Chapter 110: Suppression and Co‑optation

Cao Hao watched the overbearing Su Rongrong of Baihua Valley suffer defeat, her attempt to intimidate failing and instead she was seriously injured herself, and he couldn't help but sigh in relief.

He knew Xiao Zhangqing's strength well; in every respect he was no worse than a Golden Core Real Person. Even though Su Rongrong had an extraordinary background and deep foundation, a Foundation Establishment cultivator challenging Xiao Zhangqing would be like a chicken egg hitting a stone.

Cao Hao sighed because he thought Xiao Zhangqing had crushed the woman's aura, perhaps causing her to restrain herself and no longer boldly pressure him and the Cao family as before.

During this period, Su Rongrong often came to see him, not with good news but to persuade the Cao family to later submit to Baihua Valley…

Although Baihua Valley is a Golden Core sect, the Cao family is a massive power; after submitting, they'd have a backing. Moreover, Su Rongrong promised many benefits, such as after submission the Cao family's exceptionally talented female disciples could study at Baihua Valley, and the Nanshan Fang formation would be upgraded by Baihua Valley to truly reach the third tier…

But the drawbacks are equally obvious.

In the future the Cao family must obey Baihua Valley unquestioningly, carrying out any of its arrangements, and also must make annual tributes to Baihua Valley…

The Cao family is indeed only a Foundation Establishment clan, but now they are the top family of Nanshan Fang, and calling them the "Earth Emperor" would not be an exaggeration.

Submitting to Baihua Valley, the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits!

Moreover, most importantly, in Cao Hao's view this sect has huge problems! Not only does it only accept female disciples, but many of those female disciples harbor hostility toward male cultivators; for example Su Rongrong holds deep prejudice against male cultivators, which can be seen in how she handled the matters of Zhu Dan Shi and Ruan Zhanggui.

And the Cao family is composed overwhelmingly of male cultivators.

If they truly submit, how miserable will she suffer?

Thinking of this, Cao Hao felt a chill of dread.

But Su Rongrong's attitude was overbearing, and he could also sense that Baihua Valley, for reasons unknown, was extremely resolute, seeming to want to gather all these cultivation families! From Su Rongrong's words, it wasn't just Nanshan Fang; even other workshops, such as the Sun family of Taohua Fang, would be required to submit to Baihua Valley, and Bifeng Fang would be required to submit to Luoxia Sect.

Of course, Baihua Valley still claims to uphold the "human way".

If families like the Cao or Sun clans truly resist and cannot accept joining a sect, they would have to step aside for the worthy. They won't be forced to leave Nanshan Fang, but most of their assets must be handed over, because Baihua Valley will station people in Nanshan Fang, which will certainly require Spirit Stones and various resources.

In short, the Cao family controls too many enterprises in Nanshan Fang, earning abundant profits, yet refuses to submit to Baihua Valley, which is untenable.

These past few days Cao Hao has been negotiating terms with Su Rongrong, hoping to reach a compromise acceptable to all, but Su Rongrong's stance was very hardline; there was no room for discussion, only the two options she presented, forcing the Cao family to choose one.

Cao Hao, helpless, asked why Baihua Valley was implementing a new policy that must meddle in Nanshan Fang's affairs. Such a situation had not occurred in the past several hundred years.

Su Rongrong did not elaborate, only saying it was to prepare against Demon Sect Evil Cultivators' renewed attacks.

The last Evil Cultivator raid was just a skirmish; if they return, it could spark a full‑blown war! Then, the Da Yu Cultivation World would once again fragment into isolated factions, which is unacceptable.

They need to unite under the arrangements of Baihua Valley and Luoxia Sect, forming a solid iron plate.

Regarding this, Cao Hao thought the reason was barely plausible, yet he did not believe it.

It has been five years since the Evil Cultivator invasion; the Da Yu Cultivation World remains stable and peaceful, with no signs of the Evil Cultivators restarting war.

He would rather believe this is Baihua Valley and Luoxia Sect seizing the opportunity to expand their power.

"Now Senior Xiao has acted, displaying terrifying deterrence; Baihua Valley and this Su Rongrong should shift their focus, temporarily moving attention away from the Cao family, right?"

Cao Hao fled far away, his heart pounding from the recent spiritual clash, yet he felt a secret joy.

Before this, he dared not make any small moves; even under Baihua Valley's pressure he wouldn't push Xiao Zhangqing to the front as a shield. He was still terrified from being beaten by Xiao Zhangqing five years ago, lingering fear that any such actions, if discovered by Xiao Zhangqing, would bring catastrophic ruin.

He didn't expect that today Xiao Zhangqing would proactively approach him, and that Su Rongrong would also engage with him.

……

"May I ask, Dao Companion Xiao, is Luoxia Sect dissatisfied with the allocation between the two sides and intends to annex Nanshan Fang into its domain?"

Su Rongrong wiped away two streams of bloodied tears, endured her injury, and asked.

Although Xiao Zhangqing is at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, his magical power is weak. Yet his Soul Transformation is far stronger than she expected; the spiritual pressure she boasted about is insignificant before him, probably already at the complete Foundation Establishment level, even comparable to Golden Core!

Although a cultivator's overall strength cannot be judged solely by spiritual awareness—having only strong spiritual awareness leaves a shortcoming—after the clash on the mental plane, she now inexplicably feels fear toward Xiao Zhangqing.

That massive flood dragon seemed to pierce her body, leaving an indelible imprint she cannot forget.

She can only keep encouraging herself internally, telling herself not to fear anything; she is not Cao Hao, and even if Xiao Zhangqing is extremely powerful, he would not dare to strike her, because Baihua Valley stands behind her!

Her aunt is even the master of Baihua Valley! Not to mention Xiao Zhangqing, even Lu Dao Ming, the head of Luoxia Sect, would not dare to take her life!

"What does Luoxia Sect have to do with it?" Xiao Zhangqing asked, puzzled.

Su Rongrong looked at Xiao Zhangqing's feigned‑confused face, feeling both fear and disgust inside; this detestable guy just loves to play dumb, doesn't he?

She mustered courage and snorted coldly: "The last summit had envoys from Xingyue Palace and Seven Star Sword Sect attending! The die is cast; the affiliations of those workshops have already been decided!"

Xiao Zhangqing heard this, seemed thoughtful, as if he began to understand.

Xingyue Palace and Seven Star Sword Sect sent envoys to the Southwest Region of the Da Yu Cultivation World? Afterwards.

Su Rongrong gave a rough explanation of the background.

It was probably the same story she told Cao Hao.

To prevent Evil Cultivators from invading again, the Da Yu Cultivation World must prepare in advance. Major cultivation workshops can no longer act independently as before; they must submit to the leadership of Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley, upgrading defenses and personnel to guard against another Evil Cultivator incursion.

What Cao Hao didn't know is that this was not only the intention of the two Golden Core sects, Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley; even the two major Nascent Soul forces of the Da Yu Cultivation World also sent envoys, supporting this move.

Thus the matter became a done deal; foundation‑establishment families of all major workshops now have no room for resistance.

Hearing these secrets, Cao Hao, who had been secretly pleased, thinking Xiao Zhangqing could share his burden, now grew even more anxious.

The Cao family must choose one of two!

Xiao Zhangqing naturally didn't share Cao Hao's worries, but after hearing it he was silent for a moment, quite surprised by the matter.

This matter involves the two major giants of the Da Yu Cultivation World, Nascent Soul forces as towering as Mount Tai and the North Star, which means it's hardly baseless, but rather the high authorities of Da Yu truly believe Demon Sect Evil Cultivators will eventually return!

This time their return will certainly not be as lightly brushed off as last time; it will be far more ferocious.

Otherwise, Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley would not take such solemn measures to preemptively unite all major cultivation workshops.

"So, it wasn't Luoxia Sect that arranged for Dao Companion Xiao to stay in Nanshan Fang, but rather Luoxia Sect never informed you of this matter?"

Su Rongrong looked at Xiao Zhangqing skeptically and exclaimed, "With your overwhelmingly dominant Soul Transformation, Dao Companion Xiao, even if Luoxia Sect's strength doesn't place you in the top five, you'd still be in the top ten. How could Luoxia Sect not invite you back?"

A cultivator's overall strength includes more than just Soul Transformation; Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation is, after all, only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

In Su Rongrong's view, if Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation reached mid or even late Foundation Establishment, he would have a chance to compete among the top three masters of Luoxia Sect! Xiao Zhangqing gave no explanation.

Long ago, when he revealed his identity as a Second-rank Talisman Master, Luoxia Sect repeatedly invited him, hoping he would join the sect, promising various generous conditions.

In recent years, Luoxia Sect continued to occasionally send people to invite him, but Xiao Zhangqing consistently refused.

"I, like Zhu Dan Shi, only have a cooperative relationship with Lingfu Pavilion and am not a disciple of Luoxia Sect. Would your Baihua Valley disclose sect affairs to Zhu Dan Shi? Would you try to recruit him back to Baihua Valley?" Xiao Zhangqing said lightly.

"You…"

Su Rongrong's eyes flashed anger and disgust again, and she cursed the hateful stinky man in her heart! How can these two matters be conflated? If Zhu Youlong possessed Xiao Zhangqing's strength, even if Baihua Valley did not welcome him, she would still recruit him.

Suppressing the inner discomfort and disgust, Su Rongrong began to contemplate how to handle the situation involving Xiao Zhangqing.

If, as Xiao Zhangqing says, he and the Luoxia Sect have no strong ties and are independent.

Then could Baihua Valley recruit him? If Xiao Zhangqing were just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, like Cao Hao, they would surely use carrot and stick—recruit if he obeys, crush him mercilessly if he does not.

But Xiao Zhangqing is truly unfathomable; although his cultivation is at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, his Soul Transformation is at least at the Foundation Establishment Complete level. His overall strength is hard to assess, yet his deterrent power is sufficiently high.

With such combat power, even if Baihua Valley is considerably stronger than the Luoxia Sect, there wouldn't be many.

If recruitment is possible, it's best to recruit.

"I will have all of Pill Master Zhu Dan's inheritance returned; Baihua Valley will not intervene and will distribute it according to his will."

Su Rongrong proactively extended goodwill.

She not only returned the inheritance Pill Master Zhu Dan gave to the concubine and servants, but also ceased to monopolize the main portion gifted to Ruan Qingzhu.

"Dao Companion Xiao, shall we erase our previous misunderstanding?" Su Rongrong also suppressed her aversion to men and proactively courted, saying: "Since the Luoxia Sect is short‑sighted and cannot see your greatness, they did not invite you. Would you be willing to accept Baihua Valley's invitation to become a guest elder of our Baihua Valley?"

Xiao Zhangqing replied with a half‑smile, "Baihua Valley is a famed Fairy Sect; its disciples are all fairies. How could I serve as a guest elder there?"

"Guest elders are not disciples, so gender restrictions don't apply. We have several male guest elders in Baihua Valley. Moreover, if one becomes a guest elder of our Baihua Valley, they are permitted to marry disciples within the valley and become Dao Partners… of course, provided both parties consent."

Xiao Zhangqing was left speechless.

He had thought Baihua Valley's disciples were utterly cold and loveless, but that doesn't seem absolute.

"Baihua Valley's disciples can also seek Dao Partners, but the prerequisite is that the Dao Partner found is sufficiently powerful. As long as the strength is enough to gain Baihua Valley's recognition, that disciple will not be punished; on the contrary, they can recruit the Dao Partner into Baihua Valley and become a guest elder. 'I appreciate Dao Companion Su's regard, but I have no intention to do so at the moment.'" Xiao Zhangqing chose to refuse.

Even if he set off immediately for Character: Liyang Immortal City, he would not choose to go to a place like Baihua Valley.

I won't even mention Baihua Valley's sect rules; moreover, joining a sect at a time like this, if the ordinary predictions of Da Yu's high‑level officials are correct, Demon Sect Evil Cultivators will inevitably rise again, and there will be cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm. In that case, entering the sect would make one a cannon fodder rather than an elder! I originally thought I would consider going to Character: Liyang Immortal City after my cultivation reached the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment.

It now seems I must flee early.

"Dao Companion Xiao, there's no need to rush to refuse; you may answer me in a few days. Although your Soul Transformation is strong enough, your cultivation is still only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage. Know that in Da Yu's Cultivation World, a cultivator who has not yet reached mid‑stage Foundation Establishment has no chance of becoming a guest elder of my Baihua Valley!" Su Rongrong could not conceal her displeasure after being refused, and after speaking she turned and left.

It wasn't just anger; her Soul Transformation was about to burst, so she had to hurry back to tend to her cultivation!

Today's grievance: if Xiao Zhangqing is sensible enough to be recruited by Baihua Valley, that would be fine. If Xiao Zhangqing is not discerning, then both his new and old accounts will be settled!

In a few days, Elder Five and Elder Six will arrive at Nanshan Fang to improve its array and upgrade its defenses.

Elder Six is a late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and a third‑rank array master. Elder Five is even a false‑core true person!

Although a false core is a Foundation Establishment Complete cultivator who failed to break through to the Golden Core, it is not a total failure; a 'false core' still forms in the dantian, and both magical power and Soul Transformation undergo transformation, even extending lifespan! Yet the path of immortality is lost, and one can only stop here.

Therefore, false‑core cultivators cannot be counted as true Nascent Soul true persons; even the poorest Nascent Soul cultivators cannot compare, yet they can crush any Foundation Establishment cultivator! Nanshan Fang must be wholly controlled by Baihua Valley; if Xiao Zhangqing does not make the right choice, the two elders will inevitably suppress him, and she can conveniently avenge today's grievance! (End of chapter)