Chapter 175: Chapter 64: Yu Cheng Taoist’s Purpose

A thought stirred in Wang Ping’s mind upon hearing his master’s words. He had always suspected his master’s arrangements in Shangjing City served some other purpose, but he never knew what it was. Since his master never mentioned it, he never asked.

Yu Cheng Taoist then looked at Wang Ping, and the topic was dropped.

After a brief silence, Wenyang fixed his gaze on Wang Ping and returned to the previous topic. "I think some things need to be discussed openly. We can’t seize the initiative, but Xiao Shan Lord can. Since you’ve chosen to align with him temporarily, you might as well commit more thoroughly."

"That’s a good idea," Yang Tian’s eyes lit up. "Otherwise, I can’t even sleep well with this hanging over my head."

Wang Ping thought for a moment and understood Wenyang’s plan.

Right now, the cards on the table were clear: Xiao Shan Lord wanted to advance, and the True Yang Sect opposed him. By secretly working together, he and Wenyang would have intelligence from both sides. Then, when the time was right, they could make their move and maximize their gains.

They could also leverage Xiao Shan Lord’s secret assets to protect their own agents planted within the Court.

"I’ll find an opportunity to lay it all out for him." Wang Ping agreed.

"Good. In that case, we’ll each act on our own," Wenyang said in a low voice, his tone revealing no small amount of ambition.

Wang Ping remained low-key, privately taking stock of his chips. Counting Wenyang Taoist’s side, he had now placed bets on three parties: Lishui Prefecture, Xiao Shan Lord, and the True Yang Sect.

...

This gathering lasted for two days and two nights.

For the remainder of the time, everyone just chatted idly. This was another purpose of the gathering; they acted just like ordinary mortals, talking about their daily lives and bragging about their disciples, Magical Artifacts, and cultivation.

When it was time to part, Yang Tian, as well as Lv Wen and his wife, were reluctant to leave, as this farewell could very well be their last.

But all good things must come to an end, and the lively pavilion of the past two days finally fell quiet.

Wenyang, along with Lv Wen and his wife, were the last to leave. They stayed behind to discuss how to handle the transaction for the Outer Realm Demon. In the end, they decided that Qianmu Temple would inform the Daoist Scripture Hall and pay for one of its professional transport teams to go and handle the exchange.

After Wenyang, Lv Wen, and his wife departed, Wang Ping discussed how to approach Lishui Prefecture with Guangxuan. They ultimately decided that Wang Ping would write a letter to Xia Yao to explain the situation.

Xia Yao would almost certainly agree. After all, the reward was two fully constructed arrays for advancing to the Third Realm, specifically for Artifact Cultivators. Even though the attempts would likely all be for naught, it was still a priceless treasure that couldn’t be bought on the open market. Lishui Prefecture definitely had plenty of Second Realm Artifact Cultivators who would be willing to try.

After leaving the grotto, Yu Cheng Taoist, as was his custom, found a deserted mountain peak to chat idly with Wang Ping.

"My arrangements in Shangjing City have another purpose..." Yu Cheng Taoist said in his usual calm voice, gazing at the slightly dim sky. "I want to find someone."

"Years ago, we accepted a mission from the Daoist Scripture Hall to exterminate a great demon at Baisui Lake. The intelligence reported a single, nascent Water Snake Demon, but in reality, it was a pair of twin great demons. When we attacked, they were hosting another great demon—and that one belonged to the Court!"

"With the abilities of our master and eldest martial brother, escaping once they realized it was a trap should have been a certainty. But at the critical moment, Bai Zhuo and Li Yan launched a surprise attack on them!"

"Back then, Bai Zhuo was merely a retainer at our Qianmu Temple. We only took him in out of consideration for our eldest martial brother. Death would be too good for him! The entire White Water Sect... death would be too good for any of them..."

The calm Yu Cheng Taoist suddenly erupted with intense killing intent. His eyes were filled with hatred, and a fine layer of cyan-green crystals even seeped out of his skin—a sign of his Spirit Veins running amok.

The killing intent and hatred came on fast, but they vanished even faster. In a flash, Yu Cheng Taoist resumed his usual serene demeanor and continued, "Li Yan... he was once my sworn brother. I met him back when we were in the Qi Cultivation stage. We practiced Qi Cultivation, reached Foundation Establishment, and entered the Second Realm together. Right, he also cultivated the Wood Spirit path, using the Wood Gathering Skill. He even figured out the path to the Second Realm by himself. A true prodigy."

"The plan to besiege the great demon of Baisui Lake was his creation. He proposed the plan, and I told our master and eldest martial brother about it. At the time, our master was considering expanding Qianmu Temple’s influence, so the plan suited his intentions perfectly."

"It was all... because of me..."

After saying this in a low voice, Yu Cheng fell into a long silence.

He was blaming himself, a feeling that could not be put into words.

After a long while, Yu Cheng Taoist continued, "He also took our sect-guarding Magical Artifact, the Pocket World Mirror. It’s an ultimate treasure passed down from the Taiyan Sect, capable of stabilizing a Third Realm Primordial Spirit and dispelling Heart Demons and evil entities. I will find a way to get it back. If I can’t, you must find a way to get it back in the future."

"Yes, Master!" Wang Ping replied gravely. He then listened as Yu Cheng continued.

"I was on the edge of the battlefield, forced to watch as everything unfolded. In the final struggle, our master and eldest martial brother told me to retreat first. I... At the time, I thought they could make it out safely, so..."

A bitter smile crossed Yu Cheng Taoist’s face. "So, I burned through centuries of my lifespan and exhausted most of my Spirit Veins... just to run. To escape. Heh, yes. I ran."

Another long silence followed his words. Only after collecting himself did Yu Cheng Taoist resume the tale. "I later learned that Li Yan was one of the Court’s Commander of the Imperial Guard’s men. The original plan was to take over both Qianmu Temple and Baisui Lake. As for Bai Zhuo, I don’t know his story. He must have pledged his allegiance to some alliance of Star Gods."

"After that incident, Qianmu Temple’s lineage was almost wiped out. Fortunately, our master and eldest martial brother had some old friends who stepped forward at the critical moment to help us save the temple. But that was all they could do—just save the temple. I once gathered some friends to hunt Li Yan down, but he returned to Shangjing City and disappeared without a trace."

"But I know he wouldn’t die so easily. He must be hiding somewhere in Shangjing City!" Yu Cheng Taoist’s voice grew quieter as he spoke. "When the Imperial Family is no more, he will surely reappear."

Wang Ping listened quietly, but hearing this part of the story gave him a different perspective. Back then, his Grandmaster and Martial Uncle were both Third Realm Taiyan Cultivators with a wide network of friends. He could imagine Qianmu Temple’s standing in Nanlin Road at the time. It would have undoubtedly encroached on the interests of certain people.

There was another thing...

The Third Realm had a limited number of slots. Having two open up at once was definitely something most Wood Spirit Cultivators would be happy to see.

"You must remember this in the future: no matter when or where, never completely trust anyone, especially when it comes to matters of advancement. In the Cultivation Realm, betraying someone is just a matter of whether the price is high enough."

After seriously warning Wang Ping, Yu Cheng Taoist looked out over the vast land with a hint of kindness. "Of course, true Gentlemen certainly exist, but don’t gamble on being lucky enough to meet one."

"Yes, Master! I will take it to heart," Wang Ping nodded.

"Alright, let’s head back. I’m also very interested in these legendary Outer Realm Demons. But this time, whether it’s dealing with Lishui Prefecture or the Outer Realm Demon, you must be careful. When it matters most, your own safety must come first."

After speaking, Yu Cheng Taoist soared into the air and vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.

Wang Ping followed close behind.

Back at Qianmu Temple, the first thing Wang Ping did was write a letter to Xia Yao. Afterward, he sent Hu Qianqian to Lv Wen’s Dao Field. After some discussion, both sides decided to take action after the Spring Festival.