more distant era and beyond, a very small number of exceptionally talented individuals and 'new generation of cultivators with deep foundations' will have a relative competitive advantage.

Most cultivators will gain relative fairness in the process of moving from the bottom to the second bottom, but what they lose is the opportunity to continue moving upward and cross the threshold from Foundation Establishment to Purple Mansion.

Leaving aside so-called moral factors, one cannot go astray; everything must obey the rules, but the rules...
To put it simply, going with the flow comes with the cost of trial and error; lower-level cultivators who have no room for accumulation will be directly excluded from the competition.
Overall, it can still improve the efficiency of the Immortal Alliance. After all, most cultivators don't pursue true immortality; living a less miserable life is enough for them.

Two days later, the Wunan Prefecture-themed horse racing track opened in Xiancheng.

As Wang Yulou gradually gained a foothold in the Immortal City, the Jade Palace Sect, which revolved around him, gradually spread Wang Yulou's personal hobbies throughout the Immortal City.

For example, because Wang Yulou liked to use water jade to write messages and convey orders, water jade from the Immortal City, despite being an eighth-grade spiritual material, was sold at the price of a seventh-grade spiritual material.
For example, the Wunan Prefecture Special Racecourse extends from Qingxifang all the way to Qunqingyuan Xiancheng.

Perhaps when the next leader who likes cockfighting takes office, cockfighting arenas will flourish again in Immortal City; it's hard to say.

In the racetrack that can hold tens of thousands of people, six racehorses at the Great Demon Realm and twelve ferocious beasts at the Great Demon Realm are fighting desperately.

The cultivators in the stands were also excited by the arrival of their leader, and their enthusiastic cheers conveyed their loyalty, giving Fang Xinqian a headache.

"Is it really necessary to get so worked up?" he muttered to himself.

Only after stepping into that river can one know whether they like it or not. However, cultivators are different from mortals; sometimes, even if they want to retreat, they cannot.

Family expectations, personal pursuits, and enormous sunk costs entangled Fang Xinqian, forcing him to repeatedly follow the other cultivators under the Jade Palace Sect and sink into endless performances of loyalty.

Pain and torment, yet hope lingered, though hope was slim; Fang Xinqian was, in fact, filled with regret.

"The Immortal Venerable's anti-corruption admonition has stirred up endless waves within the Immortal Alliance. Those at the lower levels of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment have placed even greater trust in and expectations of the Immortal Venerable."

Chen Yangshi is already a mature young general. Someone like him doesn't have the right to jump between sides. He must be loyal to both the Water Venerable and the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

“Yes,” Fang Xinqian echoed, but the two awkwardly discovered that despite being childhood friends who had never met before, they couldn’t even find a topic to talk about.

It wasn't that the occasion was inappropriate, but rather that the two young people had gone too far on their path of spiritual cultivation.

The so-called friendship, in terms of its meaning, has been shattered by the complexities brought about by spiritual practice.

The desire to improve oneself is not wrong, and the preciousness of friendship is beyond doubt. It's just that there are too many things, too many things, and there are no perfect answers.

Perhaps regret is the norm for a spiritual practitioner throughout their life.

Just like how Wang Yulou watched helplessly as his friend Feng Jianxian died from a casual strike by a great cultivator.

"Let's make a bet. I think the Hundred-Flower Horse will win. Ten thousand spirit stones, how about it?" Fang Xinqian was still Fang Xinqian at times, still somewhat like he used to be.

"Haha, forget it, I don't like gambling, I prefer things that are certain."

Chen Yangshi is no longer the same Chen Yangshi he once was; he no longer likes to conceal his talents as he used to.

This is a natural transformation of a cultivator at different stages. Fang Xinqian has not yet obtained his own Purple Mansion opportunity and is tormented by the anti-demon front line in Chongxian Prefecture, so he naturally does not have the same good mindset as Chen Yangshi.

Wang Yulou, along with his Daoist companions and subordinates, watched the race from the private room at the top of the Immortal City Racecourse.

“Choose one, Yu’an. Don’t you really enjoy watching horse racing?” He smiled at Yu’an.

"Brother, it's been so many years, I..." Yu'an's face flushed slightly.

Horse racing and the like are just things used to fool lower-level cultivators, and he now understands that perfectly well.

Winning and losing, it's always the racetrack that wins. Betting within someone else's rules is meaningless.

"Come on, come on, I remember you used to bet on a horse for a long time, and it lost for a long time, but finally won."

A look of reminiscence flickered in Wang Yulou's eyes. Qingxi Lane was a very, very long time ago.

"Gourd Jar, that horse's name is Gourd Jar, and now it's my mount, hahaha, but its talent isn't quite there, it's still just a little demon."

In the bustling racetrack, Yu'an rediscovered the feeling of being with his elder brother.

"Yes, gourd jar, you are a cultivator with perseverance, and you actually have the opportunity to open your Purple Mansion."

The private room fell silent immediately.

This was the first time Wang Yuque had explicitly given the opportunity to reach the Purple Mansion realm to cultivators within his faction. Even though the person in question was Wang Yu'an, everyone still saw hope.

Moreover, it was reasonable, and perfectly reasonable, for Wang Yulou to give Wang Yu'an the opportunity to open his Purple Mansion first.

The so-called "selection first, promotion later" and "fair competition" are just things used to manipulate lower-level cultivators. For Wang Yulou to give the truly scarce opportunity to his younger brother first is perfectly normal and appropriate.

"Brother, I have no merit or achievement, how could I be qualified to open a Purple Mansion?"

"If we're talking about opening the Purple Mansion, it should be Sister-in-law Mingdu who opens it first. Over the years, she..." Wang Yu'an said somewhat uneasily, declining the offer, knowing full well that he didn't have the skill to open the Purple Mansion.

Wang Yulou has limited resources at his disposal. If he is given an opportunity but fails to demonstrate his abilities or bring value to Wang Yulou, then...
Moreover, no matter how you look at it, Jin Mingdu, who has been by Wang Yulou's side for a long time, is the one who should be the first to receive the Purple Mansion spot in the Jade Palace Sect.

"Her matter will have to wait, but yours is different. Wait a few days, then go back to Chongxian Prefecture with Xinqian to fight the demons on the front lines, go to the battlefield, and make many contributions. Then I can arrange opportunities for you."

"My wife, don't be upset. I just can't bear to see you risk your life on the battlefield. Yu'an cultivates the metal and earth magic, so she's tough and resilient; she has nothing to fear."

Wang Yulou put his arm around Mingdu's waist and whispered an explanation.

"Whatever arrangements you make, my lord, I have no objection; I only wish for a long and healthy life."

The lively horse race ended amidst cheers and sighs of regret, and the winner was indeed the variegated horse that Fang Xinqian had favored.

But it's not just the colorful Hundred Flowers Horse; there's also Wang Yu'an, who was personally selected by Wang Yulou and thus gained the opportunity to enter the Purple Mansion.

Fate is just so unreasonable.

Wang Yulou sometimes feels exhausted by the cruel manipulation of fate, but now he has begun to wield that thunder, and can easily change the fate of those around him.
-

A few days later, the routine meeting of the Immortal City's Grand Hall of Immortals ended, and the Grand Hall of Azure Clouds was crowded with cultivators who wanted to pay their respects to the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

From noon until evening, Wang Yulou finally finished dealing with his work.

Faced with the problems on the front line of the fight against demons in Chongxian Prefecture, Xiao Wang had no good solutions. After reassuring Fang Xinqian, Xiao Wang accepted the order to continue his mission.

It's about tempering gold in fire. If Xiao Fang can't even handle things properly, no matter how talented, intelligent, or skilled he is, he won't be of much value to Wang Yulou.

The Immortal Alliance is not lacking in geniuses, intelligent people, or Foundation Establishment cultivators who excel in combat.

However, the fact that Qiong Hai personally visited Fang Xinqian with Chen Yangshi still made Wang Yulou nervous.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, that's the situation. Yangshi acted impulsively at the time and didn't think things through. I hope you can be magnanimous; after all, he's just a child."

Qiong Hai knew what was important, which is why he brought Chen Yangshi to clean up his mess.

Wang Yulou kept his eyes closed and tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair.

Thinking he was weighing the pros and cons, Chen Yangshi quickly said.

"Immortal Venerable, it's me."

Wang Yulou raised his hand, his eyes fixed intently on Chen Yangshi, and asked in a deep voice.

Do you support the Immortal Alliance's reforms?

"Of course!"

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Qionghai, I would like to borrow Yang Shi's head for the sake of the Immortal Alliance's reforms. I hope you can understand."

Chen Yangshi's expression immediately changed. He looked at his ancestor with a face as pale as paper, but all he saw was silence.

He returned to the Immortal City with high expectations for the Purple Mansion, but he never imagined that he would face such an ending.

Those earnest performances, those days and nights spent promoting reform in Xihai, those past experiences of burning oneself out for Wang Yulou's cause—in Wang Yulou's eyes, they amounted to nothing.
"Immortal Venerable, Yangshi!" Chen Yangshi wanted to say something. He was so excited that his voice was much louder than usual.

However, Master Qionghai casually sealed Chen Yangshi's mouth and locked his body.

"Chen Yangshi's ancestor said in a low voice."

“Fellow Daoist Yuque, he only made some minor mistakes, and the reforms in the Western Sea were quite successful. The Immortal Alliance should not mistreat cultivators who have made contributions.”

Xiao Wang felt somewhat bored. Whether Chen Yangshi was loyal or not, his new round of expanded loyalty-seeking had already put Wang Yulou on a pedestal.

The 'Spirit Stone of Apology' in the Western Sea has set a very bad precedent. Those who pledged allegiance to Wang Yulou but could not obtain the expected benefits from him will inevitably turn into hidden anti-Wang Yulou factions in the near future.

"A minor mistake? You consider it a minor mistake to exaggerate the extent of loyalty?"

Moreover, merits are merits and demerits are demerits; they cannot be judged the same.

"Guards, take him away! Order the relevant departments to launch an investigation into what Chen Yangshi did that betrayed the Immortal Alliance under the guise of reform during his tenure in the Western Sea."

I want all cultivators under heaven to see that the fight against corruption has no upper limit. No matter who it is, anyone who crosses the red line will face consequences, just like Chen Yangshi.

Upon hearing Wang Yulou's words, Chen Yangshi gave up struggling; he understood that he had become a chicken.

Qiong Hai remained silent for a long time, finally watching as the cultivators from Jade Palace took away his prodigy's descendant.

"Fellow Daoist Yuque, I have no grudges against you from the past, nor from the present."

Wang Yulou interrupted Qiong Hai's chanting once again. He looked at this Purple Mansion Grand Cultivator directly under the Immortal Alliance and said calmly.

"Look ahead to tomorrow. I don't have time to talk to you about the life or death of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Fellow Daoist Qionghai, the Immortal Alliance is good, only then can we have a future."

Mediocrity is the only thing that doesn't attract envy; only the most harmless and incompetent people go unnoticed.

There's always a price to pay for doing things. Chen Yangshi went too far in his attempt to expand the scope of the Xianzhong Rebellion, and naturally, he had to pay a price.

There's no such thing as getting something for nothing from the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

Wang Yulou was not afraid of any opponents or enemies.

The law of contradiction transformation in internal strife dictates that the number of enemies he has will equal the number of allies he has.

Moreover, no matter how stupid Shui Zun is, he wouldn't possibly have any complaints against Wang Yulou over something as trivial as Wang Yulou borrowing Chen Yangshi's head.
As a cultivator aspiring to attain the Golden Core stage, Wang Yulou indeed needed a notorious figure to claim, and coincidentally, the reforms in the Western Sea had been successfully completed.
Chen Yangshi is useless, famous, and 'loyal' enough; he's practically the perfect chicken.

"Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, I, Qiong Hai, have learned a great deal!"

Qiong Hai replied calmly, then left the Jade Palace without saying anything more.

He painstakingly planned and schemed, from vying for the position of the Seal Master within the Immortal Alliance to securing the full support of the Western Sea.

In the end, they finally managed to cultivate their own prodigy, turning him into a 'chicken' for Wang Yulou to consolidate his own plans.

Even though he was also a member of the Water Venerable faction, Wang Yulou didn't give him any face at all.

absurd!

Qiong Hai didn't hate Wang Yulou; he had seen people even more despicable than Wang Yulou. He only regretted that he had made a careless move and failed to cultivate his own base.

He pondered how to take advantage of the chaotic times to expand his influence and base, preparing leverage for the next round of competition and rivalry.

But do wandering immortals who have gone astray really have a place to settle down and regroup?
Or rather, will others give me a chance?

The Outer Heavens is also a force that has lost its foothold. Its basic base within the Great Heaven and Earth has been completely lost, at least on the surface.

Qiong Hai, with his cultivation at the level of a Loose Immortal, may not be qualified to regroup, but special forces like the Outer Heavens, because they are strong enough, not only have the opportunity to make a comeback, but also have the opportunity to compete for the most precious interests in the Great World.

Inside the Boundless Palace of the Outer Heavens, Huanpei listened to Jinshan's report, and the whole rabbit was dumbfounded.

After a long while, it slowly opened its mouth.

"Great, I didn't expect that... I didn't expect that."
Jinshan, come with me to pay homage to the Dao Master!

The bet between Boluohui and Bifang was no small matter. The information Jinshan obtained from Wang Yulou was truly the most authentic and comprehensive information Tianwaitian had ever received.

Old Jin, relying on Xiao Wang, managed to make a profit this time.

The difference between a Celestial Immortal and a Golden Immortal, spanning thirty thousand years, is like a thorn, piercing her so deeply that she can hardly breathe.

"Ah? Greetings, Dao Master?"

Jinshan was somewhat dazed. This was a privilege reserved only for the stewards of the Outer Heavens, not for an outer disciple like himself.
"Well, besides, your contribution to the Outer Heavens is almost enough."

When the time is right, the palace will naturally support you in achieving the Golden Core stage and seizing the opportunity to attain it within the Immortal Alliance!

(End of this chapter)