novelraw Chapter 274
Chapter 274
After hearing the story, Wang Yu felt a chill in his heart for that man.
A Nascent Soul cultivator from the same faction had actually chosen to kick him while he was down. The Exalted Sect had deliberately refrained from killing to avoid sparking a full-scale war, yet the other side showed no such restraint.
Had they known things would turn out this way, the Exalted Sect would not have forced that man to refine spirit stones by hand. Perhaps they could even have turned an enemy into an ally, since it was the Yellow Springs Monastery that had abandoned him first.
Thinking about this, Wang Yu suddenly spoke.
“Tell me, could it be that Yellow Springs Monastery received word that his cultivation had fallen to the first layer of Nascent Soul, leaving him with no potential, so they chose to discard him?”
Zuo Qiuming pondered for a moment.
“That is possible, but not the whole reason. More likely, this is the bitter fruit of the internal power struggles within Yellow Springs Monastery.”
“What a pitiful fate.”
“Indeed.”
The two exchanged glances and raised their cups in unison, drinking deeply.“So, what do you plan to do next? Will you take part in the struggle for Chasing Moon Prefecture?”
“No. That matter has nothing to do with Jade Spirit.”
Wang Yu immediately shook his head and revealed his new plan.
“I intend to lead my men to attack Sanmao City. Are you coming along?”
“Sanmao City... that’s the territory of the Little Talisman Lord, Luo Chen, isn’t it?”
Zuo Qiuming’s gaze turned odd as he looked at him.
“He and Second Brother Zhuo are of the same lineage. Why do you want to target him?”
“You don’t know?”
“What do you mean?”
It was true that Jade Spirit was rather far from the Exalted Sect’s mountain gate. The conflicts he had with Golden Abundance Tower had only spread across Cloud Ridge Prefecture, and the destruction of the Fragrant Gathering was an even smaller matter.
Zuo Qiuming had no reason to keep track of his every move, so Wang Yu explained.
“I held a Fragrant Gathering previously, though it was in truth a treasure exchange meeting. By the second session, it had become quite successful, and third-rank spirit items often appeared.
“But Luo Chen, that brat, ruined everything. He not only double-crossed us but also lured others into fighting within my Jade Spirit City. After the chaos, he fled back to Sanmao City and didn’t even bother to meet me.”
“There was such a thing...”
Zuo Qiuming scratched the stubble on his chin, looking troubled.
“Have you told Second Brother about this? Do you have the confidence to subdue Luo Chen? He possesses Heavenly Yin Spiritual Roots, has reached the third layer of Core Formation, and even has a Nascent Soul master. His background is not shallow.”
Wang Yu shook his head.
“I don’t plan to kill him. But I’ve already planted the seed of the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse within him.”
“You—”
Zuo Qiuming’s eyes widened. He truly hadn’t expected Wang Yu to be so daring. He hissed softly.
“If you try to devour him, I can’t predict how the Black Heaven Talisman Lord will react, but it won’t end well for you. Only Second Brother might be able to protect you.”
“I told you, I won’t kill him for now. But I must teach him a lesson.”
A reckoning—an unforgiving reckoning!
He had endured humiliation during the Foundation Establishment stage, but now that he had reached Core Formation, he could no longer tolerate it. Without giving Luo Chen a few hard blows, he wouldn’t feel at peace.
He planned to make a fortune in Sanmao City before returning to the sect for promotion and rewards, neatly wrapping up the affairs in Cloud Ridge.
As for when he would return to Jade Spirit, that depended on future arrangements. The city was already running smoothly;
even without him there, it could function normally.
The spirit stones generated from three hundred years of ownership were no small sum. Trustworthy people must hold power, or else others might seize the nest for themselves.
Speaking of which... Zuo Qiuming seemed awfully idle.
Meeting Wang Yu’s gaze, the third brother pondered for a long while before saying, “I won’t go. Since you’ve come out of seclusion, it’s time for Jade Spirit City to be returned to you.”
“Don’t rush off. Stay and chat a bit longer.”
Zuo Qiuming raised an eyebrow.
“What else do you want?”
“Nothing major. Just a small matter. Once I settle things in Sanmao City, I plan to return to the sect.”
“Return? Oh, right, I almost forgot—you’re up for promotion to Inner Sect Elder. Divine abilities and Treasure Blueprints are urgently needed indeed.”
He patted his forehead and said,
“In that case, I’ll keep an eye on Jade Spirit City for a few more years. But once you’re done, come back quickly. I don’t have the time to watch over it forever.”
“Of course… of course!”
Wang Yu smiled awkwardly and hurried to pour wine for him personally. Only then did Zuo Qiuming smirk with satisfaction.
“Fourth Brother, you’re still the most considerate.”
“Hahaha!”
“Come, summon the dancing girls! Tonight, Third Brother and I will not rest until we’re drunk!”
...
...
The next day.
After deceiving Zuo Qiuming, Wang Yu hadn’t told him the full truth because he wasn’t certain whether other matters might delay his return. He decided it was best to keep silent for now.
If Zuo Qiuming insisted on leaving later, he could still send word.
Things would naturally resolve when the time came.
At the moment, Wang Yu was discussing the attack on Sanmao City with Qingyang. With the Blood Saber Gang and Yun Niang acting as their inside support, infiltrating Sanmao City would not be too difficult.
The real challenge lay in the defensive formations of the City Lord’s Mansion.
With a third-rank spirit vein beneath it, the formation was naturally of the third rank as well. Wang Yu was well aware of the terrifying power such a formation possessed.
They had to proceed with great caution.
Qingyang spoke up.
“City Lord, since we are moving against Sanmao City, the Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen must be our top priority. During your absence from Jade Spirit, the Blood Saber Gang sent us quite a few reports. I think you should read them.”
“You’re right.”
In recent years, the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest had been fighting, and Chasing Moon Prefecture had been fighting as well. Luo Chen paid no attention to these petty and chaotic affairs, focusing instead on the region around Sanmao City.
He successively lured and killed quite a few small clans and sects.
As a result, a group of rogue cultivators known as the Black Blood Bandits rose to infamy in the area. Everyone feared them, yet they were none other than Luo Chen’s hidden force.
The Blood Saber Gang Cultivator, an undercover agent sent by Wang Yu, had joined early and was considered one of the veterans. By following Luo Chen, he had gained considerable benefits, and after years of such work, his cultivation had advanced to the mid Foundation Establishment stage.
His reports became less and less frequent as he gained favor within the Black Blood Bandits, even becoming one of their leaders.
After reading his latest message, Wang Yu understood what Qingyang meant.
“You’re worried he’ll betray us?”
“Yes.”
“You’re right. His heart-mind has already turned, but because he once made a move against Luo Chen, he doesn’t dare admit it. Right now, he’s wavering between both sides.”
Wang Yu took out Yun Niang’s secret letter and compared the two reports. The conclusion was clear.
When the Blood Saber Cultivator had been recruited by him, Jade Spirit City had only just begun to develop.
The benefits he gained then were merely a little better than what he had in his former Blood Saber Gang. After receiving rewards from Luo Chen, it was only natural that disloyalty would grow in his heart.
“Why not turn this to our advantage?” Qingyang pointed to the map as he spoke.
“We can disguise ourselves as a merchant caravan, then notify the Blood Saber Cultivator to lure Luo Chen out. Once he learns we plan to act, even if he hasn’t completely sided with Luo Chen, he will secretly warn him.
“With that Little Talisman Lord’s temperament, he will certainly investigate the City Lord’s movements. He might even learn that you have reached Core Formation, but due to the pride of being a Nascent Soul disciple, he won’t fear provocation.
“For the sake of his own reputation, he’ll most likely lead his people to counter-encircle us. By then, we can strike back with a second ambush and catch him completely off guard!”
Wang Yu scratched his head. This multi-layered plan seemed overly complicated, typical of a scheming adviser. With some exasperation, he said,
“Qingyang, you’re overthinking it. Just lead a cultivator army straight to his gates and challenge him. He won’t refuse a fight.”
“Uh…” Qingyang was momentarily stunned. “Is it really that simple?”
“Not entirely, but he’s very concerned with saving face. If challenged publicly, he won’t turn it down.”
“Very well, I’ll make preparations immediately.”
“Go.”
Wang Yu silently calculated the power balance based on Yun Niang’s intelligence.
In Sanmao City, Luo Chen was at the third layer of Core Formation. There was also one Core Formation fifth layer, and two at the second layer, all disciples of the Evil Sword Peak from the Exalted Sect.
Aside from Luo Chen, they all possessed dual spiritual roots.
The two extra demonic seeds had been planted in the bodies of the Core Formation second layers, which meant Wang Yu could sense their presence if he got close enough.
The only one he truly needed to watch out for was the cultivator at Core Formation fifth layer.
Of course, Wang Yu thought, it was more likely that Luo Chen would insist on a duel. The Exalted Sect did not forbid its City Lords from warring among themselves, as long as the Exalted Tribute Offering was delivered on time. Beyond that, they could fight however they pleased.
However…
When it came down to real combat, background still decided everything.
If some nobody dared attack a Nascent Soul disciple’s subordinate, there would be consequences.
Compared to Sanmao City, Jade Spirit was much weaker. Only he and Qingyang were at Core Formation, both at the early stage. As for Foundation Establishment cultivators, aside from Xu Ruozhou, there were only a few scattered ones barely up to standard.
He decided to recruit new cultivators, bringing in some of the independent Foundation Establishment experts he had met at the Fragrant Gathering.
For instance, Tiger-Dragon Wanderer and Master Jinshi.
With a Tribulation Avoidance Artifact and a third-rank Cave-Dwelling as bait, there was no reason he couldn’t attract capable people. For these independent Foundation Establishment cultivators, any chance to increase their odds of Core Formation was worth risking their lives.
While reorganizing the army, he also dispatched more spies to gather intelligence from every possible direction.
Meanwhile, Wang Yu cultivated with full effort.
If luck favored him, he might even break through to the second layer of Core Formation, gaining greater confidence.
Two months later.
In the secluded cultivation chamber, Wang Yu examined his internal golden core power: a total of two hundred and twenty-five strands. Another month would see him advance.
But the army was nearly ready. He had recruited seven or eight independent Foundation Establishment experts, all acquaintances from the Fragrant Gathering, already somewhat familiar with him.
Moreover, his procurement agents in the Yanluo Ghost Market had just returned with three Void Escape Talismans and two Restriction-Breaking Talismans, all of third-rank grade.
If Luo Chen activated the City Lord Mansion’s formation, Wang Yu could still tear it apart with enough of those talismans.
Loot everything. Empty everything.
Even the mortals would be forcibly relocated. He intended to enact the Three-Scorched Policy. Otherwise, the two months of preparation would have been wasted—especially the wagons and beasts of burden prepared for the migration.
Relocating over a hundred thousand mortals was no small feat. They couldn’t be moved with spells, so only these “crude” means were possible.
The region of Jade Spirit City also required expansion. Old buildings would be demolished and rebuilt taller to house more people.
That day, Qingyang came to report.
“City Lord, everything is ready.”
“Good.”
Wang Yu habitually carried all his belongings with him. He summoned his Three-Tailed Snow Fox, mounted the beautiful and majestic beast, and with a swirl of frost mist, rode toward the open ground outside the city.
At the Golden Abundance Tower, Jin Miaoshan watched from afar. Stroking the soft fur on her pet lynx’s neck, she murmured, “Xiao Man, what is Wang Yu up to this time? He just returned, and now he’s moving again. Is he going to support Chasing Moon Prefecture?”
“Meow~ No, he’s heading for Sanmao City.”