Chapter 433: Discussing Matters and Ambush

Heh.

A warm, moist breath brushed against his neck, spreading along his jawline, bringing a sensation of humid warmth to the area. It was wonderfully tingly.

Jin Miaoshan's green dress revealed her fair shoulders and collarbones. A pattern of green and white lotus flowers cupped her bosom, yet not a hint of cleavage was visible.

Combining alluring sensuality with conservatism, her figure made one's throat dry. Her body, twisting like a water snake, repeatedly brushed and rubbed against him.

Truly, she was an enchantress!

At this moment, sensing the change in Wang Yu's body, Jin Miaoshan abruptly left his embrace. She pulled out a small round fan and coquettishly covered the lower half of her face.

Her eyes curved, revealing a hint of a smile.

“I thought you, Brother Wang, were just a cultivation fanatic with no sense of romance. But after today’s little test, you seem to have quite the fire in you, don't you?”

Wang Yu smiled dismissively and walked over to a small round table inside the building, taking a seat.

As the saying goes, a man’s 'big head' is often ruled by his 'small head.' Most men are driven by their base desires, and humans are also unique in being perpetually driven by reproductive urges throughout the year. The desire to procreate is universal.

He had strong self-control, but knew when to relax it appropriately.

What just happened was her way of testing him.

Wang Yu responded, “Miaoshan, a bit of fun is fine, but don’t get too deeply involved. We cultivators should devote ourselves to the grand scheme of heaven and earth. If we can achieve immortality, it won't be too late to seek spiritual companionship then.”

“Pah!”

His words contained both teasing and sincerity, but they made Jin Miaoshan flush. She spat out a retort, though she didn't pursue the topic further.

Her expression returned to its usual composure, and she sat down opposite Wang Yu.

“Demon Lord, I trust you’ve been well. Let’s get down to business.”

“I’m all ears.”

He leaned back, and fine ice crystals spread out beneath him, quickly forming a comfortable recliner. He settled into it, and a Blood Fiend Gourd appeared in his hand.

The spiritual wine brewed from blood gurgled out, flowing directly into Wang Yu’s mouth.

After years of secluded cultivation, this was a good time to relax. He was also a man who appreciated good wine.

However, his casual demeanor somewhat displeased Jin Miaoshan.

Nevertheless, she began to speak of serious matters.

“Jin Lin recently took on a commission from the Yellow Springs Sect. He sent people to Golden Toad City to retrieve a valuable treasure, rumored to be an artifact from the era of the Nether Spring White Bone Dao.

“He specifically traveled south from Youzhou to rendezvous with the treasure escort team. The number of powerful cultivators is immense, so if we want to succeed, we must act before they meet.”

The Nether Spring White Bone Dao was the predecessor of the Yellow Springs Sect. The latter inherited the former’s sect legacy and formally established itself in the Red Kite Demonic Domain ten thousand years ago.

In terms of cultivation methods, they are from the same lineage, but they are indeed two distinct powers.

Wang Yu’s focus differed from Jin Miaoshan’s. His drinking motion paused slightly.

“What kind of treasure?”

“It’s the Yellow Springs Scrying Mirror, a fifth-tier spiritual treasure. It’s incomplete due to a complete loss of its spiritual essence. All I know is that it was a secret treasure of the Nether Spring White Bone Dao. I’m not entirely clear on its specific effects or what price the Yellow Springs Sect paid for it.”

Wang Yu suddenly stood up. Each fifth-tier spiritual treasure is renowned and incredibly rare, only occasionally unearthed from ruins or secret realms.

He had never possessed one before. If he could acquire this one, his power in the Nascent Soul stage would become even greater.

Jin Miaoshan, who guessed what he was thinking, spoke exasperatedly.

“The escort team is very powerful. If Jin Lin truly dies, the Golden Tower will investigate. That treasure is an asset of the Tower, and Jin Lin is merely representing the Tower in a transaction with the Yellow Springs Sect.

“If it gets lost as a result, they will definitely send powerful cultivators to retrieve it, and I won’t be able to protect you then.”

She could take responsibility for a killing, as it would be considered a struggle between succession candidates. However, colluding with outsiders to seize a major treasure from the Tower would be an entirely different matter.

Not only does she lack the standing, but even Venerable Jin Xi, a late Nascent Soul cultivator, would be branded a traitor for such an act and relentlessly hunted down.

After her warning, Wang Yu understood upon reflection. He didn't dwell on it excessively.

“Tell me about the powerful cultivators accompanying Jin Lin.”

“That’s exactly what I intended to do.”

“Due to the ongoing conflict, the Golden Tower in Youzhou has dispatched a large number of Nascent Soul-level Tower Lords to hold positions there. There are five early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in total. While they are technically subordinate to Jin Lin, they won't entirely submit to his commands.”

That being said, since they were dispatched to hold key positions in Youzhou, they must have some familial ties or inseparable interests with Jin Lin’s faction.

It’s impossible that they would completely follow the orders of a junior, but they would certainly assist him in a crisis. Therefore, acting in Youzhou is unrealistic and would easily lead to being surrounded.

Wang Yu grasped the meaning Jin Miaoshan wanted to convey.

He gestured for her to continue.

“His personal guardian, also due to the war, has advanced by a major realm. He is a cultivator who has just entered the late Nascent Soul stage, and I believe you are quite familiar with him.”

“I’m familiar with him?”

Wang Yu’s heart stirred.

“Mystic Lord Wu Ying?”

“Precisely. Lou Gao, who attempted to assassinate me years ago, was his senior disciple. Not long after that incident, Mystic Lord Wu Ying completely sided with Jin Lin’s faction.

“All the Shadowless Assassins he trained have been assigned to Jin Lin’s command. While their combat strength is ordinary, their abilities in infiltration and intelligence gathering are formidable.”

These assassins primarily rely on heretical Golden Cores, allowing them to directly advance from the peak of Foundation Establishment to the peak of Core Formation, but preventing any further progress in their lifetime.

Moreover, the heretical Golden Cores within their bodies are inheritable; even if they die, the cores can be extracted and used by the next successor.

The transmission of this secret art originated from Mystic Lord Wu Ying.

After he contributed it to the Golden Tower, Jin Lin’s faction acquired it and spent immense resources to create three hundred heretical Golden Cores, specifically for use as suicidal enforcers.

Over years of use, some have been destroyed or lost, but there are still over two hundred left. The value they have generated has already far exceeded the cost of refining the heretical Golden Cores.

It’s unknown if another batch will be refined.

“Mystic Lord Wu Ying and this batch of assassins are quite troublesome. I’ve already entrusted Venerable Jin Xi to investigate him. Additionally, Jin Lin has two other Nascent Soul cultivators by his side.

“One is the Curse Ghost Demon Lord from the Yellow Springs Sect, who is accompanying the treasure escort team. He is at the third layer of the Nascent Soul stage and specializes in curse arts and spiritual sense secret techniques, making him very difficult to deal with.

“The other is an elder of Jin Lin’s, called Daoist Jin Yan. He is also at the third layer of the Nascent Soul stage and is skilled in sword manipulation techniques, with extreme speed.”

After this calculation, Wang Yu had a clear idea of the situation.

Making a preliminary assessment by pairing them up, they were still short one Nascent Soul cultivator. Thinking of this, Wang Yu suddenly asked with curiosity.

“The last time we parted, you said you would have formed your Nascent Soul by our next meeting. Has that come to pass?”

Jin Miaoshan’s face immediately fell. He had to mention the very thing she was sensitive about.

She retorted stubbornly.

“It’s only been a little over ten years. I’ve just barely reached the peak of Core Formation. I still need some time to refine myself before attempting to form my Nascent Soul, and I’ll also need to return to Golden Toad City to begin that breakthrough.”

Jin Miaoshan possessed a rather advanced concealment magic treasure.

Simple probing wouldn't reveal it, and forcibly prying would be rude. So Wang Yu hadn't intentionally touched a sore spot.

“In that case, the situation means I’ll be fighting two? Do you have confidence in killing Jin Lin?”

“Don’t worry, there are other helpers. You’ll find out when we reach Taozhou.”

“Very well, I’ll follow your arrangements this time.”