### **Chapter 83: Ascending Coldblood Peak**
He was still a long way from Qi Refining Perfection and would only make his first attempt at Foundation Establishment around seventy years old. This speed was considered medium-low even among those with Three Spiritual Roots.
He had spent much of his early years on alchemy, slowing his progress, though he was gradually catching up now.
For Wang Yu to have such cultivation before even turning thirty was truly exceptional.
Thinking this, Zhou Tao's confidence in Wang Yu grew.
He didn't want to die either.
So,
his voice softened considerably, and he whispered, "Brother Wang, I know you have the skill. If you can save my life, I'll give you half of the Association's profits from this period. How about it?"
"This is the most I can promise. The members took the bulk of the earnings; not all of it went into my pocket."
Taking a deep breath to suppress the urge to kill the man on the spot, Wang Yu asked, "How many spirit stones is half?"
Seeing an opening, Zhou Tao's eyes lit up.
"One hundred twenty thousand spirit stones."
*Hiss—*
Wang Yu couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. This bastard had earned a fortune! And this was just his word. A man like him wouldn't hand over *all* the profits just to save his skin.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been greedy enough to flagrantly break sect rules in the first place.
However, Wang Yu couldn't afford a true scorched-earth outcome either.
The timing was wrong.
With a way out offered, he took it. He originally had no intention of meddling in the Alchemist Association's affairs, but if Zhou Tao dared threaten him now, he'd dare do it again later.
Could Wang Yu accept such bullying?
Helping was impossible. The best he could do was deliver some credit to Zhuo Shouqing. Who asked *he* was the heavier weight? Only someone of Zhuo's direct lineage could handle this.
"I'll do what I can, but I can only try. If it's not possible, I'll let you know."
"Good, good, good."
Seeing his goal met, Zhou Tao left the gift and placed another storage pouch on the table.
Wang Yu added, "Give me the names of those arrested. I'll have an answer for you within three days."
Zhou Tao hurriedly took out a brush and began writing. Wang Yu's attitude suggested genuine effort, boosting his confidence severalfold.
As he said farewell, Wang Yu warned, "Only this once. Never again."
"Disband the Alchemist Association quickly."
He had to play the part fully, cover all bases, and stabilize Zhou Tao for now.
And so,
the immediate trouble was temporarily handled. After seeing his guest out, Wang Yu sat down but immediately felt it unwise. He prepared to go find Zhuo Shouqing at the Enforcement Hall.
But the moment he stepped out, he noticed several hidden gazes on him, likely sentries placed by Zhou Tao.
Since cultivating the [Lunar Nether Pupils], he had become acutely sensitive to others' stares. This was a sign of his powerful spiritual sense; the stronger his perception, the lower the chance of ambush.
After a moment's thought,
Wang Yu smiled faintly. Since he was watched, he'd simply change his plan and go to Coldblood Peak first to find True Disciple Su.
If anyone had studied the Xu Clan Pill Shop case from years back, seeking help from Coldblood Peak first would seem more credible.
Seek the True Disciple -> Go to the Enforcement Hall to release people -> Notify Zhou Tao.
This sequence made sense.
Anyway, he needed to see True Disciple Su. By logic, it had been some time since he notified Fatty Duan; he should have been summoned by now.
If not, it was either because he wasn't taken seriously or because more urgent matters were being handled. Waiting a bit longer was fine.
As luck would have it,
not long after arriving at Coldblood Peak's base, while still figuring how to address the guard disciples, he saw a plump figure rapidly descending.
It was none other than Fatty Duan. He looked startled to see Wang Yu too.
"Why are you waiting here? Perfect. The True Disciple has agreed to see you and wants to hear your thoughts."
"Heh heh."
Wang Yu said little and followed Fatty Duan up the mountain.
Having gained his favor once before, this second time should be easier. The trust was already there.
But regarding a solution, frankly, he hadn't devised a perfect plan yet, only a few ruthless schemes.
The kind that, once started, meant a fight to the death.
He was also under Coldblood Peak. That person held high status and had exceptional talent. Unless forced, he didn't want to make a mortal enemy.
Therefore, before proposing any plan, he should seek more information he couldn't see himself.
"Steward Duan, we're in this together. Can you tell me about that person?"
"That person..."
Duan Ping's hurried steps suddenly slowed. Neither was in the mood for scenery; their minds were full of plots.
Thinking they were all in the same boat,
there was nothing to hide.
Duan Ping began, "That True Disciple who reached Golden Core is named Wei Zhong. He's from a Foundation Establishment family, with Water and Wood Dual Spiritual Roots."
"Should've been ordinary, but at thirteen, he found a Golden Core corpse floating down a river and got its lifetime collection."
"He took top three in the inner sect competition two terms ago, broke through to Foundation Establishment, got the True Disciple trial chance, finished it in three years, and got the core inheritance."
"He's under two hundred now, already Golden Core, with future Nascent Soul potential."
After Duan Ping finished and saw Wang Yu silent, he kept leading.
Wang Yu was thinking.
Foundation Establishment lifespan: three hundred years. Golden Core: eight hundred. This True Disciple Wei was only "ordinary" in having Dual Spiritual Roots; he surely had his own opportunities, maybe more than one.
Otherwise, such rapid progress was hard.
Dual Spiritual Roots might seem top-tier, but in the cultivation world, they were common—one in a hundred.
Generally, Heavenly Spiritual Roots and above were the acknowledged Nascent Soul seeds. Acting on this might work.
After much thought, Wang Yu remembered something.
The reason Coldblood Peak's True Disciples opposed Wei Zhong was tradition: the first Golden Core among a term's True Disciples got the Nascent Soul inheritance.
But it ultimately rested on the Coldblood Peak Lord's will.
His word decided it; no plot could change that.
*He* was the key.
The ruthless plan to force Wei Zhong's family to rebel or frame his kin faded from Wang Yu's mind.
He recalled that among the current term's True Disciples on Coldblood Peak, there was one with a Water Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root. But this person had cultivated briefly, reportedly just reaching mid Foundation Establishment, unable to compete with the others.
This was very unfair to this individual.
But the Demonic Path wasn't about fairness. Wei Zhong was ordinary-born; this Water Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root was also ordinary-born, said to have been found as a baby.
True Disciple Su and the others might have no grounds to object, but *this person* did.
If they could get him to step forward and persuade the Nine Evils True Monarch to speak a word,
presumably the Coldblood Peak Nascent Soul True Monarch would give face and grant a fair competition chance.
If they could delay, any variable could happen.
**(End of Chapter)**