Chapter 1742: 青花 Old Ancestor's Plan

From a public perspective, Patriarch Qinghua's disruptive actions in the Tianlan Realm were for the sake of the Dongli Realm. Killing her opportunistically would be an excessive act, and who would dare to work for the Dongli Realm in the future?

From a private perspective, Patriarch Qinghua is the leader of the Eastern Desolation Demon Race. Over the past few centuries, the Eastern Desolation Demon Race has invaded territories controlled by the Six Great Immortal Sects multiple times, causing significant casualties among cultivators. Releasing Patriarch Qinghua now would create future problems.

Humans and demons have been incompatible since ancient times, frequently engaging in large-scale conflicts.

Patriarch Qinghua was exchanged for Zhao Hongxue's nascent soul by Wang Changsheng, giving him the right to decide her fate. However, Fu Wen hoped Wang Changsheng would spare her life, as she had gone to the Tianlan Realm specifically to cause trouble for the Dongli Realm's benefit.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, is Fellow Daoist Hua in your hands? What happened to her?"

Liu Ye was slightly stunned, as he was unaware that Patriarch Qinghua's physical body had been destroyed.

Wang Changsheng nodded and replied, "Fellow Daoist Hua went to the Tianlan Realm to cause trouble for the sake of the Dongli Realm. I won't make things difficult for her. However, I exchanged the nascent soul of a Soul Transformation cultivator to bring her back, so she should provide us with some compensation. This is also her promise."

Wang Changsheng had no intention of killing Patriarch Qinghua. By having her cede some territory and provide some cultivation resources, he could release her. For Patriarch Qinghua, this would be a trivial matter, not causing any significant damage.

Patriarch Qinghua was a meritorious individual, and the Dongli Realm would undoubtedly reward her. That was not Wang Changsheng's concern.

Wang Ruyan summoned the Blazing Sun Divine Pagoda and cast a spell, from which a bruised and battered green python flew out.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Fu, Fellow Daoist Liu, thank you. This old one will certainly repay you handsomely."

The green python spoke in human language, its voice weak and faint.

"Fellow Daoist Hua, we won't make things difficult for you. We will send you back to the demon race. After all, you journeyed to the Tianlan Realm for the Dongli Realm. We won't ask for too much: cede some territory to our human race, and provide a few treasures or some artifact refining materials. This request isn't excessive, is it?"

Fu Wen spoke in a deep voice. As the leader of the Eastern Desolation Demon Race, Patriarch Qinghua was sure to possess many treasures in her cave dwelling.

"No problem, everything is negotiable. However, you must cooperate with me to secure the territory. If Fellow Daoist Cheng and the others learn of my current condition, you won't get any land at all, and the demon race might even attack you immediately."

Patriarch Qinghua's tone was grave. Over four thousand years ago, True Monarch Tianlang was the leader of the Eastern Desolation Demon Race. After his disappearance, the Tianlang clan lost its dominant position, and Patriarch Qinghua ruled the demon race for over a thousand years. Unexpectedly, the Tianlang clan produced Cheng Zhanxian, a half-demon. With Cheng Zhanxian's advancement to the Soul Transformation stage, the Tianlang clan rose again.

If Cheng Zhanxian and Patriarch Black Tiger were to learn of Patriarch Qinghua's current state, they might well kill her, frame the human race, seize the treasures she had accumulated, and use the conflict to eliminate Patriarch Qinghua's followers, thereby gaining control of the Eastern Desolation Demon Race.

"Young Friend Huang, you two may go rest first. Disciple Zhang, arrange their accommodation."

Liu Ye instructed. Zhang Zhanfeng acknowledged him and led Huang Fugui and Shen Tianle away.

Indeed, as Patriarch Qinghua had stated, if news of her fall to the fourth rank spread, she would not gain much benefit, and might even be killed by Cheng Xiaotian or Patriarch Black Tiger.

"Fellow Daoist Hua, how do you need us to cooperate with you?"

Liu Ye's eyes narrowed as he asked. If this matter was handled well, they could control Patriarch Qinghua, and through her, the entire Eastern Desolation Demon Race, effectively "holding the emperor to command the feudal lords."

"You are to escort me back to Qingmang Mountain. Do not let other Soul Transformation cultivators see me, nor let any other cultivators know my current state. Once we reach Qingmang Mountain, I will give you a reward. As for the territory, it's not that I'm unwilling to give it to you. If I give you land now, Cheng Zhanxian and Black Tiger might misunderstand that you've gained control of this old one. It won't be too late to grant you territory after I've recovered my cultivation."

If they couldn't see Patriarch Qinghua, Cheng Zhanxian and Patriarch Black Tiger would absolutely not easily cede territory to the human race.

Wang Changsheng, Liu Ye, and Fu Wen exchanged glances and nodded to each other. This outcome was also acceptable.

"No problem. Without further ado, let's depart immediately! Delays can lead to complications."

Fu Wen urged them. He wasn't concerned whether the demon race would cede territory; his concern was how many valuable items he could acquire.

Wang Changsheng summoned the Blazing Sun Palace, a weakened version of the Blackwater Palace, which he had obtained from True Monarch Lieyang's cave dwelling. When put away, cultivators couldn't stay inside, as it was not a true Grotto-heaven spiritual treasure.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Fu Wen, Liu Ye, and Patriarch Qinghua successively entered the Blazing Sun Palace. The palace then soared into the air, transforming into a red streak of light, and flew towards the outside of the mountain gate.

After advancing to the Soul Transformation stage, Wang Changsheng's magical power greatly increased. In less than half a month, they entered the demon race's territory.

As soon as they stepped into demon territory, they were discovered by the demons. They hadn't intended to conceal their presence.

"Who goes there? This is our demon race's jurisdiction."

A graceful woman in a green dress, with a human torso and a snake tail (not yet fully transformed into human form), flew up from the ground.

"Qing Li, how long has it been since this old one left, and you no longer remember me?"

Patriarch Qinghua's voice, full of majesty, emanated from within the Blazing Sun Palace.

"Grand Ancestor, why are you using a human artifact?"

The woman in the green dress asked, puzzled.

This was demon territory; Patriarch Qinghua had no reason to use a human artifact for flight, and such a situation had never occurred before.

"What? Are you telling me what to do?"

Patriarch Qinghua's voice became cold.

"Your descendant wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. Grand Ancestor, please forgive me."

The woman in the green dress hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

"Hmph, lead the way then! I am injured and cannot allow Fellow Daoist Cheng and the others to encounter me."

Patriarch Qinghua commanded.

Out of caution, the woman in the green dress asked several questions that only Patriarch Qinghua could answer, and Patriarch Qinghua answered them all correctly.

The woman in the green dress led the way. Along the route, the guards quickly granted them passage.

Eight days later, they arrived at Qingmang Mountain, where Cheng Zhanxian and Patriarch Black Tiger had been waiting for a long time.

They were primarily concerned about cultivators from the Tianlan Sect causing trouble, and thus had to be on guard.

"What? I've only been gone for a few decades, and you dare to defy me?"

Patriarch Qinghua's tone was cold.

"Sister Hua, since you're back, why don't you come out and show yourself? Who knows if you're merely a disguised cultivator from the Tianlan Sect? We have to be cautious."

Cheng Zhanxian said with a frown.

With a dull thud, the palace gates of the Blazing Sun Palace opened. A massive green python, thick as a waist, slithered out. The green python exuded a powerful magical energy fluctuation, clearly indicating it had reached the fifth rank. Wang Changsheng, Liu Ye, and Fu Wen followed closely behind.

Patriarch Qinghua had used a secret technique to temporarily boost her cultivation level.

"True Man Taihao!"

Patriarch Black Tiger and Cheng Zhanxian's expressions turned solemn. They had not expected Wang Changsheng to have advanced to the Soul Transformation stage.

"Fellow Daoist Hua suffered severe injuries and is temporarily unable to transform. We specifically escorted her back."

Fu Wen explained, his expression indifferent.