Chapter 99: Religious Sect News

As Wang Yu's only strategic partner, he clearly understood Situ Hong's request.

It was still far too early to repay the favor.

He didn't mind owing more and more. Since his connections within the sect were limited, he could only entrust Situ Hong to keep a close eye on things. He didn't explain the specific reasons, merely asking him to monitor Cold Blood Peak for any major developments. As a "staunch loyalist" under True Disciple Su of Cold Blood Peak, it was only natural for him to keep track of news concerning the true disciple.

Now, with Situ Hong rushing over, Wang Yu felt uneasy and promptly asked:

"What happened? Why are you so excited?"

"It's a big deal!"

Situ Hong rushed into Wang Yu's stone house, poured himself a cup of tea with familiar ease, and only after clearing his throat did he slowly begin to narrate.

"Since the year before last, when Wei Chong, the third true disciple of Cold Blood Peak, achieved Core Formation and emerged from seclusion, he became a Nascent Soul candidate for Cold Blood Peak. He left the ranks of true disciples and was granted an audience with a True Lord. However, the plot by the Wei Clan of Waterfall Mountain to assassinate a sect elder at the Core Formation stage escalated, resulting in the complete annihilation of the investigators dispatched by the Enforcement Hall. The Wei Clan of Waterfall Mountain had stirred up a major crisis. The Zhuo Clan of Ghostfang, which oversees the sect's laws, was utterly enraged and dispatched three Core Formation prodigies from the previous generation, known as the 'Three Earth Talisman Devils,' to quell the rebellion at Waterfall Mountain. Upon learning this, Wei Chong engaged the Three Earth Talisman Devils in battle outside the Blood Abyss. The fight raged for three days, culminating in Wei Chong's severe injury and defeat, and the complete annihilation of the entire Wei Clan of Waterfall Mountain! The souls of the entire clan fell into the hands of the Three Earth Talisman Devils. Only after conducting soul searches and extracting memories did they discover further intricacies to the situation, but by then, what had happened was irreversible. Furthermore, the Zhuo Clan of Ghostfang vehemently opposed Wei Chong inheriting the legacy of the Cold Blood Peak True Lord..."

By this point, Wang Yu was somewhat dazed.

Had True Disciple Su truly succeeded in his scheme? This affair would likely trigger an unbearable backlash, effectively leading to mutual destruction. He couldn't help but sigh heavily.

Since the Wei Clan of Waterfall Mountain had been annihilated, and judging by Wei Chong's demeanor, he would certainly not let the matter rest. While the Zhuo Clan of Ghostfang had committed an error, they would also never permit a talented junior who harbored a grudge against their clan to continue growing, much less inherit a Nascent Soul legacy.

Similarly, one should not underestimate the sect's power or the strength of Nascent Soul True Lords. True Disciple Su, the orchestrator behind the scenes, came from the Su Clan, which was merely a Core Formation family. The Xiangshan Duan Clan, his mother's lineage, was in a similar position. Even though his second aunt was one of True Lord Nine Evils' most favored concubines, such status and background were insufficient to protect him from the Zhuo Clan's wrath.

The Zhuo, Yu, and Zuoqiu Clans, being three of the Nascent Soul families within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, held absolute dominance. These three clans were united, boasting eight Nascent Soul True Lords among them. Out of the Nine Peaks Daoist Rite, a full six peaks were under their direct control. Aside from peaks like Evil God Peak, which ranked last and currently lacked a Nascent Soul cultivator, only Cold Blood Peak and Evil Sword Peak were held by other families. The Blood Demon Hall, controlled by the Sect Master's lineage, was not included in this count.

In summary, both Wei Chong and True Disciple Su were destined for significant misfortune. While they might not die, they would certainly lose any chance of inheriting a Nascent Soul legacy. Wei Chong, in particular, would undoubtedly face suppression. To maintain the sect's public image, there would be no overt attacks, but likely many covert ones.

And indeed, as Situ Hong continued his account, Wang Yu, being a quasi-insider, finally understood the shift in circumstances.

"In short," Situ Hong concluded, "both Wei Chong and Su Yulong have had their True Disciple status revoked. Wei Chong has been confined for a century, while Su Yulong has been sent back to the Cangjiang Su Clan, forbidden from appearing within the sect gates for fifty years."

Su Yulong? This was True Disciple Su's real name—Wang Yu was hearing it for the first time.

After a brief pause, he asked again:

"Has the sect issued any public notice regarding this matter?"

"Uh... no."

As he spoke, Situ Hong also found it odd, muttering to himself. "How could there be no notice? Is there some hidden truth? The Wei Clan of Waterfall Mountain openly assaulted and killed a sect elder, and even took out personnel from the Enforcement Hall. This was originally a capital offense leading to clan annihilation. For Wei Chong merely to be stripped of his status and confined for a century is already quite fortunate, even lenient, one might say."

Wang Yu was speechless. He desperately wanted to say that Su Yulong was behind it all, but he bit back the words. The fewer people who knew, the better, and he had no concrete evidence to prove Su Yulong's involvement. It was merely logical deduction and speculation. After all, the plan he had proposed was to maintain stability and await developments. Since Su Yulong had refused, it was consistent with his character to take risks for greater personal gain. As the saying goes: "He who walks by the river often will eventually get his shoes wet." This time, he had stumbled.

The conflict between these two had escalated from a dispute over inheritance to a life-and-death vendetta. It was best for a small fish like him to stay out of it, or ideally, find a way to detach himself entirely.

No... he didn't need to trouble himself.

With his True Disciple status revoked, Su Yulong's Ice Snow Pavilion was nothing more than a rogue enterprise. Without the sect's official endorsement, many of its activities and businesses would be deemed illicit.

He... Wang Yu!

...had naturally become a free man of Cold Blood Peak's outer sect. Good news, great news!

"Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahaha!"

Realizing this, Wang Yu couldn't help but inwardly applaud his own good fortune. Honestly, since he had embarked on the path of cultivation, this was the first time he'd ever felt so lucky. Situ Hong observed his peculiar reaction but didn't dwell on it, merely assuming Wang Yu was happy to be free from the True Disciple's exploitation. After all, Situ Hong himself had to pay disciple tributes to the True Disciple Pavilion on Five Yin Peak. Had he known that the oppressive figure looming over him was gone, he would surely have laughed even more maniacally.

It had only been two years since he arrived at Spider Mountain to escape trouble, yet the enormous burden on his heart had finally been lifted. Wang Yu could breathe much easier, and it was certainly cause for celebration.

So, after seeing Situ Hong off, he rummaged through all his storage bags, drank every drop of wine, and indulged in three days of deep sleep and thorough inebriation, feeling utterly refreshed afterward.

In the following days, a smile softened Wang Yu's usually stiff face, and his entire aura seemed much gentler. Humming a light tune, he busied himself tilling the spiritual fields. Turning the soil, spreading fertilizer, sowing seeds, weeding, and harvesting. Spider Heart Grass was planted in successive crops. Thanks to the abundant supply of Ghost Eye Spider blood, it grew rapidly, and he occasionally collected some of the lower-quality yields. After all, it was still a type of spiritual medicine, which would undoubtedly be useful for alchemy in the future.

What was somewhat unexpected was that the mysterious female cultivator leading Cold Blood Peak, whose face was veiled, seemed to be in good spirits these past few days. He frequently spotted her graceful figure drifting through the fields. Normally reserved and taciturn, she had been much livelier recently, even proactively guiding disciples in their cultivation, which was truly rare and peculiar. This continued for almost half a month before gradually returning to normal.

Wang Yu's focus also shifted back to cultivation. Practicing the two second-tier spells, Invisibility and Profound Yin Hand, was incredibly taxing on his mind and energy. The spiritual energy within his body was simply insufficient for the amount of practice required. Under these circumstances, Wang Yu couldn't help but feel a little impatient.

Ultimately, he wasn't strong enough, and his available spell slots weren't sufficient. The path ahead was long and arduous; more effort was certainly needed.

(End of Chapter)