Chapter 496: Old Storms Turn to Spring Breeze, Visiting Wanbao to Display Divine Powers

Miaoshan Hall.

This was Jin Miaoshan's territory. Golden Toad City was divided into several layers based on the density of shops, and her area was undoubtedly the core.

Yan Ling, meanwhile, had been arranged by Wang Yu to temporarily stay at an inn in the outer circle. They planned to reunite after the Myriad Treasure Secret Realm opened. The two women meeting was not an issue in itself.

The main reason was that engaging in certain private activities would be inconvenient.

So, they kept separate when possible.

Evening.

A private banquet was held as usual. Miaoshan wore an emerald silk and cloud-patterned skirt, her slender waist cinched by a jade belt, and her fair, delicate hands rested on her lower abdomen.

Her exquisite, shapely curves were unreservedly displayed.

Her pretty, unadorned face held a charming smile, and two jade-colored beaded hairpins subtly swayed as she naturally sat down beside Wang Yu.

“Let’s eat while we talk. Jin Xuanxuan will be coming over soon.”

“Oh?”

Jin Xuanxuan’s visit was likely to discuss the matter of the Old Demon Heavenly Ghost's progeny. It was both troublesome and not, primarily an opportunity to persuade Jin Xuanxuan to join her side against Jin Chixuan.

She already had a clear idea of how to proceed.

Wang Yu’s slight surprise wasn't feigned; he had thought tonight would be an evening for the two of them to simply enjoy themselves. Of course, handling some business was fine too, as long as they could still have a good time.

Given Miaoshan’s careful preparation, tonight was clearly destined to be a blossoming of old affections, like rain after a long drought. Both knew what was likely to happen.

Golden Toad City, a merchant guild city in the southern part of Scarlet Kite,

offered a vast array of unique spirit foods from all corners of the world: delicacies from mountains and seas, shadowy beasts, and flying creatures – truly everything imaginable.

After several rounds of wine and many dishes had been consumed,

Wang Yu, his taste buds thoroughly satisfied, then saw Jin Xuanxuan hurrying in. Although Jin Xuanxuan and Jin Miaoshan belonged to different branches of the family, they were still close relatives, within five generations.

Jin Xuanxuan even had to call Jin Miaoshan her elder cousin.

Their faces bore a slight resemblance, but upon closer inspection, their styles were entirely different. Jin Miaoshan, at first glance, exuded an air of nobility and mercantile shrewdness, yet with prolonged contact, she revealed a gentle and charming demeanor, essentially a naive and sweet personality.

Jin Xuanxuan, with delicate features, carried herself with an aloof air. Her eyes conveyed a strong, mature presence, and her long legs were encased in silk stockings woven from the threads of black-gold divine silkworms.

Though thin as cicada wings, they provided more resilient protection than heavy armor. Wang Yu’s eyes lit up; these black-gold silkworm silk leggings were practically identical to the stockings from his previous life.

The Joyful Union Demonic Sect really committed all sorts of evils!

To think they had such an item and didn't promote it more! Hiding it and keeping it for themselves was truly excessive. If it were widely introduced, their brothel business would surely soar to new heights.

Demonic cultivators were, by nature, a group incapable of restraining their desires.

They acted on every whim.

Jin Xuanxuan slowly walked in from outside the hall, her round, lustrous eyes fixed directly on Wang Yu as she spoke.

“Elder Cousin Miaoshan, your companion is quite handsome. When do you plan to become cultivation partners? Your younger cousin will surely prepare a generous gift to congratulate you then.”

She started with a preemptive strike.

She completely avoided mentioning the Old Demon Heavenly Ghost’s progeny, instead using the topic of cultivation partners to initiate conversation. Her true intention was to gauge whether Wang Yu was infatuated with Jin Miaoshan, or if her elder cousin was infatuated with Wang Yu.

She was well aware of Wang Yu’s past actions.

The higher-ups of Golden Pagoda House, including Jin Miaoshan’s parents, held little fondness for Wang Yu. After all, he had almost ruined Golden Pagoda House’s reputation in the Scarlet Kite Demonic Domain.

Even though they salvaged the situation in time, the losses incurred were still considerable.

Bringing it up now, if both had intentions of dominating the other, it would serve as an emotional wedge.

Jin Miaoshan secretly glanced at Wang Yu.

Then she said,

“You don’t need to worry about that, younger cousin. Let's get down to business.”

Seeing her avoidance, Jin Xuanxuan immediately felt she had a greater advantage.

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“Your maternal uncle seems to have some reservations about Fellow Daoist Wang. Shall your younger cousin offer you a suggestion? I can certainly help you smooth over any issues with your elders, in exchange for…”

Before she could finish, Wang Yu lightly coughed, interrupting her.

He nudged Jin Miaoshan’s calf, jolting her back to reality. Hearing Jin Xuanxuan’s words, her father’s face had involuntarily appeared in her mind.

If she were to truly propose becoming cultivation partners, it would most likely end badly.

Jin Miaoshan: You don’t understand him at all.

Jin’s Father: I’ll deal with him right now.

While Wang Yu was famous, much of his reputation stemmed from negative incidents. His unruly nature made it difficult for him to gain favor with merchant guilds like Golden Pagoda House.

They detested individuals who disregarded rules yet could exploit them.

For a true marriage alliance, a righteous Nascent Soul cultivator from Lake Tai would clearly be more suitable.

Dismissing the random thoughts in her mind,

Jin Miaoshan said,

“Cousin, matters of love and affection might be a lifelong pursuit for mortals, but for us cultivators, they are merely a fleeting adornment on the path to immortality.

There’s no need to care whether one has a cultivation partner; even living a lifetime alone is a minor matter. Let's discuss proper business.”

The attempt to sow discord failed, but Jin Xuanxuan still gathered information.

Wang Yu and Jin Miaoshan’s relationship was not one where they couldn’t live without each other, as Jin Xuanxuan had imagined. To put it bluntly, they were merely “partners,” and there was still room for maneuver.

However,

she currently had no idea how to poach him. The current situation had already disrupted her plans.

She could only frown and respond, “Elder Sister, state your terms. How can Young Master You be released?”

The Old Demon Heavenly Ghost was her protector, their fates intertwined. And since he had only one child late in life, his sole heir, it was impossible not to save him.

However, he was now in Wang Yu’s hands.

Given his public assassination of the Black-Eyed Elder earlier, Golden Pagoda House’s internal assessment indicated that Wang Yu likely possessed battle prowess comparable to a peak Nascent Soul cultivator.

Such strength made him one of the top cultivators in the entire Ice Hell Realm. The three remaining inheritance candidates, on the other hand, had only late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators as their strongest support.

After all, Golden Pagoda House's peak cultivators couldn't constantly follow them; they maintained their basic prestige and freedom. The merchant guild only had a patron-client relationship with them.

In favorable situations, they were a united front, ensuring solidarity.

In adverse situations, however, it was uncertain. It depended entirely on the intimacy of their personal connections. Golden Pagoda House had operated for many years, and many powerful individuals, connected by shared interests, had become true insiders.

Others still remained outside the core circle.

Wang Yu’s influence exerted immense pressure on the younger generation, which was why Jin Chixuan was so eager to exclude him from Golden Toad City.

Unable to compete directly, he had resorted to petty tricks.

“The terms are simple: I will release the Old Demon Heavenly Ghost’s sole son, and you will join my side to collectively suppress and marginalize Chixuan’s faction within the House. There’s no need for any underhanded tactics.

You only need to maintain this stance until the competition ends. What do you say, younger cousin?”

Jin Xuanxuan frowned deeply.

This would certainly guarantee Jin Chixuan’s defeat, but she herself would also become a loser. The position of Golden Pagoda House Master would be inherited by Jin Miaoshan, and in a few more decades,

Jin Miaoshan would naturally become the family head of the Heavenly Pool Jin Clan.

She would then hold complete power.

However, whether it was the Jin Clan or Golden Pagoda House, their power structures differed from those of demonic sects. It was difficult to establish a system where one person held absolute power, as elders would provide checks and balances.

Many decisions had to be made by vote.

Therefore, if she agreed, she would have to remain in the same faction as Jin Miaoshan to ensure their voices were heard. If they were to split immediately after the results were out,

these younger generations would find it difficult to contend with the influence of the older generation. In such a scenario, what would be the point of becoming the House Master?

Jin Miaoshan’s terms, seemingly temporary, were in fact an attempt to forge a closer relationship with Jin Xuanxuan’s faction. As she pondered this,

Jin Xuanxuan suddenly said,

“If Elder Sister can promise to promote me to the position of General House Master of Lake Tai, then this matter can certainly be agreed upon.”

She wanted a share of the power!

She wouldn't agree to this without any benefits; it was impossible to give up so many rights just for the sake of a dissolute young master. This was her due.

Jin Miaoshan thought for a moment, then said,

“Agreed, but five seats on the Elder Council must be transferred to my faction.”

“Five? That’s impossible!”

Jin Xuanxuan vehemently retorted, but Jin Miaoshan merely smiled.

“Don’t forget that Jin Lin and Jin Chixuan also have numerous Elder Council seats behind them. If you and I, sisters, work together wholeheartedly, we can divide them up cleanly—half for each. What do you say?”

This was akin to modern corporate shareholding. Jin Miaoshan needed to ensure that her faction’s votes on the Elder Council could consistently outweigh the combined total of all others.

By demanding five seats first, she aimed to gain a significant advantage at the outset. This way, even if more seats were distributed later, it wouldn’t be a major issue.

As long as she ensured her own people on the Elder Council were not swayed by other family branches, she could firmly secure the position of House Master.

This time, Jin Xuanxuan didn't ponder for too long.

Since she couldn't defeat Jin Miaoshan, becoming the second-in-command wasn’t a bad outcome.

“Is that a promise?”

“It is, and cannot be taken back!”

As the cooperation was finalized, the atmosphere instantly grew harmonious. After exchanging a few compliments, Jin Xuanxuan followed an attendant to retrieve Young Master You from True Monarch Jin Xiyuan’s residence.

Only Wang Yu and Jin Miaoshan remained in the hall.

The hall doors and windows were tightly shut. In the private space, an intimate atmosphere quickly enveloped them, and the temperature within the hall gradually rose.

At some point, a restrictive light barrier enveloped the palace.

Jin Miaoshan said tenderly,

“Wang Yu, thank you so much for today.”

“They came to me, besides… what’s the point of a verbal thank you? How about something more substantial?”

Seeing his mischievous smirk and raised eyebrow, Miaoshan playfully slapped him, feigning annoyance. Her shapely buttocks had, at some point, left the octagonal stool.

She smoothly slid onto Wang Yu’s lap.

Her slender, jade-like hands circled his neck, and she whispered, her breath like orchids,

“Tonight, anything you want to do is fine~”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm.”

At this, a certain Wang grew eager.

He leaned in, his lips close to Miaoshan’s ear, and whispered something. Her cheeks immediately flushed crimson, and her eyes seemed to brim with moisture.

A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz sounded, almost inaudible without careful listening.

“If you wish… let’s try it.”

Outside the hall.

The round, bright moon had, at some point, emerged halfway from the layers of advancing clouds. Nightingales soared with outstretched wings, their clear, melodious calls like the hands of a musician.

A grand symphony, like "High Mountains and Flowing Water," unmistakably revealed the essence of deep valleys and secluded pools through its music, at times graceful and lingering, at times soaring with momentum, carrying listeners into a boundless reverie.

The moonlight was hazy and beautiful, a sight that all people yearned for.

Several attendants sat on the steps outside the hall.

They collectively admired the beautiful moon. One of them couldn't help but murmur,

“Look at the moon. Doesn’t it look like a longan fruit?”

“Fool! How can you describe it like that? It’s called a white jade plate, delicate as mutton-fat jade, and as moist as a crystal grape. If only we could take it down and hold it.”

“Are you a pig? You call me foolish, but how can you take the moon down? Do you expect it to be like a steamed bun, to be kneaded however you like?”

“You’re foolish!”

“You’re stupid!”

“You’re a pig.”

“No, you’re the pig.”

The attendants’ whispers had no effect whatsoever on the figures inside the hall, who were gradually entwining. Emotions that had been suppressed for years erupted at this moment.

Tonight—sleepless!

One month later.

In the center of Golden Toad City, in front of a resplendent, golden pavilion, numerous Nascent Soul cultivators gathered at the foot of a hundred jade steps. A vortex, appearing as if formed from shimmering gold fragments,

was silently swirling in the spacious hall on the ground floor of the pavilion.

This was the entrance to the Myriad Treasure Secret Realm, where spatial power had formed a stable anchor point. It was also the central point established when Golden Toad City was originally built.

As the time spent with Jin Miaoshan had far exceeded his expectations, Wang Yu had been forced to miss several Nascent Soul-level treasure exchange events. Now, he had arrived directly at the secret realm’s entrance.

Many familiar figures were present, especially experts from the Underworld Mountain Sect, many of whom he recognized:

Bishop You Peng, Demonic Lord Yin Jiao… and several Nascent Soul priests.

All of them had participated in the Battle of Ice River Pass. Acquaintances naturally greeted each other upon meeting again, and Bishop You Peng’s attitude toward Wang Yu was particularly enthusiastic.

He was practically ready to throw an arm around Wang Yu’s shoulder and call him 'virtuous brother'.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, it’s been many years, and your distinguished bearing remains unchanged.”

“Oh, hardly. It is Fellow Daoist You Peng’s past grandeur that truly serves as a model for us all!”

“Hahahaha, you flatter me.”

“Not at all. You absolutely deserve it!”

The two exchanged compliments, completely ignoring those around them.

This made the surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators look sideways, partly marveling at their thick skins, and partly observing whether the rivals were genuinely intimate or simply putting on an act…

Seeing this, Yan Ling’s slender face visibly reddened a few shades.

She quietly distanced herself from Wang Yu, her gaze involuntarily drawn to Jin Miaoshan on the jade steps. The opening of the Myriad Treasure Secret Realm was being presided over by her.

When the two had met in front of the pavilion earlier, their intimate interaction and inexplicable glances made Yan Ling about eighty percent certain that Wang Yu and Jin Miaoshan had an ambiguous relationship.

This guy had disappeared for a whole month, behaving so dissolutely.

It was simply outrageous.

Yan Ling habitually maintained a cold, expressionless face. From above on the jade steps, Jin Miaoshan was also secretly observing her, conversing with the elders of Golden Pagoda House with her mouth.

Yet, her attention was entirely focused below. She felt that this wasn't just Wang Yu's fellow sect member, but perhaps also a hidden admirer.

“Not bad-looking…”

“Miss Miaoshan, what’s not bad?”

The elder beside her questioned in confusion, making Jin Miaoshan startle. She immediately responded with a serious expression,

“It’s almost time. Let’s prepare to open the Secret Realm.”

“…Yes!”