Chapter 481: Chapter 464: Enduring Hardships and Biding Time
Of course, there would be danger, but for Cultivators, facing peril was a part of everyday life. This move also happened to neutralize Demon Blade City’s treacherous scheme.
Wang Meng had only been able to defeat the Celestial Demon last time because of the Dragon Pearl, and the power of a divine item like that was finite. It had been completely drained in that battle, and no one knew when it would recover. What’s more, the Sect Leader of the Gloom Sect was undoubtedly stronger than the Celestial Demon. If the Holy Hall were forced into a fight, they would suffer a grievous blow to their strength.
Yang Jian had long since prepared for such a tactic and simply shut the door on Demon Blade City. If Zhang Mang wanted to keep causing trouble, then they would deal with him accordingly. Snow Moon City was not easily intimidated.
Wang Meng truly didn’t know how to express his gratitude. When Zhao Xinglun heard the news, he was so excited he was at a loss for words.
Back when Xue Zhongnan was in charge, the Holy Hall had gone twice in total, and both visits had helped Zhao Xinglun achieve tremendous breakthroughs. Zhao Xinglun yearned for the Immortal Spirit Realm, but given the Holy Hall’s contributions to Snow Moon City, two trips had been the absolute limit. Who would have thought that just after Wang Meng’s arrival, the Holy Hall would receive such an opportunity once more.
Although Yang Jian wanted to help Wang Meng, his hand had been forced. This was the only way to deflect Demon Blade City’s offensive while also increasing the Holy Hall’s power. After all, having chosen a side, he had to go all in. The Holy Hall’s collective surge of strength during the inauguration ceremony and the fight against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was what gave Yang Jian this chance. Otherwise, the other Sect Leaders would have vehemently opposed it. Even as City Lord, he couldn’t just do as he pleased.
The emergence of the four Holy Statues had truly shocked the other Sect Leaders. Naturally, there was no small amount of envy and jealousy, but there was nothing they could do about it. At least the Holy Hall was one of Snow Moon City’s own, not an enemy.
Moreover, everyone knew this was the most dangerous time. There was no shortage of people who wanted to crush them in the cradle.
Hu Jing and the others were also recalled from the Cultivation Academy.
And so, Wang Meng led Hu Jing and the others—including, of course, Zhao Xinglun, Li Xiuwen, and Thunderbolt—to the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm.
Everything returned to a state of calm. By going to the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm, they had effectively vanished from the Great Yuan Realm, causing those who were preparing to make a move against Wang Meng to suddenly lose their target.
Demon Blade City.
Sitting before Zhang Mang was a smiling young man, one Master Wang would have known all too well.
Jii Wanli, Crown Prince Jii.
"My dear nephew, that little bastard Wang Meng has fled to the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm, so my hands are tied. But he has to come out eventually. When he does, I will not let him get away. I never expected the Ten Thousand Demons Sect to be so incompetent!" Zhang Mang sounded helpless. He had secretly supported the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in a gambit to pull the rug out from under his foes, but his efforts had come to nothing at the last second. It was a classic case of suffering a double loss.
With Yang Yingtian’s aid, Zhou Luodan had already begun to implement a unified plan for the Four Directions Small Thousand World. Simultaneously, the various sects that had once been oppressed by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect launched their counterattacks. The stubborn remnants of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect were being progressively eliminated. In the process, the Holy Hall, with the Star Alliance’s help, was establishing its authority across the Four Directions Small Thousand World.
On this matter, both the Heaven-Dominating Hall and the Demon Heart Sect gave their approval. After all, the Holy Hall’s operational model didn’t significantly affect other sects, and the Heaven-Dominating Hall was already on good terms with them. As for the Demon Heart Sect, they weren’t really in a position to object anymore. Besides, while they had failed in their battle against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect and suffered heavy losses, they hadn’t harmed any of the other sects.
"City Lord Zhang, Wang Meng is certainly lucky. He had the Dragon Emperor Holy Statue, and he just happened to have the Dragon Pearl. However, from what I understand, once the Dragon Pearl’s energy is used up, it won’t recover for at least eight to ten years. Furthermore, there are no records of how to replenish its power. So, the moment Wang Meng appears, you shouldn’t hold back."
"Heh heh. There’s a deep-seated grudge between that brat and me. I will never let him go. As for that old fox Yang Jian, I have no idea what he’s getting out of this to be so insistent on helping him."
"It’s actually quite simple. Yang Jian would probably never pass up an opportunity to oppose you, City Lord. I don’t see this as a major threat, but it is rather... vexing."
Jii Wanli said with a smile.
Wang Meng himself wasn’t a major issue for a City Lord, but the situation certainly left a bad taste in Zhang Mang’s mouth, especially with Yang Jian’s deliberate protection, which felt like a direct challenge.
"In any case, they can’t stay in the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm forever. If they’re there too long, the other Sect Leaders will object, even if Yang Jian agrees—unless he wants to give up his position as City Lord."
Jii Wanli’s words had hit a nerve. Zhang Mang was also deeply dissatisfied with the Taiyin Sect. "If Yuu Kunlun hadn’t interfered, I would have annihilated the Holy Hall long ago!"
"Sect Leader Yuu probably sees himself as the Alliance Leader of the Star Alliance. Even a Star Lord has to abide by the rules. On this matter, I speak for my master: if the Taiyin Sect breaks the rules again, the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect will not stand by and do nothing!"
Jii Wanli said with righteous conviction.
"Excellent! With those words from you, my dear nephew, I can rest easy!" Zhang Mang laughed. "Consider your business my business. The Immortal Inquiry Conference is a fine idea; the younger generation should interact more. I’ll promote it in Demon Blade City."
"Then I’ll entrust this to you."
Jii Wanli was neither obsequious nor arrogant, yet he knew when to adopt a humble posture.
’The Immortal Spirit Secret Realm... Yang Jian really has gone to great pains. A pity that by the time Wang Meng gets out, the world will have moved on without him.’
The power of the Star Alliance was plain to see. While it couldn’t be replicated, its methods could be studied. Jii Wanli’s Immortal Inquiry Conference was meant to be a place for the elite of the younger generation to get acquainted. With the exception of the Pure Land, which he could not enter, he visited every one of the top thirty sects to promote his concept.
Whether he succeeded or failed, the endeavor itself was a victory for him.
In practice, no sect ranked lower than the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect dared to disrespect him. He had also become very adept at networking over the years. As for the top ten sects, they at least wouldn’t embarrass him publicly, and that was enough.
The toughest nuts to crack would surely be the Taiyin Sect and the No Illusion Demon Sect. Though his relationship with them was unremarkable, Jii Wanli still intended to visit them in person.
The moment he made the visit, he would have already won, regardless of whether the Taiyin Sect and the No Illusion Demon Sect agreed to his proposal.
’Among the younger generation, who better embodied the ideals of the Star Alliance than him?’
Meanwhile, in Snow Moon City, Yang Jian was meeting with an important figure in a secret chamber.
Supreme Elder Mo Chen of the Taiyin Sect.
"’Elder Mo, the Taiyin Sect has made quite a generous move,’ Yang Jian said with a chuckle, though his mind was filled with questions."
It was true that Yang Jian had arranged for Wang Meng to go to the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm, but the duration was at most three months—the absolute limit of his authority. ’As for how to face the situation after he came out, we can only play it by ear. In truth, I hope Wang Meng can try his luck in the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm and see if he can replenish the Dragon Pearl’s power. Otherwise, his doom is inevitable.’
But Mo Chen’s arrival had changed everything. The Taiyin Sect was willing to offer up a wealth of resources to compensate the other sects for their "losses," in exchange for giving Wang Meng and his group control over the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm for an entire year.
This was no small sum of resources. Even if the sects were willing to do the Taiyin Sect a favor and accommodate the Holy Hall, it still cost three million Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Of course, Mo Chen had also prepared gifts for each sect, essentially offering to resolve recent problems that had been plaguing them.
Under these circumstances, no one could refuse to show the Taiyin Sect some respect.
The Taiyin Sect was currently at the zenith of its power. While they couldn’t yet challenge the No Illusion Demon Sect, they had solidified their position as the third strongest. Furthermore, the Taiyin Sect had just demonstrated the profound resources befitting the third-largest sect in the Star Alliance. They had uncovered and resolved sensitive issues for the other sects—feats far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary sect.
The various leaders were inwardly awed. They had reaped handsome rewards and now had the Taiyin Sect in their debt. Who could be dissatisfied? When navigating the world of Cultivators, there will always come a time when you need help. Having the Taiyin Sect lift a finger for you then would be a great boon.
Throughout their entire meeting, Yang Jian couldn’t pry any useful information from Mo Chen, who remained incredibly tight-lipped. Still, Yang Jian knew that Wang Meng must possess something that would make the Taiyin Sect invest so heavily.
And it was something that couldn’t be taken by force.
Perhaps Yang Jian was judging a villain by his own noble standards. The path of Cultivation was, at its core, a ruthless struggle for resources. What could possibly make the Taiyin Sect so generous, yet be something that couldn’t be taken by force?
Yang Jian was genuinely curious, but he wouldn’t dwell on it. To do so would interfere with his own Cultivation.
Wang Meng, Hu Jing, Yang Ying, and the others had already begun their new journey in the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm.
In essence, this place was a "wasteland" rich in Elemental Qi that had to be explored and pioneered. If fully developed, it had the potential to become a new Cultivation Holy Land.
Undoubtedly, since the Star Alliance began its expansion, the number of Cultivators in the Great Yuan Realm had been steadily growing and was certain to increase further. New Cultivation Spaces were becoming a necessity, and the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm was one such provision for the future.
Hu Jing and the others had all found magic techniques suited to them at the Cultivation Academy. As for how they would train and what level they could reach, that was up to them.
Yang Jian did not conceal the Taiyin Sect’s involvement; he was not one for such petty deception. Wang Meng was truly grateful for the help from Mo Chen and his people. He had provided some assistance to the Taiyin Sect himself, but their respective positions meant the impact of their aid was on completely different scales. Of course, he was also grateful to Yang Jian. Without Yang Jian’s approval, none of it would have been possible.
Yang Jian’s only request for Wang Meng was to train hard and build up the strength of the Saint Cultivators.
In the current climate where Saint cultivation was waning and Demon cultivation was on the rise, the emergence of a powerful Saint Cultivation Sect was desperately needed. It would also help guide the Cultivation paths of other Cultivators.
Presumably, the Star Alliance had also realized this and was actively seeking to create a balance. The rise of the Holy Hall was thus both a coincidence and an inevitability.
This, at least, was one of the conclusions Yang Jian had reached.
While Wang Meng and his group trained arduously in the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm, a storm was brewing in the world outside.
Jii Wanli had launched his Immortal Inquiry Conference with great fanfare, and now, others were finally responding.
First, the Ghost Crown Prince, Wu Wang, established the Ghost Beast Alliance, opening its doors wide to Demon Cultivators.
The other major powers realized Jii Wanli’s intention: to expand his own influence as a Sect Leader’s Disciple and, at the same time, gather more allies. It was a brilliant scheme.
Wu Wang was blatant in announcing the "benefits" of his Ghost Beast Alliance, which included sharing many "delightful" experiences. There was certainly no shortage of interested parties. Though such Cultivators had a terrible reputation, Wu Wang couldn’t care less, and the Ghost Sect cared even less than that. Simply put, the Ghost Sect represented the most primal form of Demon Cultivation: acting with complete abandon in the pursuit of "liberation."
Lin Jinghao also made his move. Backed by the immense influence of the No Illusion Demon Sect, his Demon Dao Association immediately made a huge splash upon its announcement. Furthermore, the Demon Dao Association did not have as many stringent requirements as the Immortal Inquiry Conference.
Ling Fei and Yue Shan established the "Saint Dao," filling the void for a Saint Cultivator alliance.
Lin Jinghao represented the Demon Cultivators, Ling Fei and her group represented the Saint Cultivators, Jii Wanli and Longyue were taking the elite route, and Wu Wang represented the way of the Ghost Dao.