Chapter 181: Colluding with Demon Cultivators
Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Colluding with Demon Cultivators
Huang Yunzi and the Meng family ancestor walked into the hall.
The eight figures conversing in the hall all stopped, their gazes turning toward them.
Stared at by so many Core Formation Cultivators, the Meng family ancestor felt an involuntary sense of suffocation.
"Hahaha... Daoist Huang, is everything downstairs settled?" someone asked with a loud laugh.
Huang Yunzi nodded and, without a second thought, sat in the seat of honor. He then smiled at the Meng family ancestor. "Young friend Meng, you are the host. Please, take a seat."
Hearing this, the Meng family ancestor demurred but carefully took the most junior seat among the nine.
He sat in the most junior seat, his gaze lowered and his expression placid, listening as the nine discussed how to divide the items in Fenglan Master’s Storage Bag, along with the materials and Demon Core from the little Cyan Dragon.
Against his will, a sense of humiliation rose within him.
After all, Fenglan Master had been like a family elder to him. If Dai Sangyu hadn’t pushed him to the brink, he would have found it very difficult to make the decision to conspire with outsiders.
He sighed inwardly.
Though he sighed inwardly, the Meng family ancestor’s expression remained unchanged.
Some time later, the spoils had been divided, and all nine wore looks of satisfaction.
"Young friend Meng," Huang Yunzi said, smiling at the Meng family ancestor. "Why don’t you tell everyone here in detail what we discussed earlier."
"Yes." The Meng family ancestor hastily rose to his feet.
He didn’t dare to look at the nine Core Formation Cultivators. Staring into the void outside the hall, he recited his earlier promise. "The original division of the Immortal City’s revenue was thirty-five percent for the Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage, thirty-five percent for Senior Huang’s Purple Cloud Valley, and fifteen percent each for Sword Washing Pool and the Cyan Wood Sect. To thank you, seniors, for helping my Meng family gain control of the Immortal City, I am willing to cede another thirty percent of the revenue, to be divided among the three Sects."
Huang Yunzi nodded, satisfied. "According to young friend Meng’s proposal, our three Sects will each receive an additional ten percent of the Immortal City’s revenue. What does everyone think?"
Under the division proposed by the Meng family ancestor, Purple Cloud Valley would now claim forty-five percent of the Immortal City’s revenue, with Sword Washing Pool and the Cyan Wood Sect each taking twenty-five percent. As for the Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage, the city’s original masters, they would be left with a paltry five percent.
With this outcome, the Immortal City now effectively belonged to the three Sects.
Naturally, Sword Washing Pool and the Cyan Wood Sect had no objections to this division of profits, and so the matter was settled.
After dividing the profits, Huang Yunzi raised another matter. "Regarding Bai Yurong and Dai Sangyu, we need to get our story straight to avoid any blame from the Academy Palace later."
"Hmph!" someone sneered. "Facing the combined forces of the Tuluo People and the four Demon Dao Sects, the Academy Palace can hardly fend for itself. Right now, Xiao Changkong is the one who needs us. Without us to hold back the Tuluo People, it’s an open question whether his Academy Palace will even survive this calamity."
Another spoke up. "Exactly. We killed them, so what? What can Xiao Changkong possibly do to us?"
Huang Yunzi smiled and nodded. If he hadn’t known the Academy Palace was in a desperate situation, he would never have resolved to make a move against Bai Yurong.
After all, in terms of sheer strength, the Academy Palace alone could sweep away the five nations of the Western Realm.
In terms of moral authority, the Daoist Guardian Alliance was the standard-bearer for the Righteous Dao in the Western Wilderness and could, in theory, command them directly.
And in practical terms, the Academy Palace possessed the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm, controlling the vast majority of the Foundation Establishment Pill supply in the Western Wilderness’s Cultivation Realm.
If Xiao Changkong truly decided to move against them, they would have no choice but to submit.
He shook his head and spoke. "That may be the case, but we still have to give Alliance Leader Xiao some face. Let’s go with this... Dai Sangyu secretly joined the Demon Dao long ago. Amid the invasion by the four Demon Dao Sects, she attempted to assassinate her master to aid their efforts. We discovered her plot and executed her. Bai Yurong, unfortunately, perished in the heat of battle. How does that sound for a story?"
As he spoke, he took out a black ring and placed it on the table. "I found this in her Storage Bag. It’s made from ten-thousand-year-old Soul Nourishing Wood. The dense Demonic Qi within it marks it as an item of the Demon Dao—the very proof of her collusion. When we report to Alliance Leader Xiao, we can present this object to prove our words are true."
"Ten-thousand-year-old Soul Nourishing Wood... Tsk, tsk. How could a newly ascended Core Formation Cultivator obtain such a Treasure? And this sinister Demonic Qi... perhaps we really did exterminate a scourge for the Righteous Dao!"
"Exactly, exactly! What Daoist Huang says makes perfect sense. The Demonic Qi inside is all the proof we need!"
...
Li Ping waited patiently through the night in his cave abode on Immortal Peach Mountain.
Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, Cheng Yao, and Wang Xingwei finally arrived together in the morning, each wearing a different expression.
Cheng Yao was unable to contain her joy. While Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng looked conflicted, their expressions were ultimately more joyful than not. As for Wang Xingwei, he was expressionless, seemingly indifferent to the previous night’s events.
Li Ping wasn’t surprised by their reactions.
After all, the three of them had originally been Loose Cultivators who had only become Fenglan Master’s disciples after enduring countless hardships to reach Foundation Establishment.
The relationship was supposedly one of master and disciples, but in reality, it was more like that of a boss and employees.
And recently, their "company" had been run ragged by a "new boss."
How much loyalty could they possibly feel toward Fenglan Master?
With Fenglan Master dead, a moment of silent mourning was about the extent of their grief.
Li Ping gestured for the four of them to sit in the pavilion.
Cheng Yao was the first to speak, recounting what had happened in the hall after he had left.
Li Ping listened and nodded as Cheng Yao described the events in detail.
When she finished, a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
According to Cheng Yao’s account, the Meng family ancestor had ultimately orchestrated things so that Meng Qingyi’s wedding to Huang Yan was postponed, and she was able to reclaim the position of Sect Leader.
Before this, Meng Qingyi had already served as the administrative Sect Leader for nearly twenty years, so her roots ran deep.
Furthermore, with Fenglan Master and his disciple both dead, the Meng family ancestor was now the most powerful individual in the Immortal City.
Combined with the Meng family’s good relationship with Huang Yunzi, they had the backing of a Late-stage Core Formation Cultivator.
It was safe to say that the Meng family now had complete control over the situation in the Immortal City.
"Why would Dai Sangyu murder her master?" Li Ping asked, feigning confusion.
Hearing his question, the three exchanged glances before Gumu Sheng finally spoke up. "Big Brother, we don’t know the details either. But Senior Martial Sister Meng has already ordered an investigation, so there should be a definitive answer soon."
Li Ping nodded. "Then what about Lin Yue and Xu Guikai?"
At the mention of Lin Yue’s name, a hint of shame appeared in the eyes of both Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng.
Because of her connection to Qi Hanmo, Lin Yue had always treated the two of them with great respect. But now, they had essentially backstabbed her. Although the matter had been out of the hands of two mere Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they couldn’t help but feel ashamed.
Zhang Tie shook his head. "They’ve both been temporarily placed under house arrest, pending the results of the Immortal City’s investigation. They might be able to clear their names then."
Hearing this, Li Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as they’re not dead.’
’It seems the Meng family has no intention of going on a killing spree now that they have the situation under control.’
...
After seeing Zhang Tie and the others off, Li Ping sat alone in the pavilion, lost in thought.
Zhang Tie and the others didn’t know the full story, but he could guess what had truly transpired.
’It was probably because I told the Meng family ancestor that "the four Demon Dao Sects and the Tuluo People have joined forces to invade, and the Academy Palace will likely be in peril" that he saw an opportunity and decisively contacted Huang Yunzi.’
’He took advantage of the moment when the Daoist Guardian Alliance was tied up with the Demon Dao and powerless to interfere in the Immortal City’s affairs.’
’The two sides collaborated, joining forces on the day of the wedding banquet to annihilate Fenglan Master and his disciple.’
’As for the finer details of their agreement, only those involved would know.’
’That old fox is ruthless. I’ll have to be wary of him from now on.’ An image of the Meng family ancestor’s smiling face flashed through Li Ping’s mind, and he grew guarded.
’I only ever intended to use this opportunity to cause some trouble for Dai Sangyu, to teach her a small lesson.’
’I never expected it to lead to this.’
’In a single day, two of the Immortal City’s Core Formation Masters had perished!’
"Even Core Formation isn’t safe!" Li Ping muttered. ’I must never forget what happened to Fenglan Master and his disciple. I can’t get cocky after I reach Core Formation... no, I can’t get cocky even after I reach Nascent Soul Formation.’
’If I get killed, my entire path on the Dao will turn to dust. Only by laying low can I walk further along the Immortal Dao!’
’Cultivate, cultivate!’
...
Not long after, Li Ping went to the market to buy Spiritual Materials and sell Pills.
He overheard from the chatter of those around him that the Immortal City had apparently discovered a demonic artifact among Dai Sangyu’s possessions. It had supposedly once housed the remnant soul of a Demon Cultivator, and this was the proof of her collusion with the Demon Dao. The evidence was irrefutable: Dai Sangyu had been a Demon Dao mole all along, and assassinating her master was the mission they had given her.
Li Ping shook his head slightly upon hearing these rumors.
’Dai Sangyu’s disciple, Lin Yue, was abducted by a Demon Cultivator and almost died. Dai Sangyu hated Demon Cultivators to the bone; how could she possibly collude with the Demon Dao?’
’But she’s already dead, so she can’t exactly refute the claim.’
’And if a lie is repeated enough times, most people will eventually accept it as the truth.’
’So, Dai Sangyu was stuck with the crime of colluding with the Demon Dao to assassinate her own master.’
’But that has nothing to do with me.’
’As long as it doesn’t interfere with my cultivation, I can’t be bothered with this mess.’
Right now, his only real concern was Xu Guikai’s safety.
’This boy might be the reincarnation of my master’s True Spirit. If there’s a way, I hope I can ensure his safety.’
...
「Dozens of days later, in the Hall of Administrative Affairs.」
After Meng Qingyi announced the results of the investigation, everyone in the hall fell silent.
Only Lin Yue’s eyes burned with anger, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
’She couldn’t believe they would pin the crime of "colluding with Demon Cultivators" on her master. It was absolute nonsense! Did she not know her own master’s character?’
"Senior Sister!" Xu Guikai sent her a low-voiced spiritual message to comfort her.
Lin Yue’s shoulders slumped as she dejectedly unclenched her fists.
After announcing the investigation’s findings, Meng Qingyi moved on to another matter. Her gaze swept over the crowd. "The Tuluo People and the four Demon Dao Sects have joined forces to invade the Western Wilderness. I’m sure you have all heard the news by now. As a member of the Daoist Guardian Alliance, our Fenglan Immortal City must also do its part."
As she spoke, she looked down at the silent Xiong Pohai. "Senior Martial Brother Xiong, I have decided that you will lead our contingent. You will accompany Senior Huang of Purple Cloud Valley to the Yan Kingdom as reinforcements."
"Me?" Xiong Pohai looked up in astonishment.
"Furthermore, Junior Martial Brother Ye Chen will also be going to atone for his crimes. As will Martial Niece Lin Yue, Martial Nephew Xu Guikai..." Meng Qingyi read off a long list of names.