Chapter 1336: The Sun and Moon Palace's Countermeasure

Within a magnificent palace in the Sun and Moon Palace.

Du Chang and Fang Yue were seated around two shimmering jade chairs, listening to two men and one woman report on the situation.

“Yellow Dragon Island has been destroyed? Do we know who destroyed it?” Fang Yue frowned, saying that the Sun and Moon Palace had supported Yellow Dragon Island to counteract the growth of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. With Yellow Dragon Island destroyed, it was akin to someone challenging the Sun and Moon Palace’s authority.

“We don’t know. We questioned several Core Formation cultivators from Yellow Dragon Island, but they were unaware. However, a disciple of True Monarch Yellow Dragon revealed that they were once ordered to track True Monarch Taihao’s whereabouts in the Golden Whale Sea, and the Wang family happened to be attacked around the same time. These two incidents might be related. But Huang Yuxu, a descendant of True Monarch Yellow Dragon, is missing, and he should know the inside story.” A tall, thin middle-aged man said respectfully. The Wang family was attacked, and shortly after, Yellow Dragon Island was destroyed. To call it a coincidence would be too much of one.

Du Chang frowned and asked, “The Wang family? Does the Wang family have a grudge against Yellow Dragon Island?” The Wang family’s rise was too rapid, and their network of connections was intricate. They were in-laws with the Ouyang family, had ties to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and were also an affiliated force of the Myriad Sword Sect. Frankly, even if the Wang family destroyed Yellow Dragon Island, the Sun and Moon Palace couldn’t personally intervene against them. Such an intervention would likely drag the Myriad Sword Sect and the Taiyi Immortal Sect into the conflict.

“Master, according to our investigation, when the Wang family first arrived in the South Sea, they expanded into the Coral Sea. During a conflict, Yellow Dragon Island killed a group of Wang family cultivators, including the son-in-law, nephew, and niece of the Green Lotus Immortal Couple.”

Du Chang and Fang Yue furrowed their brows deeply. For an ordinary force, they wouldn't have let it go, but since the Wang family was involved, they had to be cautious.

Du Chang pondered for a moment, then instructed, “Understood. You may go now. Send someone to find Huang Yuxu.”

“Yes, Master.”

The three middle-aged individuals bowed and withdrew, leaving Du Chang and Fang Yue.

“The Wang family’s rise is irreversible. A cultivator who forms a Nascent Soul and triggers such a phenomenon is one in ten thousand. They’ve defined this incident as retaliation from the demon race, and clearly don’t want to escalate the matter. I suggest we downplay this major incident and let it pass. We should support other forces to rise and counterbalance the Taiyi Immortal Sect.” Du Chang proposed this. The Wang family posed no immediate threat to them. They were already at the late Nascent Soul stage; if they advanced further to the Soul Transformation stage, even if the Wang family had ten Nascent Soul cultivators, they wouldn't be their opponents. The Ten Great Sects of the South Sea already had an agreement: external forces were not to interfere in disputes between local powers. Anyone who sought outside aid would become a target.

Looking at the history of cultivation in the South Sea, the number of extinct Ten Great Sects and Ten Great Families is notable. The Myriad Ghosts Sect brought about its own downfall, and the Elder of the Zhenhai Sect was arrogant and obstinate, leading to the deaths of many elites in the Celestial Void Grotto-heaven. Even so, the Zhenhai Sect was only destroyed after thousands of years and several crises. The Murong family was similar. As long as the Sun and Moon Palace doesn't self-destruct, it’s difficult for external forces to destroy it.

The Green Lotus Immortal Couple’s Nascent Soul formation triggered a phenomenon, making their rise unstoppable. Yellow Dragon Island was destroyed, and the Sun and Moon Palace wouldn't stick up for Yellow Dragon Island. In this matter, Yellow Dragon Island was not in the right; True Monarch Yellow Dragon attacked the Wang family and was accidentally killed. In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme, but reason is still spoken of. This ‘reason,’ however, is merely a veil for major powers; they use it when it suits them and discard it when it doesn’t.

“I agree. We should still send someone to attend Green Lotus Sword Venerable’s Nascent Soul Ceremony. We’ll observe how the Wang family handles things. If they oppose our Sun and Moon Palace in the future, then we won’t need to be polite with them.”

Fang Yue strongly agreed. If they couldn’t be friends, they would be enemies.

“By the way, I heard that Nephew Li and his group eliminated a contingent of cultivators from the Nine Nether Sect half a year ago. Didn’t our two sects agree to a ceasefire?”

Fang Yue’s expression turned cold. She said, “Shangguan Wei holds grudges and will definitely seek revenge; she wouldn’t agree to a ceasefire. Our stronghold in the Northern Frontier cultivation world was destroyed again, and it must have been done by the Nine Nether Sect. They started it, and we’ll finish it. If it weren’t for that junior sister killing the Deputy Sect Master of the Nine Nether Sect, our Sun and Moon Palace wouldn’t have formed a deadly enmity with them. It’s also thanks to her recklessness that Master didn’t pass the position of Palace Master to her.”

“She has a similar personality to Shangguan Wei – she always repays grudges and stops at nothing to achieve her goals. To kill the Deputy Sect Master of the Nine Nether Sect, our Sun and Moon Palace lost two Nascent Soul cultivators. I don’t know how the Nine Nether Sect’s Deputy Sect Master offended her, to make her resort to such lethal action.” Du Chang showed a curious expression, speaking with some bewilderment.

Fang Yue shook her head and said, “Who knows? She stopped at nothing to achieve her goals, but she truly was a genius. We only barely managed to subdue her by working together, and she even injured us with her self-detonation. Fortunately, she’s no longer alive; her soul lantern has extinguished. If she were still in this world, who knows how much trouble she would bring to our Sun and Moon Palace.”

The ‘she’ they spoke of was Situ Mei, the Deputy Palace Master of the Moon Palace. She formed a Nascent Soul before the age of three hundred, was decisive in killing, and had accumulated a great deal of enemy blood on her hands throughout her journey. She was originally the best candidate for the Moon Palace Master, but her aggressive methods led to her disqualification for various reasons. She even tried to stir up internal conflict and was ultimately killed by the two Palace Masters working together.

Eastern Barren Lands, a verdant mountain range stretching for millions of miles.

Deep within the mountain range stood a ten-thousand-zhang peak, most of it obscured by white mist. Beneath the mist lay a vast expanse of buildings: courtyards, pavilions, rock gardens, and many cultivators could be seen moving about.

At the summit, there was a magnificent, resplendent palace. On its plaque were three large characters: “Skywind Hall.”

This was a branch of the Skywind Trading Alliance, responsible for all its business in the Eastern Barren Lands.

Inside the main hall, a kind-faced old man in golden robes was listening to a report from two men.

“This year’s profits are good; we need to work even harder next year. Oh, by the way, I hear the Green Lotus Immortal Couple’s nephew, Green Lotus Sword Venerable, has formed a Nascent Soul. Wu Zizai, I recall the Green Lotus Immortal Couple once saved you. And you, Wang Yang, Green Lotus Sword Venerable introduced you to clients before. Both of you should make a trip to Green Lotus Island with me to forge a good relationship. Perhaps that connection will be useful in the future.”

The old man in golden robes instructed in a deep voice.

“Yes, Elder Sun.”

The two men agreed repeatedly. A pot-bellied young man in red robes showed a hint of delight in his eyes. He was Wang Mengyang, alias Wang Yang, who had joined the Skywind Trading Alliance many years ago and, with his family’s help, had risen to a mid-level position within the Alliance.

The Skywind Trading Alliance was a mercantile organization focused solely on profit; it rarely involved itself in the conflicts of major powers.

Wang Mengyang had multiple sales networks and a broad range of connections. As his family grew stronger, he increasingly yearned to return and manage the Green Lotus Trading Alliance for them.

Upon leaving Skywind Hall, Wu Zizai looked at Wang Mengyang and chuckled, “Brother Wang, I recall you had a good relationship with Green Lotus Sword Venerable back then. He introduced clients to you, so you ought to prepare a generous gift.”

“Of course. But so many years have passed, I wonder if Senior Wang still remembers me.”

Wang Mengyang said with a light chuckle.

After a few pleasantries, the two returned to their respective homes.