Chapter 181: Sects and Families

181. Chapter 181: Sects and Families

Xiao Zhangqing is Bai Wuji?

When Liang Yuehua heard the shocking news, the raging fire in her heart temporarily went out.

In her view, Xiao Zhangqing is merely a sword that went off the edge; perhaps he possesses some mind‑spirit magic treasure or a secret technique that overdraws his potential, which caused her to suffer a huge loss in Nanshan Fang and capsize in the gutter.

These past years, she has been replaying events day and night, pondering how to deal with Xiao Zhangqing if they meet again.

She has woken up countless midnight dreams, muttering Xiao Zhangqing's name.

During the fight against Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, she endured many perils and nearly died on the battlefield, yet she also gained a valuable opportunity and obtained a treasure for her mind‑spirit.

Because she now possesses a third‑grade magic treasure that defends against mind‑spirit attacks, Liang Yuehua believes she has found a way to counter Xiao Zhangqing!

If they meet again, she will firmly seize Xiao Zhangqing!

Then she won't let Xiao Zhangqing die easily; she will slowly torment him, force him to kneel and beg for mercy, and become her slave!

Only in this way can she soothe the wounds left in her heart!

But how did Xiao Zhangqing become, in just a few short years, the famed Bai Wuji of Character: Liyang Immortal City, a legend said to crush early Golden Core practitioners and almost match mid‑stage Golden Core?

With that, how can she take revenge?

Wouldn't that make her hopes vanish for a lifetime?

She must remember she is only a Fake Core True Person and has not formed a Golden Core.

Her cultivation has already stalled here for this lifetime; no matter how she trains, her magical power cannot increase any further.

Even if she gains some opportunities and obtains powerful magic treasures, the boost in strength is very limited.

No matter how much she grows, she cannot match mid‑stage Golden Core! Shock, disbelief, bewilderment, panic—various emotions continuously flash across Liang Yuehua's face.

In contrast, Su Wushuang, though also surprised by the news, kept her usual cold expression without showing any sign of change.

She immediately readjusted her mindset, forcibly setting the issue aside, silently warning herself not to be led by the other's rhythm but to follow her own.

Su Wushuang inhaled deeply, stopped scrutinizing Xiao Zhangqing, and shifted her gaze to Gu Zongyuan: "Since that's the case, we'll set this aside for now and discuss it later. Gu City Lord, let's talk about serious matters! Settling in Character: Liyang Immortal City, Baihua Valley is very sincere and willing to contribute to the city's development. Moreover, we will abide by Character: Liyang Immortal City's regulations; you have no reason to block us."

Gu Zongyuan thought to himself that this woman's mindset is truly steady; once she sets a goal, she clings to it and ignores everything else.

"Character: Liyang Immortal City indeed allows any cultivator who is not an evil demon or heretic and is not on any major sect's wanted list to reside and train permanently. However, there is a major prerequisite: Character: Liyang Immortal City is a city of Scattered Cultivators! Disciples from major sects may come to Character: Liyang Immortal City for experience, trade, purchase treasures, and even are welcomed to establish offices here…"

"However, no sect is ever allowed to move its main base to Character: Liyang Immortal City! Especially a Golden Core sect like Baihua Valley; if it relocates to Character: Liyang Immortal City, over time can the city still retain its title as a city of Scattered Cultivators?"

"Therefore, Valley Master Su need not hold any more expectations; I will not agree to let Baihua Valley settle in Character: Liyang Immortal City."

Gu Zongyuan gave a blunt refusal without beating around the bush.

Su Wushuang clearly had prepared, and immediately replied: "You forbid sects, yet Character: Liyang Immortal City has always had the top ten cultivation families, not to mention countless other forces. What's the real difference from sects? Gu City Lord, why not treat Baihua Valley as the eleventh great family?"

Gu Zongyuan smiled, "Treat Baihua Valley as a cultivation family? Fine. If Baihua Valley wishes to develop and survive as a family, that's permissible. From now on it may no longer recruit disciples externally, but must propagate its lineage by blood, at most hiring external guests. Moreover, Baihua Valley's industry chain must be overseen by the City Lord's office, with thirty percent of profits handed over… If Baihua Valley can meet these terms, I will certainly not obstruct it."

The difference between sects and cultivation families lies exactly here.

In the Da Yu Cultivation World, there are Golden Core families with lineages over a thousand years, but their numbers are roughly one‑tenth of those of Golden Core sects.

The reason is simple: cultivation families inherit primarily through bloodlines, so even a Golden Core cultivator with a lifespan of several hundred years can, by himself, spawn a massive clan of descendants.

However, compared with sects that can accept many disciples and freely select talent, cultivation families are still too restricted.

Foundation‑establishment families are still rampant in the Da Yu Cultivation World, countless in number.

Golden Core families, however, are very few.

They're prone to breaks! Once a Golden Core ancestor perishes, it becomes far harder for descendants to reach a new Golden Core stage than in a sect.

Character: Liyang Immortal City is the same; among the current ten great families, most are overseen only by Fake Core True Persons, and the only family with a true Golden Core is the Lei family.

Moreover, the Lei family's founding ancestor's lifespan is ending; once he falls, none of the ten great families will have a genuine Golden Core practitioner.

Thus, over the past hundred‑plus years, the ten great families in Character: Liyang Immortal City have seen considerable change, with old families disappearing and new ones taking their place.

If Baihua Valley enters Character: Liyang Immortal City and stops relying on bloodlines for disciples, instead recruiting talents widely, it will eventually become the true 'master' of Character: Liyang Immortal City.

Su Wushuang paused briefly, then said: "Submitting thirty percent of profits to the City Lord's office is no problem. Not only the profits Baihua Valley earns in Character: Liyang Immortal City, but all profits from its shops across the Da Yu Cultivation World can be handed over. However, Baihua Valley must still accept disciples, though it can guarantee not to recruit them in Character: Liyang Immortal City, only from elsewhere… is that acceptable?"

Thirty percent of the entire industry chain's profit is not a trivial amount.

After all, Baihua Valley's historical compensation allowed it to surge in just a few decades, leaping from the bottom of Golden Core sect rankings to the upper middle, surpassing the long‑standing Luoxia Sect. This was largely due to its unrivaled technique of crafting cultivation robes, which generated terrifying profits in the Da Yu Cultivation World.

With enough Spirit Stones, it can recruit ample outstanding disciples and ensure that promising seedlings receive sufficient resources!

After Baihua Valley lost its mountain gate, many top sects in the Da Yu Cultivation World offered olive branches, even Xingyue Palace was intrigued—simply because they coveted Baihua Valley's industry chain.

What a pity.

Wealth can sway most cultivators and sects, but Character: Liyang Immortal City is absolutely immune.

"Valley Master Su, you should know well the prosperity of Character: Liyang Immortal City. Neither the City Lord's office nor I lack Spirit Stones. Even if Baihua Valley's profits are high, they won't move me." Gu Zongyuan's tone was resolute.

"The profit share can be raised appropriately," Su Wushuang said.

Gu Zongyuan shook his head: "Valley Master Su, I've made it clear; this isn't about money."

"Gu City Lord, my sincerity is already ample. If you still refuse to budge even a fraction, then …" Su Wushuang's beautiful eyes instantly turned murderous, exuding a cold aura that warned strangers to stay away, like a storm descending from an iceberg, chilling everyone to the bone.

After a brief pause, she continued: "Then Baihua Valley can only, like other sects, set up an office in Character: Liyang Immortal City. However, its office might be of higher standards and larger scale…"

Upon hearing that, Gu Zongyuan's expression also grew cold.

Su Wushuang's implication was obvious; the discussion had turned from negotiation to outright threat.

Baihua Valley is willing to voluntarily surrender part of its profits and to cooperate as much as possible with Character: Liyang Immortal City's rules.

But if Gu Zongyuan remains unreasonable, refusing a toast and taking a penalty drink, Baihua Valley will be ready to 'force' it!

When that time comes, whether Baihua Valley establishes an 'office' in Character: Liyang Immortal City or infiltrates it piece by piece, what can Gu Zongyuan do to them? Baihua Valley will not only ultimately take root in Character: Liyang Immortal City, but also will not hand over any profit to the City Lord's office.

"Fine. I welcome Baihua Valley's establishment of an office in Character: Liyang Immortal City. But if it does anything beyond the office's scope, don't blame me for being unkind; I'll strike down mercilessly!" Gu Zongyuan, unreserved, issued the threat.

"Gu City Lord has only recently ascended to the Golden Core realm; his foundation is shallow, so he likely lacks the strength to strike Baihua Valley down." Su Wushuang's tone was calm, as if stating an obvious fact, firmly holding the upper hand.

"Compared with Valley Master Su, my cultivation is indeed weaker. After all, Su is a senior, roughly of the same generation as my master. So in terms of single‑person combat power, I'm certainly not Su's match," Gu Zongyuan admitted calmly, "However, with the Character: Liyang Guard battle formation, I have some confidence and would like to witness Valley Master Su's prowess."

Before the meeting, Gu Zongyuan had already anticipated that today's matter could not be resolved peacefully; it would certainly require a showdown, and he was ready to act.

He, as the city lord, must personally step in and gauge Su Wushuang's true strength.

If he truly is no match, then Xiao Zhangqing, who is skirting the formation nearby, will join in.

The two have cooperated before; they killed the Blood Crow True Person that way.

Now Gu Zongyuan has formed a Golden Core, his power soaring, and Xiao Zhangqing seems to have grown as well. Even together, they have only just broken through the mid Golden Core stage, so Su Wushuang still poses no threat.

Jiang Yi, standing aside, only needs to keep an eye on the other two Fake Core True Persons of Baihua Valley; no action is required.

"The ancient city lord should be careful…"

Su Wushuang said no more idle words, let magical power surge, and rose into the air without invoking any Magic Treasure; the temperature within several miles around suddenly plummeted, and an ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivator there would likely have their blood and magical power frozen, possibly dying or at least severely wounded.

Even a regular Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would find movement difficult and strength greatly reduced.

Gu Zongyuan's eyes flashed coldly, thinking to himself how strong the chill was—could this be the aura pressure of a cultivator who has only just passed the mid Golden Core stage? Fortunately he received Character: Liyang's true transmission, his mastery of the Character: Liyang Fire True Secret is impressive, and being a Fire-Type Earth Spirit Root, he has some counteracting effect against such extreme cold spells.

"Form the formation!"

Eighteen Character: Liyang Guards instantly formed a battle formation, their magical power surged and gathered, empowering Gu Zongyuan.

Gu Zongyuan's aura rose step by step, and the entire formation seemed ignited, towering flames leapt into the air, hardly weaker than Su Wushuang's.

"Ancient city lord, be careful!"

Su Wushuang, like a maiden of ice and snow, pinched the spell with both hands, and streams of icy energy turned into long spears, instantly forming hundreds that rained down upon Gu Zongyuan.

Ha! Gu Zongyuan pushed his magical power to the limit, drawing all the formation's power, turning it into a massive flaming shield that blocked the ice spears.

Bang bang bang bang!

Like rain striking banana leaves, the clashing sounds continued endlessly.

For a moment, a huge mist of water swirled at the clash, a white haze so dense it was almost impossible to see.

At that instant, a flaming spear, like a soaring dragon, pierced the mist and reached Su Wushuang in the blink of an eye.

Su Wushuang, unflustered, saw a fist-sized lotus spin up from her feet, instantly expanding into a massive protective lotus spell.

The flaming spear roared forward but could not pierce the lotus at all; instead, as the lotus spun, the spear's momentum quickly waned, and soon it began to show signs of freezing! Gu Zongyuan was shocked, hurriedly summoned magical power and withdrew his life-bound Magic Treasure.

The sect master of Baihua Valley truly lives up to his reputation; his high-quality Golden Core, combined with the power of the Character: Liyang Formation, already rivals a mid Golden Core cultivator, yet against Su Wushuang there remains a considerable gap.

This shows Su Wushuang's strength surpasses that of the Blood Crow True Person by more than a notch! It seems the woman has either already broken through the mid Golden Core stage early, or possesses extraordinary talent.

No wonder she could lead Baihua Valley to withdraw almost unscathed during the demonic sect's invasion, causing Elder Zhu Qingyun of Xingyue Palace—once a peer of her own master—to pursue her for decades, even abandoning his fiancée who had already become a Nascent Soul True Lord…

Su Wushuang truly is extraordinary.

The two sides exchanged blows for a while in this back-and-forth, the surrounding chill grew increasingly oppressive, while the Character: Liyang Formation led by Gu Zongyuan saw its flame aura gradually weaken.

Gu Zongyuan was already in a clear disadvantage and could find no chance to counterattack.

Thus Gu Zongyuan stopped forcing it, about to call Xiao Zhangqing for help as planned.

At that moment.

A red flash resembling a fire cloud streaked from the horizon, rapidly approaching.

Its aura was terrifying, a strong and mighty magical power brazenly radiating outward.

Just as it neared, the bone‑chilling cold around, affected by Su Wushuang's spell, melted away instantly.

The gap between the two was even larger than that between Su Wushuang and Gu Zongyuan.

The newcomer is a cultivator in the late Golden Core stage, even a perfected one!

While everyone was stunned and hadn't reacted, a massive scarlet flame palm, covering the sky like a great sun, descended from heaven and struck Su Wushuang. (End of chapter)