Chapter 577: Shared Interests Make True Allies

Zhu Yunzhen's brow furrowed. Honestly, he was unwilling to accept either of Sun Junyan's conditions; it was clear Sun Junyan intended to take advantage of the Imperial Spirit Sect.

If he agreed to the first condition, the morale of the Imperial Spirit Sect's disciples would collapse, so that was absolutely unacceptable. If he agreed to the second condition, Sun Junyan was a fifth-level Core Formation cultivator, having reached that stage over a hundred years before Zhu Yunzhen. Zhu Yunzhen knew he was no match for Sun Junyan in a spar.

He couldn't win a fight, and if he refused, Sun Junyan definitely wouldn't let the matter rest.

Just then, Liu Yang walked in and secretly transmitted a message to Zhu Yunzhen: "Martial Uncle Zhu, Senior Ye from the Hundred Spirits Gate and Senior Wang from the Green Lotus Villa are here, saying they have important matters to discuss with you."

Zhu Yunzhen's face lit up with joy. He instructed, "Quickly invite the two fellow Daoists in, go quickly!"

Sun Junyan and Zhao Kun exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.

Who would visit the Imperial Spirit Sect at this moment? The Yellow Saint Palace? That was a strong possibility.

If the Yellow Saint Palace intervened, the situation would become tricky.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong entered.

"Oh, it seems we've arrived at an inconvenient time! Fellow Daoist Sun is here too. We haven't disturbed you, have we?" Wang Changsheng exclaimed softly upon seeing Sun Junyan and Zhao Kun, then smiled.

"Not at all. Tell me, Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Ye, what brings you to the Imperial Spirit Sect?" Sun Junyan narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu is hosting the Imperial Spirit Assembly and invited both our Green Lotus Villa and the Hundred Spirits Gate to participate. Fellow Daoist Ye and I were traveling the same way, so we came together," Ye Tong said with a smile. "What? Are you also here for the Imperial Spirit Assembly, Fellow Daoist Sun?"

Zhu Yunzhen beamed with joy. "Haha, Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Ye, I am immensely grateful that you could personally lead your groups here."

Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong had arrived at just the right time. With their support, Zhu Yunzhen's predicament would be much easier to handle.

Sun Junyan frowned, exchanged glances with Zhao Kun, and they nodded to each other.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, we are in the midst of discussing an important matter with you. Perhaps Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Ye could step aside for a moment?"

Zhu Yunzhen frowned slightly. Before Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong expressed their stance, he dared not directly reject Sun Junyan's conditions. What if Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong were also here to take advantage of the situation? That would be a huge loss.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu? Have you encountered some difficulty?" Wang Changsheng said with a sincere smile. "Fellow Daoist Tong and I once fought side by side. If you're facing any trouble, just tell me, and I'll help if I can." Sun Junyan and Zhao Kun were likely pressuring Zhu Yunzhen to agree to a condition, so Wang Changsheng naturally couldn't let Sun Junyan succeed. He spoke up, expressing his support for Zhu Yunzhen.

Zhu Yunzhen breathed a sigh of relief. With a wry smile, he recounted the entire incident.

"Our Imperial Spirit Sect is not a major sect, but our disciples would certainly not intentionally harm disciples of the Heavenly Soldier Gate. According to the testimony of the surviving Nephew Li, they were attacked by Heavenly Soldier Gate disciples and only retaliated. Unexpectedly, Fellow Daoist Sun has twisted the truth, insisting that Fellow Daoist Zhao's kin died at the hands of our Imperial Spirit Sect disciples, and has even put forth two harsh conditions."

Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong exchanged glances and nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, if I may speak fairly, you cannot slander Fellow Daoist Zhu without proof. Even if Imperial Spirit Sect disciples did kill Fellow Daoist Zhao's kin, that would be a matter among the younger generation. The two conditions you've proposed are far too harsh!"

Ye Tong echoed, "Precisely! Fellow Daoist Sun, your Heavenly Soldier Gate acts too overbearingly! We are all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. If news of such conduct spreads, it will be despised."

Sun Junyan's brow furrowed tightly. From Wang Changsheng's and Ye Tong's words, it seemed they intended to stand up for Zhu Yunzhen. What benefit had Zhu Yunzhen offered them? Why would Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong suddenly champion Zhu Yunzhen's cause?

The combined number of Core Formation cultivators from Green Lotus Villa, Hundred Spirits Gate, and Imperial Spirit Sect totaled four, which was more than the Heavenly Soldier Gate possessed.

Sun Junyan was naturally not intimidated by Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong. After a moment's thought, he sneered, "A life for a life, a debt for a debt – that's only right and proper. If Fellow Daoist Zhu refuses to acknowledge this, then we shall see what the future holds. Junior Brother Zhao's kin will not have died in vain."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong fell silent. If Zhu Yunzhen didn't offer some benefit, they wouldn't intervene. This wasn't merely a matter of words; if the Heavenly Soldier Gate and Imperial Spirit Sect engaged in open conflict, Green Lotus Villa and the Hundred Spirits Gate would certainly have to support the Imperial Spirit Sect.

Zhu Yunzhen's face showed his dilemma. He was fending off a tiger at the front door only to find wolves entering through the back. None of these visiting Core Formation cultivators were good news, but the Heavenly Soldier Gate's conditions were too demanding.

After a moment of contemplation, he secretly transmitted a message to Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong: "Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Ye, our Imperial Spirit Sect is willing to form an alliance with you to resist the Heavenly Soldier Gate. What are your thoughts? I am willing to offer four prefectures' worth of territory to both of you. What do you say?"

Four prefectures was not a small amount of territory. Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong exchanged messages and agreed.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, we are all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. Do not act too aggressively. I, Wang, stand with the Imperial Spirit Sect."

"Our Hundred Spirits Gate is also willing to stand with the Imperial Spirit Sect and advance or retreat together with Green Lotus Villa."

Sun Junyan gave Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong a meaningful look, then flicked his sleeve and departed with Zhao Kun.

Zhu Yunzhen breathed a sigh of relief, forcing a smile onto his face. He said, "Thank you, two fellow Daoists, for your assistance. I will send someone later to handle the transfer of those four prefectures' territory to you. I hope you two fellow Daoists will not violate your oath and that we will advance and retreat together."

He was currently afraid that Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong would go back on their word, which would be a huge loss for the Imperial Spirit Sect.

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Zhu, I, Wang, am a man of my word. Fellow Daoist Ye and I have discussed this. Our three factions should jointly establish a large market city. With common interests, we will truly be allies. What do you think?"

The Wei Kingdom currently had only two large market cities. The Five Sects of the Wei Kingdom were vested interest groups, with the Yellow Saint Palace holding the largest share. Since Tong Tianqi's demise, the Imperial Spirit Sect's interests in those two market cities had significantly decreased. Wang Changsheng's proposal was exactly what Zhu Yunzhen had hoped for.

In the two existing large market cities, the Wang family's shops were rented, incurring monthly fees. Wang Changsheng wanted to bring the Hundred Spirits Gate and Imperial Spirit Sect together to establish a third large market city, aiming to become a new vested interest group. This would also tie the Imperial Spirit Sect and Hundred Spirits Gate to the Wang family, ensuring they prospered or suffered together.

The number of Core Formation cultivators in the Wei Kingdom had changed, and the balance had been broken. Wang Changsheng had to seize this opportunity to secure more benefits.

Zhu Yunzhen nodded with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Wang, I like what I hear. Common interests truly make allies. I agree. You've had a tiring journey. I'll have a banquet prepared so we can talk while we drink."

He summoned two Foundation Establishment disciples and instructed them to prepare a banquet to properly host Wang Changsheng and Ye Tong.