novelraw Chapter 235
Chapter 235
“Let’s go. We’ll enter Jade Spirit City and first settle Golden Abundance Tower down.”
Wang Yu instructed Qingyang to stay behind and took Jin Miaoshan and the others to the designated place. As before, it was the same location—right next to the Heaven Treasure Pavilion.
He himself returned directly to the City Lord’s Mansion, feeling heavy-hearted.
Because he had just discovered that the Core Formation cultivators he was now facing had reached a new level.
They were the disciples of Nascent Soul cultivators—existences at the peak of Core Formation.
Against such an opponent, he had almost no power to resist. Threatening with Jin Miaoshan was only a temporary measure. It was no real counter.
A grave situation indeed.
What next? The struggle over Chasing Moon Prefecture was intensifying. Jade Spirit City would surely become the outward hub of whichever side became the new master of the Nine Cities. How many spies and powerful cultivators would then appear here?
If the Blood Reversal Sect or the Yellow Spring Monastery decided to break the rules and make an example out of him, it was entirely possible.
No—highly possible. He had only just offended Daoist Dizang, and now all the subsequent troubles carried a karmic chain that he could not escape.“Time to slip away…”
For some reason, this thought suddenly appeared in Wang Yu’s mind. Though the strong in Jade Spirit City did not change rapidly, there were far too many outsiders, dragons crossing the river, and he could not withstand another wave.
But he could not simply abandon Jade Spirit City.
He had ruled for less than fifty years out of a three-hundred-year charter. The city was still developing, and its full potential had yet to be realized. How could he give up such a massive resource?
While thinking, Wang Yu suddenly came up with an idea.
According to his agreement with the three young masters of the Blood Reversal Sect, he no longer needed the slot for the Mystic Heaven Secret Realm. Perhaps he could exchange it for having them guard Jade Spirit City in his stead for twenty years.
The storms he could not withstand—they could.
He could then retire behind the scenes for twenty years and take the opportunity to explore the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, to search for the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Soul Sect, and perfect his Divine Sense inheritance. It was indeed a clever plan.
“Step back and the sea will open wide.”
So decided.
Wang Yu secluded himself in the City Lord’s Mansion, declined all social interactions, and immediately sent a messenger back to his sect to seek aid from Zhuo Shouqing.
Connections existed to be used. If he waited until he had to pay the price himself, it would be too late. Considering the distance, a round trip would take at least six months.
He decided to remain within the protective formation and not step outside.
…
The 36th year, 10th month of Wang Yu’s tenure as Deacon.
New Jade Spirit City's Golden Abundance Tower
“Miss, City Lord Wang still refuses your invitation.”
The newly decorated building, a third-rank high-grade spiritual artifact in the form of a tower, was luxuriously refined. The top floor offered a perfect view over the entire city.
At this moment, Jin Miaoshan sat cross-legged, her long slender legs elegantly crossed and swinging idly.
Listening to her protector’s report, her face showed clear helplessness.
“Elder Luo, what is with that man? Could it be that he’s intimidated by my tower’s grandeur?”
“I do not think so, Miss. I heard that several honored guests from the Blood Reversal Sect have arrived, and City Lord Wang has been busy entertaining them.”
“Honored guests? More honored than me? Tell him this: I have news of a supreme-grade Core Formation spiritual material of the ice attribute. Within a few years, I’ll surely obtain it. Have him prepare the Ten-Thousand-Year Tree Heart for exchange.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Elder Luo nodded helplessly. To be honest, he really did not want to be caught between these two. Having to relay messages every few days was mentally exhausting.
They were so close—why not just use sound transmission talismans?
Yet she insisted on making him, an old man with aching legs, deliver the messages personally. Utterly unreasonable.
“Oh, one more thing,” Elder Luo said as he turned to leave.
“Two people arrived today—one surnamed Zhuo, one surnamed Zuoqiu. Both are of advanced age, but their status seems very high.”
“It’s them.”
Jin Miaoshan narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke quickly.
“No need to go again. I can already guess what Wang Yu intends. Wait until he returns, then inform him about the Core Formation spiritual material.”
Elder Luo hesitated, then sighed. “Understood.”
…
At the same time.
Inside the Jade Spirit City Lord’s Mansion, apart from Yu Xing, both Zhuo Shouqing, Wang Yu’s sworn brother—and Zuo Qiuming—his steadfast ally—had arrived.
Among the three prodigies of the Blood Reversal Sect, Yu Xing was actually the eldest, Zhuo Shouqing second, and Zuo Qiuming the youngest, ranked by age. When they first met Wang Yu, they were already over a hundred years old.
Now, after so many years, even under the three-hundred-year lifespan of the Foundation Establishment stage, they had already entered middle age. Their cultivation had also improved significantly.
At least both had reached mid Foundation Establishment, around the fourth layer.
However, at their current pace, to reach the threshold of Core Formation would require immense resources and giving up all leisure—devoting themselves entirely to cultivation.
They had arrived later than Wang Yu expected, but that was understandable. Zhuo Shouqing had his own secret plans and could not come immediately upon being summoned.
Now, within the grand palace, a feast was laid out. Only the three of them were drinking and talking. All servants and guards had withdrawn, leaving only Snowjade meditating on a profound ice bed nearby.
The fox spirit had been diligently cultivating lately, likely feeling her weakness and inability to assist Wang Yu much. She had become more mature—a good sign indeed.
“Fourth Brother,” Zuo Qiuming said warmly, “your Brother Ming will surely help you with this matter. The struggle over Chasing Moon Prefecture is indeed perilous. Over the next twenty years, the number of peak Core Formation cultivators will only increase.”
That tone of familiarity was unmistakably his. Wang Yu nodded repeatedly.
“That’s what I think as well. Borrowed power is never real power. There are too many strong cultivators around Jade Spirit City, it’s not a place for me at this stage.”
Zhuo Shouqing frowned deeply, downed several cups of wine, and finally spoke.
“Wang Yu, there’s something I must tell you.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Back when you were searching for a secret method to improve your aptitude, you must have come across something called the Blood Spring Evil Art.”
“Yes.”
Wang Yu did not hesitate, yet a faint sense of unease arose in his heart. The next words from Zhuo Shouqing confirmed his intuition.
“In the Blood Reversal Sect, only the Blood Dao inheritance can inherit the sect’s orthodoxy. It is the most powerful among the Nine Peaks and Ten Paths, and has the highest chance of breaking through to the Spirit Transformation stage.
“It surpasses other Spirit Transformation inheritances such as True Demon Scripture of Rakshasa, Blood Nether Devouring Heaven Art, and Deep Void Extreme Cold Secret Art.
“And for us direct descendants of prestigious lineage, when someone among us is born with ordinary aptitude, the Blood Spring Evil Method becomes our art of changing destiny.
“Yu Xing and Zuo Qiuming failed back then because they were too young and developed sympathy for those used as sacrificial materials, which caused their cultivation to fail. Their original Three Spiritual Roots were damaged, making it impossible for them to ever reach Core Formation.
“But I was different. I was sabotaged by my own clan. That is why I became what I am today.”
As Zhuo Shouqing spoke, his expression grew emotional, hatred flickering beneath the sorrow.
This was the first time Wang Yu had heard of it, though he had long suspected something similar. Zhuo Shouqing’s explanation was slightly different from his own guess, but not far from the truth.
“After it happened, my parents thought of a way to save me.”
“Hm?”
Before Wang Yu could respond, Zuo Qiuming grunted in confusion. Why had the second brother never mentioned this before?
Zhuo Shouqing smiled bitterly.
“Third brother, your failure was due to your own choices. I was a victim.”
“Although my foundation was damaged, I still had a chance to recover. My Blood Spiritual Root eventually formed, though only one-ninth complete, comparable to a Four Spiritual Root aptitude.”
Upon hearing this, Zuo Qiuming hesitated, wanting to curse him but holding back.
Inwardly, however, he felt indignant. What does he mean by ‘my own fault’? He had simply refused to taint himself with filth.
Of course, if he were given another chance now...
He would grab his six-year-old self and slap him across the face. A hundred children with the same birth date and time—why couldn’t I be ruthless back then?
Zhuo Shouqing continued.
“The Blood Spring Evil Method contains a secret art of mutual devouring. If I can devour the one who underwent Nirvana Cocoon Rebirth on the same day as I did, I can repair my incomplete Blood Spiritual Root.”
This condition resembled the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse, though it imposed even stricter limitations, including alignment with heavenly timing.
“And that person—I have found him.”
“He is the true culprit who harmed me. But his bloodline is not inferior to mine. Though my parents were furious, they could only endure it. Great-Grandfather said we must fight for our own fates, to determine both superiority and life or death!”
At this point, Wang Yu no longer needed him to continue. He already understood.
Zuo Qiuming, however, was both furious and disbelieving.
“Zhuo Shouqing, you really know how to hide things! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have helped—”
Halfway through his sentence, he froze.
Zhuo Shouqing’s tone turned cold.
“Think clearly. You cannot help me. If you act, it means the entire Zuoqiu Clan acts. The other side will not sit still. Even Yu Xing knows nothing of this.”
After listening in silence, Wang Yu nodded.
“I can help you.”
“Of course. You are someone I personally trained. Naturally, you are my person. Even the death warriors I’ve been training all these years exist for one purpose—to devour that man.”
“My time is running short. I must consume his Blood Spiritual Root before the age of two hundred and thirty, or I won’t have enough time left to reach Core Formation.”
“Therefore, I can’t help you with the Jade Spirit City matter.”
“Understood. Brother Ming, what do you say?”
Wang Yu turned to look at Zuo Qiuming. The usually flamboyant and restless man was unusually quiet now, silently turning his wine cup, deep in thought.
This night talk seemed to be drawing to an inconclusive end.
Zhuo Shouqing stood up and sighed.
“I can’t stay away from the Blood Reversal Sect for too long. Otherwise, that man will play tricks behind the scenes. Especially since he came to Jade Spirit City last time, his next reaction will be swift.”
“Wait.”
Wang Yu suddenly asked,
“What is that man’s cultivation level? Does he have capable subordinates?”
Zhuo Shouqing turned his head, eyes gleaming with hidden meaning.
“Zhuo Shouyun, same age as me, Core Formation mid-stage. You don’t know his subordinates, but they’re strong. However… there’s one you’ll definitely remember.”
“Who?” Wang Yu pressed.
“Fu Xiao.”
With that, Zhuo Shouqing pushed open the door and left without a pause.
At the round table, Wang Yu clenched his fists tightly.
This second brother seemed to be binding him completely to his warship. Was even the Nether River Contract not enough for reassurance? Countless thoughts surged within him.
The sense of danger he felt was overwhelming.
Fu Xiao was the very enemy he was destined to face after cultivating the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse.
For Zhuo Shouqing to tell him this now meant he planned to act before Fu Xiao reached the Nascent Soul stage. The Nether River Contract no longer mattered. Wang Yu had to grow stronger as fast as possible.
And that required opportunity—both ordinary and extraordinary.
He had already employed every method to accelerate his cultivation, yet still felt it was too slow.
“Wang Yu, I’ve made my decision.”
“Hm?”