Chapter 391: From Metamorphosing Spirit Chicken to Beast-Taming Immortal Cultivation Chapter 390: Luo Ya Shen Yuan, Human Hearts Hard

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

"Forget it, let's take it one step at a time."

Yu Zhangsheng shook his head, and after casting aside these messy thoughts, he slowly exhaled a breath; after glancing around, he returned to the Blood Dragon Pool Cave.

The Dark Current people are a malignant tumor through and through; if not removed, my heart cannot be at ease. As for the three Golden Core Peak cultivators dispatched tonight, normally speaking, as long as they don't run into a Sub-Talisman expert, they can already resolve the majority of troubles.

Unfortunately, the one they ran into was Yu Zhangsheng, a Heavenly Dao Golden Core. As a one-in-ten-thousand existence, he naturally possesses something special; his combat power is peerless — otherwise he would not be fought over by so many sects.

And this matter was merely an interlude; it did not attract the attention of the other disciples. They knew nothing of Yu Zhangsheng's disappearance, let alone that in the span of a breath he had killed three Golden Core Peak cultivators; otherwise it would surely have sparked another heated discussion.

Thereafter, a night passed without incident; days went by, and at the break of dawn the group swept the Linglong Sect Ruins once more, then did not linger long, and finally departed with considerable satisfaction, returning to the sect.

In a flash, a week slipped by.

During this week, inside the Wanxiang Sect, everything was in full swing; behind the scene of myriad things renewing, a tense trend was spreading throughout Wuzhou.

The Three Gates formally declared war on Qingzhou; Qingzhou also pressed step by step, at one point shortening the border defenses. Amid the seemingly precarious situation, casualties were of course inevitable. The Three Gates and Six Sects dispatched disciple after disciple, elder after elder to the front lines; simultaneously, a massive investigation was launched within the territory. Every mid-to-major power within Wuzhou was warned and, in addition, each sent out its main force, continuously throwing them into the battlefield — no one could avoid it.

Thus, one tug-of-war battle after another began to unfold. The Qingzhou Royal Family members then formally appeared on the stage, launching an all-out offensive against Wuzhou. After the initial advantage, the Wuzhou side also reacted swiftly; thus, the fighting entered a stalemate.

Under such circumstances, the Wanxiang Sect, as one of Wuzhou's Three Gates and Six Sects, after recuperating for a period of time, wanting to stay out of it was naturally impossible. After another week, the conscription orders from the Three Gates began…

And the targets of this conscription order were naturally not limited to the Wanxiang Sect alone; although the Six Sects were the main representatives, it covered the whole of Wu Zhou, great and small alike — anyone whose strength met the requirements, every heaven's pride and outstanding talent, regardless of background, fell within the scope.

And Yu Zhangsheng was shockingly among them, even explicitly named. As the Young Sect Master of the Wanxiang Sect, whether as a standard-bearer or for any other reason, he naturally could not escape.

Thus, under these circumstances, in the end it was Yuan Menghua, a Sub-Talisman Peak expert from Yujian Peak, who led the team, bringing along the Wanxiang Sect's elite heaven's prides and Golden Core Elders under a hundred years of age, including Li Minghan, Shen Xingchen, and others — a mighty procession heading toward the Luo Ya Shen Yuan.

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"The Luo Ya Shen Yuan stretches for over 1,200 li. For a long time it has served as the boundary dividing our Five Zhong and Qingzhou, and has already existed for thousands of years. Its origin: back then, a certain Sect Master of the Xuan Yin Gate who had reached the Spirit Transformation Peak slashed out with a single sword, precisely to delineate the border between Wuzhou and Qinzhou. Moreover, a mutual non-aggression treaty was concluded with the Qingzhou Royal Family, named the Luo Ya Treaty."

Aboard the Wanxiang Sect flying boat bound for the Luo Ya Shen Yuan, Yuan Menghua looked down upon the assembled disciples, sitting quietly in the void, and calmly began explaining the relevant information about this trip.

"Since then, a series of events occurred one after another, causing the abyss to deepen further; the ferocity within has become even more unfathomable. And this time, one of the main battlefields of the two-state war is precisely the Luo Ya Shen Yuan."

After introducing some basic information, Yuan Menghua said no more. Her figure flickered, and she entered the flying boat's forward cabin. Before leaving, she turned her head and glanced at Yu Zhangsheng, saying lightly:

"Yu Zhangsheng, you come with me for a trip."

Yu Zhangsheng was surprised, but still obediently stood up and followed Yuan Menghua into the room. The other disciples showed no expression, no surprise.

Given his current status as Young Sect Master, being valued by the sect and summoned alone by the Ancestor was only normal.

"Sit wherever you like."

Upon entering the room, Yuan Menghua waved a big hand, and a spirit table and a pot of spirit tea appeared floating in midair.

"Good."

Yu Zhangsheng respectfully nodded, bowed with cupped fists to Yuan Menghua, then sat down cross-legged and proactively poured a cup of spirit tea for Yuan Menghua.

Tea fragrance overflowed; amid the steaming heat, Yuan Menghua's face was veiled in a hazy mist. Only the smile at the corners of her eyes could be faintly seen. She nodded lightly at Yu Zhangsheng and said with a smile:

"No need to be so restrained. I called you over merely to explain a few things. Now that you are the Young Sect Master, there are some matters where you must set an example — especially this trip to the Luo Ya Shen Yuan. The Three Gates jointly emphasized your presence by name. The sect was reluctant to let you take this risk, but there was truly no alternative. I hope you understand."

Yuan Menghua sighed lightly, her gaze complex. She lifted the teacup, took a gentle sip, then let out a long breath of white vapor.

"After all, all our hopes now rest on you. If anything were to happen to you — any mishap at all — it is something we absolutely cannot accept."

Yu Zhangsheng nodded, indicating he understood, and said softly: "Disciple understands; I will obey the Ancestor's arrangements."

"Good that you understand. This trip to the Luo Ya Shen Yuan is unavoidable; we can only say: protect yourself as best you can. I can tell you that this time, the main battlefield of the Luo Ya Shen Yuan is not even on us — it lies among you of the younger generation."

Yuan Menghua fell silent for a moment, shook her head, and looked at Yu Zhangsheng with deep meaning, speaking thus.

"Ah?" Yu Zhangsheng scratched the back of his head, looking at Yuan Menghua in some confusion, and drank a mouthful of spirit tea.

The tea steamed with heat, yet drinking it gave an icy-cool sensation; the thoughts in his mind became much clearer, and he felt remarkably refreshed; his cultivation base even advanced a thread. Clearly this tea was no ordinary item — it was a spirit object.

Consequently, Yu Zhangsheng subconsciously narrowed his eyes and carefully savored it.

Yuan Menghua pondered, organizing her words in her mind, and after much thought said: "In truth, this trip to the Luo Ya Shen Yuan — the main force is not us, but you. If we speak of the overall conversion of the two states' strength, the two states are roughly equal, and our Wuzhou side even holds a slight advantage."

"It is only because Qinzhou is a royal centralization; in terms of cohesive force, it is more stubborn and unified than our Wuzhou Three Gates and Six Zhong. Therefore, this kind of group combat gives them an advantage. If we truly compare hard power, our Wu Zhou is not inferior to them."

As Yuan Menghua thought, a trace of pride appeared on her face. She gently exhaled, her Adam's apple moved as the warrior drank a mouthful of spirit tea, and she smiled faintly at Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng obediently refilled Yuan Menghua's tea, assuming a listening posture, and listened carefully to Yuan Menghua's words.

"In the early stage, Qingzhou's attack was too sudden, and coupled with the Yang Family and the Linglong Sect, some Dark Current rebellions — this put our Wuzhou in an especially passive situation. 'To pacify the outside, one must first settle the inside.' Qingzhou's original plan was to use thunderous means to exterminate our Wanxiang Sect first, thereby severing one arm of our Five Zhou, throwing us into chaos and leaving us unable to attend to ourselves. With inside coordination and outside attack, conquering us would then become much easier."

Yuan Menghua spoke in detail; when she reached this point, a flash of cold light and a cold laugh flickered in her eyes.

"The plan was not bad, but unfortunately they mistakenly underestimated our Wanxiang Sect's strength, as well as the situation-breaking move you brought, which caught us all by surprise and shattered Qingzhou's delusions."

Yuan Menghua sighed with emotion, patted Yu Zhangsheng's hand, and said earnestly: "One can say that this time, it was truly thanks to you; even to the extent that, under certain conditions, because of your appearance, a single point was changed, and the entire course of the war was thoroughly altered."

"Uh uh."

Yu Zhangsheng flushed with embarrassment, gave an awkward laugh: "How could it be that exaggerated, Ancestor? You're joking."

"I'm not joking. The facts are exactly so. You need not be modest on this point."

Yuan Menghua waved her hand, her expression extremely serious; admiration that words cannot express filled her eyes as she looked at Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng fell silent, not knowing how to respond, and could only nod woodenly, somewhat helplessly.

"Under these circumstances, Qinzhou's delusions were shattered, and the situation saw a new turning point and change. After Wuzhou reacted, it also swiftly made arrangements and countermeasures; the two sides can now be said to be deadlocked."

"And for Qingzhou, the longer this war drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for them, and the slimmer their chances of victory. Moreover, neither side wishes to forcibly wage all-out war; if they forcibly engage the Nine Palaces, the result for both Zhou would be mutual destruction — an outcome neither side wishes to see."

Yuan Menghua spoke softly, her expression somewhat disdainful, with a hint of mockery.

"Under these circumstances, both sides made some concessions, and finally reached an agreement: the main force of the battlefield would be shifted from cultivators of all stages to the younger generation — a contest between cultivators under a hundred years of age on both sides; the victory or defeat between them would then determine the Luo Ya Treaty."

"Ah?" Yu Zhangsheng was stunned for a moment; after a brief thought, he also indicated he could understand.

The result of such an arrangement, for both sides, seemed more likely to be peaceful.

"That's why I say the key to the Luo Ya Abyss journey still lies in looking at you all."

Yuan Menghua spoke helplessly, nodding his head.

"And your Aura right now, in Wuzhou it can be said that no one doesn't know it, it has spread throughout the Three Gates, overshadowing all the Heaven's Pride. Whether it's being first in the Tian Sha Secret Realm, or the matter of slaying Huanlong Zhenjun, both make your radiance impossible to conceal. Under this situation, you appear all the more important, regarded as the Core key."

"It is also precisely for this reason that the Three Gates strongly demand you also take the field. The other Five Sects are the same. Under this situation, we have no reason to Refuse."

Yuan Menghua explained, his Complexion suddenly showing some anger. He let out a muffled hum, then drank a mouthful of Spirit Tea in a muffled way. Afterward, his gaze carried a trace of Ice Cold.

"They all pin their hopes on you, for the sake of Wuzhou's greater righteousness. But Actually, do they perhaps not have other thoughts in mind?"

Yu Zhangsheng fell silent. Yuan Menghua's words struck the mark at a touch. Some things were not spoken plainly, but he understood clearly.

"An even more important point is, your identity, if someone has the heart for it, is no longer a secret now. This makes them even more wary."

Yuan Menghua let out a light sigh, then slammed the Teacup down heavily. It struck the table with a loud *bang*. His expression was helpless and his tone indignant. In the end, he waved his hand in puzzlement and said with a Cold Laugh: "Wei Lao's disciple, my Wanxiang Sect's Young Sect Master, and even... Cao Jinxian's Junior Brother..."

"They," Yu Zhangsheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his brows and eyes lowered. A trace of deep meaning flashed across the bottom of his eyes. He spoke softly, "They are afraid I will become the next Cao Jinxian... right?"

"Correct!"

Yuan Menghua exhaled a deep breath of Turbid Qi. After calming his thoughts for a while, he suddenly stared straight into Yu Zhangsheng's eyes. After a long moment he looked away. His expression recovered its calm. Only the bottom of his eyes flashed a trace of dimness.

"Back then your Senior Brother rose against heaven. With an unrivaled bearing, he led the Wanxiang Sect to become Wuzhou's Holy Land, even pressuring Qingzhou so they dared not invade. The Three Gates could only serve as foils. Under such circumstances, the Three Gates and Five Sects also fear you becoming the next Cao Jinxian. If, by borrowing Qingzhou's hand, you could be suppressed or... they would probably be happy to see it."

Yuan Menghua's tone was faint. However, his fist slowly tightening betrayed his inner emotions. He was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

"Those who don't want the next Cao Jinxian to emerge are not merely Qingzhou. There are also those within our Wuzhou internally. And this is also one of the reasons why Wuzhou is unwilling to let this Battle drag on.

Our Wuzhou, the Three Gates and Six Sects have self-governed for too long. In a Short Time they can jointly resist the enemy. But if time drags on, or pressure lessens, it's easy for other thoughts to arise. Plainly speaking, our Wuzhou, compared to Qingzhou, has hearts that are not aligned!"

These words, perhaps some disciples cannot see through them. But these high-level figures of Wuzhou, each and every one knows it clearly in their hearts. Even, by taking advantage of this war, those wanting to achieve other purposes — perhaps there are not a few."

"After all, the destruction of the Linglong Sect and the Wanxiang Sect's gain have been watched by quite a few sects with red eyes. If it weren't because Qingzhou's oppression was pressing at the Eyebrow back then, and there was no other suitable reason to intervene in the matter between the Linglong Sect and the Wanxiang Sect, those who would have destroyed the Linglong Sect to divide the spoils would certainly not have been only the Wanxiang Sect."

"The Wanxiang Sect is in trouble. They might choose to selectively ignore it. But if it's jointly dividing the Linglong Sect, without a suitable reason, it's naturally impossible to pretend not to see."

"These are the unchanging interests between the Three Gates and Six Sects forever. Under such circumstances, hearts not being aligned is an inevitable thing to face. Especially between the various sects, they were originally not harmonious. Just like the original Linglong Sect and Wanxiang Sect — can you expect them to get along harmoniously with each other, share weal and woe? Unrealistic!"

"So, between the various sects, each keeps a reservation. What we need to guard against is not merely Qingzhou. There might also be... the person beside you who one second ago was sharing weal and woe with you..."

Yuan Menghua sighed. His words, though realistic, also held reason.

"Especially since you slew Huanlong Zhenjun. From then on you reversed the battle situation, letting my Wanxiang Sect counter-kill the Linglong Sect. Qingzhou's plan fell short by a single basket. Their Yuan Qi Shang Shang. One can imagine they surely hate you to the bone and pay you extra attention." (Chapter End)