"Let's go, into Guiding Spirit. We need to get the Golden Pavilion established first."
Wang Yu instructed Qing Yang to stay and take Jin Miaoshan's group to their designated spot—once again, the old location, right next to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.
He himself returned directly to the City Lord's Manor, his mood troubled.
Because he realized the caliber of Core Formation cultivators he was now facing had risen another tier.
The chief disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator... a peak Core Formation existence!
Faced with such an opponent, he had almost no ability to resist. Using Jin Miaoshan as leverage had only been a temporary expedient; there was no real way to contend with that level of power.
—The situation was dire!
And then what? With the struggle for Chasing Moon Province, Guiding Spirit was bound to become the primary point of contact for the new Nine City Lords. How many spies and powerful figures would gather here?
What if the Yellow Springs Temple broke the rules and decided to strike at a mere spectator like him? It was entirely possible.
No! To be more precise, it was highly likely. He had just offended Elder Earth Treasury. The series of subsequent events had an undeniable causal link to him.
"Time to slip away..."
For some reason, that thought suddenly surfaced. The turnover of powerful figures in the Guiding Spirit area wasn't particularly fast, but there were simply too many influential outsiders passing through. It was truly hard to handle.
But he couldn't just abandon Guiding Spirit City.
A three-hundred-year governing right, not even fifty years served, still in a phase of development, the city's potential not yet fully realized... How could he give up such a massive source of resources?
As he pondered, an idea suddenly struck Wang Yu.
According to his contract with the three young masters, he no longer needed the entry quota to the Profound Heaven Secret Realm. Perhaps he could exchange it for them taking turns to govern Guiding Spirit for twenty years.
The storms Wang Yu couldn't weather, they could.
Stepping back into the shadows for twenty years, using the time to go to the **[Sky Demon Bone Forest]** in search of the ancient Heavenly Soul Sect ruins to complete the spiritual sense inheritance... That wasn't a bad plan.
"Take a step back, and the world is vast!"
That's what he would do.
Thus, Wang Yu holed up in the City Lord's Manor, refusing all social engagements. He dispatched messengers to rush back to the mountain gate to plead for help from Zhuo Shouqing.
If you had connections, you had to use them. Otherwise, when it was your turn to contribute, it would be too late. Given the distance, a round trip would take at least six months.
He planned to stay within the protective formations and not go out!
......
......
The 10th month of Wang Yu's 36th year as an Affairs Manager.
The new Guiding Spirit Golden Pavilion branch.
"Young Mistress, City Lord Wang still refuses to accept your invitation."
The brand-new decor, the latest model of third-grade, top-tier tower-class magic treasure—the environment at the top floor here was truly exquisite, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.
At the moment, Jin Miaoshan's slender legs were crossed, swinging idly.
Listening to her guardian's report, her face showed helplessness.
"Elder Luo, what's with this man? Could it be he was frightened by Lou Gao?"
"This old one thinks not. I heard several honored guests from the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect have arrived. City Lord Wang has been busy entertaining them lately."
"Honored guests? More honored than this young lady? Go tell him there's news about the top-grade Ice attribute Core Formation spiritual material. It will be obtained within a few years at most. Have him exchange the **[Ten-Thousand-Year Tree Heart]** for it."
"As you wish—"
The elder surnamed Luo nodded in acknowledgment. To be honest, he wasn't keen on becoming a part of this peculiar back-and-forth between the two. The frequency of delivering messages every few days was genuinely mentally fatiguing.
They were so close; wouldn't using a sound-transmission jade talisman be better?
Forcing his old bones to run errands was simply unreasonable.
"Oh, right."
Just as he turned to leave, Elder Luo added, "Two people arrived. One surnamed Zhuo, one surnamed Zuoqiu. Neither is young anymore, but their status seems quite high."
"It's them."
Jin Miaoshan narrowed her eyes, speaking quickly. "No need to go. I can probably guess what Wang Yu is planning. Inform him about the Core Formation spiritual material when he returns."
Elder Luo: "...Understood!!"
......
At the same time.
Inside the Guiding Spirit City Lord's Manor, everyone was present except for Yu Xing. Wang Yu's good elder brother Zhuo Shouqing and the staunchly supportive Zuoqiu Ming had both come.
Among the three young masters...
Yu Xing was actually the eldest, Zhuo Shouqing the second, and Zuoqiu Ming the third. They were ranked by age. When they first met Wang Yu, they were already over a hundred years old.
Now, so many years later, even calculated by the Foundation Establishment stage's three-century lifespan, they had entered middle age. Their cultivation had improved considerably, however.
At the very least, they had stepped into the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, around the fourth layer.
But at their current speed, to even touch the threshold of Core Formation, they would need to be fully supplied with resources and abandon all pleasures and distractions, cultivating desperately to have a chance.
The two arrived slower than Wang Yu had expected, but that was understandable. Zhuo Shouqing was privately scheming some matters of his own; he couldn't simply come at a moment's notice.
At this moment.
A feast was spread out. In the vast hall, only the three of them were drinking freely. All maids and guards had been dismissed, leaving only Xue Yu cultivating on the Profound Ice Bed not far away.
The great fox had been working hard lately, probably sensing its own powerlessness to help Wang Yu share the burden. It had become more mature, which was a good thing.
"Fourth Brother, I'll definitely help you with this," Zuoqiu Ming said without hesitation. "The struggle for Chasing Moon Province is indeed too dangerous. There won't be any shortage of peak Core Formation cultivators over the next twenty years."
No need to guess; the one calling him 'Fourth Brother' so affectionately was definitely Zuoqiu Ming. Wang Yu nodded repeatedly.
"This is what I'm thinking: pretending a fox's might is a tiger's is not a long-term strategy. There are just too many powerful figures in the Guiding Spirit area for my current stage."
Zhuo Shouqing, however, frowned and remained silent. He downed several cups of wine in succession before finally speaking.
"Wang Yu, there's something I must tell you."
"Speak freely."
"When you were searching for methods to improve your aptitude back then, you must have also come across information about the **[Blood Spring Evil Method]**."
"Indeed."
Wang Yu didn't hesitate, but a sense of foreboding arose within him. And Zhuo Shouqing's subsequent words indeed confirmed this premonition.
"In the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, only the Blood Path inheritances are considered the orthodox core of the sect, the strongest among the Nine Peaks and Ten Paths, offering the greatest chance of breaking through to the Transformation Spirit realm.
"They are far more powerful than inheritances like the **[Rakshasa True Demon Sutra]**, the **[Blood Nether Heaven-Swallowing Art]**, the **[Deep Void Extreme Cold Formula]**, and so on.
"Among us privileged second-generation heirs of distinguished families, it's common for some to have mediocre aptitude. At such times, the **[Blood Spring Evil Method]** becomes our technique to change our fate.
"Yu Xing and Zuoqiu Ming, back then, were too young. They felt some empathy for those... materials, which ultimately led to the endeavor's failure. Furthermore, their own three-spiritual-root aptitude was affected, making it difficult for them to form a Core in this lifetime.
"My situation was different. I was sabotaged by a clansman, which led to my current state."
As Zhuo Shouqing spoke, his expression was tinged with reminiscence, unable to hide the hatred.
This was the first time Wang Yu had heard this account, though he had his own speculations. Zhuo Shouqing's version differed slightly from what he imagined, but the gist was mostly the same.
"After it happened, my parents thought of a way to save me."
"Hmm?"
Before Wang Yu could react, Zuoqiu Ming let out a questioning sound. Why hadn't Second Brother mentioned this before?
Zhuo Shouqing gave a bitter smile.
"Third Brother, your failure was your own doing. I was the victim.
"Although our foundations were both damaged, I still have a chance for remedy. The Blood Spiritual Root ultimately took form, but only one-ninth of it did. It's akin to a four-spiritual-root aptitude."
Hearing this, Zuoqiu Ming opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself, swallowing the words he wanted to say. He had wanted to curse at him a bit but ultimately held back.
Inwardly, he was seething. What did he mean, 'your own doing'? He had been untainted by the filth!
Of course, if given another chance now...
He would definitely grab his six-year-old self by the collar and give him a good slap. What were a hundred children of the same age and birth date? The current him would definitely be able to harden his heart!
Zhuo Shouqing continued.
"There is a secret technique within the Blood Spring Evil Method involving mutual devouring. If I can devour the individual who underwent the transformation with me on that same day, I can complete my残缺 Blood Spiritual Root."
The conditions resembled the Demon Embryo Profound Origin Secret Curse, but in reality, the restrictions were greater, with additional timing requirements.
"And that person, I have found him.
"He is the true culprit who harmed me! But his bloodline is on par with mine. Though my parents were furious, they could only endure it. Our great-grandfather decreed that we must struggle for our own fate, determining superiority and life or death between us!"
Having spoken to this point, Wang Yu didn't need to hear more to understand his implication.
Zuoqiu Ming, however, was both angry and disbelieving. "Zhuo Shouqing, Zhuo Shouqing, you really know how to keep secrets! Why didn't you tell me about this? I could have hel—"
He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing.
Zhuo Shouqing said coldly, "Figured it out? You can't help me. If you moved, it would mean the Zuoqiu Clan moved. The other side wouldn't just sit and wait. Yu Xing also doesn't know about this."
Having heard the whole story, Wang Yu nodded. "I can help you."
"Of course! I unearthed you myself. Naturally, you are my person. All the death guards I've trained over the years have been for the purpose of devouring that individual.
"My time is running out. I must devour his Blood Spiritual Root before the age of two hundred and thirty. Otherwise, the remaining time won't be enough for me to form my Core.
"Therefore, I cannot help you with Guiding Spirit City."
"Understood. What about you, Brother Ming?"
Wang Yu turned to look at Zuoqiu Ming. This fellow, usually flamboyant and lively, was unusually silent at this moment.
He hung his head, silently swirling his wine cup, lost in thought.
This nighttime conversation seemed to be heading towards an inconclusive end.
Zhuo Shouqing stood up and sighed. "I cannot stay away from the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect for too long. Otherwise, that fellow will resort to underhanded tactics, especially since I came to Guiding Spirit last time. His reaction will be particularly swift this time."
"Wait—"
Wang Yu suddenly spoke up, asking, "What is that person's strength? Does he have capable subordinates?"
Zhuo Shouqing turned back, his gaze meaningful. "Zhuo Shouyun is the same age as me, at the mid-Core Formation stage. His subordinates are people you don't know, but they are all strong. However... one among them you will certainly remember vividly."
"Who?" Wang Yu pressed.
"—Fu Xiao!"
With that, Zhuo Shouqing pushed the door open and left without the slightest pause.
At the round table, Wang Yu's fists involuntarily clenched.
This Second Brother seemed to be using methods to bind him irrevocably to his own ship. Was even the Styx Contract not enough to give him peace of mind? His thoughts were in turmoil.
The sense of crisis he felt now was truly too intense.
Fu Xiao was an enemy he was destined to face after cultivating the Demon Embryo Secret Curse.
Zhuo Shouqing's choice to tell him now surely meant he planned to act before Fu Xiao formed his Nascent Soul. The matter of the Styx Contract became less important; he had to accelerate his own rate of improvement.
This required some special opportunities for assistance.
He was already using both conventional and unconventional methods to accelerate his cultivation, yet it still felt too slow.
"Wang Yu, I've decided."
"Hmm?"
**(End of Chapter)**