Chapter 317: The Turning Point Arrives – The Final Development Phase
Zhuo Shouqing's mind went momentarily blank.
He truly hadn't expected such an unexpected twist to occur so close to the decisive battle, involuntarily recalling the scene of their last conversation.
At that time, Wang Yu had said that he himself was his advantage!
Today's encounter proved it wasn't empty boasting. Thinking about what would happen after the Blood Abyss opened—should Wang Yu survive the return—it would bring him unparalleled assistance.
Damn Lu Chenzhou!
Seeing the other party fall silent, Wang Yu didn't press him, giving him more time to think while casually pouring a cup of warm tea for Huang Jiu as a sign of respect.
He needed the time to think as well.
In the heat of the moment earlier, he had acted directly. Now, reflecting on it, there was an undeniable sense of everything being too coincidental.
Especially since Su Yulong's failed attempt at persuasion just days ago.
Zhuo Shouqing was ruthless and strong-willed but lacked the ability to judge people accurately. The group he managed to gather under him varied wildly in quality.
The weak ones were truly useless, while the capable ones were genuinely formidable.
But those who were capable had their own agendas and didn't seem inclined to serve him fully—especially his intelligence chief, Zhuo Yuanshen.
Every time he thought about it, he couldn't help but laugh.
It was utterly absurd!
Zhuo Yuanshen definitely knew about the River Styx Contract, and Zhuo Shouyun's abilities were also top-tier. That he could make Lu Chenzhou willingly work for him already spoke volumes.
Thinking about it this way...
If Zhuo Shouyun had known about the River Styx Contract all along, then this entire situation must have been a long-planned scheme.
To drive a wedge between Zhuo Shouqing and Wang Yu!
This was one of the objectives Su Yulong had guessed when he arrived. At the time, Zhuo Shouqing hadn't given it much thought, dismissing it as impossible. But now...
He had indeed been driven apart...
There was no way he'd willingly sign a new River Styx Contract. The original contract prioritized the lives of Zhuo Shouqing and his two companions above all else, meaning Wang Yu himself was secondary.
Should they encounter a late-stage Core Formation opponent, Wang Yu would be forced to step forward to buy them enough time to escape.
It was precisely because of these stringent terms that he received unwavering support; otherwise, he would've died long ago when opposing Jin Manlou.
Having already broken free from one of the three shackles, how could he willingly bind himself again?
Now it depended on whether Zhuo Shouqing could figure it out.
Given his stubborn personality, it was questionable.
"What a vicious scheme to sow discord—I underestimated Zhuo Shouyun."
Just then, Zhuo Shouqing suddenly spoke, his words causing Wang Yu to pause momentarily before breaking into a smile. Raising his cup, he said:
"It seems you've realized the truth. This is something only you can come to understand. If I were to explain it, the rift between us would only deepen."
Hearing this, Zhuo Shouqing let out a bitter laugh and glanced at Huang Jiu.
"Uncle Huang, do you think I can win?"
Huang Jiu sighed.
"Young Master Zhuo, back then, I was just one step away from success. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have ended up with a dead infant, my Dao collapsing in an instant.
"Wang Yu, do you have any strong liquor?"
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Wang Yu arranged a feast. He was someone who indulged in fine food and drink, always keeping a stock of exquisite wine and delicacies. After every period of seclusion, he made sure to indulge himself.
As Zhuo Shouqing listened to Huang Jiu's hints while Wang Yu prepared, he sighed deeply.
"So, you're saying I have no way out."
Huang Jiu nodded.
"Exactly.
"There are only two paths: either defy fate or descend into the netherworld. There is no third option. However… I believe Young Master Zhuo doesn't need to worry about that just yet."
"Senior Huang Jiu is right!"
Wang Yu gestured to both of them, taking a seat at the table first with a cheerful grin.
"Next, it's time for your Ancestor Liezu to take action."
Zhuo Shouqing was momentarily stunned, then his expression brightened with joy.
"Truly?"
"Eight or nine out of ten chances. Come, Senior Huang Jiu, a toast!"
"Hahaha, thank you."
The atmosphere between the two couldn't be more different from Zhuo Shouqing's. On one side, there were smiles and laughter; on the other, a face full of worry, as if attending a funeral.
"This uproar we've caused—isn't this the turning point we've been waiting for? To speak bluntly, even if your Ancestor Liezu were blind, he'd surely notice Zhuo Shouyun's movements by now."
Wang Yu spoke as such.
His mood had been average earlier, but now it improved.
Since Zhuo Shouqing had seen through the scheme on his own, the divisive plot hadn't succeeded entirely. Thus, they could discuss a new contract.
"The turning point... Yes! This is the turning point I've been waiting for!
"As long as our Ancestor Liezu drives away those foreign forces, Zhuo Shouyun will be left in an unprecedented state of weakness.
"The backlash from those foreign nobles alone will be enough to make him suffer, let alone the presence of Lu Chenzhou—a blade that cuts deep when turned against its wielder."
Zhuo Shouqing muttered to himself, growing more excited with each word, seamlessly blending into the cheerful dynamic between Wang Yu and Huang Jiu. His face flushed red as he exclaimed:
"Let's drink! As long as we strike now, he's dead for sure!"
The three raised their cups, but Wang Yu couldn't resist dousing Zhuo Shouqing with a reality check.
"The timing isn't right yet. You're still no match for him."
"Why?"
Zhuo Shouqing was puzzled. Wouldn't the foreign forces be eradicated by their Ancestor Liezu? Those foreign nobles wouldn't dare ignore the words of the Zhuo Clan Elder, nor would they trust Zhuo Shouyun's promises.
"After the divisive scheme comes the strategy of self-inflicted wounds."
Wang Yu sighed, feeling like Zhuo Shouqing was a hopeless case.
"What do you mean?"
"You're the same age as him, yet the resources and support he received far surpass yours. Don't tell me you thought that while you were quietly building strength, he was just idly cultivating?"
Zhuo Shouqing was stunned.
"But isn't that the power he amassed?"
"Look, you've been deceived by him again."
Wang Yu picked up a piece of spirit beast skin, chewing it with relish and savoring every bite.
It was Huang Jiu who timely clarified things for Zhuo Shouqing.
"The foreign forces, including members of Blood Pavilion, were only recently gathered. He deliberately created the appearance of preparing to fight you head-on. Don't forget his original goal."
Zhuo Shouqing scratched his head absentmindedly, mumbling:
"His original goal was to lure Wang Yu to Xiang Mountain, helping Fu Xiao achieve the Postnatal Demon Embryo Body, seizing the opportunity to solidify his Core Formation, and then crush me with overwhelming power…"
"That's right."
Wang Yu chimed in.
"If the first plan fails, he'll continue provoking you into using force, enticing you to abandon the promise of your Ancestor Liezu. This is the strategy of appearing weak to lure the enemy deeper.
"Even if your Ancestor Liezu clears out the foreign forces, the subordinates he has cultivated over the years will still be stronger than yours!"
Somehow… it made sense.
Realizing he wasn't nearly as clever as he'd imagined, Zhuo Shouqing hurriedly asked:
"What should we do now?"
"The Blood Abyss!"
Wang Yu contemplated before speaking.
"Zhuo Shouyun will likely enter the Blood Abyss personally. He won't abandon progress on his Dao path due to your actions. To ensure safety, he has two options.
"First, gather a large force, bringing all eligible Core Formation cultivators under his command to venture into the Blood Abyss.
"Second, adopt an elite strategy, only taking a few top-tier late-stage Core Formation cultivators into the abyss. Regardless of his choice, this is your opportunity."
By this point, Zhuo Shouqing understood exactly what Wang Yu meant.
If they could somehow kill Zhuo Shouyun in the Blood Abyss, everything would fall into place.
However… Zhuo Shouqing had to personally devour him to complete his Blood Spirit Root and rebuild his cultivation path; otherwise, all their calculations would be meaningless.
Thus, he could only wound him severely, not kill him outright.
Still, it was undeniable that this was a genuine chance to weaken Zhuo Shouyun's overall strength. Wang Yu would enter the Blood Abyss to eliminate as many of Zhuo Shouyun's powerful subordinates as possible.
Meanwhile, Zhuo Shouqing, taking advantage of Zhuo Shouyun's absence and the leaderless state of his faction, could launch a surprise attack to wipe out his forces completely.
This was the real opportunity to strike.
"I understand!"
"Do you really?"
"—Absolutely!!!"
Seeing Wang Yu's skeptical expression, Zhuo Shouqing's cheeks twitched involuntarily. He was painfully aware that he fell far short of Wang Yu in every aspect.
"Well then, let's discuss the terms of our agreement for what happens in the Blood Abyss."
"That's only appropriate."
Upon hearing this, Huang Jiu suddenly interjected.
"Young Master Zhuo, Friend Wang Yu, I rarely visit Cold Blood Peak. I'll go out for a stroll. Call me once you've finished discussing."
"That works."
Wang Yu readily agreed, borrowing one of Huang Jiu's tokens.
Zhuo Shouqing naturally didn't object.
Their discussion of the new contract was limited to the timeframe during which the Blood Abyss would be open, usually lasting around thirty years per opening.
Even if time ran out, it wouldn't matter—they could wait another two hundred years for the next opening. With the lifespan of Core Formation cultivators, as long as they didn't perish inside, they could emerge then.
Therefore…
The Blood Abyss harbored many strong individuals who entered last time. After two centuries of cultivation, those who survived would typically reach the late or peak stage of Core Formation.
It depended on both the individual and their opportunities.
The conflict between Zhuo Shouqing and Zhuo Shouyun was less than two hundred years old, meaning neither was born when the previous batch entered. Thus, there was no need to worry about Zhuo Shouyun having allies inside.
Wang Yu presented his terms first.
"After all these years of interaction, you should know what kind of person I am, Brother Zhuo.
"For this journey into the Blood Abyss, I will do everything in my power to eliminate Zhuo Shouyun's forces. I can't guarantee capturing them alive, but I will give it my all, prioritizing this even over seizing opportunities within."
Hearing this, Zhuo Shouqing immediately sensed what was coming.
He knew Wang Yu was about to demand a steep price.
But Wang Yu simply said:
"My condition is simple. I want the contracts binding Yu Xing and Zuoqiu Ming to disappear."
"This—"
Zhuo Shouqing was taken aback, instinctively wanting to object.
But the River Styx Contract could be canceled if both parties agreed. His chance had already been used, and Wang Yu was primarily his liaison.
As for the other two, especially Yu Xing, they hardly needed Wang Yu's life-saving opportunities.
In fact, Wang Yu's condition was quite lenient. If the contracts disappeared, the supporting clauses could end anytime. Their future relationship would depend solely on their friendship.
If they remained close, Gui Ling City would still remain in Wang Yu's hands.
But the initiative would return to Zhuo Shouqing, demonstrating sincerity.
Zhuo Shouqing frowned deeply, pondering for a long time.
"I need to discuss this with them."
"No problem. You'll be staying here for a while anyway, and the Blood Abyss hasn't opened yet. We can negotiate slowly. I'm sure we'll reach an agreement."
Wang Yu was considerate, showing no impatience.
End of Chapter