Shangyuque

Chapter 283 The Crimson Lamp, a Supreme Treasure for Refining Weapons; The Red Lamp Illuminates the Equity War

What legendary hidden organization? What dark group that has been eyeing the world? What victors who have been plotting for a long time and are waiting to reap the rewards?

Even with all its different characteristics and names, Tianwaitian is still an organization.

Every organization is bound to follow its own set of behavioral patterns.

If you don't have any special status, why are you pretending to be a foreign guest?
Jinglan's questioning of Wang Yulou's value corresponds to Tianwaitian's need to consider the issue of costs and benefits.

Even secret organizations have to keep score; the idea of ​​mindlessly pulling out a bunch of suicide squads and not valuing life is more like a fantasy.

Wang Yulou was not only difficult to deal with, but also lacked ability, and in the end, he demanded a high price. Under such circumstances, there must be many people who share the same doubts as Jinglan.

"He may still have some value, for example, he laid out a plan to send Wang Yu'an back to Fulong Temple without anyone noticing."

From the moment he began cultivating in the Dripping Water Cave, Wang Yulou was aiming for the path of becoming an Immortal Venerable; he was no ordinary cultivator.

Therefore, we should not evaluate him based on a single metric.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Jinglan is right, Palace Master Baixu, what do you think?" Yuehua asked.

Anyway, she's a stickler for things. She's the one who started this whole thing, so in the discussion about whether Wang Yulou should enter the Outer Heaven, she can't really tie herself in too tightly.

Otherwise, if this matter falls apart, or if Wang Yulou runs into trouble in the future, Yuehua will also fail.

Therefore, even though Wang Yulou was still useful, Yuehua echoed Jinglan's question.

Difficult but correct things cannot be done carelessly. Yuehua helped Wang Yulou out of his way—pointing out that his weakness was not important, which was already enough to repay the cultivation of Tianwaitian.

"Fellow Daoists, if Wang Yulou has no value to be exploited, how should we deal with the risks he carries?" the white-bearded man asked.

Those who have no value to be exploited are destined to die. Wang Yulou, just like that, was easily pushed to the brink of life and death by those old bastards from Tianwaitian.

Yuehua glanced at Jinglan, then looked at Baixu, her face expressionless, but she was quite speechless inside.

Really don't want to, really pretend to be stupid to the very end?

She muttered curses under her breath, but eventually took the initiative to speak.

"I suddenly remembered that Wang Yulou is still useful; he can monitor the Rakshasa."

Rakshasa is the leader of the fourth faction and a top immortal at the Bamboo Gathering. Now, Wang Yulou can become a pawn for the Outer Heaven to monitor Rakshasa. This is his value—his minimum value.

"That makes sense. You truly are worthy of being called Fellow Daoist Yuehua." Jinglan belatedly realized the truth.

“Yes, haha, looking at it this way, we still need to bring him in.” The white-bearded man didn’t even pretend, and almost burst out laughing.

What's the use of hiding? Wang Yulou will be the scapegoat for you from now on!

You, Yuehua, have been trying your best to win him over; you, Yuehua, have been actively fighting for his position; you, Yuehua, have told us that he is valuable.

Moonflower Immortal Venerable correctly predicted that Wang Yulou was intelligent, but she didn't expect her colleagues to suddenly team up with her for a team-building activity.

It was a trivial matter, but thanks to Jinglan and Baixu's instigation, they almost ruined her and Wang Yulou's lives.

But this is not surprising. Although Bai Xu is the master of Wuji Palace, the master of Wuji Palace is just a beast of burden.

Like Jinglan and Yuehua, it is a disciple of the inner sect of the Outer Heavens.

But Yuehua tried to win over Wang Yulou, and eventually she wanted to bring him in as a steward.
If you were Jinglan or Baixu, your face would turn green too.

"But if his only function is to monitor the Rakshasa Demon Emperor, I don't think he's qualified for the position of steward."

After going around in circles, Jinglan finally revealed her purpose.

Wang Yulou is not worthy to be a steward of the Outer Heaven!
The current situation is that Wang Yulou demands a price, Jinglan and Baixu try to stop him, and Yuehua helps him achieve his goal.

Yuehua wasn't stupid; she wouldn't take the blame for this.

"Yes, that is indeed debatable. Let's discuss it again in six months."

Jinglan went a step further, directly pointing out the key point.

"That's not advisable either. What if Wang Yulou reveals the secrets of the Outer Heavens during this time? Who will be held responsible?"

Damn you, Yuehua, you're dragging people into this mess!
Yuehua's expression remained unchanged, showing no awareness of being called out. We are all inner disciples, why would I be afraid of you, Jinglan?

"Wang Yulou isn't stupid, don't worry. He needs the Outer Heaven and the White Beard, don't you think?"

General Whitebeard was caught in a dilemma for a while. He had watched Wang Yulou rise to power, and he was truly afraid that if the young Wang did this, he would actually become his superior.
When Huanpei Immortal Venerable was the Palace Master of Wuji Palace, he had a lot of influence because of his strength.

As for Bai Xu, he's just an inner disciple of the Heavenly Outer Heaven who does the most work and bears the most pressure, nothing more.

Therefore, Bai Xu was in a very difficult situation.

However, considering that he and Yuehua were old acquaintances from Wunan Prefecture, Bai Xu accepted Yuehua's suggestion.

"Wang Yulou is indeed smart. He must understand that even if one has attained the Golden Core stage, one still needs external assistance."

Moreover, the compromise between Boluo and Bifang was in accordance with the Dao Lord's wishes. Since the matter of Xiaohu had already occurred, whether Wang Yulou revealed it or not was not important.

Let's discuss it again in six months.

Yuehua and Wang Yulou did not sign any contract. On the one hand, Tianwaitian did not actually give them seventy votes, and on the other hand, everyone was a smart person.

Unfortunately, Yuehua underestimated Xiao Wang's courage and appetite.

Wang Yulou's greed clashed with Jinglan and Baixu's dissatisfaction with their newly appointed superior, leading to the current disgusting situation.
-

Whether or not Tianwaitian approves of him, Wang Yulou doesn't really care that much.

As long as he has value, the Heavenly Realm will not lack a 'Tiger-level' position.

From the perspective of a top leader in the cultivation world, change and possibility are more scarce than so-called specific expenditures.

What the future holds is the key.

One's position and interests within an organization belong to the organization, not oneself.

The behavioral logic of governance leaders is to use the organization's resources to create their own work results.

Yuehua was surprised by Wang Yulou's asking price, but if Huanpei had been there, she probably would have agreed long ago.

An organization that tries to survive in the fiercely competitive world of cultivation by constantly scheming to save resources and positions will ultimately lose everything.

Even Wang Yulou often focused on the impact of a group of people or a group with similar attributes on the organization, rather than on specific individuals.

For example, when he was recruiting people from the Red Light District, he recruited 8,000 people, of whom 400 were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Would he care who came and who didn't?

Will not.

In Zhou Yingxi's residence, which was under the control of the Red Lantern Cult, Wang Yulou was explaining the key points of selecting Red Lantern Cult cultivators to Yingxi.

"There are only two requirements: one is age, which must be relatively young compared to one's cultivation level."

For example, most Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators are between one hundred and two hundred years old, so we should try to only accept Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators under one hundred and sixty years old.

Wang Yulou was explaining to Yingxi the key to selecting people from the Red Lantern Gang.

Yingxi has long been a pillar of the Jade Palace Sect within the Red Lanterns. Now that the Jade Palace Sect within the Red Lanterns is to follow Xiao Wang as a whole, many more need to be selected. Naturally, the selection and screening process cannot do without Yingxi's help.

"The other is background. Try to choose as many Foundation Establishment cultivators as possible who come from independent cultivation families or small Qi Refining families. As for those from Purple Mansion sects, just a little bit is fine."

If someone contacts us proactively, we can't refuse, but we need to limit it to one person at a time.

Yingxi was puzzled after hearing the two selection criteria given by Wang Yulou.

“I understand that choosing relatively younger monks is because they have greater potential.”

But my lord, cultivators from humble backgrounds often have weaknesses in many areas, and their cultivation speed will be relatively much slower.

Yingxi is actually right. It is true that cultivators of humble origins make up 90% of the Immortal Venerables, and that cultivators of humble origins progress slowly in the early stages of cultivation.

"Yes, the speed of cultivation will be relatively much slower."

However, the key is to go slowly, because slow is often fast.

Two cultivators with the same four spiritual roots might have different advantages in the early stages, with the help of their family. The one from a powerful family might be able to progress faster with the support of their family.

However, once they reach the late Foundation Establishment stage, the peak Foundation Establishment stage, or the Purple Mansion stage, they will likely fall behind the one from a humble background.

Because for the vast majority of cultivators in the cultivation world, external assistance is ultimately limited, and the assistance that can support and help those at the peak of Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion is often related to the interests of the great cultivators themselves.

Those who come from humble backgrounds have to put in three or five steps of effort for every step they take before they become successful.

But once they gradually come into contact with the true rules of the cultivation world and their strength increases, they may only need to take half a step to take one step.

Those high-ranking cultivators who lose their relative advantage will be utterly defeated.

A fact that many people have not noticed is that 90% of the immortals came from humble backgrounds.

But 60% of those with Purple Mansions come from high-ranking families; my lady, that's the problem.

Wang Yulou's answer did not alleviate Yingxi's doubts; on the contrary, they increased.

"My lord, is this the reason why we are drifting apart?"
Without the support of my family, I've slowed down, while you've always moved so fast.

Someone will always fall behind; Wang Yulou cannot possibly help every one of his Daoist companions achieve enlightenment.

Yingxi is also 120 years old now, and her cultivation has reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, which is actually very fast.

Jade Palace Immortal shook his head and began to explain.

"Yes and no. My path to success is unique and cannot be replicated. Don't compare yourself to me."

Although Wang Yulou no longer intends to become the fastest Golden Core cultivator in the Great World, his path to Golden Core is the fastest in the Great World, and no one can refer to or compare with that.

Compared to Wang Yulou, it is meaningless.

The Jade Palace Immortal is one in a trillion people, a lucky one, and no one can replicate his path to success.

"When do you plan to achieve the Golden Core stage?" Yingxi knew she shouldn't have asked.

This kind of question involves too much; it's better not to ask it at all.

However, Zhou Yingxi couldn't suppress her desire and curiosity about this question. It was as if she wanted to prove something; she hoped that by asking this question, she could see Wang Yulou's behavior and attitude, and thus prove something.

"I don't know, it depends on preparations and the situation, but it's highly unlikely to move within the next two or three years."

However, she certainly couldn't prove anything; Wang Yulou was watertight.

When Wang Yulou will attain the Golden Elixir depends solely on when he is ready; there is no specific timeframe.

Therefore, he could have completely avoided Yingxi's probing.

This reveals the true difference between Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi at this moment. Wang Yulou is on the path to immortality, while Zhou Yingxi is still unable to let go of the feelings associated with those of the short-lived.

But this is understandable, because Yingxi only has Wang Yulou left.

However, the difference in their mindsets at this moment makes Wang Yulou seem heartless. He clearly understood the worry and fear that Yingxi expressed through her probing, but he avoided responding to Yingxi's feelings as if he were avoiding the probing.

In theory, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's strength and abilities are enough to make Yingxi infatuated with him, and even make their relationship very tender.

But in reality, power and energy can change people; here, it wasn't Wang Yulou who was changed, but Zhou Yingxi.

Yingxi's probing is her alienation from herself in the face of Wang Yulou's changes in power and energy levels.

This alienation of the self, if viewed from the perspective of Wang Yulou's skillful means of tolerance, helps Yingxi overcome or rather 'covers up' it.

In the end, Yingxi will become Wang Yulou's complete vassal, and only then will she truly become an insignificant accessory.

Cultivation is a breakthrough and reshaping of the self. Through cultivation, Wang Yulou became the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

However, this change will impact Wang Yulou's original core, as well as the emotional relationships he once built and currently have.

This impact objectively exists, but the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has no good solution—just like most things in the world do not have perfect solutions.

All he could do was help and guide Yingxi to continue on her path.

After all, in the eyes of everyone in the world, Yingxi was his childhood sweetheart, his Daoist partner, and the key figure who helped him overcome an important hurdle in his cultivation.

In terms of feelings, interests, and many other aspects, he needs Yingxi to move forward better, rather than being trapped in pressure and confusion.

Of course, there's another dimension to criticize Jade Palace Immortal Venerable—why can't you give her a chance? Even Jade Palace Immortal Venerable can't refute this, because accusations that disregard all facts don't mean they're wrong; they only mean the person making such accusations isn't the one truly responsible.

"Back then, it seems that the patriarch attained the Golden Core right after the discussion on the Golden Core stage?" Yingxi thought of the patriarch.

The patriarch she was referring to was, of course, that old rascal Mang Xiang.

"Yes, but I am different from him. The ancestor had already reached the peak of the Purple Mansion realm for nine thousand years. He could achieve enlightenment at any time."

Moreover, after attaining enlightenment, one need not fear the first dozen or so tribulations of lightning. With the help of the Cave Heaven Technique, one can roam freely throughout the world for thousands of years.

What about me?

Wang Yulou did not continue speaking, nor did Yingxi ask any further questions.

Asking again would be impolite.

"In short, I need to take a lot of people away from the red light, all thanks to my wife's hard work."

Yingxi inherited the legacy of the Zhou family, and Wang Yulou inherited the mantle of Mangxiang—Mangxiang was of course not dead, but he was indeed not in the Red Lantern Gang. The largest shareholder of the Red Lantern Gang was Zhuzhao, and the second largest shareholder was indeed Wang Yulou and his wife, Zhou Yingxi.

You ask about floating smoke?

Wang Yulou was planning to go and meet Fuyan.

That great cultivator who was just one step away from death.
-

What contemporary Red Lantern Cultivators are not so sensitive to is that the Crimson Bright Immortal Venerable was the true founder of the Red Lantern Cultivation.

Chi Ming founded the Red Lantern Gang, but was murdered by Qing Rui's scheme.

As Chi Ming's disciple, the only reason Fu Yan didn't die was that Qing Rui's schemes and plots couldn't be too obvious—back then she wasn't as arrogant as she is now.

Therefore, Fuyan was spared.

But when Mangxiang attained enlightenment, Fuyan was almost tricked out and killed.

This has always been the way of spiritual practice; rules are meant to bind those below, not to bind the wild elephant and the illuminating candle.

Now, Fuyan has been hiding in his own cave for many years.

When the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable personally arrived at Crimson Bright Mountain, not a single disciple in the desolate Floating Smoke Sect could greet him—the sect had been wiped out by the Mang Xiang.

Confined within the cave, Fuyan was not like Qingrui, who sat on a lotus throne and could know the changes of the world; he was merely a Purple Mansion cultivator, lacking that level of power.
It wasn't until Wang Yulou entered the Red Lantern Pavilion that Fuyan, hidden in the cave, noticed the visitor.

"Fuyan pays respects to the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable!"

The floating smoke sounded somewhat uneasy. Even though it said "paying respects," it did not appear. Instead, it opened a small portal in the vast world that connected to its own grotto.

Afraid!

Even though he was a recluse in the cave, it didn't stop Fuyan from learning about the situation in the world through other means.

Fu Yan was certainly aware of the legendary speed of the Golden Elixir in the vast world, as described by the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

The fourth faction pointed at Qingrui's nose and cursed her as the "number one slut of the world," which made Fuyan even more envious.

"Drip Water and I are preparing to establish a sect in the new land of the Immortal Alliance's Destroyed Immortal Domain. The Purple Mansion in our sect is withering away, so we invite you to come."

Fellow Daoist Fuyan, to you, the Red Lantern is practically the same as death.

The past conflicts have accumulated too deeply; switching to a new sect might just allow us to forge a new path.

Wang Yulou's invitation was sincere, and Fuyan most likely doesn't have the potential to become a Golden Core cultivator.

However, it is, after all, a seasoned peak Purple Mansion realm cultivator, comparable to Gu Qiyuan.

They are good oxen and horses, capable of charging, fighting, and staying in the world for a long time.

"Immortal Venerable, I, Fuyan, dare not presume to address you as a fellow Daoist, but..."

The old man, Fuyan, still hadn't come out, and he spoke evasively.

Wang Yulou understood what it was worried about.

"Qingrui was responsible for Chiming's death, and it has nothing to do with Dishui. Qingrui has done all sorts of bad things over the years. Now that you've joined our Fourth Faction, you'll have a great chance to destroy Qingrui together in the future!"

Furthermore, although we cultivators are not exactly heartless and ungrateful, we do live in reality after all.

The master of both the Bull Demon Immortal Venerable and the Eastern Immortal Venerable, the Sword Wine Venerable, was even killed by Rakshasa.

But now, aren't those two also part of the fourth faction?
Ultimately, we must look forward, Fellow Daoist Fuyan. We cannot let the past trap us.

Wang Yulou himself might not be able to do this, but he could advise others.

Anyway, he didn't expect Fuyan to be loyal.

As long as it works, that's fine.

It's just a trade-off of interests. Anyway, both he and Drip Water are confident in suppressing Floating Smoke.

It's the same old logic: if one day someone like Fuyan can threaten Wang Yulou and Dishui, then they would have already been overwhelmed by even bigger troubles.

It's somewhat similar to "The More Debts, the Less Worry," but in a cultivator's version.

“I can leave, but Master’s treasured Chiming Lamp is still in Zhuzhao’s hands.”

The Crimson Lamp possesses boundless supernatural powers; it can be used for combat, nurture spiritual fire, and is also a top-tier treasure for refining artifacts.

The spirit within has accumulated over 30,000 years, and its ability to assist in weapon crafting is unparalleled throughout the world.

Immortal Venerable One, this Crimson Lamp rightfully belongs to me.

After borrowing it, Zhuzhao had no intention of returning it, and Mangxiang... Mangxiang was even helping Zhuzhao at the time.

"I don't expect to get this lamp back myself, but Immortal Venerable, the Crimson Lamp is a fine example among second-grade immortal artifacts. If you could get it back, it would be a wonderful thing."

Fuyan's answer was quite interesting.

He was willing to follow Wang Yulou to a new place to develop his career, because there was really no room for him to survive in the Red Lantern Gang.

The Red Lantern is even more interesting; it may be the reason why the Candlelight has so inhumanely suppressed the floating smoke for so long.

Fu Yan didn't want the lamp, but he hoped that the disgusting candle would illuminate the way so that Wang Yulou could use his name to get the lamp back.

If things go well, it's like Zhuzhao eating shit, Yulou profiting, and Fuyan enjoying himself immensely. Of course, in a sense, it's also a pledge of allegiance.

This was the great victory of the fourth faction, which brought Wang Yulou a sense of security.

The Red Lantern is a priceless treasure of the Red Lanterns.

To put it simply, the red light shining on the red light is the red light itself!
Wang Yulou pondered for a moment, then said.

"No rush, let me take them away first."

Not eating what you should is a loss!

Previously, Qingrui protected Zhuzhao, and Hongdengzhao was a local force affiliated with the Immortal Alliance.

As the leader of the Red Lantern Society, even if Zhu Zhao was a bit corrupt and greedy, no one dared to interfere.

The situation is different now.

Fu Yan transferred the 'claim right' of the Red Light to Xiao Wang. If Xiao Wang gives up without even giving it a try, he won't be able to sleep at night.

That is a fairy weapon!

Putting everything else aside, the Crimson Lamp can nurture spiritual fire and is also a treasure for refining weapons. A treasure for refining weapons, isn't that something prepared for Little Wang?
Returning a lamp owed is a matter of course!
Of course, while everyone wants lamps, the order must be followed.

First, move away the Red Lantern base you obtained from the Candlelight, then plot the Crimson Lamp, an immortal artifact. Only in this way can you ensure you don't lose out.
-

Half a month later, Dongluoche Immortal Venerable received a message from Kongkong Zhenren, and from Yuque Immortal Venerable.

After advancing from Jade Palace True Person to Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, Xiao Wang has not yet stepped down from his position as Vice Alliance Leader. Therefore, this secret letter made of water jade still bears the seal of the Vice Alliance Leader.

On it, from the imprint of the great seal to the water jade restriction, is an anti-disassembly seal meticulously designed by the alchemy master Wang Yuque—or a fire magic restriction.

The point is to use fire magic to ensure the vulnerability of the restriction.

If anyone makes even the slightest move, it will disrupt the fragile balance of the restrictions left by Wang Yulou.

Of course, the person who wrote the letter was Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, and the person who received the letter was Eastern Luo Chariot Immortal Venerable. Even if True Immortal Kongkong had ten thousand times the courage, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

If you dare to make any rash moves today, you won't have to wait until tomorrow; Kongkong Zhenren can be buried tonight.

In the blessed land of Dongluoche, the young immortal with ears like cattails received the letter, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Why can't it transmit sound?
Could it be that Wang Yuque hasn't mastered the sound transmission technique yet?

However, after reading the contents of the letter, Dong Luoche's doubts immediately disappeared.

"Good, good, good, moving half of the red light is interesting."

Yu Lou wasn't in a hurry at all. "Good, that's right. We can't rush things."

Kongkong, Yulou told me to tell you that if the Immortal Kingdom and the Immortal Alliance go to war, Miaofeng Mountain will surely perish.

Although the Immortal Alliance's war with the newly established Immortal Realm has not yet ended, the collapse of the Immortal Realm has actually allowed for at least several thousand years of overall stability.

Are you willing to follow Fellow Daoist Yu Que to the new land of the Immortal Extinction Domain?

Kongkong looked completely bewildered. It hadn't expected that simply delivering a message would seem to be the end of it.

Immortal Kongkong was certainly aware that Jade Palace Immortal Venerable was recruiting a large number of people from the Red Lantern Hall.

He was a good friend of Mangxiang and had many acquaintances within the Red Lantern Bureau.

But now, it's actually going to be taken away by Wang Yuque to be his subordinate. This is a bit like the fate of a cultivator. It's not some bullshit epic, but a never-ending torrent.

Turbulent, swirling, calm, surging—a torrent rushing forth.

The arrival of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable stirred up a torrent that swept across the land, mirroring the rise and fall of countless lives.

Kong Kong made the decision almost instantly.

Mangxiang attained enlightenment in ten thousand years, Dishui in a little over a thousand years, and Wangyuque in a little over a hundred years.

If you put these three together and let Lien Sung-hsien choose, he'll know how to choose!
"Immortal Venerable, I will follow Immortal Venerable Jade Palace!"

Kongkong Zhenren immediately offered his loyalty.

Victory, victory, from one victory to another, the momentum of victory is enough to wash away all prejudice.

"it is good!"

Dong Luoche spoke calmly, but secretly he was already helping Wang Yulou to open up the group's support.

Either you eat a little without making a scene, or you tear off the mask and eat to death.

Wang Yulou actually chose the former, but with the opportunity to obtain a second-grade immortal artifact and the Crimson Lamp, a treasure for refining artifacts, ahead of him, he ultimately decided to take a gamble.

If you don't compete, what's the point of cultivating immortality?

There's no need to fight over the job of raising donkeys; it's so much better to just stay home and raise donkeys

Wang Yulou is a shareholder of the Red Lantern Gang, and as a disciple of Chi Ming, Fu Yan is also a minor shareholder of the Red Lantern Gang.

We should fight for what we need to fight for, and fight to establish our own core base!
The battle for control of the Red Lanterns is accelerating.
-

Meanwhile, in the Celestial City of Azure Plains...

Chief Steward Bai, carrying the decree of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, also arrived at the Immortal City's Immortal Platform.

Bai Lu was Wang Yulou's first subordinate, known to everyone in the Immortal City. She was Wang Yulou—not just a representative, but the very embodiment of her.

"The Immortal Alliance's Bureau of Law Transmission is hereby ordered to immediately dispatch the Immortal Alliance's Law Transmission Team to clarify the corresponding responsibilities regarding the matter of the Red Lantern, a relic of the Red Lantern, being occupied by the True Man of Candlelight for a long time without being returned to the Red Lantern disciple, Floating Smoke."

A two-pronged approach.

The alliance defines the nature of the crime, while the debt collection team recruits members.

Wang Yulou was determined to obtain the Crimson Lamp, a treasure for refining magical artifacts.

(End of this chapter)