Shangyuque

Chapter 260 Wang Yulou's life-or-death race: No moves made, but the outcome is already decided! (1.08 votes requested)
Outside the sacred ground of the Ambassador's Friendship Hall in Xiancheng, Cui Baihao was standing guard, which, of course, only served to add to the atmosphere.

Old Cui, who felt marginalized, cherished the opportunity to come into contact with the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable. Whenever he saw Wang Yulou, he would do his utmost to show his loyalty.

Inside the hall, Gu Qiyuan was drinking with the Jade Palace Immortal.

“Fellow Daoist Yuque is right. Contact between different forces is necessary. Without contact, it is easier for everyone to have disputes with each other.”

Maintaining long-term channels of contact is a good thing, as it can both ease tensions and enhance the exchange of information and resources.

Wang Yulou suddenly came to the door, entrusting Gu Qiyuan to take Cui Baihao to search all the forces in the world and invite each force to send an ambassador to the Immortal Alliance.

Old Gu didn't understand this matter, but that didn't stop him from praising it a couple of times.

The greatest significance is that I am still useful. As for whether Wang Yulou's arrangements will be effective, and what kind of effect they will have, we should do them first.

"Whether it's good or bad is another matter. There are many things you don't know, but the Immortal Alliance needs to prepare early. If we're quick, we'll be quick every step of the way."

You need to take the lead in key tasks; if you leave the work to your subordinates, it's hard to guarantee that things will be done well.

However, Wang Yulou was, after all, the vice leader of the alliance, and his position was sensitive, as was the current situation, so he could not be moved rashly.

Cui Baihao is the top general among the young generals. Sending him out will naturally make those in the know understand Wang Yulou's high regard for him, and they will respond accordingly.

"Prepare early? Yes, we should prepare early. Chaotic times are different from stable times. More contact is always a good thing," Master Qiyuan echoed.

Wang Yulou's expression and eyes remained completely unchanged; he simply responded calmly.

"Ha, it's not that simple. Just do what you're supposed to do and don't overthink it."

The complexity of the cultivation world means that there are many relationships similar to those between Donglai Immortal Venerable and Zhizhi Dragon God of the Four Seas Alliance, and there are countless cases like Cangshan and Deding King, former colleagues who belong to different forces.

Beyond their power base, the Golden Core Immortals also place great importance on and have made significant achievements in building factions based on interests and establishing networks of relationships based on personal connections or cross-factional organizations.

However, personal relationships and power relations are two different things. In Wang Yulou's view, the diplomacy of the Immortal Alliance can become a focal point for internal struggles between different forces. It can be regarded as a pioneering measure for Wang Yulou to create working resources.

Because the territories of top powers are vast and the power of high-level cultivators is inherently their own, there is little entanglement of interests between different powers, and there is no basis for sending diplomatic missions based on interests.

Even in the past, the immortal kingdoms, holy lands, and immortal-destroying domains that sent spies and pawns to the Immortal Alliance were all top-tier forces surrounding the Immortal Alliance.

Most forces that are not close by lack the initiative to do this.

But now that we've reached this point in history, there's a window of opportunity to establish diplomatic institutions. With the start of this chaotic era as the dividing line, there was no basis for interests beforehand, and no value to be established afterward.

Of course, Gu Qiyuan didn't need to know these complex logics, and Wang Yulou didn't have the foolish enthusiasm to impart knowledge for free—neither did Jinshan or Qingrui.

If Lao Gu can demonstrate his value while following Wang Yulou, then Wang Yulou will give him more trust and gradually accept him into a position closer to him.

"Understood. I'll set off with the White Hair tomorrow. Fellow Daoist Yuque, rest assured, I, Old Gu, am always efficient in my work and will never let you down!"

As the Immortal's decree was passed down, True Man Qiyuan was so proud of himself that he almost pounded his chest.

Everyone here is a Purple Mansion cultivator, and Old Gu is even at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm. However, a cultivator's status depends not only on strength, but also on influence, potential, and the comprehensive 'energy' that cannot be specifically calculated.

Wang Yulou, standing at the center of the era's stage, was far superior to Gu Qiyuan, who had no foundation, no future, and whose life was in danger.

"By the way, if things don't go smoothly with certain forces, talk to the specific factions within those forces. As long as there's a result, that's fine. Don't be too particular about the methods or the specific people involved."

Wang Yulou gave his instructions.

Diplomacy serves interests, but top powers are all highly self-sufficient and have no economic entanglements with each other. However, the interests involved in internal struggles and external power struggles are still interests, and they are no less important than economic interests.

For certain factions within other powers, acquiring external leverage is itself a way to further enhance their internal fighting strength.

For Wang Yulou, this move to bring other forces in the world into the Immortal Alliance at the institutional level was also a way to reorganize his own comprehensive strength in the internal struggle.

Stable eras have an end, and chaotic eras are relatively short-lived (I previously wrote that the expectation of 10,000 years was just a slogan, but many people thought that chaotic eras would really last 10,000 years. This is taking the Immortal Venerable's nonsense seriously without the potential to become a Purple Mansion). Only internal strife, from Qingxi Fang to Dishui Cave to the West Sea to the Red Lantern, to the Immortal Alliance, to the Qunxiantai, never ends.

After all, cultivators who enjoy fighting will most likely die in the process of risking their lives, making it difficult for them to reach the highest level.

Those who reach the top are all hexagonal old scoundrels. The cultivation world ecosystem that surrounds them is naturally influenced by their unique methods of confrontation and struggle, thus becoming what it is today.
-
On the way back from the Ambassador's Friendship Hall to the Qunqing Hall, Wang Yulou suddenly asked a question.

"How is Chen Yangshi doing lately?"

Chen Yangshi's case was listed as a typical example by the Immortal Alliance and disseminated throughout the six states.

However, the day he was actually stripped of his cultivation was a full six months later than the time when the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable issued the punishment.

The Immortal Alliance has several categories of serious criminals. Most cultivators fall into the first category, and they are executed on the spot. They are beheaded or killed as appropriate.

Those with a larger background, but who must be brought to justice for certain reasons, will be punished after the power struggle behind the scenes has concluded.

Those whose cultivation level reaches the Purple Mansion level will be suppressed in the Zhenxian Pass to grind their lifespan in the Great Heaven and Earth.

Chen Yangshi was a special case; he was a highly influential criminal. Wang Yulou issued an order to deal with him, but he wouldn't do it immediately.

After waiting for half a year and finding that Shui Zun really had no ideas, Xiao Wang finally asked Chen Yangshi how he was doing lately.

This means that while the Water God may not care, the Little King must behave obediently and respectfully.

Of course, this waiting process does not affect the effect of Xiao Wang's punishment in deterring all the evil spirits and monsters within the Immortal Alliance.

"He's still in jail, guarded by a team of cultivators. There won't be any problems," Jin Mingdu quickly replied.

"Well, the investigation is almost complete. Let's choose a date for the public execution. My Daoist partner from the Water Palace, what's her name again? Let her carry out the execution."

Many Daoist couples are united in their relationships. In the cultivation world, male and female cultivators are quite equal and are treated like cattle and horses. Therefore, Xiao Wang certainly wouldn't care about the name of a cattle or horse.

So what if he comes from the Taihe Water Palace? The bond between Xiao Wang and Shui Zun cannot be represented by a mere Daoist couple.

They are 'allies' with unequal strength, but in fact, they complement each other.

“Um, husband, she died unexpectedly three years ago on the front line of fighting demons in Chongxian Prefecture,” Jin Mingdu replied with a strange expression.

Back then, when Xiao Wang went on a mad spree to marry a Daoist partner, Mingdu was worried for a long time.

Later she came to understand what the heart of a great monk was like.

"what?"

Wang Yulou was stunned for a moment. It seemed that there was such a thing. In recent years, his loyal Daoist partners had fought for him and had already killed several of them.

"Then let Jing Jianjia go. She's done quite well these past few years. Oh, and arrange a time for her and these five people to meet with me."

Mingdu was very satisfied to be trusted by Wang Yulou, and his face beamed with joy.

"I'll make arrangements right now!"

Then came a long silence. Wang Yulou sat in the imperial carriage, staring blankly ahead.

Kim Myung-do looked at his profile, seemingly trying to discern something, such as what he was thinking, but ultimately to no avail.

She couldn't understand the thoughts of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

Or rather, if even she could understand Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's thoughts, then Wang Jade Palace wouldn't need to continue cultivating.
However, as Jin Mingdu pondered the five people Wang Yulou had pointed out, he suddenly realized something.

These five individuals represent the other five of the six prefectures, excluding Wunan Prefecture, one from each prefecture.
So, does this mean his selection criteria is one per state?
Perhaps in Huzhou or other states, there are people who are not as good as Jing Jianjia, but who are better than the other people selected as united couples in other states. However, someone in their state has already taken the lead, so they have no chance.

In some states, the top performer is actually only mediocre, but because others are even worse, they are forced to 'stand out'.

This rule is unfair, but it is quite appropriate for Wang Yulou.

Yes, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has already brought fairness to the 100 million cultivators of the six states. It is unrealistic to expect him to guarantee absolute fairness at all times.
-
As the most recently enlightened Golden Core Immortal of the Great Heaven and Earth, Mang Xiang is quite well-known within the Great Heaven and Earth.

In other words, every Purple Mansion with the potential to become a Golden Core Immortal Venerable is an object worthy of observation and information gathering in the eyes of those within the Great World.

However, Mang Xiang is different. Because of his involvement in the Qingrui-Bifang Grand Alliance, he is seen as a key figure with a shining head in the eyes of the core circle of insiders.

Even the possibility of a grand alliance between Bifang and Qingrui, conveyed through Mangxiang's actions, whether intentional or not, involves complex considerations of interests, to the point that within the Five Domains Heavenly Gathering, some people are offering high rewards for related intelligence.

However, for Mang Xiang, these complex perspectives were not the problem. The real issue he faced was how to prepare for the upcoming great transformation of the world.

When he attained enlightenment, it corresponded to Qingrui testing Bifang, and Bifang confidently accepted the test.

The specific condition is that all forces in the Great World clear out 90% of the lower-level cultivators, creating new growth space for Golden Core Immortal Venerables.

This process will change the overall landscape of the world in terms of distribution, and prolong the stable era for a very, very long time.

The extension of time corresponds to a test of Bi Fang. If Bi Fang's tribulation is approaching or he is not so confident in his strength, he will look forward to the arrival of the chaotic era so as to take advantage of the situation.

The sooner the chaotic era arrives, the sooner Bifang can seize the opportunity to steal from his fellow cultivators and enhance his own strength.

Therefore, Bifang's acceptance of Qingrui's test and its support for Mangxiang's attainment of enlightenment reflects its confidence in its own strength.

After Mangxiang betrayed the alliance, Bifang took over Mangxiang's services and invited a top-tier Golden Core Immortal to continue the reforms through the Boluo Society, which was a display of overflowing confidence.

Of course, it's hard to tell what's real and what's fake, and the response from the Boluo Association was both quite clever and outrageous.

Whether or not the rules of the universe are changed is important, but testing Bifang's strength is also important. When Bifang makes a move, its strength will be almost completely exposed.

If Bi Fang is weak, everyone should quickly change the rules and work together to defeat Bi Fang.

If Bi Fang's strength is greater than expected, everyone should take advantage of the situation to change the rules, reshape the landscape of the cultivation world, and prepare for the future reunion.

It's also a strategy that allows you to avoid losing on both sides; in predicting changes, both positive and negative approaches lead to victory.

The problem is that those in power are resilient enough to plan and achieve a result where they don't lose on either side, or at least not for the time being. But for a nobody like Mang Xiang, who has to lead the way for others, the effort required to ensure that he doesn't lose or become a casualty is much greater.

The Wutian Sect is a force located south of the Immortal Extinction Domain. Unlike other top forces such as the Immortal Alliance, the Wutian Sect is similar to a larger version of a holy land. All the Golden Core Immortal Venerables are gods within the sect, and everyone cultivates the Dharma Aspect Method. There are no junior immortals; they are all senior immortals.

If the Immortal Alliance's path to advancement is one that can be squeezed in under rather stringent conditions, then the Wutian Sect simply doesn't have a path to advancement.

The gods will always be gods, and the cattle and horses below have no other way to understand but to believe in the doctrines of the Wutian Sect.

There is no real way out; only an illusory way out is offered.

This mode of governance is incredibly inefficient, to an alarming degree, yet the Wutian Cult is remarkably stable, having already existed as a unified force through two chaotic eras.

Step by step, they transformed from a marginal Golden Core faction into a second-tier power, and then rose to become a top-tier power.

The whole process is similar to the transition from the Lesser Immortal Alliance to the Four Seas Alliance, and then from the Four Seas Alliance to the Immortal Alliance.

In terms of strength, the Wutian Sect is considered to be in the lower middle range among the top forces in the Great World. However, when it comes to defense, it is top-tier because all the Immortal Venerables have the foundation of Dharma Aspect.

Therefore, their presence in the world is actually quite significant.

Mangxiang's preparations for the Great Transformation of Heaven and Earth require the cooperation of other top forces. The core principle is that regardless of whether things go smoothly in the future, some preparatory work must be done first.

Otherwise, once Bifang withstands the tests of the Bo Luo Society, the Great Change of Heaven and Earth will begin. If Mangxiang is not prepared, His Majesty the Immortal King will have to give him a good thrashing.

“Fellow Daoist Mangxiang, there is really no point in you coming to our Wutian Sect.”

Our stance has always been consistent: we support reform, but we will never allow any interference or influence.

All matters concerning the reforms were to be decided by the Seven Gods Shrine. The attitude of the third person, Mo Wen, was not exactly friendly.

The current leader of the Wutian Sect is Mo Wen, the third-ranked cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, who is similar to a chief steward.

The seven gods corresponding to the Seven Gods Shrine are the seven faction leaders of the Wutian Sect. There are no states or provinces here, only seven real factions.

"There must be a unified approach to things so that we can monitor each other."

"Fellow Daoist Mo, what specific intentions do you have regarding the reduction of lower-level cultivators?"

Despite being rebuffed, Mangxiang showed no sign of anger.

The Third Mo Wen is a follower of the Third Immortal of the Wutian Sect, the Passerby Immortal Venerable. He is a powerful member of the Wutian Sect and should be respected.

"Your good disciple's suggestion of freezing the immortals for a hundred years in the Immortal Alliance is quite good."

Freezing the number of new cultivators under its jurisdiction for one hundred years, while simultaneously reducing the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators through a two-pronged approach, can quickly achieve the goal of 80%.

These two moves were discovered through trial and error by the Immortal Alliance.

Other methods are hard to say whether they will be effective.

Mo Wen replied.

In the past, cultivators in the Great Heaven and Earth were restricted by the rules of the Qi Refining stage and had to endure the cruel deception of the cultivation world.

According to the third Mo Wen, future Wutian Sect cultivators will no longer need to worry about the previous problems—they will be directly prohibited from cultivating, which is great, as all the troubles and pressures will disappear.

However, he soon noticed that Mangxiang's complexion was not good.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Mangxiang, our Wutian Sect has no intention of interfering in the conflict between you and your master."

The reason we use Wang Yulou's method is simply because it has been used by the Immortal Alliance and proven effective; it doesn't imply anything else.

Mang Xiang fell silent after being silenced by the frankness of the Third Mo Wen.

Wang Yulou made the first move, and then made the first move in every subsequent move.

The player was just one move behind in chess, and then lost so badly that he had no chance of recovery that he simply ran away.

This is a mirror image of Wang Xianzhu's life. Just like Mang Xiang at this time, Wang Xianzhu also only lost once.

"Freezing cultivators' opportunities for cultivation is like trying to stop a flood with sand. No matter how thick the sand is, it will eventually be washed away."

Fellow Daoist Mo, we are all cultivators of the Great World, there's no need to pretend to be outsiders.

Let me be frank with you, what His Majesty the Immortal King actually wants this time is to shake up a part of the Purple Mansion of the Great Heaven and Earth.

However, wars between top powers cannot last long. From the perspective of internal power struggles, you should cultivate your own allies.

Furthermore, to avoid falling too far behind or being sabotaged by other forces, maintaining the smooth pace of reform is essential; freezing it for a hundred years would disrupt the rhythm.

Mo Wen sized up Mang Xiang and calmly asked.

"Then tell me, what do you want to do?"

Mang Xiang spoke frankly, wanting to promote his plan. Now that he had the opportunity, he quickly said...

"Fellow Daoist Mo, have you heard about the Purple Mansion being renamed the Loose Immortal?"
Upon hearing Mang Xiang's words, Third Mo Wen hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

Everyone here is a top-tier power and a key figure. Mangxiang used to be the leader of the Immortal Alliance, and Mo Wen, the third leader, is now the leader of the Wutian Sect, which is similar to Mangxiang in the past. There's no need to pretend to be stupid; everyone knows that the rules have changed.

“That makes things easier. My idea is to coordinate this at the Purple Mansion cultivator level.”

Those without the backing of Purple Mansion cultivators are eliminated first, and then the power of Purple Mansion cultivators is gradually weakened overall.

It can still be done through civil war, which could be a sect civil war or a civil war between smaller factions within a top-tier power.

We'll proceed step by step. If anyone dares to overstep the rules, I will naturally intervene as the one presiding over the reforms.

Mo Wen chuckled and said.

“Fellow Daoist Mangxiang, don’t treat others like fools. Choose the lesser of two evils. There aren’t that many good things in the world that you can have both.”

The elephant's abacus beads have all hit him in the face!
Isn't it just imitating the story of Wang Yuque, gaining his own position and power by taking the lead in reforming the law?

But why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror to see what you really are!
In Hongdengzhao and Wunan Prefecture, Mangxiang was still a force to be reckoned with, but after losing his base and becoming Bifang's toilet, he really became nothing.

"Alas, Fellow Daoist Mo, you are mistaken. The Immortal Venerables intentionally limit the status of Purple Mansion cultivators, which is why they are called Loose Immortals."

Our design for reform cannot only involve cutting into the underlying layers; it must also involve the inner workings of the body, even if not now, it will be necessary in the future.

If the overall design of the reform is unrelated to the Purple Mansion, or if everyone fails to act in unison, giving the Purple Mansion an opportunity to bargain, then major chaos will ensue.

You also have the potential to attain the Golden Core stage, Fellow Daoist Mo. Doing a good job of reducing the number of cultivators through the Great Heaven and Earth Reform will be beneficial for you.”

Mang Xiang was truly well-prepared. This was the competitive environment Wang Yulou faced. His opponents, such as Mo Wen and Mang Xiang, were both utterly ruthless.

Faced with such a ferocious opponent, if Xiao Wang had been even slightly weak or hesitant, he would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

When his opponents began to fight amongst themselves, making the situation very difficult by rushing forward to offer their loyalty, Wang Yulou had no choice but to follow suit.
It can be said that even at the Purple Mansion level of cultivation, Xiao Wang is still far from being carefree and transcendent.

Third, Mo Wen understood Mang Xiang's meaning and realized why he was willing to start preparing even when things were still uncertain.

This guy wants to continue being a Golden Core Immortal Venerable and live forever. In fact, deep down he even wants to use the reforms to gain further qualifications.

That's why they went to great lengths to design the reform system, hoping to gain enough people's approval and support.

Mang Xiang's words were not meant for himself, but for the immortals of the Wutian Sect.

"Freezing is still the simplest solution, Fellow Daoist Mangxiang. It's too early to talk about these things now. Let's wait for the changes in the Immortal Extinction Domain." Things always develop in the direction of least resistance. The Wutian Sect also needs to follow this principle. Third Mo Wen is not stupid, but rather too smart.

Mangxiang's thinking might be correct, but according to him, the third Mowen would have to take risks himself. It's fine to show ambition, but he has no ambition.
He was a devout follower of the Wutian Sect. He didn't have a strong desire for the Golden Core position; he longed for the carefree life in his next life.

This is how terrifying the Wutian Sect is. Even Mo Wen, the third-ranked cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, was deeply influenced by the Wutian Sect's doctrines.

It's also possible that those genes that weren't ignorant and foolish enough in terms of faith have been eliminated by the Wutian Cult over the long course of time.

Even if the remaining members of the Wutian Sect live a life of hardship and difficulty, as long as they think of the luxurious palaces of the Seven Immortals and the Wutian Sect's teachings that "suffering in this life will bring happiness in the next" and "the more suffering you endure, the sweeter the sweeter it will be, and you will become an immortal tomorrow," they can proudly stand tall.

"The overall freeze will cause the Wutian Sect to lose a generation's worth of leverage in the power struggle among top forces."

Freezing regions and factions would cause discontent, and even Wang Yulou himself built the Jade Palace system as an auxiliary.

"Does your Wutian Sect allow you, the Third Mo Wen, to create another 'Little Youtian Sect'?" Mang Xiang mocked.

“I will listen to the Seven Gods Shrine, and to the gods.”

The third Mo Wen, just like Da Sha Bi, completely ignored Mang Xiang's argument.

Immortal Venerable Mang was furious. After waiting for a long time, he realized that the great cultivators of the Wutian Sect had no intention of contacting him, so he left in a disheveled state.

However, this test also gave Mang Xiang a vague idea.

It seems, perhaps, maybe, that the immortal venerables within these top forces have a very optimistic view of the strength of the Bifang Immortal King.
Otherwise, why were they so calm and composed, seemingly waiting for the trial by the Boluo Conference to end before formally starting the reforms and revising the internal system?

Thinking of this, Mangxiang quickened his pace back to the Immortal Kingdom, eager to report this conjecture to His Majesty the Immortal King!
Unlike the sturdy elephant who bets on the outcome of the battle with Bi Fang, Xiao Wang is moving from old victories to new ones.

Moreover, he also found a way to break free from the cage.

The strength of his opponents was not a problem; Wang Yulou was confident that he himself was not weak either.

The greatest genius of our time should have this kind of confidence.

The chaotic era was made difficult by the earth-shattering bet between the Immortal King and the Winnowing Basket Society, but Wang Yulou still managed to grasp the main thread of the story.

The stability of the Immortal Alliance is essential; only when the Immortal Alliance prospers can he, as the vice leader, prosper. Whether Bi Fang wins or not, Wang Yulou wants to win.

In betting on future changes, making sure to win by placing winning moves became Wang Yulou's pursuit.

It's hard to come up with a winning move, but Qingrui set an example for Wang Yulou and gave him some ideas—to win over allies.

Qingrui and Bifang can form ambiguous alliances, and Wang Yulou can also form alliances with different immortals.

Deepening reforms is the work, while establishing new ambassadorial offices to win over other top powers and enhance one's own value is life. This is the first dimension of attracting allies, which are allies outside the Immortal Alliance.

The second dimension of attracting allies is attracting allies within the faction. He has married so many Daoist partners and has so many patriarchs, but no matter how ardent Wang Yulou is, he can't please everyone. So he carefully selected five—not five allies, but five who are not his own.

Jing Jianjia, the pride of Jingu Garden, corresponds to the Jingu Garden God who can challenge the Water God.

Along with his four disciples, all of whom were immortals over 30,000 years old, Xiao Wang's ambition was practically written all over his face.

But this ambition is not a problem. The older generation of Dengs have a need to invest in the younger generation in order to compete. As long as Xiao Wang does not take away their core base and is good enough, they will be happy to invest.

The first target for this initiative to deepen the Daoist Couple Alliance is Jing Jianjia.

"Jianjia, is this our second meeting?"

Inside the Qunqing Pavilion, looking at the stunningly beautiful woman opposite him, Wang Yulou asked with a smile.

Although a united couple may seem insignificant, like toilet paper, every single one of them is a top-notch beauty.

Jing Jianjia is a renowned figure in Beigu Immortal City, with countless admirers and admirers.

With her past honors and experiences, she is more than qualified to be the female protagonist in a female-oriented cultivation novel.

In fact, every time she went back to Huzhou, she would be spitting on by sycophants.
However.
“Immortal Venerable, this is the third time. Last time, when you appeared in the rat hole outside the Immortal City to deliver the decree that ‘all cultivators are qualified to cultivate,’ we saw you from afar.”

Although they were Daoist partners, Jing Jianjia dared not address them casually, instead using the safest term, "Immortal Venerable," keeping her posture extremely humble.

"Haha, just call me Yulou. You've done a good job all these years, I've seen it all."

As for our relationship as Daoist partners, you can dissolve it at any time if you don't like it.

However, I would like to ask you to pay my respects to the God of Golden Valley Garden on my behalf.

The relationship between Daoist partners is not important; what matters is the support of the immortals behind them. But what Wang Yulou needs now is not vague support, but a firm investment.

Therefore, abolishing the Daoist couple relationship does not affect whether or not the Golden Valley Garden Deity invests.

If the deity won't submit, there's no point in keeping such a Daoist partner.

Whether Shen Zun and Jing Jianjia were Daoist partners or not was irrelevant.

When Jing Jianjia heard Wang Yulou say that he wanted to sever their Daoist partnership, her mind went blank.

Being Wang Yulou's Daoist partner is no ordinary job. The normal logic of palace intrigue is to compete for favor, but Wang Yulou has too many Daoist partners, and they are all Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Not only is it very difficult to compete for favor, but what's even more troublesome is that for a united couple like Jing Jianjia, it's difficult to even see Wang Yulou.

If you can't see it, what are you arguing about?
Therefore, Jing Jianjia was very much looking forward to being summoned by Wang Yulou.

However, right from the start, Xiao Wang said, "Why don't we get a divorce?"
It can only be said that it was too much; the aura of a great cultivator emanating from Wang Yulou was simply too much.

What ordinary people consider a very important partnership is nothing more than an insignificant thing in Wang Yulou's eyes.

However, Wang Yulou's later words were so outrageous that they overshadowed the impact of his earlier statements.

"You want me to pay my respects to the Holy Venerable on your behalf?" Jing Jianjia asked nervously. She didn't understand the power dynamics between great cultivators and only felt immense pressure.

She didn't even have a concept of how high-ranking cultivators communicated.

Xiao Wang's talk of ending their Daoist partnership, and his request for her to pay respects to the deity on his behalf, greatly shocked her, making her somewhat nervous.

"Holy Venerable? Yes, you call him Holy Venerable, hmm, that's about right."

Jing Jianjia noticed that her husband's eyes held a certain unfathomable meaning.

"I want to borrow the essence of the grotto-heaven to complete the transformation of the Dharma as soon as possible, which will require about five hundred strands."

This was the first time Jing Jianjia had directly experienced the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's greed and audacity.

Wang Yulou was really asking for an exorbitant amount. Even if we consider a wisp of celestial essence to be worth at least 600,000 spirit stones, 500 wisps would amount to 300 million spirit stones.

Three hundred million spirit stones!
That must be a mountain, right?
Can a Foundation Establishment cultivator earn one million spirit stones in a lifetime of hard work?

It's very difficult; most people probably can't do it.

However, if we consider the lifetime value of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to be 600,000 spirit stones, then what Wang Yulou wants is the lifetime value of 500 Foundation Establishment cultivators, which is actually not much.

It can only be said that their levels are different, and their demands for prices are completely incomparable.

In Xiao Wang's view, investing in oneself is truly like starting with five hundred strands of the essence of a celestial cave.

I'm not some nobody on the street, so it's normal for me to charge a higher price!

If you buy cheap food, you won't have anything to eat or drink in the future.

That idiot Chen Yangshi, what apology spirit stone? He's just squeezing money out of poor people.
Under the 10/90 distribution rule, how much can be squeezed from the poor?

If Xiao Wang wants to make money, he'll make money off the veteran immortals. He can make 300 million from one immortal, so five immortals would make 1.5 billion!

You ask how to pay back such a large debt?
You have to survive the chaotic times before you can have anything to repay!
Wang Yulou, who owes 100 spirit stones, is a debtor; Wang Yulou, who owes 1.5 billion spirit stones, is a strong contender for the next Golden Core Immortal Venerable in the Immortal Alliance!
Jing Jianjia could feel her heart pounding just from hearing Wang Yulou's asking price.

It wouldn't be accurate to say it devoured the entire world, but it could be considered a gluttonous feast at Jin Gu Yuan.

"My lord."

She first stated her attitude and position, and then pitifully whispered.

"Won't I get crushed to death by the Holy Venerable for saying all this?"

It's hard to assess. Normally, cultivators display their wealth by using the protective magic treasures of their mounts.

Wang Yulou displayed his wealth and arrogance by borrowing money, but he ultimately managed to intimidate Jing Jianjia.

"No, the God won't care. He knows what I want."

Wang Yulou answered calmly.

The past was before and the present is now.

Previously, when the situation wasn't so critical, Wang Yulou could tolerate slowly honing his cultivation.

Now, he plans to abandon all pretense of humanity and accelerate his cultivation to the maximum, striving to complete the Purple Mansion stage of cultivation in the shortest possible time, in preparation for future dangers.

The peak of the Purple Mansion realm is valuable, and its value is higher than that of the mid-stage and late-stage Purple Mansion realms. There is no doubt about that.

Bifang and Boluo will intervene to change the rules of the universe, possibly tomorrow or a hundred years from now. Wang Yulou will face his own life-or-death race.

We must reach the Golden Core threshold as soon as possible!

With the resources from the Immortal Alliance and the income from his own businesses, it would take forever to complete this stage of cultivation!
“Then Jianjia is willing to stand with her husband!”

Everyone has ambition; Cui Baihao has it, Gu Qiyuan has it, Mang Xiang has it, and Jing Jianjia has it too.
-
'Huanpei, are you sure there won't be any problems with what I'm doing?'

"Of course, Zhizhi Dragon God is in seclusion cultivating supernatural powers and cannot move for a short time. The others in the Four Seas Alliance cannot stop you."

Moreover, because of its special abilities, all the cultivators under its rule have gathered on Hailong Island. After you eat these people, your strength will also increase slightly.

You have at least five breaths, enough time to slaughter and feast. Targeting the weaker members of the Four Seas Alliance would be reasonable and wouldn't stand out.

Huanpei's words did not reassure Xiaohu. It used all its supernatural powers to lie in wait around Hailong Island for half a day, observing the area before giving its offer again.

"With a single move, I've extracted two hundred strands of celestial essence. Now, I have nowhere to hide in this vast world. The Outer Heavens cannot bully those who have rendered meritorious service!"

Xiao Hu knew that Huan Pei had urged him to take action in order to disrupt the world.

While eating the cultivators on Sea Dragon Island would certainly improve his cultivation, it would also greatly help the Outer Heavens.

Therefore, you need to pay extra.

"Eighty strands, that's the most we can offer. When have we ever mistreated you? You always ask for such outrageous prices, aren't you ashamed?"

Xiao Hu chuckled, his ferocious fangs sharpening and grinding, looking utterly cruel.

"One hundred and twenty, no less. It's too risky for me to make a move. If Zhizhi Dragon God reacts and I try to run away, I'll lose strength and resources."

This risk is worth one hundred and twenty strands of the essence of the celestial cave, isn't it?

Zhizhi Dragon God is a Golden Core Immortal Venerable with over 60,000 years of experience, while Xiaohu is a Golden Core Immortal Venerable with nearly 40,000 years of experience. Their strengths are vastly different, but Xiaohu can still escape, which is the fundamental reason why he dared to accept the order.

But being able to run away doesn't mean there's no cost to it, so Tianwaitian must provide a safety net; Xiaohu won't do a losing business.

"Alright, go ahead and do it." Huanpei finally agreed.

'Send the money first.'

The Fierce Tiger Immortal Venerable never suffers a loss. After losing all his base, paying money first became his eternal principle.

"It's already been delivered to your Seven Seas Palace!" Huanpei's tone was quite impatient.

It was worried that the bastard Xiao Hu might have realized something.

However, it was overthinking it.

The big bet between Bifang and Boluohui was not information that could be easily obtained, and Xiaohu was kept in the dark.

"Just you wait and see, when has I, Xiao Hu, ever tricked Tianwaitian?"

The Four Seas Alliance, the Four Seas Alliance, its territory spans the four seas.

However, due to the Great Repair's devouring of the vast天地 (heaven and earth), the once boundless Four Seas have now been transformed into a large inland lake.

However, this great lake still covers an area of ​​90,000 square miles, enough to support a second-tier power.

Hailong Island is the Zhizhi Dragon God's dojo in the middle of the lake.

The Dragon God is at a crucial stage of his cultivation. All the aquatic monsters and human cultivators under the jurisdiction of Sea Dragon Island have gathered on the island to hold non-stop festivals for the Dragon God's cultivation.

The magnificent altar was made of countless bones, all of them spiritual bones, some from demonic beasts and others from humans.

The bronze dragon-headed cauldron in the center of the altar spewed out bluish-purple spiritual fire, turning several live whales into blood-red mist.

The armored mermaids on the crest of the waves scraped against the coral reef with their scales, the metallic sounds echoing the mournful cries of the whales.

The human cultivators stepped on newly carved talismans, the pale gold runes flickering with the surging waves, and the peach wood sword tassels of the beautiful female cultivators trembled into blurry shadows in the salty sea breeze.

Around Hailong Island, thirty-six jade coral pillars trembled and plunged deeper into the seabed, each pillar covered with chains from dragons that slapped the pillar surface with their whiskers.

Eighteen Grand Masters of the Purple Mansion knelt on an altar made of tortoise shells. Water droplets condensed from the spiritual mist dripped from the jade hairpins hanging from their hair onto the bluestone slabs engraved with prayers.

A grand ceremony, the dragon god's training, boundless loyalty, and the interplay of life and death.

However, it became somewhat quiet.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

The furious roar of the tiger erupted from above like a rift in the sky, causing folds to appear in the space of the world. Beneath the black folds, whether in the Purple Mansion or Foundation Establishment stage, all were instantly reduced to blood and flesh.

The sudden appearance of the fierce tiger was met with the fiercest counterattack. The Zhizhi Dragon God transformed from its crouching form into a proud battle stance, revealing that the enormous Sea Dragon Island was its true form.

Under the terror of the fierce tiger, the original grand ritual formation was instantly activated by the Zhizhi Dragon God, transforming into a trapping formation that bound its supernatural powers.

Those participants in the festival, regardless of their status or cultivation level, all became fuel for the operation of the great formation.

The divine dragon, stretching from the sky to the sea, carried countless winds and rains as it charged straight at the tiger's true form.

The tiger severed its tail, limbs, and half its body, achieving a triple leap in a split second. Finally, it completely abandoned its physical body.

However, it was all in vain. The mysterious restriction of the Outer Heaven stirred slightly in his consciousness, and all his efforts were in vain.

The restrictions of the Outer Heavens were no longer effective against the fierce tiger that had reached the Golden Core stage, but they didn't need to either. With the top-tier Golden Core Immortal Venerable Zhi Zhi Dragon God right in front of him, it only took a moment, just a moment.

"Die!" The Dragon God roared in a low voice, which echoed throughout the four seas and lakes for ninety thousand miles.

The Fiery Tiger, with nearly 40,000 years of cultivation, originally had the power to resist the Dragon God of Knowing Stillness. However, the Dragon God of Knowing Stillness waited for the Fiery Tiger to enter its mouth, which was the first victory. The grand ceremony temporarily enhanced its strength, which was the second victory. The ceremony's grand formation smoothly transformed into a trapping formation, steaming up countless cultivators and demons to lock the Fiery Tiger, which was the third victory. The Heavenly Outer Heaven secretly provided crucial restraint, which was the fourth victory.

Zhi Zhi Longshen's cultivation and strength were already strong, and the strength of a Golden Core Immortal Venerable was not absolutely proportional to the length of his existence. Zhi Zhi Longshen, who could support the second-tier power Four Seas Alliance, was stronger than an ordinary top-tier Golden Core with more than 60,000 years of experience.

With four victories under his belt, and the overwhelming strength of Zhizhi Longshen, how could Xiaohu possibly have any room to resist?

As Xiao Hu's natal immortal artifact, the sword, hummed with bloodlust amidst his annihilation. It was filled with such rage and hatred, for the fate of its master and for its own.

However, the world is inherently without rules, and life and death are even more uncertain. The mountain-like blue dragon head pierced through the void where Xiao Hu stood, and the mouth of the Zhi Zhi Dragon God was slashed into a mess by Xiao Hu's immortal sword, but it was too late.

After the dust settled, all the aquatic monsters and cultivators of the Four Seas Alliance bowed their heads to the azure dragon that stood between heaven and earth, amidst the wind and rain. Milky white spiritual energy, as if encountering an abyss, surged towards the dragon god to replenish the mana he had lost during his attack.

The Dragon God ignored the questions and congratulations from his fellow cultivators, and simply stared coldly at the spy in the void.

The enemies were assessing how much force it had used and what its condition was, but the Dragon God's thunderous heartbeat indicated that its strength was rapidly recovering.

The other immortals of the Four Seas Alliance also stood firmly by the Dragon God's side. With the momentum of having just swallowed the fierce tiger whole, the Dragon God finally withstood the prying eyes of those whose identities were difficult to ascertain.

Four breaths later, the most dangerous moment had passed, and his strength had recovered from 80% to 90%. The Dragon God's body began to shrink back, and the devastated Sea Dragon Island reappeared on the Four Seas Lake.

The first top-tier Golden Elixir to be consumed during the chaotic era, the Dragon God of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, the leader of the Four Seas Alliance, the Dragon God of Zhizhi.

The second Golden Core cultivator to fall during the chaotic era, the founder of the Great Tiantai Mountain in Wunan Prefecture of the Immortal Alliance, the former Demon Emperor of the Immortal Extinction Domain, and the steward of the Seven Seas Palace in the Outer Heaven, was Xiao Hu.

In this game that belongs to the highest heavens, the undecided pieces have never been moved, but the outcome has already been decided.

Of course, this is only one round, and it's hard to say who will win the next round.

Having eliminated its own weaknesses, Tianwaitian once again hid in the darkness.

From this perspective, Xiao Hu's death was not a loss.

(End of this chapter)