One and a half months later, the river cove fishing port.
Jade Lous personally receives Fan Zhugao, who comes to seek the Spirit Crane.
The Drizzle Cave used to have no custom of riding spiritual cranes; the disciples often preferred flying boats as their flying implements.
However, after the Jade Lous introduced the spiritual cranes from the iron family to Drizzle Cave, a sense of comparative envy emerged.
From a rational standpoint, for disciples like Fan Zhugao in the Drizzle Cave, they should use all their resources and efforts to build a foundation instead of spending a large amount of spiritual stone on buying spiritual cranes.
But female cultivators like to buy ritual robes, while male cultivators prefer spiritual cranes. This kind of consumption itself can satisfy psychological needs, and the satisfaction of the psychology is where its value lies.
Cultivators are also human, and they cannot always be absolutely rational. When Lao Fan noticed that many of his fellow disciples who were similar to himself had already ridden on spiritual cranes, his restless heart drove him to come to the Jade Lous.
"Master Fan, to be honest, the spiritual cranes in our Wang family are not inferior to those in other families. If you buy them in the market outside the cave heaven, it's basically one spiritual stone for one piece of goods."
Those two good brothers of yours bought adult spiritual cranes from outside the cave heaven. Well, you see, they have more spiritual stones at their disposal, so they can do whatever they want with them.
The only advantage of the spiritual crane here is that it's cheap.
Four hundred spiritual stones can buy a small crane. As long as you take good care of it yourself, it will grow up gradually.
Why spend a thousand spiritual stones on an adult crane when you could do something else with the saved spiritual stones?
Also, the crane is easier to raise from a young age, and it's more attached to you emotionally. Aren't you saying that?"
Jade Lous is smiling and taking Master Fan on a leisurely walk around the Spirit Crane Garden. The iron patriarch came over again last time and brought four breeding cranes, so there are now a total of seven breeding cranes in the Spirit Crane Garden.
At a rate of one and a half offspring per pair of breeding cranes per year, taking into account a 20% egg mortality rate, the number of self-produced spiritual cranes in the River Bay Fishing Port each year is approximately eight to ten.
Most of the spiritual stones earned will be given to the iron family, but Jade Lous can keep 40%, leaving aside cost factors, generating approximately 2000 spiritual stones in annual revenue.
"Four hundred spiritual stones? So low, won't it die halfway?"
The low price given by Jade Lous actually made Lao Fan suspicious.
"Brother, spiritual cranes are extraordinary birds. They're not so easy to die. As long as you feed them on time and don't overfeed them, most of them can live to be adults without illness or injury."
There are some minor problems, but you can also find Ning Bing at the Spirit Crane Garden in River Bay Harbor to solve them. The only young crane that died in the past two years was because that brother's partner over-indulged it with too much food and starved it to death.
"About this, you should be careful after you buy it," Wang Yulou reminded helplessly.
Many things, if you don't do them yourself, you can't imagine how absurd it is.
Overfeeding a crane to the point of death, such a concrete act, is actually done by a moron.
There are plenty of ignoramuses in the cultivation world who lack common sense, and their numbers are considerable. They may be very adaptable to the rules of the cultivation world, but they are astonishingly dumb about certain seemingly simple matters.
In many cases, this occasional idiocy is positively correlated with the individual's background, with the better-born individuals more likely to exhibit characteristics of occasional idiocy.
"Alright, the iron-crowned crane starts at four hundred spiritual stones. What about the black-backed crane?"
Actually, Lao Fan has a limited budget. He originally wanted to get an iron-crowned crane that wouldn't require any spiritual stone for feeding, but the price of the young spirit cranes sold by Jade Lous is so low that he eventually decided to give it a try by stretching his legs.
"The black-backed crane is more expensive, at 1500 spiritual stones. Brother, if you check the market outside the cave heaven, this is also the bottom price."
One thousand five hundred?
"Why is the black-backed crane so much more expensive?" Fan Zhugao was puzzled.
"Brother, the iron-crowned crane has low intelligence, so it can lay two or even three eggs a year. Its racial talent is also worse. Most of them reach the middle stage of mixed demon realm and that's their limit.
The black-backed spiritual crane is different. The three pairs of black-backed breeding cranes here are all the type that wouldn't want to lay more eggs even if you begged them to.
Even one egg a year is fine, but sometimes they will pretend to be pregnant in order to deceive you into giving them pregnancy feed.
Moreover, the black-backed spiritual crane has a chance to break through to the minor demon realm.
The chance of breaking through is lower than that of the best little red spiritual crane, but it's still there, and it's relatively high.
The starting price of spiritual cranes in the minor demon realm, regardless of their species or talents, is all around 5000 to 6000 spiritual stones. So, 1500 spiritual stones isn't expensive."
When it comes to the black-backed spiritual crane pretending to be pregnant in order to get pregnancy feed, Jade Lous has some helplessness.
At the time, Tie Ningbing had actually warned him, but he still didn't believe that spiritual cranes could be so clever.
"Why not help them mate?"
Fan Zhugao knows something about breeding domestic animals from his experience, so he knows that domestic animals can be mated.
"The spiritual cranes are intelligent, and forced mating would provoke their resistance. The spiritual cranes that can become breeding cranes are already willing to cooperate with laying eggs."
Those wild spiritual cranes may only lay four to seven eggs in the stage of just entering adulthood, and then they don't lay anymore.
Moreover, spiritual cranes are a special type of bird that follow the rule of lifelong marriage. Even if forced mating occurs and neither the male nor the female resists, it may affect their emotions and lead to a situation where future forced mating is necessary.
The most troublesome thing is that when the forced mating crane eggs hatch, many mother cranes will eat them directly.
If it wasn't so troublesome to raise spiritual animals, the Wang family mountain would have had a bunch of them long ago. Spiritual animals have intelligence but no humanity, which makes it very difficult to tame them.
Huo Laosan is a case in point. He's not vague about big matters, and in the end, he used his life to take a hit from the YAO Dragon's water whip for Jade Lous, but he's always incredibly mischievous in everyday life.
"I see, how about the little red spiritual crane?"
Fan Zhugao pointed at the two most beautiful little red breeding cranes in the Spirit Crane Garden and asked.
Following Master Fan's gesture, Jade Lous smiled at the two little red breeding cranes and then transmitted his voice.
'Four thousand two, Master Fan. This price you leave here, you won't find it in the whole Wu nan.
Little red spiritual cranes are beautiful and have talent, but because of their talent, the female cranes' incubation period is a full two years. Compared to the five months for iron-crowned cranes and eight months for black-backed cranes, this is far longer.
Currently, these two breeding cranes have only been here for one and a half months, and two eggs have already been ordered. If you want to buy one, you'll have to wait at least five years.
Don't mention the price, Little Red is too smart. If it hears that its eggs are worth so many spiritual stones, it will definitely cause trouble with us.'
The iron-crowned crane is like an entry-level two-boxer sedan with four wheels and a few sofas, while the black-backed crane is similar to an entry-level large sedan or luxury car with a price of several hundred thousand.
The little red spiritual crane is different. Its chance of advancing to the minor demon realm is very high, and once it enters the minor demon realm, it becomes a top luxury car, only slightly inferior to Lin Sister's recently acquired silvery-breasted colorful bird.
You have to know that the crane king of the Wang family has reached the bottleneck of breaking through to a great demon, and who knows when he will break through.
Of course, the little red spiritual crane has good talent and requires a lot of resources during its growth process, making it both expensive and difficult to raise.
However, for cultivators who can afford the little red spiritual crane, the cost of cultivation is often not a problem.
"Two have already been ordered? Who bought them?"
Lao Fan communicated cautiously in his voice as well, and this respect for the intelligence of the little red spiritual crane actually made him want to own such a crane even more.
'Yuan Wu and Gong Xiangqiao, I suggest you get a black-backed crane instead, spiritual cranes are for us to ride, and only these rich brats will pursue the most expensive ones.'
The two bold names were put forward, which made Lao Fan's mood quite complicated.
These two individuals, with neither potential nor temperament that compares to his own, were born into high status families. The Yuan family is at odds with Wang Yulou, and yet these two descendants of the Yuan sect are doing business with Wang Yulou.
Great families, high families, are always in conflict with each other. It's all for show. As the owners of the Drip Water Cavern, they will always be on the same side.
Upon thinking of this, Fan Zhugao no longer felt troubled.
"Alright, I'll take an iron-crowned crane instead, hahaha."
Lao Fan actually misunderstood Jade Lous. He wasn't on good terms with Yuan Wu and Gong Xiangqiao at all. He simply found these two high-and-mighty individuals easy to swindle, which is why he made a big profit off of them.
"Okay, the iron-crowned crane is indeed good. I currently ride an iron-crowned crane, and the eggs of iron-crowned cranes don't need to wait in line. You can have them two months later."
Master Fan, we brothers don't talk about formalities. You only need to pay 360 spiritual stones, and I'll send you 80 spiritual cranes' favorite snack of dragon and tiger flesh when the time comes."
Lao Fan had helped Jade Lous a lot. Although it was for the business of the Turbid Pool, and it was the Turbid Pool that took Wang Xianmao's spiritual stones to provide assistance, Lao Fan was the actual person in charge, and he was very dedicated to his work.
Selling the little crane to him for 360 spiritual stones, Jade Lous definitely wouldn't make much profit. It was a purely friendly price.
"Do iron-crowned cranes also eat dragon and tiger flesh?" Lao Fan was slightly hesitant.
He chose the iron-crowned crane because it was easy to raise, and if the iron-crowned crane also needed spiritual stones to buy various types of feed, then the subsequent feeding costs would be high.
"Hahahaha, the little crane needs to grow strong, it can't be fed like this. Once it grows up, it won't need to eat dragon and tiger flesh anymore." Jade Lous explained.
"I see. But Jade Lous, there's one more thing."
The other day's exchange gathering attracted more than a hundred participants.
I secretly asked a few of my fellow disciples who don't often come and found out that they were scared by the fierce nature of the Yuan family.
"I don't know why the Yuan family has killed so many people, making the exchange gathering more conspicuous. I feel that a big tree attracts too much wind, and it may not be a good thing."
Yulou squinted his eyes and thought for a moment before replying.
"Zhu Gao brother, you don't need to worry about the situation of the exchange gathering. The head of the sect and the vice-head have already given it a clear definition: 'It's not bad, let's deal with it first and see.'"
Moreover, whether those disciples were attacked and killed by people from the Yuan family or not is still a matter of debate. Dao Sheng senior is indeed a bit crazy, but he should not have committed such a radical act."
Jade Lous is the one who had the message spread, so how could he not know what's going on?
It's just a soft-handed approach to persuade the Yuan family to restrain themselves, mainly because Wang Yulou's move and the Yuan family's move collided at the same time.
Otherwise, now would not be the time to apply soft blades.
Seeing Wang Yulou actually taking the initiative to excuse the Yuan family, this was very strange to Fan Zhugao.
But he is a cautious person who wouldn't ask impulsively. After chatting with Jade Lous for a few sentences and setting the time to get the crane, he left promptly.
Yulou returned to his mansion and immediately asked Xiaoyu about the specific situation of the exchange gathering.
Nowadays, he doesn't go to the exchange gathering directly when there's nothing to do. As the initiator, he needs to keep a low profile, and Xiaoyu has become his shadow in the exchange gathering.
".The income has clearly increased, but not by much. Invitation Brother Sea told me that the things sold at our exchange gathering are priced about half a success lower than those sold at the red lantern pavilion."
The matter of the Yuan family arranging for Wang Yulou to be buried with them actually ended up increasing the foot traffic to the exchange gathering.
This was originally done to harm Wang Yulou, but in the end, it actually helped him. This kind of thing is somewhat absurd.
"Yes, this half success is the secret to the exchange gathering being able to run. Any more, and the advantage of the exchange gathering will disappear."
Additionally, Xiaoyu, in half a month, I will take on a new task. I will go to the Red Lantern as an exchange executive assistant.
"You will take over the position of the guardian cultivator of the River Bay Fishing Port. You will keep an eye on our family business for me. Do you have any thoughts or pressures?"
There's no problem, no pressure. Bai Xiaoyu has already mentally prepared for this kind of thing for two years. In fact, she has taken over the power of the River Bay Fishing Port in these two years.
If Shizu and the Yuan family don't make trouble, how could there be so many demon beasts attacking the River Bay Fishing Port? One exercise guardian is enough.
——
After calming down Xiaoyu, Jade Lous returned to his courtyard.
He didn't like the Golden Pavilion, which was located at the center of the River Bay Fishing Port. It was surrounded by chaos and had a lot of people and horses.
He had originally built the Golden Pavilion to consolidate power and establish his authority, but now he preferred to live in the secluded courtyard instead.
Because, after years of operation in the Drip Water Cavern, Jade Lous has successfully guided the River Bay Fishing Port and the exchange gathering towards a more stable direction.
The former is the faction that depends on him, while the latter is the faction that approaches him due to their common interests. In the future, as long as he waits for these two factions' practitioners to gradually condense their qi and form a foundation, Wang Yulou's influence in the Drip Water Cavern will gradually increase.
Therefore, the so-called Golden Pavilion is not important anymore.
The system of streams and pools in the courtyard was built by Fan Zhugao and his disciples. Even the size of the lotus pool in it is even bigger than Lin Mengyao's cultivation lotus pool, which Lin Cherry likes very much.
When Wang Yulou made the promise to marry her, it wasn't about love, but he treated her with sincerity. The lotus pool was the symbol of his heart.
Now that their feelings for each other are very strong, Lin Cherry cultivates by the lotus pool every day and rarely returns to the Mushroom Cave——because the Yuan family has laid low and no one wants to cause trouble with Wang Yulou's spouse, so she won't have any trouble even if she is away from her post.
"Wang Brother has been here. The position of the River Bay Fishing Port Guardian cultivator has been confirmed, so after you leave, River Bay Fishing Port will be led by Xiaoyu, assisted by Maoxing, and the empty position will be arranged after the River Bay Fishing Port breaks through the Practitioner realm."
Seeing Jade Lous return, Lin Cherry, who was meditating on the stone platform in the middle of the lotus pool, opened her mouth and spoke.
The Lin family's inheritance martial arts, Qing He Sheng Bai Gong, is extremely special. It requires observing lotus flowers to practice, using the lotus' resonance to perform the exercises.
After cultivation, one can refine the lotus pool to obtain the lotus resonance and practice with it. Practicing is like refining the spiritual resonance, which can not only improve one's cultivation but also earn spiritual stones and other benefits. It lacks nothing for magical abilities and techniques.
It was precisely this martial art that allowed the Lin family to gradually establish their footing in the Drip Water Cavern.
"Understood." Wang Yulou nodded and grabbed his senior sister's delicate hand.
"Jade Lous, don't just say that you understand. Although you and Wang Brother have a good relationship, it seems that you and the Yuan family have some influence on him today. He seems to be in a hurry, perhaps because of this."
"I think we should try to find someone to express our gratitude to him, as Maoxing did a good job with the arrangements."
Lin Mao Sheng is one of the two Qi Practitioners who were given in marriage to Lin Cherry by the Lin family. The other is named Lin Chen Hui. Both are from the main line of the Lin family, but they both have four spiritual roots. They were married as dowries specifically for Wang Yulou's use.
Both are disciples of the Hu Chih Palace, and now, Lin Mao Sheng has been arranged as the guardian cultivator of the River Bay Fishing Port, while Lin Chen Hui has been assisting Lin Cherry in the Mushroom Cave.
"Thank you? Haha, it's not necessary. Sister, you may not know yet, but Yao Hai Master is actually one of us."
Lin Cherry didn't understand what Jade Lous was saying. A Qi Practitioner at the peak of the realm submitting to a Qi Practitioner at the six-layer level is something that goes against common sense.
"What's wrong? Isn't he always on good terms with you? He bears the conflict between the Yuan family and you and still keeps a good relationship with you. We should give some rewards."
The struggle between factions is fierce, but Xiao Niu Ma Wang Yao Hai still wants to be friends with Jade Lous. Lin Senior Sister thinks that such a person is very decent.
"I will go to the Red Lantern in half a month. In the future, the family business I leave behind in the Drip Water Cavern will depend on you to maintain it."
Master Yao Hai's master, Luo Changhe Luo Senior, has a granddaughter who was killed by Yuan Daoshen. Luo Senior is very bitter.
If handled properly, in the future, Brother Yao Hai might be able to secure a complete set of foundation-cultivation resources. Once you and I have established our foundations, our family will have four foundation cultivators."
Lin Cherry finally understood what "our people" meant.
She lowered her voice and asked with anticipation and disbelief.
"You mean, also the elder Luo?"
"No, that won't happen. Elder Luo is an outsider of the Yuan family, and his door only has Brother Yao Hai as a foundation-seed."
Just now when I mentioned 'handling it properly,' I meant that by now having Wang Yao Hai on my side, I will have the opportunity to bring Elder Luo over in the future. It's about the future, not now."
Seeing her husband speak like this, Lin Cherry was a little speechless.
"We are still far from foundation cultivation. Is it too early to think about this?"
The Lin family has never actively participated in the power struggles of the Drip Water Cavern, but has only provided support and assistance to one side, without taking the forefront.
If Wang Yulou loses, he can simply return to the Red Lantern or his family mountain in Wangjia village.
The Lin family can't play like this. If they lose, they will be heavily defeated and find it very difficult to make a comeback.
Therefore, Lin Ying, coming from such a family background, is not very suited to Jade Lous's ambitious aspirations.
Noticing that Senior Sister still has her feet wet from the pool, Jade Lous squatted down, pulled out a piece of silk cloth, and carefully cleaned them.
Feelings are feelings, but respect and actions that are due are always necessary.
However, the words he spoke had absolutely no relation to the actions of a small husband who is tender towards his wife.
"All things are established by planning, and things that are not planned will fail. The significance of advancing one's moves lies in being prepared and having no worries."
"If we wait until foundation cultivation to make arrangements, how much time will we have to spare after foundation cultivation?"
This has always been Jade Lous's thought. A cultivator's development throughout their life cannot rely solely on impromptu decisions, as that would be no different from being a fool.
It's just a bit more implicit, but it can deceive others but not oneself.
We must have a long-term vision, risk awareness, ambition, and the temperament that matches our ambitions.
Only those with the great temperament that remains undaunted in the face of the collapse of mountains and seas are worthy of the exalted position that countless cultivators aspire to.
Jade Lous looked up, gazing into his senior sister's eyes, filled with boundless affection, and said.
"Senior Sister, if you marry me, you must have the same ambition as me to reach higher places."
With the support of the Grandmaster and Hongli True Man, I, Wang Yulou, am determined to obtain the power of the Drip Water Cavern!"
After saying this, he stood up and threw the silk cloth into the lotus pool, where the spiritual fish kept in it immediately surged into a frenzied activity.
The lack of wisdom of the spiritual fish meant that they tore and fought over the silk cloth as if they were fighting over food.
Lin Ying couldn't understand Jade Lous's actions, but she noticed that Wang Yulou was lost in thought while watching the spiritual fish bite at the silk cloth, as if her soul and consciousness had already floated away into an unknown distance.
Without speaking, Senior Sister silently leaned against the shoulder of Jade Lous and watched together with him the comical scene of the spiritual fish fighting over the cloth.
After a long time, Jade Lous sighed.
"Summer wanes, the rivers overflow, people may become fish or turtles," Jade Lous sighed.
Can we really see the path ahead clearly?
It is not necessarily the case.
Perhaps we are no different from these spiritual fish.
Not struggling is death, but struggling still gives a sliver of hope."
At this time, Lin Ying realized that she had never truly understood Wang Yulou.
"I'm not going to eat these spiritual fish!" Lin Ying's eyes flashed, and she chose to change the subject.
Wang Yulou was taken aback at first, then burst into a loud laugh.
"Ha ha ha, isn't what we are fighting for just to become the stepping stones of great cultivators?"
Resources of the sixth grade and above are not allowed to circulate. The only way to rise is through the Selection for the Xianmeng Martial Arts Tournament.
Even with that, they are still prioritized by the great cultivators. There are only three slots available, so with a bit of prioritizing, outsiders have no chance.
The promotion methods of the Purple Palace are different for each of the ten sects, and even some like Drip Water Cavern and Miao Feng Mountain have their own methods. However, they are not open to those who have not yet established a foundation, forcing everyone who wants to move upwards to follow the great cultivators.
This system is very good, especially for the great cultivators.
The great cultivators eat meat, while the foundation-cultivating Xian clans drink the washwater of the great cultivators, filling their bellies well so that they can help suppress the lower strata for the great cultivators.
——
Drip Water Heaven, Yuan Manor.
"How's everything going?"
Yuan Daoshen, facing away from the approaching person, spoke in a somber tone.
"I've contacted thirteen disciples, each with fifty spirit stones. They will bring their people along to cause a disturbance."
The Wang family has its own qilin, and the Yuan family also has its own qilin. Yuan Wenbin, responsible for handling the matter, replied promptly.
"Good!" Elder Dao Shen nodded satisfied.
Summarizing the lessons from their two attempts at striking against Wang Yulou, Elder Dao Shen realized that he couldn't be the one to lead the charge with the Yuan family, so, he decided to play a hand in borrowing a knife to kill.
Using Chu Hongyi as a blade, the disciples of Drip Water Cavern as blades, the Xianmeng Alliance Law Decree as blades, and the sect... Elder Dao Shen was convinced that with so many blades exerting their strength together, it would be enough to send Wang Yulou to his death.
"Grandmaster, Yuan Wenbin has a question. Why do we still want to deal with Wang Yulou?"
Yuan Wenbin wasn't just confused; he was too young and couldn't keep his temper, wanting to speak up and caution the elders.
Such a thing is only something that a young, favored son like him, a qilin, would dare to do.
Why hasn't a single one of the many foundation-cultivating members of the Yuan family come to remind Elder Dao Shen, is it because they are stupid?
"There's no need to say more, I'm aware that rumors are spreading about me going mad."
Yuan Wenbin, do you too think that Grandmaster I am mad?"
Whether Elder Dao Shen is crazy or not, he himself knows.
The so-called struggle is nothing but interest, cause and effect, and contradictions.
Elder Dao Shen understands the benefits and dangers clearly, as well as the consequences of his actions.
"Yuan Wenbin is not brave enough."
Yuan Daoshen smiled. He turned around, looked at Yuan Wenbin, and spoke gently, like an old man instructing his descendant in a warm manner.
"Child, you are far inferior to Wang Yulou."
Wang Family can produce a Wang Yulou, which is not easy. He is one of the most ruthless cultivators, just like me.
No, it's different. I'm not like him. It wasn't until I was seventy that I had the style he has now.
Do you know that a large part of the people who died were killed by Wang Yulou's men?
Among those bandit raids, there were even people from Wang Yulou's faction!
Fearful!
I don't understand what he's doing. Do you know, that's the scariest thing.
How could Wang Yulou, not your fifth brother, do something that doesn't make sense?
It won't be like that. It won't be like that.
So, it can't be left to you guys.
Grandmaster I, it's time for me to make a decisive move."
Elder Dao Shen's disbelief in the wisdom of descendants is just nonsense, just an excuse to shirk responsibility.
He believes that as the first foundation-cultivating cultivator of Drip Water Cavern, he can bear the responsibility of the Yuan family and should also bear the responsibility of the family.
The trouble is one's own, and it should be one's own resolution.
"Grandmaster, Wang Yulou has the Wang family behind him. Can his death resolve everything?"
We may not be as good as Wang Yulou, but we are not fools.
"The future may see Wang Yulou become very powerful, but we can at least stand our ground. What is there to be afraid of?"
Although Yuan Wenbin didn't want to admit it, Wang Yulou was indeed much stronger than him, so he could only say "at least we can stand our ground."
Wang Xianmao, the head of the Wang Clan, once told Wang Yulou that the Wang Clan could provide outstanding disciples for the Wang Family, starting from the Practicing Cultivation stage, they would not be inferior to any other prominent clans' disciples.
Yulou fully utilized the advantage of the starting point, making a foundation in Drip Water Cavern, and among his peers, there are indeed few who can match him.
Even Lin Ying and Yuan Wenbin are much older than him, and Wang Youhai's age has broken the hundred-year mark, but these people all interact with him as equals.
Yeah, Yaohai brother is transitioning to shouting Wang Que, but this is not a backward step for him. Instead, it is Wang Yulou's progress.
"If we can end it, Drip Water Heaven is semi-independent. As long as Nine Sheng True Man knows, the immortal king may still be alive."
Even if the dumb elephant has become a Golden Dan, he wouldn't dare to come in lightly, let alone why would he stand up for someone from a dependent family.
That little thief always brings up the Thunder Elephant as a pretext, but I think it's just using the Thunder Elephant's fur to intimidate people. It's not something to be feared.
And he doesn't necessarily have to die. I'm just using an absolute attitude to force him to leave. Once he's away from Drip Water Cavern, he can go to the Red Light Enlightenment Place easily.”
Seeing that Grandmaster Dao Shen had made up his mind, Yuan Wenbin no longer tried to persuade him; he merely silently continued with his tasks.
While Yuan Daoshen was filled with mixed emotions, he stood up and went to the residence of the Grandmaster Chu Hongyi.
——
Two and a half months later, the annex.
The furnace is burning, Wang Yulou is trying to create his first 30-level restrictions tool.
The upper limit of the high-grade law artifact is 36-level restrictions. If there are more than that, it's not worth it for a Practicing Cultivation warrior to drive.
But in the list of rewards for the Merit Hall of the Blue Water Palace, 32-level is the limit.
This is because for most cultivators, the actual difference between a few more or a few less levels in the process of using them is not that significant.
Too many restrictions would consume all your energy, it's better to leave more strength to deal with unexpected situations in combat.
The red lanterns seemed like greedy tongues, lapping at the delicious food, greedily covering every inch of the eight-grade Qing Chi lead. Wang Yulou planned to use the eight-grade Qing Chi lead as the base material to forge a high-grade artifact with a unique thirty-level restriction that was full of ingenuity.
Compared to more complex spirit tools, the differentiated mysteries of artifacts lie in four points: the nature and matching of raw materials, the handling of raw material properties during refinement, the type of restrictions, and the recording of restrictions.
The second two may seem similar, but there is a big difference. Wang Yulou's cleverness lies in the recording of restrictions.
Bai Xiaoyu is a dual-element spiritual root cultivator of water and soil. Qingshi lead is exactly dual-natured water and soil. Fire method refining is not suitable, but Wang Yulou's mastery of fire method refining is high enough, so it's not a disadvantage.
Because Wang Yulou plans to refine a large lead pearl, there isn't much to say about the types of restrictions.
The only thing is the recording of restrictions, where Wang Yulou adopted a multi-layer engraving method used only in the refining of spirit tools.
Considering that Xiaoyu's cultivation was only at the Practicing Cultivation stage with two layers, he divided the Qingshi lead pearl into two parts for refining.
The inner small lead ball was engraved with 14 restrictions, and the outer shell was engraved with 16 restrictions.
In this way, when Bai Xiaoyu drives the lead ball, he can use the heart force to manipulate 14 restrictions and partially harness the special power of the 8-grade spirit material Qingshi lead.
When she advances in cultivation, Wang Yulou can then connect the restrictions on the small lead ball and the shell in the refined space he has left, and the full power of 30 restrictions can be unleashed.
Wang Xianzhou has reached a level where he can easily refine spiritual pills for the Practicing Cultivation stage without using formulae, just by looking at the properties of the herbs.
As a refiner, Wang Yulou has been refining artifacts for many years, and his mastery of artifact refining has also gradually reached the stage where he is developing this skill.
Of course, compared to the effortless level of alchemy that Grandmaster Dao Shen possesses, Wang Yulou still has a long way to go.
He used the multi-layer engraving method used for refining spirit tools today, which is also his first attempt. However, with the help of Easeful Golden Light, the process was relatively smooth.
In the end, through the multi-layer engraving method, Wang Yulou even managed to refine one more level.
Using three pieces of 8th-grade Qingshi lead, he refined a Qingshi lead pearl with 31 restrictions. This is neither good nor bad; it's mainly because pearl-type artifacts are considered floor-level among artifacts.
A teleportation notice was issued, and Bai Xiaoyu quickly arrived at the annex.
However, to Wang Yulou's surprise, the sister-in-law also came.
"Dear husband, what's the matter?" Bai Xiaoyu paid little attention to Lin Ying and stood by Wang Yulou's side instead.
Wang Yulou first looked at his legitimate spouse and explained.
"Sister-in-law, I am about to go to Red Light Enlightenment Place, but Xiaoyu has been at the Practicing Cultivation stage for a few years and still lacks a suitable artifact."
So I refined her an artifact with two pieces of Qingshi lead. With this treasure to assist her, she will be able to handle any trouble in the future."
Three becomes two, Wang Yulou is also difficult.
"It should be this way. Xiaoyu needs to stand on her own two feet, and she can't do that without having some artifacts. However, the properties of Qingshi lead are not very suitable for combat. Are you sure this is enough?"
Lin Ying nodded, acknowledging Wang Yulou's arrangement, and even generously stated that Wang Yulou could continue to bestow treasures upon Bai Xiaoyu.
"Qingshi lead is dual-natured, compatible with Xiaoyu's spiritual root. And I'm refining a lead pearl, Xiaoyu, you try it first."
Receiving the lead pearl, Bai Xiaoyu used his divine sense to probe it for a while before activating it.
The lead pearl floated in mid-air within the room, drifting a few times, after which Wang Yulou and Lin Ying felt that the movement of spiritual energy was blocked.
This is the reason why Qingshi lead is chosen as a common base material for refining tools, as its energy can suppress spiritual power and spiritual nature. When used in a refining tool, it can make the spiritual power of the materials being refined more gentle, thereby helping the refiner to better refine them.
"Keep driving it, it hasn't reached its energy limit yet," Wang Yulou reminded Xiaoyu.
Bai Xiaoyu did not answer; he just lightly nodded.
In an instant, the Qingshi lead pearl in mid-air suddenly vibrated, indicating that it was fully driven.
Under the action of the lead pearl, Wang Yulou could feel that the spiritual energy in his body changed from a lively fish swimming to a snail moving slowly.
In a combat, this is the difference between life and death.
"Hmm? It's not bad. It seems that the refining is still successful."
However, Xiaoyu, since Qingshi lead is not very solid, do not use this lead pearl to block the attack of other artifacts.
Of course, for ordinary small demons and common lower-grade artifacts, it should be fine," Wang Yulou instructed.
Lin Ying, on the other hand, approached Xiaoyu and pulled her, speaking in a tone of an older sister.
"Xiaoyu younger sister, when you use the lead pearl in our presence, we won't block it, so the effect is very good."
But during combat, don't let the lead pearl get too close to the enemy, just maintain a distance where it can still be effective."
Originally, I was not very fond of Lin Ying. Adding to this, Xiaoyu's personality is quite unique and she often does not hide her intentions.
Therefore, in response to Lin Ying's kindness, she merely nodded and murmured "good," before once again nestled close to Wang Yulou.
Lin Ying waved her sleeves and turned to leave, her face clearly showing dissatisfaction.
Family conflicts are not suitable for public bickering, and Wang Yulou has been kind to her, so she has had to swallow it up in silence. As a result, Wang Yulou can only shake his head and smile bitterly.
What can you do? Just make do, right? What else can you do but leave?
Moreover, from the perspective of both utilitarianism and rationality, after Wang Yulou left Drip Water Cavern, Bai Xiaoyu and Lin Ying facing each other can guarantee that Wang Yulou's base will not be taken away by Lin Ying.
Of course, Sister-in-law Lin is not planning to do this for now.
"After I leave, the matters of River Bend Fishing Port and the Exchange Cultivation Assembly are all handed over to you. But those two are not difficult, especially the issue of the birth of the spiritual cranes. Don't laugh, those cranes are very smart."
This problem, if solved well, can earn you thousands of spiritual stones annually. You need to be more concerned about it.
"Follow the direction I've set, and do so with both emotion and reason."
Twirling the spiritual artifact bracelet on Wang Yulou's hand, Bai Xiaoyu didn't want to concern herself with the breeding issue of the spiritual cranes at this moment. She asked softly, "Speaking of which..."
"Husband, what if I suddenly died while waiting for you to return?"
Wang Yulou was slightly stunned.
"Aх? Sister-in-law Lin isn't that kind of person. Treat her better, and she might even try to win you over."
Bai Xiaoyu lowered her head and whispered to Wang Yulou, "I'll go with you."
I mean Yuan Daoshen. Yuan Daoshen won't target Lin's Ningyi, but he might go after Xiaoyu and Chu Rang."
Lin Ying is a disciple of the Ling Family, while Bai Xiaoyu and Qin Churan have no roots. Xiaoyu's concerns are not without reason.
The lady has a unique fragrance, and Wang Yulou is somewhat intoxicated, but cannot truly indulge in it.
The land of enchantment is pleasant, but it is not advisable to linger there for too long.
"To have a good night's sleep in one night, it is so difficult. Xiaoyu, I will stay here with you, and we cannot ensure absolute safety."
If you don't want to be a sacrifice, you have to climb up, climb to a point where no one can see you and me as a sacrifice."
There is no choice; we must move forward.
Bai Xiaoyu was quiet for a long time again. Compared to those who are cruel, she would rather be a simple existence.
Taking out a small bag woven from blue millet straw from her bosom, Xiaoyu pushed it into Wang Yulou's hand.
"Um, here, give this to you. You've given Xiaoyu a high-quality artifact, but Xiaoyu isn't good at refining. So give her a little incense bag instead."
"When you leave Drip Water Cavern, take it out and look at it when you miss Xiaoyu. Don't forget about Xiaoyu."
Wang Yulou received the fragrant pouch, just about to speak, a bell sound rang from Drip Water Cavern.
One, two... twelve sounds, pause, then twelve more.
"Call all the disciples of the Azure Water Palace?" Wang Yulou realized something was wrong.
——
After a while, Wang Yulou brought Xiaoyu and Lin Ying to the plaza in front of the Drip Water Cavern grand hall.
Under the sound of the clan's bell, the disciples of Azure Water Palace in the mountains were gradually gathering.
"Xiaoyu, wait here. I will go to find Uncle Wu to ask about the situation. Sister-in-law, go to find Master Meng Yao."
The two of them acted separately, and Wang Yulou soon met Wu Jinyan in the grand hall. However, Old Wu was standing with Chu Hongyi, as if arguing about something.
Wang Yulou quickly went forward and bowed, and then asked.
"Master, Uncle Wu, what's going on?"
"Ask him yourself!" Wu Jinyan impatiently pointed at Chu Hongyi.
Facing Wang Yulou's confused gaze, Chu Hongyi's eyes flickered a bit, and he said that he would talk about it when everyone was present.
Needless to wait for everyone to be present, Zhuoyin Sheng arrived at the Drip Water Cavern grand hall with a group of foundation establishment cultivators from the turbid sect.
He nodded at Wang Yulou first and, in the first sentence, directly exposed the situation to Wang Yulou.
"How did you become the leader of the sect, Chu Hongyi? You should be clear about that."
When you choose a side, your position as the leader is over. Do you understand that?"
Chu Hongyi, that scoundrel, chose to side with the Yuan family!"
Wang Yulou's heart began to sink. He inferred the thoughts of Yuan Daoshen based on his own, understanding that the old man might continue to target him, so he chose the path of the sect leader, taking a new mission to Drip Water Cavern.
This point was also recognized by the clan leader.
However, the posting order hasn't been issued yet, and Chu Hongyi has already betrayed us!
"Master, can I still go to the Red Light Lantern?" Wang Yulou directly asked.
Chu Hongyi heaved a long sigh and smiled wryly.
"Yulou, I have no choice, I'm sorry."
At that moment, Wang Yulou's face turned dark blue.
Old Yuan, you really haven't gone mad.
A crazy person wouldn't be able to plot to overthrow the sect leader and involve all the Azure Water Palace disciples in setting up a trap for himself.
Soon, the foundation establishment cultivators and disciples of Azure Water Palace gathered outside the Drip Water Cavern grand hall.
The bell was calling only the disciples of Azure Water Palace, but Old Yuan's was a surprise attack, so naturally, the foundation establishment cultivators within the mountain were all there in concern.
Yuan Daoshen was the last to arrive, bringing with him more than thirty foundation establishment cultivators from the Yuan family. They had just been waiting at the Yuan estate with the old man, waiting for everyone else to arrive together.
Wang Yulou, after communicating with Liu, the senior elder in charge of the turbid sect, also understood the old Yuan's strategy for causing trouble. However, the more he listened, the more confused he became.
Old Yuan put a lot of effort into this surprise attack; his troubles are immense.
After two failures, Old Yuan's third wave of attack came with both ferocity and force.
After exchanging a few words in front of more than seven hundred Azure Water Palace disciples, Yuan Daoshen instructed Chu Hongyi to start the big show.
"Chu Zhǎngshé, you can start now."
Many disciples of the Azure Water Palace saw the blade and shadow of power struggle in Drip Water Cavern for the first time from the bickering between two well-known foundation establishment cultivators from both sects.
As it turned out, when two high-level and long-standing elders of foundation establishment cultivation compete, it is nothing more than words and methods, not very special.
However, such unremarkable struggle has nothing to do with most people, because they do not have the qualification to enter the game.
"Wait a moment, Elder Daoshen, do you really want to make enmity with the Wang family?"
Wang Yulou spoke up, trying to talk some more before Yuan Daoshen unleashed his ultimate move—maybe something would change?
"Insolence! Wang Yulou, you have no right to speak here!"
The Yuan sect foundation establishment cultivator who had once forced Wang Yulou to bow in the sect leader's hall opened his mouth and rebuked.
But Wang Yulou did not look at him; instead, he stared at Yuan Daoshen fiercely.
However, Yuan Daoshen shook his head to Wang Yulou and said, "No, I can't waste time with you."
"Don't say it out of turn. I put forward suggestions to the sect leader after hearing the voices of the disciples from Huachi Palace, all of which were in line with the sect leader's wishes."
The disciples of the Azure Water Palace on the plaza of Drip Water Cavern certainly noticed the conversation between Wang Yulou and Yuan Daoshen. Most of them knew Wang Yulou, but they couldn't believe that Wang Yulou was being regarded as a thorn in the eye by the first foundation establishment cultivator of Drip Water Cave.
After saying that, he looked at Chu Hongyi and said, "Continue."
"Don't start yet?"
Chu Hongyi silently took out a celestial alliance edict and read it aloud.
"The monster from the Western Sea. Due to Drip Water Cave's special invitation, fifty disciples of Drip Water Cave are hereby summoned to the Western Sea within three months, without fail!"
Many disciples of the Azure Water Palace realized something was wrong. Lin Ying passed a message to Wang Yulou.
'According to the old ancestor, Yuan Daoshen should have been planning this for a long time, trying to force you to go to the Western Sea. Even if the ninth-level red liao cultivator agrees, it may not be easy for him to stop it under the authority of the celestial alliance edict and the sect's rules.'
"What should we do, Yulou?"
"I'll go. I'll find a safer position on the front lines of the Western Sea!" Wang Yulou replied helplessly.
Chu Hongyi has already produced the second order belonging to Drip Water Cave.
"One hundred seventy-three disciples of the Huachi Palace have jointly submitted a memorial, weeping and appealing about the distribution mode of the sect's hunt for monsters in the Western Sea."
After consultation with the master and six vice-leaders, the following changes have been made:
The Western Sea hunt is a refining exercise for the disciples of Drip Water Cave, and it cannot only refine the disciples of Huachi Palace but neglect the refining of the disciples of Azure Water Palace.
"Disciples of the Azure Water Palace who have not reached the late foundation establishment stage will be selected by drawing lots to go to the Western Sea. There will be ten places, and the winners will be rewarded. Those who evade will have their cultivation level revoked and be expelled from the sect!"
Everyone says that Yuan Daoshen is crazy, but actually, Old Yuan is not crazy. He just failed with his methods and targeting against Wang Yulou, which is why he has been so slandered.
However, his methods are not brainless.
His first move was a kind of all-or-nothing, ten iron tiger turtles destroyed Wang Yulou's foundation of the River Bay Fishing Port.
If it hadn't been for Wang Xianzhou, Wang Yulou's cultivation path in Drip Water Cave would have been forcibly interrupted. Yulou could run away, but there would be no future for him. The sect would not reuse a guardian cultivator who deserts in battle.
Later, the harsh accusation of "trying to kill the first foundation establishment cultivator of Drip Water Cave by reaching the fourth level of cultivation" seemed like a joke, and in fact, it was also a joke.
But without the nine-victory true being knocked down and the red carp true being involved, this hat was truly likely to kill Wang Yulou, crush him, literally crush him to death.
The second move, letting more than ten people pay for Wang Yulou's death, was cruel. It made the people in Drip Water Cave boil with resentment, pushing the extreme to kill indiscriminately. It fully revealed the venomous side of an old foundation establishment family leader.
If Wang Yulou didn't have that rare golden eagle token, Yuan Zhengju might really have taken action.
"Now, although the situation is clearly against Yuan Daoshen, he doesn't seem to be backing down because he has made enemies with the Wang family."
He continued to act, this time reflecting on his experiences and not allowing the Yuan family to take action alone. Instead, he used celestial alliance edicts, pressure from the disciples, and the sect's laws to force Wang Yulou to endure tribulation in the blood and meat grinder in the Western Sea.
Yuan Daoshen's choice is wrong?
It's hard to say. As long as Gong Jiusheng doesn't fall, they can't afford to offend the brute elephant.
The Yuan family is a dog of Gong Jiusheng, not a dog of the brute elephant.
In Yuan Daoshen's multi-layered leverage, his intimidation carried a sense of legitimacy.
On the other hand, Gong Jiusheng has to respect the demands of Yuan Daoshen, as a leader of the Yuan sect. However, the brute elephant is unlikely to really stand up for a young disciple of an auxiliary family.
Under the means of Yuan Daoshen, at this local area, and at this moment, Wang Yulou was truly at the edge of danger.
He sighed deeply, and said "Trouble...trouble."
It's just that I got some spiritual stones, and my cultivation progressed faster, but it has become a thorn in others' eyes and a thorn in their flesh.
You see, in the past, he was very respectful towards Yuan Daoshen.
The ruthlessness of cultivation and the ferocity of cultivators' methods have been experienced by Yulou.
What kind of path must one walk to reach the desired shore?
—————
Not only Wang Yulou but also the disciples of the Azure Water Palace murmured at the Yuan family's mess.
The disciples were all doing well as inner-door cultivators in Drip Water Cave, enjoying the benefits and treatment provided by the sect.
But suddenly, you tell us that we may have to be sent to the Western Sea as cannon fodder.
Isn't this pure nonsense?
However, the celestial alliance edict requires it, with Huachi Palace disciples crying out in desperation and pressuring using the sect's laws.
Old Yuan's move could be considered as fully leveraging legitimacy, as no one can resist against so many "trends."
Trend, which sounds similar to "great scholar," is equivalent to a high-level cultivator.
No one can resist the trend mainly because no one can resist a high-level cultivator.
"Alright, stop talking and let the master draw the lot!" Yuan Zhengju spoke up.
Chu Hongyi took out a funnel filled with golden sand, and he excited the golden sand in the air like rain.
"One by one, each person takes a grain of gold sand. There are two types of gold sand, one is purple gold sand, and the other is red gold sand.
"Don't use divine sense to examine, each person takes a grain. If you get the red gold sand, don't go, if you get the purple gold sand, go."
Yulou tried to seek help from the Old Yin through telepathy, but the Old Yin said that drawing lots doesn't necessarily mean he will be chosen.
How could Wang Yulou not be chosen?
Wang Yulou saw it clearly, such a lottery is full of loopholes, and they are all visible with the naked eye!
At this moment, he realized that leaving Drip Water Cave was not necessarily bad for the Mur family.
Old Yuan's challenge this time harms the interests of the Azure Water Palace disciples and consumes the resources and credibility of the Yuan sect.
Yuan Daoshen seems to have won one round, but in the long term, the Mur family is actually more benefited.
Therefore, watching Old Yuan carry out this matter, to Mur Yinsheng, is more cost-effective than saving Wang Yulou!
