Chapter 358: Seven Elder Wang Yu

Out of a simple desire to be given face, and because Wang Yu only needed this title as a bargaining chip to enhance his standing, he chose the lowest-ranking of the four seats held by the Zuoqiu clan.

This was Zuoqiu Bo, a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage, approximately 600 years old. He still had a chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage, though without breakthrough spiritual items to assist him, his success rate would be incredibly low.

Often, among thousands of peak Core Formation cultivators eligible to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough, the emergence of even a few Nascent Soul cultivators was considered a great blessing. The vast majority could not break through relying solely on themselves.

Among these, luck was also an indispensable factor.

Most of the newly formed Nascent Soul cultivators in Nine Peaks originated from the Elder Council, especially the top three elders who, besides being powerful, also controlled considerable resources. Every so often, they would add to the sect's foundation, truly acting as a "cradle" for future patriarchs.

Wang Yu was aiming for the Seventh Elder position. He would first discuss it with them, then convene the other eleven elders to witness the agreement. Once done, the Coldblood Mountain Lord would have no say in the matter, even if he wanted to interfere, as this was a share voluntarily relinquished by the Zuoqiu clan internally. He had no standing to stop it.

The two arrived outside Zuoqiu Bo's cave dwelling. Upon triggering the protective wind chimes at the entrance, he quickly emerged, his eyes showing a hint of confusion.

"Huang Jiu... Are you Wang Yu?"

"Greetings, Seventh Elder."

After paying his respects, Wang Yu let Huang Jiu take the lead in negotiations. Neither he nor his sister could, by rights, interfere in this matter, as they were merely relatives by marriage to the Zuoqiu clan. However, Zuoqiu Ming's mother was a resourceful individual. She herself was a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and her grandfather, the Huang Clan Patriarch, was also an early Nascent Soul stage cultivator. A woman's status in her husband's family was not only tied to her own strength but also significantly influenced by the strength of her maternal clan. This was precisely the allure of political marriages.

Huang Jiu stepped forward, presented the token given to him by his sister, and spoke concisely. "Brother Bo, would you be willing to yield your position to Wang Yu?"

"This..." Zuoqiu Bo frowned, naturally unwilling. How comfortable was this position? He had attendants, great power, and abundant resources readily available. Even if he didn't need them himself, it was excellent for paving the way for his descendants and accumulating family wealth. He genuinely wouldn't agree unless absolutely necessary. However, the Zuoqiu Clan Matriarch's token made it very difficult for him to refuse.

He deliberated for a while before finally speaking. "Has the Clan Head been informed?"

"Of course." Acting first and informing later was Zuoqiu Ming's idea. He was probably now figuring out how to smooth things over. Regardless, securing the seat first was the correct approach. It was half persuasion, half coercion.

After a long pause for thought, Zuoqiu Bo said with a grim expression, "I understand, but we still need to follow the proper procedure. If young friend Wang Yu's strength proves insufficient, don't blame this old man for ousting you."

Hearing this, Wang Yu naturally nodded. Such an attitude was perfect for letting off some steam. He also wanted to test just how formidable these individuals, who theoretically possessed top-tier Core Formation stage combat power, truly were. Zuoqiu Bo was simply taking advantage of his youth, wanting to obstruct him under the guise of procedural fairness. But... he was thinking too much.

Soon after, eleven members of the Elder Council arrived from all directions, all at the peak of the Core Formation stage. They lived year-round on Coldblood Peak, coordinating resources sent from various places and managing all internal sect affairs. They rarely traveled far, especially the higher-ranking ones, who harbored a significant desire to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

The First, Third, Fifth, and Tenth Elders were members of the Zhuo clan. The Second, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Elders belonged to the Zuoqiu clan. The Eighth and Twelfth Elders came from the Ji family, to which the Frost Demon Lord belonged. The Ninth and Eleventh Elders were the Coldblood Mountain Lord's people.

Looking at this ranking, it's clear how much influence the Zhuo and Zuoqiu clans wielded—and this was just the tip of the iceberg. No wonder the Coldblood Mountain Lord and the Frost Demon Lord dared not contend with them. They could only vie for minor advantages among themselves.

"Since everyone is here, let the Elder Council's position challenge begin!" The First Elder glanced at Wang Yu. This individual's candidacy had originally been established at Zhuo Shouqing's request, but now he had sided with the Zuoqiu clan. Although the two clans were closely aligned, they were ultimately distinct, and he couldn't help but feel some reservations about Wang Yu.

Of course, the thought of the outcome of the struggle between the two Zhuos silenced him. He had originally intended to revoke Wang Yu's Elder Council candidacy as a gesture of allegiance to Zhuo Shouyun. However, with this turn of events, it was better not to interfere.

"Right here?"

"Naturally. Coldblood Peak is protected by formations, so it won't easily collapse. Young friend Wang can rest assured." Zuoqiu Bo replied, his figure already soaring into the sky.

Wang Yu transformed into a streak of aurora and pursued him. Immediately, he launched several Soul Destruction Finger attacks. As a secret spiritual technique of the Heavenly Soul Sect, even though it wasn't a divine ability, its power was quite considerable. Especially after Wang Yu cultivated it to the perfect realm, he had a thorough understanding of its variations. With the enhancement of his early fourth-tier spiritual sense, each Soul Destruction Finger extended nearly a hundred meters.

A fierce soul-destroying aura surged forth. Zuoqiu Bo's expression turned serious. A lotus-shaped spiritual artifact flew out from between his eyebrows, suspending itself above his head. The radiant light it emitted blocked all the incoming Soul Destruction Fingers.

"What a strong foundation, what a fine artifact." Such spiritual artifacts were among the rarest in the cultivation world! Very few possessed such treasures. This showed how many treasures the opponent had acquired during his tenure as Seventh Elder.

"It's rude not to reciprocate. Young friend Wang Yu, let's see how powerful this old man's divine ability is."

A phantom eye pattern suddenly materialized behind Zuoqiu Bo. A cold, eerie sensation swept over, and it felt as if countless invisible ghostly hands surrounded them, seeking to drag Wang Yu into an boundless illusion.

"Illusory Yin Profound Ice Art?" He subconsciously recalled a third-tier top-grade cultivation method with extremely powerful illusionary divine abilities, whose description he had briefly reviewed when choosing his techniques years ago.

"Unfortunately... before me, illusion techniques are not enough." His mind-lake rippled. His Asura Killing Intent, sharpened by the Empty Self Realm, activated. This firm heart of his was enough to shield him from illusory interference.

His divine ability shattered. Before Zuoqiu Bo could react, the incredibly fast Wang Yu had already closed the distance. With a beautiful wife waiting at home to learn alchemy, he needed to finish this quickly.

—Lesser Asura Killing Fist!

Killing intent materialized, transforming into a boundless sea of blood, as a half-Asura form violently struck a punch. In an instant, the protective lotus artifact guarding Zuoqiu Bo's mind dimmed. Gritting his teeth, Zuoqiu Bo unleashed his natal artifact—a purification vase-like treasure. Upon appearing, it rapidly expanded. The suction force emanating from its mouth furiously absorbed the power of the blood sea of killing intent. As the killing fist neared, a blood-red beam of light suddenly erupted from the vase's mouth.

Using force against force! Using one's mind to wear down another's. Indeed, he had some tricks. However, after being tempered by the Bloodkill Stele, Wang Yu's mastery of killing intent was far superior to his former self. With a thought, using his perfect realm mastery, the killing fist multiplied into a hundred. Although the power was divided, the effect was not diminished in the slightest. The blood-red beam only managed to erode a portion of the fist imprints. Dozens of the remaining fists struck Zuoqiu Bo.

Lacking mental protection, Zuoqiu Bo, struck by the Lesser Asura Killing Fist, immediately froze in place, covered in bruises and swelling. Opportunity knocks but once. Given Wang Yu's talent and keenness in combat, he naturally wouldn't let such an excellent opportunity slip. The Lapis Lazuli Ice Heart Pagoda emerged from his Qi Sea, and the Cold Moon Pearl at its summit shone brightly. Considering this wasn't a fight to the death, he didn't use the Twelve Aspects of Guanghan. Instead, he enhanced the Ice Soul Divine Light with his natal artifact and fired it. When the indigo beam swept over him, Zuoqiu Bo's aura rapidly weakened, and he transformed into a massive ice block, plummeting towards the ground, his body and soul showing faint signs of fading away. The domineering power of the Ice Soul Divine Light was undeniably revealed.

Wang Yu's peripheral vision caught the onlookers. His figure flickered, and he abruptly appeared behind Zuoqiu Bo. A dragon's roar pierced the sky. With a powerful, heavy punch, his right hand transformed into a seemingly materialized Dark Nether Dragon Head... Demon Dragon Fist! With this punch, Zuoqiu Bo would undoubtedly die.

Just then, the First Elder suddenly appeared, his face grim, and slammed a palm horizontally, forcibly deflecting Wang Yu's right hand slightly. The air shrieked! A ring of shockwaves rapidly expanded, the air becoming viscous from the impact. A white pillar of energy violently struck Coldblood Peak below, producing a thunderous roar.

"Enough!" The First Elder subtly put his hands behind his back, his fingers and palms subtly trembling within his sleeves, blood oozing from under his fingernails. He had clearly been injured by the rebound. In contrast, Wang Yu merely smiled as if nothing had happened. "I didn't expect Elder Bo to be so weak; I've only just warmed up. First Elder, are you interested in having a go with me?"

"Hmph—" The First Elder did not reply. Instead, he lifted Zuoqiu Bo and publicly announced the result. "Wang Yu wins this battle! From now on, he will take over the Seventh Elder's seat!"

The other elders offered their congratulations one after another. They were truly surprised by Wang Yu's power after his return from the Blood Abyss. It was said that he had broken through to the Core Formation stage less than forty years ago, yet he could defeat a peak Core Formation Elder from the Council. Compared to his current strength, this potential was far more significant. He was undeniably a talent destined for the Nascent Soul stage!

The remaining three elders from the Zuoqiu clan, the two from the Ji family, and the two from the Coldblood Mountain Lord's faction all smiled kindly at Wang Yu. Only the Zhuo clan elders remained unmoved. Without the First Elder's lead, they showed no intention of even stirring.

On top of Coldblood Peak, the Coldblood Mountain Lord, who had been secretly observing, acutely perceived Wang Yu's strength and was deeply shocked. "A late Core Formation cultivation base, early fourth-tier spiritual sense, and his body refining realm is hard to judge... at least late third-tier. Truly astounding!" Although Wang Yu's final chosen path wasn't what he had hoped for, after seeing such strength displayed, his perception of Wang Yu changed. "As long as this young man doesn't die, reaching the Nascent Soul stage is practically a certainty. It seems I'll have to find a way to mend our relations regarding the Blood Pool Baptism." And Yan Ling... He had previously thought Wang Yu wasn't fond of beautiful women, but after discovering Tantai Chan, that view wavered. It wasn't that he disliked them, but that he disliked trouble. If he could arrange for the two to become cultivation partners, after Wang Yu reached the Nascent Soul stage, he would naturally be a member of the Coldblood Master-Disciple faction, which could help him overpower the Frost Demon Lord. "This matter still requires long-term deliberation."

Meanwhile, after thawing the ice on Zuoqiu Bo, the First Elder personally retrieved the Seventh Elder's identification ring and updated Wang Yu's ice crown. This was not only a symbol of status but also allowed control over Coldblood Peak's formations. This time, the controllable portion was even greater, reaching one-twelfth control over it. When the Elder Council members joined forces, they could fully activate Coldblood Peak's fourth-tier formation, which was sufficient to counter any danger below the late Nascent Soul stage. This was equivalent to gaining another layer of security within the sect.

Zuoqiu Bo, looking somewhat dejected after losing his Seventh Elder seat, bid farewell to everyone and left the sect, presumably heading back to Xianyin to inform his family.

Wang Yu achieved his long-sought goal. His mind finally settled. The entire process took less than an hour, practically resolved at light speed.

Furthermore, regarding the Blood Pool Baptism, a meeting would be held in about half a month. Wang Yu would be both a participant and a decision-maker, a truly remarkable feeling. It was like a competition where he was both a contestant and a judge, having the authority to decide who received the gold medal. It felt incredibly satisfying.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with everyone, he finally took his leave. Wang Yu personally escorted Huang Jiu out of the sect. The latter, for a moment, felt a tinge of emotion, continuously scrutinizing Wang Yu as if he were a monster.

"Brother Wang truly lives up to his reputation. That boy Zhuo Shouqing's decision not to trust you was truly foolish."

Wang Yu smiled dismissively. "Perhaps this is fate. Such a favorable situation was disrupted like this, and Zhuo Shouyun's schemes were a major factor. You can't blame Zhuo Shouqing entirely."

"Alas..." Though he said this, it was merely polite talk. Back then, he had stumbled at the final step of forming his Nascent Soul, enduring much scorn and slander. He held a particular familiarity and sentiment for the term "fate."

"You're right. Farewell, Brother Wang."

"I'll visit Xianyin when I have time. We are sure to meet again."

"Hahahahaha~"

With Huang Jiu sent off, Wang Yu had essentially handled everything since leaving the Blood Abyss. Now, he just awaited the Blood Pool Baptism to see how much it could enhance his strength.

In addition, he also needed to set up more types of alchemy techniques. He still had five Heavenly Demons sealed, which he had lured with the Sky Mirror. Once he fully utilized them, he would have even greater confidence against Fu Xiao. This matter had to be resolved before breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. Spiritual body aptitude was also a significant aid, particularly its boost to cultivation efficiency. Improving his foundational conditions was a lifelong endeavor. Only then could he maximize the effect of the placement slots.

Shortly after, in Wang Yu's cave dwelling.

After successfully returning home, as soon as he entered, he saw Yu Tangtang straddling the Five-tailed Snow Fox, laughing heartily as she tugged on the little fox's ears. Her boisterous child nature was on full display. Xueyu blinked her large, pitiful eyes, casting a pleading glance at her master, but Wang Yu, however, decisively ignored it. A dignified third-tier demon beast wouldn't die from a bit of play. Yu Tangtang knew her limits and didn't really hurt her.

Beside them, Tantai Chan sat on a chair, holding a cup of tea, watching the two little ones play, creating an exceptionally warm scene. It wasn't until she saw Wang Yu that her eyes lit up.

"You're back."

"Yes, the matter is concluded."

Wang Yu waved to Yu Tangtang, who immediately pounced on him. The weighty little girl felt weightless in his arms. After some playful banter, he finally brought up the main topic. "Daddy said that since you're back, you should take care of all the important matters. Here's the pill list; the required quantities and spiritual herbs are all ready."

Wang Yu looked helpless. His current demand for third-tier resources wasn't significant. To achieve a noticeable effect, he needed higher-tier, rare fourth-tier resources. Even the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon didn't possess many treasures of that caliber.

"How about this..."