Chapter 256: Chapter 145: Another Sanhe Prefecture Gathering

Above the crisscrossing waterways of Sanhe Prefecture.

A streak of emerald light, hidden beside a complex river channel, plunged at incredible speed into a pitch-black subterranean cavern, darting through the ever-changing darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, a brilliant light flared up ahead. The figure of Yu Cheng Taoist materialized from the streak of light, landing in the central plaza of a massive grotto.

"Yu Cheng, long time no see."

Someone had arrived before him—Yuan Zheng Taoist. As he spoke, his normally vertical pupils turned pitch-black. He took a glazed bottle from his storage pouch and handed it to Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng Taoist took the bottle, tipped out the Elixir inside, and swallowed it in one gulp.

"This Elixir will maintain the activity of your Wood Spirit Vein for fifty years. The next one will only last for twenty," Yuan Zheng Taoist reminded him gravely.

"Thank you. Seventy years is still enough time to get a lot done," Yu Cheng Taoist replied with a smile.

Just then, a man walked in through the cavern entrance. It was Lin Chen, the Inner Courtyard Director of Sanhe Temple. While Guangxuan was in seclusion, the task of organizing their meetings had fallen to him.

"Greetings, Seniors!"

Since Lin Chen had not yet crossed the threshold into the cultivation realms, he rarely spoke during these gatherings.

As he came to a stop beside Yu Cheng and Yuan Zheng, a nearly invisible figure suddenly descended, bringing with it a wave of heat.

It was Wen Yang!

"Congratulations on your improved cultivation, Fellow Daoist!" Yuan Zheng said, cupping his fist.

Wen Yang gave a faint smile, his gaze falling upon Yu Cheng, who asked, "Any trouble on the way here?"

"Don’t worry. In Zhongzhou, the only ones who can keep an eye on me are the Lords."

Wen Yang had barely finished speaking when another person appeared without a sound. He wore a simple, gray tunic, his face was sparsely whiskered, and his greasy hair was tied up with a piece of straw. With straw sandals on his feet, he looked just like a commoner on his way to the market.

"Greetings, three Seniors."

This was Yang Ye, a junior of the Yang Family. He was currently undergoing ascetic training according to his family’s inherited methods. As for Yang Tian, he had already perished while trying to ascend to the Third Realm.

Wen Yang sized up Yang Ye for a moment and said, "Not bad. Your vital energy is robust and your soul is full. With your family’s Secret Technique, you have a high chance of advancing to the Second Realm."

Yang Ye cupped his fist again and said, "Yes." The aura of an Artifact Cultivator made it impossible for him to be modest, yet his current training allowed him to maintain a fittingly low profile.

"My Buddha is merciful!"

With the sound of a Buddhist chant, Le Yuan landed steadily at Wen Yang’s side. He was back to his bald Monk appearance, with six ordination scars on his scalp and a brand-new Kasaya.

"What a sharp aura. Did you just get into a fight?" Yuan Zheng Taoist frowned slightly at the wave of Metal Spirit Aura washing over him.

"I was just debating the Dao with someone on the road. I couldn’t win the argument and almost couldn’t stop myself from getting physical," Le Yuan replied with a chuckle.

"There’s someone you can’t out-argue?" Elder Wu’s voice arrived just as he landed beside Yu Cheng Taoist.

"Some old army dog!"

"What’s the point of trying to reason with someone like that?" Yuan Zheng said, exasperated.

"Let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it." Le Yuan shook his head, refusing to discuss the topic further.

Seeing this, the others all burst out laughing.

"Come on, tell us. Give us something to laugh about." Yuan Zheng Taoist and Le Yuan were on good terms, so he didn’t bother with formalities.

But Le Yuan just shook his head, maintaining the benevolent smile characteristic of a Monk.

Lin Chen seized the opportunity to cup his fist and say, "Seniors, Junior Uncle Wang Ping, Senior Brother Li Lin, and Elder Yue will not be coming this time. Elder Lv Wen and his wife have also explicitly informed me that they will no longer be participating in our gatherings from now on."

"You could have just said everyone who’s coming is here," Elder Wu grumbled, flicking his sleeve. He was about to walk toward the pavilion but stopped when he saw Wen Yang, the Third Realm Cultivator.

Wen Yang noticed everyone’s gaze on him. He first gave Yu Cheng a friendly invitation before striding toward the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, everything was as it had always been.

Everyone took their seats and observed a customary silence, sizing each other up. Then, Yu Cheng Taoist broke the quiet. "I’ve invited you all here today because of the situation in the Northwest Four Roads."

"Can we even get involved?" Le Yuan asked doubtfully.

"If you do, you’ll have to wear a wig," Yuan Zheng Taoist said with a laugh.

"I have plenty of wigs, don’t you worry."

Everyone chuckled, Yu Cheng Taoist included. The laughter dispelled much of the meeting’s serious atmosphere. Then, Yu Cheng Taoist answered Le Yuan’s question. "The Northwest Four Roads has over a hundred lineages. Eighty-three of them have cultivators who have crossed the threshold, seventeen have Second Realm cultivators, and four have cultivators at the Third Realm or above. The rest are the two Lords..."

"Can we *really* get involved?" Elder Wu asked the same question.

Yu Cheng Taoist gave Elder Wu a look that said ’wait and see’. He then met everyone’s gaze and said, "This era of prosperity has lasted for nearly two hundred years. On the surface, people live and work in peace, but the conflict between the common folk and the great clans has reached a breaking point. This time, it’s not us looking to upset the balance; it’s the inevitable tide of dynastic change."

"Now that you put it that way, I think I understand."

Yuan Zheng Taoist said thoughtfully, "I have my own channels as well. If necessary, I’ll head to the Northwest myself."

Le Yuan was quick to declare his stance. "When my Buddha achieved enlightenment, he said that all living beings are both Buddha and demon..." He started off with proper Buddhist Teachings, but his tone suddenly shifted. "Isn’t this just a big heist? I know this kind of work best. The Western Continent is a bitter, cold land with nothing but a lot of people. I can round up quite a few."

Wen Yang also stated his position clearly. "I will send people over in the name of the True Yang Sect. We will continue to communicate in code. Let’s have a good round of plundering in the Northwest. We might even produce another one or two Third Realm Cultivators from the spoils."

"My people will be in charge of passing intelligence!" Elder Wu chimed in.

"The Yang Family has already entered the fray ahead of time, in league with our allies in Shangjing City. When I return, I will immediately arrange for two core family members to go over," Yang Ye’s polite voice sounded.

"Sanhe Temple has already sent people ahead through the Court’s channels," Lin Chen was the last to state his position.

A smile spread across Yu Cheng Taoist’s face after everyone had spoken. "As for the spoils of war, the rules are the same as always: finders keepers. If any of us end up on opposing sides, remember to inform each other beforehand to avoid unnecessary casualties."

As he spoke the last sentence, he looked at Wen Yang and Elder Wu.

Of the two Lords in the Northwest, one was from the True Yang Sect, and the other was from the Earth Cave Sect.

"Don’t worry. My branch has nothing to do with that Liuyun Taoist from the Northwest. I won’t have any psychological burden at all," Elder Wu was the first to declare.

"I paid back the favors I owed a hundred years ago," Wen Yang also stated promptly, then added, "However, I cannot make an enemy of the True Yang Sect, nor can I directly disobey orders from above."

"Speaking of the Northwest, the Upper Dan Sect has a traitor hiding there. If I can find him, report it to my sect, and we succeed in surrounding and killing him, the Samadhi True Flame we seize will definitely be mine. If that happens, my path to the Third Realm will be secured."

Yuan Zheng Taoist’s eyes suddenly grew fervent. "I want any information on him. If I can use him to break through to the Third Realm, I’ll give each of you a Nine Revolutions Pill."

"Just one? It should be at least two," Le Yuan blurted out instinctively.

"Deal!"

"..."

Wen Yang asked, "Are you talking about Yuan Hu, who caused such a sensation back in the day?"

Yuan Zheng Taoist replied, "Yes. He stole a replica of our sect’s guardian Magical Artifact, the Qiankun Cauldron, as well as a large amount of Celestial and Earthly Treasures."

"Now that’s a big fish!"

Le Yuan’s eyes lit up. "He’s one of the few Third Realm Cultivators we can kill legally. Since we’ve found a trace of him, why report it? Wouldn’t it be better to organize our own people and take him out?"

"He’s a Third Realm Pill Cultivator. His Samadhi True Flame alone would be more than we can handle!" Elder Wu said, shaking his head.

"But our side is no slouch either! We have Mr. Ziyu, Friend Wen Yang, and also Fellow Daoist Changqing who is about to enter the Third Realm. We have a Water Cultivator, a Fire Cultivator, and a Wood Cultivator, all from the Five Profound Sects. You’re telling me we can’t take down one traitor from the Upper Dan Sect?"

Le Yuan’s rebuttal was forceful and resonant.

His words captured everyone’s attention. All eyes shifted to Yu Cheng Taoist, and the room suddenly fell silent.

’Back then, he was so shy, so seemingly naive. And now he’s about to step into the Third Realm before me, and with the Taiyan Talisman technique at that,’ an image of his first meeting with Wang Ping surfaced in Yuan Zheng Taoist’s mind.

The Heaven-Reaching Realm!

The Heaven-Reaching Realm... the power to connect with heaven and earth. He knew all too well what that implied.

A moment later, Elder Wu murmured, "Now that you mention it... I suppose that’s true." He stared at Yu Cheng Taoist and asked, "Wang Ping... er, Changqing. What are his chances of a successful breakthrough this time?"

The moment he asked, he realized how stupid the question was, and his expression turned awkward.

"Even our True Yang Sect has a file on Fellow Daoist Changqing. A genius like him could never be stopped at the Second Realm. We should have faith in him."

Wen Yang said this in a very serious tone, pulling Elder Wu out of his awkward spot.

Then, Wen Yang continued, "The price for his promotion slot was acceptable. Two hundred years, plus we secured an additional Third Seat. All things considered, it’s not a loss. However, we’ll have to maneuver carefully regarding his Third Seat to make sure we don’t fumble at the last second."

"That is precisely the second thing I wanted to discuss," Yu Cheng Taoist said, looking around. "Lishui Prefecture and the Earth Cave Sect will most likely not give us trouble, but the Vajra Temple and the True Yang Sect will definitely have dissenting voices. Add to that some internal problems within the Daoist Scripture Hall, and Changqing’s vote for the Third Seat is bound to face some turbulence."

"I will help as much as I can!" Wen Yang promised.

"What we control most are the Fourth Seats. Our opinions might not matter much, but we can still disrupt the proceedings if necessary," Yuan Zheng Taoist also stated his position. He was the most well-connected among them.

"There are so many empty Third Seats, so why do they have to argue over it every single time?" Elder Wu rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The key is that they always sit there acting all high and mighty, leaving the arguing and fighting to us."

He was clearly annoyed by this and looked at Wen Yang as he spoke.

But Wen Yang remained silent on the matter.

"Ahem."

Yu Cheng Taoist cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to him, and returned to the initial topic. "This cooperation in the Northwest is just the beginning. If this goes smoothly, the Shangjing Sanlu Region is next."