Shangyuque

Chapter 351 Half a Basket of Jade Palace!
"Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, it's been a long time."

Nian Wuyai was actually quite wary of Gong Shande.

But just like the story of the donkey from Guizhou, the Donkey King Jade Palace Immortal Venerable still had that majestic and proud appearance, while Gong Shande, who made the sound, was quickly marked by Nian Wuyai as a real fool donkey.

"Fellow Daoist Wuya, now that you and Fellow Daoist Jinglan have come together, has the overall situation in the Four Spirit Realms already been settled?"

Wang Yulou was unaware that the Wuji Daoist wanted to kill him, but he had to consider that the current situation had changed after the Wuji Daoist escalated his efforts.

Yes, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable directly regarded Nian Wuya and Jinglan as Wuji's lackeys—a bottom-line mentality.

Prepare for the worst-case scenario first. This will ensure that the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable is at least somewhat prepared when the situation becomes most tense, even if it is only psychological preparation.

Moreover, given the power of the Wuji Dao Master, who sits atop the realm of all beings and toys with the top Golden Core cultivators of Bifang and Boluo, it wouldn't be difficult for him to take advantage of the moment when the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable was seeking help from the Great Heaven and Earth to mobilize the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's allies and block his path.

This operation is difficult, complex, and hard to implement, but it makes perfect sense in the face of the Wuji Dao Master, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, the Golden Immortals and top-tier Golden Core cultivators, and the participants in the struggle for supremacy.

Faced with the Jade Palace Immortal's probing, Nian Wuyai did not answer—he had no way to give an answer.

The Wuji Dao Master, the Outer Heavens, the Winnowing Basket Society, the Wutian Sect, the future of the Great Heaven and Earth, the future of the Endless Worlds, the confrontation between the Supreme Beings, the specific situation of the Four Spirit Realms, and the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, a terrifying ally who is both friend and foe. These things would be difficult for anyone to bear.

Jade Palace Immortal Venerable was somewhat tense due to the situation, as was Nian Wuyai.

Forces always act in pairs.
"It's hard to say, Fellow Daoist Yuque. Let's help you all get through the tribulation first." Nian Wuyai's attitude was very strange.

This is because they've figured out that the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable needs to rely on it in the Four Spirit Realms, or at least they're wary of it.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Jade Palace Immortal Venerable lost; it just means that this is the situation.

The process of things moving forward is often the result of the combined effect of many variables.

Currently, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has only achieved the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and has not yet truly reached the level of Golden Immortal, top-level Golden Core, or even the Limitless Golden Core.

Therefore, in this situation, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable must naturally respect other variables.

The consequence of disregarding others is that you will also be disregarded by others.

"As it should be."

Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, seated atop the black dragon's head, nodded slightly, looking at the silent native Dao Ancestors of the Four Spirit Realms.

"Do you have many questions?" the Immortal Venerable asked.

Julehu was actually in a dilemma, struggling with how to view the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable as an ally and whether to continue their previous cooperation.

Jade Palace Immortal Venerable and Nian Wuyai were discussing matters concerning the Outer Heavens and the Boundless Dao Lord, but to the Golden Core cultivators, a group of native inhabitants of the Four Spirit Realms, Julehu, it was a different story.

How dare you say the outcome is already decided right in front of us?

We haven't even been seated yet!
This is a very real problem—the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable and Nian Wuyai clearly represent extraterrestrial forces. In the grand scheme set by these extraterrestrial forces, how many positions are available for native Golden Core cultivators from the Four Spirit Realms?

However, Julehu is actually one of the key allies of Jade Palace Immortal Venerable in the Four Spirit Realms, and the person in charge of the Qinzhou Water-Replenishing Spirit Land.

The sacred site for replenishing water in Qinzhou was located within the territory of its Julehu Daoting.

In other words, it is one of the beneficiaries of the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's past grand scheme.

Therefore, despite the fact that the "devils from outer space" had invaded, Julehu had to admit that he had been a collaborator for quite some time.
This is not a joke or a story, but the immense pressure of making a choice, so immense that it's almost suffocating.

Gong Shande was suppressed by Wang Yulou as a fool. Wang Yulou even discussed the terrifying topic of "the overall situation is settled" directly with the unfamiliar Heavenly Dao Ancestor, but he himself was entangled by the interests of reality.

It's so difficult, so difficult, so difficult! Why is spiritual practice so difficult?
Julehu has even begun to miss the Four Spirit Realms of the past.

At that time, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable had not yet arrived, and the Four Spirit Realms had not experienced a stable era. The Golden Core Dao Ancestors of the Four Spirit Realms were all young and passionate, and things were usually not so complicated.

In fact, this is also a side that reflects Ju Lehu's spirit.

As a Dao Ancestor who fought his way out of the cruel Gu-breeding field of the Four Spirit Realms, Julehu certainly had confidence and strength.

However, in the face of confrontations in higher, more complex, and more difficult-to-maneuver dimensions, it may also lose control of its behavior due to pressure—the inability to make clear choices is equivalent to losing control of behavior in the dimension of the Golden Elixir.

It thought it was different, it thought it could withstand it, it thought it could keep going.

But when the moment of choice arrived, Julehu finally awoke from his dream.

The hesitation and confusion in your heart cannot be faked!
It turns out, I'm not the most outstanding among the prodigies.
Compared to Julehu, who was disappointed by his inner turmoil, Tianyin had a relatively lighter burden—his relationship with Jade Palace Immortal Venerable wasn't that good, and their interests were only moderately intertwined, so he had no worries.

"Fellow Daoist Jingshui, what does this fellow Daoist address you as?"

Who exactly are you?

This is a very important issue. After the tacit understanding of pretending to be ignorant was broken by the sudden appearance of the Great Heaven and Earth Golden Core cultivators, this issue could no longer be glossed over.

“Fellow Daoist Nian Wuyai is a Golden Immortal of the Great Heaven and Earth. His cultivation level is probably similar to that of Fellow Daoist Shande.”

It is at the pinnacle of the Great Heaven and Earth. At the same time, like me, it serves as a steward in the Outer Heavens.

Without directly revealing his identity, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable smiled and changed the subject.

His answer was merely a novelty to the natives of the Four Spirit Realms, evoking surprise and concern at most; those with ambition might feel joy and anticipation.

But to the many Golden Core cultivators in the vast universe, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's words were tantamount to dropping a nuclear bomb.
The black dragon had already shrunk into a ball—it was afraid, afraid that its master would drag it and the dragon into the next life at the speed of light!
There was no way around it; the Jade Palace Immortal's nuclear bomb was just too impactful.

what?
You said that Nian Wuyai of the Wutian Sect is a steward of the Outer Heaven?

Also, what does "similar to you" mean?
He Ling from Cangshan Sect, Fen Shui from Zhizhi Dragon God Sect, Xi He from Qingrui Sect, and Qi Taiyu, the Bodhisattva of the Holy Land, were all stunned by the nuclear bomb released by Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

But the most unexpected one has to be Nian Wuyai.

It never expected that the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable would directly force it to play a card.

You really dare to do that! It's still the same Wang Yulou, still the legendary fastest Golden Elixir in the vast world!
The situation facing the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has become so complex that it's difficult to describe: different interests, different participants, clashes of different forces, and the real difficulties of confronting a sovereign ruler.
There is no solution to this situation; no matter who comes, they cannot come up with a perfect solution.

Therefore, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable chose to fight with speed.

With Mu Fan arriving soon, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable chose to sacrifice his credit points in the Four Spirit Realms and the Great Heaven and Earth as quickly as possible to seize control of the situation.

We must not allow Nian Wuyai to easily gain a favorable bargaining position to be sold at a higher price!
Others may not be able to learn Nian Wuya, nor are they capable of learning it, but if Nian Wuya were to stand on equal footing with Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable would be in a very, very passive position.

But when Jade Palace Immortal Venerable directly reveals his hand and forces a response, Nian Wuyai must give an answer in the shortest possible time.

They could either become the lackey of the Wuji Dao Lord, fight against the anti-Dao Lord alliance formed by the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, or split with the many top Golden Core cultivators of the Great Heaven and Earth.

Either accept the identity of Jade Palace Immortal Venerable as the leader of the Four Spirit Realms Alliance!

Wang Yulou had no time to ponder why Nian Wuya and Jinglan were sent here, or what the ulterior motives were. He was only certain of one thing—a top-tier Golden Core cultivator would never willingly relinquish the opportunity to be the sole ruler.

Celestial Immortals already have autonomy, Golden Immortals are so carefree that they can do whatever they want without overstepping the bounds, and top-tier Golden Core cultivators are in a position of near supremacy. How could they possibly be willing to do the work for the Wuji Dao Master?
All other actions, purposes, and demands are unimportant. Jade Palace Immortal Venerable only focuses on the fact that "there will definitely be a confrontation in the end" to ensure his relative advantage and relative dominance.

That's enough; he wouldn't want any more.

"Wutian Sect, Winnowing Basket Society, Fellow Daoist of Outer Heaven, so who exactly are you?"

For some reason, despite being a half-step Golden Immortal, Tianyin felt a dryness in her throat.

It was a clever person; with a little thought, it could see the magnificent yet dangerous world of cultivation in the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's brief reply.

"Under the Immortal Alliance, the Eastern Jade Palace's Wonderful Method Transformation Water Immortal Venerable, you can call me Wang Yulou, but they usually call me Yuque."

I'm not pretending anymore; I'm laying my cards on the table.

I am not pure water!
Having cultivated in the Four Spirit Realms for over a thousand years, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has returned to his true self.

There was an inexplicable emotion in his eyes.

At this moment, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable thought of many things.

From the moment he embarked on his spiritual journey in Qingxifang, he thought his path would be fraught with difficulties.

But as he gradually arrived at where he is today, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable realized that cultivation is not always fraught with difficulties.

The difficulties he experienced, even the current predicament within the Four Spirit Realms, are actually nothing.

Does it look difficult?

Spiritual practice is a path to transcendence amidst mountains of knives and seas of fire. There is only the Great Way; why should there be detours or wrong turns?
From the arduous climb, the resolute gamble of taking the throne, the legendary attainment of the Golden Elixir, to complete dormancy, it accumulated little by little over a thousand years.

Now, he finally has enough confidence to fight generously for his destiny in the wildest storm.

That young boy from the Wang family, Wang Yulou, was an ignorant climber.

Wang Yuque, who cleansed the Western Sea and presided over the great war between the two sects, was a cultivator who faced many hardships.

The Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, who reformed the six states and governed the Immortal Alliance, was a latecomer who was adept at capturing and adapting to change.

Now, the Eastern Jade Palace's wondrous method of transforming into the Water Immortal Venerable, standing at the pinnacle of the Celestial Immortal Realm, has finally become the transformation itself.

He no longer needs to be at the forefront of creating change; once he gets involved, he himself becomes the change.

Perhaps this level of understanding is still far from the level of Taihe Shuizun, who could "determine the truth from falsehood upon entering the game."

But all of this has been so much progress, how could the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable not be moved?

In fact, this was the first time Gong Shande had learned some of the true information about the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

The phrase "Eastern Jade Palace, wondrous Dharma, water immortal"—each of these five phrases made the Benevolent Heavenly Emperor feel somewhat ashamed.

The question posed by the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable was a huge blow to her.

The title of Heavenly Emperor is too disgraceful.

"The wondrous method of the Eastern Jade Palace transforms into water. The wondrous method transforms into water, so that's why you're holding this water replenishment conference?"

Gong Shande and the others joined the group asking questions to the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable.

However, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's main focus was still on the Boundless Realm.

Old Nian is truly powerful. The Nian Extreme Divine Eye that it transformed into is almost the strongest divine power in the Four Spirit Realms at this moment. Anyone who faces it will be terrified.

"The Water Replenishment Conference will give the Four Spirit Realms a future they have never had before, and we are all participants in this future."

'I orchestrated the pivotal Water Replenishment Conference in the Four Spirit Realms, a pivotal historical event.'

Brother Wuya, whether you choose to be the vanguard of the Dao Lord or a key Golden Immortal of the Great Heaven and Earth depends on a single thought.

Nian Wuyai is strong enough, and Yuque Immortal Venerable is not weak either; one has strength, and the other has influence.

Although Nian Wuyai was powerful, he could not overpower the Four Spirit Realms.

Although the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable wields great power, he faces numerous internal and external pressures. "Fellow Daoist Jade Palace, your words sound elegant, but who exactly is included in your 'we'? Is it me? Is it Tianyin and the others?"

Mu Fan has finally arrived, and it speaks out from afar, questioning us.

Beneath the boundless tribulation of lightning, a group of Golden Core cultivators were undergoing tribulation, while another group was vying for the future of the Four Spirit Realms.

The wrath of Heaven is nothing but a child's play.

Human suffering has never ceased.

Confrontation, confrontation, confrontation—wherever the path leads, there is always crowding.

The crowding wasn't due to a large number of people, but rather because everyone was too strong.

That narrow doorway was so crowded that everyone had to exert all their strength to squeeze through.

"Do you think you have the situation in the Four Spirit Realms? Fellow Daoist Yuque, you have to eat one bite at a time."

What are the Golden Core cultivators of the Four Spirit Realms compared to us? We are the true friends.

Whether we were both stewards in the celestial realms or both celestial beings in the greater universe, we have always been friends.

Faced with Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's rapid pressure, Nian Wuyai chose not to play any cards at all, hoping to stall for time and wait for a change in the situation.

They came to support Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, and Wang Yulou could not possibly have a complete falling out with them.

An even more insidious aspect is that if the natives of the Four Spirit Realms cooperate too much, how will Nian Wuyai and the others be able to start their killing spree?

Turning hostile and launching a massacre is an option.

However, if things are done too poorly, Tianwaitian will find a way to break the deadlock at a low cost.

The pressure on the Great Heaven and Earth Golden Core cultivators from Nian Wuyai's leadership, from allies in the Four Spirit Realms' hydration agenda, from the lurking presence of the Outer Heavens, and from their own desire to improve their cultivation amidst complex and contradictory pressures.
The Jade Palace Immortal Venerable in the midst of this situation also needs to provide an answer.

is it hard?

It's actually not difficult.

"Brother Mu Fan, that's a good question. That's exactly what I wanted to say."

Firstly, the water replenishment process can be accelerated. My fellow Daoists and I have been replenishing water for heaven and earth for many years, and we must move towards victory.

Secondly, these fellow Daoists from the Great Heaven and Earth were invited by me. They will also help the Heaven and Earth replenish water, and naturally they will also enjoy certain benefits.

Fellow Daoists Mu Fan and Shan De, what are your thoughts?

They temporarily relinquished all claims of dominance and retreated to the dimension of practical interests.

The core principle is that everyone shares the spoils together to avoid confrontation.

Everyone involved is a formidable player. Jade Palace Immortal Venerable is currently in a self-employed situation, so he certainly doesn't have the clout to easily push things forward.

But the predicament is everyone's predicament, and the problem is everyone's problem.

Perhaps Di Yong didn't understand, but Mu Fan and Gong Shande knew that everything was closely related to them.

No matter how painful or difficult the situation, we must eventually get through it.

Brother Mu Fan, let's put aside our differences and unite to look forward.

Me and that big-eyed Nian Wuyai aren't exactly a united front.

Everyone is having a tough time, but we have to keep going.

Help me win over Fellow Daoist Shande, and everything will be much easier afterward.

In the course of history, it is always those who dare to devote themselves to it and are steadfast and courageous who are able to create the most extraordinary achievements.

Without a doubt, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable is such a person, and Mu Fan, as the number one person in the Endless Red Sand, also possesses such basic qualities.

The solution with the least resistance is always the easiest to be accepted by everyone. Mu Fan also understood that what Jade Palace Immortal Venerable said was probably true—any framework of interests will have conflicts when there are too many people involved.

The stronger individuals are physically larger and have more interests to pursue, making their conflicts more difficult to resolve. Therefore, it is natural that Nian Wuyai and Wang Yulou have differing interests.

The indigenous people of the Four Spirit Realms and the Water Replenishment Vision Alliance they have already formed are important bargaining chips for Jade Palace Immortal Venerable and Mu Fan to participate in the confrontation between the Four Spirit Realms and the confrontation between the Supreme Beings of the Endless World.

The Jade Palace Immortal Venerable and its interests in protecting this important bargaining chip are aligned.

At this moment, Jade Palace Immortal Venerable and Mu Fan stood together once again amidst the changing conflict.

However, Mu Fan still had doubts and fundamental questions that were difficult to resolve.

'What about Sha Niu? What about Tianwaitian? Are you from those top-tier forces and top-tier Golden Core cultivators, or from Tianwaitian?'

Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's gaze sharpened slightly, but he felt helpless.

These questions are all silly.

However, Mu Fan was already the most outstanding cultivator in the Four Spirit Realms.

This is where the most brutal difference between the Four Spirit Realms and the Great Heaven and Earth Immortal Cultivation Realm versions becomes apparent.

The black uncles of sub-Saharan Africa have been fighting in the wilderness for thousands of years, but they have not made any breakthroughs. They are trapped in low-dimensional and low-level confrontations, and are gradually being suffocated by the pressure of the times. By the time they realize that the situation is not right, it is too late. (They may lose on a scale of hundreds of years, but there will be mean reversion on a longer scale. However, losing on a scale of hundreds of years is still losing. It is a real loss.)

Even Mu Fan, the number one Golden Core cultivator in the Four Spirit Realms, would ask such a naive question.

It wasn't that Mu Fan was stupid; it was simply that the situation had become so complex and difficult that Mu Fan had lost much of her confidence.

It had never encountered such a desperate confrontation before.

But Jade Palace Immortal Venerable has always come this way. He even witnessed Qingrui being subjected to team building activities. At the Winnowing Basket Conference, he also falsely accused Bi Fang, the number one person in the Great Heaven and Earth, and resorted to the most unscrupulous means of calling a deer a horse.

Therefore, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable is indeed able to adapt to this level of confrontation.

"Take things one step at a time, get moving first, instead of getting bogged down in problems."

We are not people driven by power or influence; we are simply people who want to go further.

I believe you, fellow Daoist, are also such a person.

Upon hearing the Jade Palace Immortal's reply, Mu Fan looked at Nian Wuyai, who was suspended high in the air.

That beautiful gemstone eye shimmered with mysterious spiritual light, and the chaotic color in the center of the eye constantly shifted.

After a brief conversation with Nian Wuyai, Mu Fan finally nodded slightly.

admit!

There's no way to deny it.

A number of Golden Core cultivators from the Great Heaven and Earth entered the Four Spirit Realms. The number was not large, only a dozen or so, which was about five percent of the total number of Golden Core cultivators in the Four Spirit Realms.

But even five percent of the power is more than enough to change the course of events.
Immediately, Gong Shande couldn't hold back any longer.

“Sha Niu is from Tianwaitian. You, Mu Fan, have been oppressing me for so long because of Lu Zhishui’s death. Now you’re telling me you knew what was going on all along?”

I wronged you, but now our interests are aligned, so you should help me.

While even the Golden Elixir of Heaven and Earth could tolerate this, Gong Shande truly did not want to.

too disgusting!

“Fellow Daoist Shande, you misunderstand. I am not omniscient or omnipotent. I gradually come to understand many things,” Mu Fan comforted Shande.

The situation has now turned into a standoff between the Empress and Mu Fan. Compared to external enemies such as Nian Wuyai and Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, at this moment, the Empress hates Mu Fan the most.

But people's bottom line is meant to be crossed. Since Shan De could tolerate the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's threat, he can now tolerate Mu Fan's shamelessness.

In fact, this may also be related to the unfortunate situation she has encountered over the past thousand years—those who lose tend to be more conservative in their behavior, thereby reducing their expectation of failure.

"Okay, let's hydrate together, but I have one condition."

The seventeen states should immediately organize a larger force to ensure that the situation in the Four Spirit Realms does not collapse.

Within ten years, any force that cannot have more than five Dao Ancestors will be eliminated.

Gong Shande has also learned the "pie in the sky" method of spiritual practice, and she is building her own agenda.

The cost and price of bribing people with specific benefits is too high.

However, by establishing an agenda and winning over allies with relatively similar interests, one can achieve a low-cost projection of influence that transcends the self, thereby enriching the practice itself.

Therefore, the changes that Jade Palace Immortal Venerable brought to the Four Spirit Realms were actually numerous.

"I agree." Mu Fan now respected Gong Shande.

Agree to what?
We agree with the plan proposed by Jade Palace Immortal Venerable to move forward first, and we agree with the profit-sharing model.

There was no other way; they were the top two in the Four Spirit Realms. If they fought without regard for the situation, they would only lose their future.

External pressure is always one of the best ways to promote unity.

"In that case, I will not object."

Gong Shande, Empress Shande, in the end, both endured and retreated.

Compared to the past, she has made great progress in recent years.

So how could this not be because the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable's training was too successful?
Soon, the many native Dao Ancestors of the Four Spirit Realms who came due to the Heavenly Tribulation accepted the current solution to the situation under pressure from local bigwigs such as Mu Fan and Gong Shande.

The endless world's struggle for the Dao Fruit revolves around Bifang, the Dao Master, and the Winnowing Basket.

If we consider Mu Fan of the Four Spirit Realms as the monkey version of the Wuji Dao Lord, then Empress Shande is the monkey version of the Bifang Immortal King.

Similarly, by analogy, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable, who has formed various temporary allies with Golden Core cultivators from different forces, is like half a winnowing basket in the Four Spirit Realms at this moment.

What is a half-haul basket?

The third person, while not in a dominant position, still exists, hence the term "winnowing basket".

As for the points awarded at the Half-Lost and Endless Place, points should also be awarded during the Water Replenishment Conference.

Therefore, the Jade Palace Immortal Venerable could only share a lot of benefits, which naturally resulted in half a basket.

(End of this chapter)