Chapter 279: Thunder Command Retreats the Enemy, Inner Sect Elder! (Extra Update!)
After a brief assessment, Wang Yu suddenly realized.
The mountain gate of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect indeed had a geomantic layout, one that had been adjusted by a geomancer and altered through human intervention, transforming it into a man-made array. However, its essence hadn't weakened but instead had grown stronger.
In the art of Feng Shui, a man-made array wasn't necessarily inferior to a natural one—it all depended on the geomancer's skill.
The core of this array lay in the 9,000-foot blood pond waterfall behind the Blood Demon Hall, intricately connected to the floating Star Track Instrument, both products of human alteration.
Wang Yu could tell that the original formation must have been—
The thirty-second ranked formation among natural arrays—[Nine Palaces Magic Star Ascension Array]!
The original effect of this array was to draw blood from the nine veins of the earth, channeling it through the demonic stars in the celestial heavens to gain cosmic energy, transforming into a True Demon Blood Pond capable of nurturing demon spirits.
In simpler terms, it produced resources for Nascent Soul demon cultivators to use in their cultivation—a resource-generating type of geomantic array.
As for what effects the improvements brought, he couldn't decipher them yet.
His mastery of Feng Shui wasn't complete.
But he was certain that there was a hidden spatial secret realm within the Blood Demon Hall—he was confident in that observation.
After standing outside the mountain gate for a while, lost in thought, Wang Yu descended toward the entrance. As expected, the disciples guarding the gate didn't recognize him.
However, during his return journey, Wang Yu had donned his beloved Xi Zhi Crown, wearing an enforcer's robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, exuding authority. No one dared to stop him without good reason.
When he was at Foundation Establishment, everything here seemed somewhat intimidating. Now, as a Core Formation cultivator, Wang Yu realized for the first time how prosperous the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's mountain gate truly was.
Ignoring the faint scent of blood in the corners, it was far more bustling than Guiling City. After all, over two hundred thousand cultivators resided here permanently.
Thoughts of promotion lingered in his mind.
Wang Yu set his sights on Cold Blood Peak, where he would head next. This would be his third visit to this peak. The first time was to meet Su Yulong, the second to register for Foundation Establishment.
This third time would be for his appointment as an Inner Sect Elder. He could directly ascend to the top of Cold Blood Peak, near the abode of the Nascent Soul elder… and the surrounding palace complex.
This place was one of the rare four-tier spiritual vein locations in the world.
It was the residence of the master of Cold Blood Mountain. Other Nascent Soul elders of this peak generally chose nearby peaks.
The sect naturally provided corresponding spiritual veins for the elders' use. While assigning one vein per elder might be excessive, sharing one between two was entirely feasible.
As a dominant power, the sect's domain naturally extended far beyond the nine peaks. All the towering mountains and rugged ridges in the vicinity fell under the sect's jurisdiction.
Without permission, disciples were forbidden from entering the domain of Nascent Soul elders.
However, Wang Yu didn't notice that his flight toward Cold Blood Peak had caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives. The news quickly reached Evil Sword Peak.
Not long after,
A group of Core Formation experts took matters into their own hands, leaving in a show of force, their intentions clear.
The person involved, unaware for now, wouldn't care even if he knew. If Core Formation cultivators still had hotheaded individuals willing to fight to the death, Nascent Soul cultivators engaged in the art of compromise.
To be honest, Black Heaven Talisman Lord and Luo Chen weren't exactly father and son. Such relationships were rare in the demonic path—more often, they were akin to spare vessels.
Disciples were treated as private property by their masters, like Situ Hong and his Peach Blossom Mother. The connection was more possessive than emotional.
It couldn't be denied that some true successors existed.
But Luo Chen was certainly not one of them. Demonic cultivators generally disliked those similar to themselves and rarely valued principles or gratitude. If they were to take in disciples, they'd more likely kidnap high-potential children from Taihu Spirit Realm.
It was said that slave hunters sometimes brought back highly talented children specifically for this purpose, though such cases were exceedingly rare.
Atop Cold Blood Peak.
Wang Yu retracted his Frost Moon Wings, landing on the steps leading to the Jade Book Hall. There were very few people around, not even guards stationed.
After climbing several hundred steps,
The Jade Book Hall, filled with soul tablets and soul lamps, came into view. Near the entrance, a late-stage Core Formation elder lay on an ice chair, visibly aged.
As Wang Yu approached, the elder squinted at him and muttered,
"Core Formation completed outside?"
"Yes, Senior. I am Wang Yu, the current Lord of Guiling. I've just returned today."
"Lord of Guiling?!!"
The elder immediately perked up.
"I was wondering why there was no activity at the Tribulation Cliff recently. So you've returned from Yunling! Impressive! Truly impressive! Bold move!"
Wang Yu gave a "shy" smile.
"Does that mean the news about Little Talisman Lord has spread throughout the sect?"
"Naturally."
The elder stroked his beard and continued,
"You may call me Elder Jade Book. You've already killed him, so why keep calling him Little Talisman Lord? Pretentious."
"No, no, no. It was Little Talisman Lord who sought trouble with me. I accidentally struck him down in self-defense—I didn't mean to kill him."
Elder Jade Book chuckled.
"Explaining to me won't help. Look, they're here."
Wang Yu turned to see six streaks of gray sword light land on the steps of the Jade Book Hall. Their cultivation levels were openly displayed without concealment.
Three late-stage Core Formation, three mid-stage Core Formation.
Their auras quickly locked onto Wang Yu. Sword hums filled the air as the leader bluntly stated,
"You're Wang Yu? Come with us."
"Why should I go with you?"
Such an attitude immediately infuriated them. One of them barked,
"Wang Yu, you killed Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen. Instead of going to Evil Sword Peak to beg for forgiveness, do you expect Black Heaven Talisman Lord to personally come for you?"
"Black Heaven Talisman Lord hasn't come, so why are you in such a hurry? Could it be that Luo Chen is your father?"
The man instantly flushed red, panting heavily.
He reached for his sword but was stopped by a companion, who signaled toward the calm Elder Jade Book lounging on the ice chair. The atmosphere immediately tensed.
Clearly, they still had some sense—they knew this wasn't the place to act. But Wang Yu didn't hold back, feigning surprise,
"Oh, so Luo Chen *is* your father? My apologies, my apologies!"
"You—"
The man was furious, his voice turning shrill.
"Wang Yu, you're finished! Offending Black Heaven Talisman Lord means you can't continue cultivating in the Holy Sect. Prepare for someone to collect your corpse!"
Wang Yu sneered in response.
"As for Black Heaven Talisman Lord, I'll explain everything myself. You fools rushed out after being incited, becoming cannon fodder without realizing it."
"What do you mean? Still spouting nonsense at a time like this?"
Reaching Core Formation in the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect required both talent and intelligence—basic judgment they possessed.
Hearing Wang Yu's words, they immediately sensed something was off.
His composure, even daring to return to the sect, showed he had already prepared for this situation.
None of Black Heaven Talisman Lord's other disciples had arrived, but these outsiders did. Could it be…
Wang Yu took out the Thunder Lord Token and displayed it.
"Go back where you came from. If you cause trouble again, don't bother living."
These Core Formation elders were far stronger than the elderly man surnamed Qiao. Hailing from the inner sect, each had their own background, equal in status to the direct disciples.
Due to their cultivation levels, they even slightly surpassed them. Disciples from various peaks greeted them with respect.
While Luo Chen was alive, constrained by face and hierarchy, they wouldn't debase themselves to curry favor.
But they cared deeply about Black Heaven Talisman Lord's opinion. After all, they operated within the bounds of "social obligations." It was only fitting they step forward.
They could demand justice for Luo Chen's death.
After all, this was akin to pleasing Black Heaven Talisman Lord!
But if it involved another Nascent Soul elder, especially one of the most untouchable late-stage Nascent Soul grandmasters, they'd avoid it like the plague.
Let alone if they harbored resentment.
Having cultivated to this stage, they were intimately familiar with the Nascent Soul elders within the sect.
No one knew the auras and strengths of the sect's Nascent Soul elders better than them!
The Thunder Lord Token struck like a bolt of lightning.
The six men turned pale as corpses. After bowing deeply to apologize to Wang Yu and paying respects to Elder Jade Book, they silently departed.
This left many watching Cold Blood Peak, expecting a spectacle, baffled.
What? You went in full force and returned quietly without a single curse? Too weak.
Who exactly is this Wang Yu?
Many became curious and began inquiring. Upon investigation, they were astounded.
A spirit slave出身, used a foundation-stealing technique to reach Foundation Establishment, and now, before the age of a hundred, he's Core Formation? And he killed Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen and three outer sect Core Formation cultivators?
Is this a tale from a storybook?
As interest grew, Wang Yu's exploits in Yunling were unearthed. Those with means discovered the origins of the conflict over Chasing Moon Province.
It was because City Lord Wang's sacred tribute had been stolen!
Back to Cold Blood Peak.
Elder Jade Book glanced at the Thunder Lord Token in Wang Yu's hand and rose leisurely.
"I thought you'd beat them up. Follow me inside."
As Wang Yu followed, he replied,
"Elder Jade Book overestimates me. They are esteemed predecessors who have long made names for themselves. How could someone like me, a mere novice, possibly defeat them?"
"You're quite modest. Imprint your divine sense into this."
Elder Jade Book tossed over a jade token, its design distinct from the others placed in the hall. Seeing his confusion, Elder Jade Book smiled and explained,
"This is a special privilege for geniuses.
"Ordinary soul tokens take half a day to shatter if broken over a thousand kilometers away. This jade soul token will instantly notify me of your death within the Chi Yuan territory.
"It will also transmit the image of the culprit. Cold Blood Peak will avenge you."
"Uh, thank you, Elder Jade Book."
Wang Yu pondered as he imprinted his divine sense. Avenge him after death? Not bad. But Luo Chen likely had the same treatment, right?
As for infighting among fellow disciples, it was definitely against the rules.
But since his master didn't pursue it, the sect wouldn't meddle in this matter. If not for the escape of some San Mao City cultivators, the news would have spread much slower.
Of course, the best method was to ensure no one saw.
If he killed and no one witnessed it, neither law nor sect rules could touch him. With the Thunder Lord Token protecting him, Black Heaven Talisman Lord wouldn't dare act against him.
At most, the sect's rules might suppress him a little.
And… Wang Yu could simply pay a sum of spirit stones to clear his offense. It wasn't a big deal.
"Congratulations. From now on, you are officially one of the Inner Sect Elders of Cold Blood Peak."
End of Chapter