Chapter 91: Rebellion Rumors

The rewards for completing tasks were therefore meager. Going, however, promised greater returns. Even a simple garrison mission at Spider Mountain offered significantly more than assignments at Black Bone Mountain.

Just ten years was a small price to pay, certainly better than remaining at the sect and risking his life. He had also passed through Ye Qiong Province twice before, so it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. The journey would only take about two months, and he had ample cultivation resources at his disposal, lacking neither secret arts nor spells. It seemed like a good destination.

Having quickly made his decision, Wang Yu smiled.

“I’ll take it.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother Situ, for going to such lengths for me. I will certainly repay your kindness in the future.”

Hearing this, Situ Hong gazed at him for a long moment before slowly nodding. “Junior Brother Wang,” he began, “I won’t mince words. While your spiritual slave origins present an aptitude challenge, there’s still a glimmer of hope for you to achieve Foundation Establishment in the future. After all, I'm not much better off myself. The Peach Ghost Mother… she was both my making and my undoing, alas.”

Situ Hong suddenly sighed, appearing as if he wanted to say more, but restrained himself. Clearly, it wasn't the right time for such discussions.

“My help today comes with the hope that you will assist me in the future. That’s all for now.”

Situ Hong produced the mission scroll, and after Wang Yu imprinted his name with his disciple token, he departed, clearly burdened by something.

Wang Yu grasped some of Situ Hong's intentions, but found them hard to articulate. He couldn't fathom what potential Situ Hong saw in him, especially considering the Peach Ghost Mother was a Core Formation cultivator. Still, there was no point dwelling on it.

Debts of gratitude were notoriously difficult to repay. He could, of course, be shameless and disregard his word, but in the corrupting influence of the Demonic Path, he was already transforming, embracing a more bloodthirsty and tyrannical nature. His character had already undergone a radical transformation from the young master he once was in Stone Lake City. Without a few principles and bottom lines, he would eventually succumb to madness.

He sighed.

The Spider Mountain mission was scheduled to depart in a month, with everyone gathering at Zhudianfang Square. Besides fellow disciples from Five Yin Peak, a group of disciples from Cold Blood Peak would also be joining. It was a large-scale mission, with an estimated six hundred to one thousand participants, exceeding the number for Black Bone Mountain. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators would lead the expedition.

During this waiting period, Wang Yu began gathering information about the mission: who the Foundation Establishment leaders were, their personalities, which True Disciple they served, and so on. He also made sure to make an appearance at Evils God District, just in case True Disciple Su looked for him and misunderstood his absence.

Only half a month passed. A piece of news nearly made Wang Yu jump: rumors spread that there had been considerable commotion at True Disciple Wei Chong’s cave dwelling on Cold Blood Peak. Dozens of sound transmission talismans had reportedly flown out, announcing his emergence from seclusion in a month. While this news alone caused a stir, it wasn't enough to provoke such a strong reaction from Wang Yu. After all, he would be departing for Spider Mountain in a month.

The real issue was another piece of information: unofficial sources claimed that a Core Formation cultivator from Cold Blood Peak had perished at the "Poshuan Wei Clan." Some even claimed to have personally witnessed five Foundation Establishment elders of the Wei clan setting a trap with a formation, which led to the Cold Blood Core Formation cultivator's death. The story was highly detailed and quickly spread throughout the entire Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, clearly indicating a hidden orchestrator behind it.

The Poshuan Wei Clan was Wei Chong’s family. Considering the current circumstances, Wang Yu instantly concluded that True Disciple Su was behind it. This aligned perfectly with the insidious scheme he had initially considered. It was a forced slander against Wei Chong’s family to compel them to defect, but he hadn't expected True Disciple Su to be so ruthless, orchestrating the death of a Core Formation cultivator so readily. Of course, it could also have been a Core Formation Elder who was at odds with him. The situation was too complex to say for sure.

Once such an event occurred, it meant Wei Chong and True Disciple Su were now absolute mortal enemies, locked in an unending feud. The next stage would undoubtedly be a struggle of influence and backing. Theoretically, True Disciple Su’s background was far superior to Wei Chong’s, yet Wei Chong had undeniably won the True Disciple competition. Wang Yu couldn't predict how events would unfold, but he knew one thing: he could not afford to get involved.

A few days later, as the rumors gained traction, the Enforcement Headquarters of Zhudianfang was forced to intervene, issuing a statement that they would dispatch an elite team to investigate the Poshuan Wei Clan. The problem was that Wei Chong had not yet emerged from seclusion, rendering the Poshuan Wei Clan’s strongest backing inactive. If this Enforcement Headquarters team were to die at Poshuan Mountain, it would be like yellow mud splattered on trousers: even if it wasn't feces, it would certainly look like it. In such a scenario, Wei Chong would find himself at a severe disadvantage. True Disciple Su had taken a dangerous gamble, but if successful, the rewards would be immense.

However, it was crucial to remember this was the Demonic Path. As long as Wei Chong severed ties quickly enough, he would remain the top True Disciple of Cold Blood Peak. Once he received his Nascent Soul inheritance, he could always return for revenge… Just thinking about it made Wang Yu want to pack his bags and flee.

“This is for the best. The more ruthless Su’s methods, the more animosity she draws. Wei Chong surely wouldn't pay attention to a minor figure like me.”

“But what about the other eight True Disciples? Why is there no movement from them at all?”

Wang Yu was burdened by worries and frequently urged Situ Hong, hoping the Spider Mountain expedition would depart as soon as possible. The sect was rife with rumors, each more alarming than the last. He truly couldn't bear to stay any longer.

Fortunately, half a month later, in the ninth month of Wang Yu's ninth year as an outer sect disciple, the massive contingent of eight hundred people had fully assembled, split evenly between Five Yin Peak and Cold Blood Peak. The Five Yin Peak contingent was led by a Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer cultivator, whom Wang Yu didn’t recognize. However, Situ Hong was also part of this mission and nodded to Wang Yu from a distance. The Cold Blood Peak contingent, on the other hand, was led by a young woman in a veil. Her cultivation was likely in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and her aura, still unstable, suggested a recent breakthrough.

Wang Yu’s brows furrowed at the sight. According to the information he had gathered, the Cold Blood Peak leader was supposed to be a male Foundation Establishment cultivator named Chen Yuan. A last-minute change had evidently occurred.

Before he could ponder further, an exceptionally large spiritual boat unfurled, and a clear, cold voice echoed in his ears.

“Board the vessel. We depart now.”

It was a Land-Traversing Vessel! Unlike Gu Zhengshun’s bone boat from last time, this was a genuine large-scale magical artifact, a low-grade third-tier item. Its hull stretched over a hundred meters, with a small palace situated at its stern. Two pairs of enormous azure-gold wings, adorned with wind-attribute spiritual patterns, were affixed to its sides, blending both utility and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, there were several small pavilions and an open-air structure resembling an observatory, likely where the spiritual vessel was controlled, offering an excellent vantage point.

The vessel easily accommodated eight hundred people, with two additional deck levels below for temporary living quarters. These could likely house two thousand individuals, or three thousand if necessary. To travel for a mission on a third-tier large-scale magical artifact truly broadened Wang Yu’s horizons! Indeed, it wasn't just him; everyone else marveled at the vessel’s extravagance, clearly seeing such an artifact for the first time. Even the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Five Yin Peak gasped in amazement, and his demeanor towards the veiled woman became noticeably more respectful, a deference that extended beyond mere differences in cultivation.

It seemed this person's identity was far from ordinary.

Was she also leaving to seek refuge? The thought suddenly crossed Wang Yu’s mind.