Chapter 137: Wen Qing's Calculation

After letting Zhou Yuan see the two Nascent Soul elders of the Star Palace out, only the husband and wife, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan, remained in the great hall.

"Brother Taibai, are you truly going to participate in this Zhaixing Assembly?"

A look of worry appeared on Yan Ruyan's jade-like face as she parted her lips slightly to ask.

"Take a look! I can't escape this."

Yan Taibai gave a dashing smile and handed the Jade Slip in his hand to Yan Ruyan.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyan nodded her head slightly, then took the Jade Slip to examine it.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she finished reading, and Zhou Yuan also returned.

"This... I fear this is a deliberate scheme by the Heavenly Star Sages and the Star Palace."

Yan Ruyan's expression turned exceptionally unsightly as she said indignantly.

"It's not exactly that. I can only say that they've given me the items, and whether I look at them is up to me, but if I want to obtain them, I must pay a price. And this price is one I can afford. Truly a clever calculation. It seems the Star Palace has not been having an easy time these past years, to be forced to such an extent by both the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path that they need to borrow an outsider like me to deal with them."

Yan Taibai shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"How so? Could it be that there is some problem with the contents of this Jade Slip?"

Hearing the conversation between the two, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly and asked with concern.

"Sister, you will understand once you look."

Seeing this, Yan Ruyan sighed softly and handed the Jade Slip in her hand to Zhou Yuan.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan also took the Jade Slip to examine it, and after finishing, she also gave a bitter smile.

"It seems the Star Palace has already set up their scheme. Three metal-attribute Spirit Stone veins, two Meta-Gold Stone veins—they are truly generous!"

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have invited two Nascent Soul Stage elders to come in person. It really is hard to refuse."

Yan Taibai's smile gradually faded, and his tone turned slightly cold.

Among the Twenty-four Outer Star Islands, there is one island adjacent to an island jointly controlled by the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path, and on this very island...

There are a full three low-tier metal-attribute Spirit Stone veins, two metal-attribute material veins, and one metal-attribute Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone vein. It was truly difficult for Yan Taibai to refuse. With these six veins, plus the Spirit Stones and materials he already has, and the Spirit Stones and materials the Miaoyin Sect is helping him find, it is enough for him to advance further to the Golden Core Late Stage within ten years.

At that time, he could focus his efforts on preparing to condense a Nascent Soul.

Although the resources required would be even more massive, he would also have the absolute strength to compete, and there would be no need to be overly wary of anything.

But for now, he needs to deal with the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path on behalf of the Star Palace. Once the island is taken away, the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path will surely come looking for trouble.

Because that island, unfortunately, happens to be controlled by the Shengmo Island, the holy land of the Demonic Path in the Chaotic Star Sea, and the Wanfa Sect, the largest sect of the Righteous Path.

Or to be precise, one must also add the Star Palace.

Because that Outer Star Island was established there for exactly this reason.

"So, Brother Yan intends to participate?"

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan felt a tightening in her heart and asked.

"The Miaoyin Sect cannot stay in Heavenly Star City forever; it must find a place to establish itself. This Tianjin Star Island is quite good."

Yan Taibai sighed lightly and said.

"Many thanks, Brother Yan. Everyone in the Miaoyin Sect will obey Brother Yan's orders and will never disobey."

Zhou Yuan's expression sank, and she immediately made a promise.

"No need. This Tianjin Star Island is not something you can handle. There are four Nascent Soul cultivators from the Righteous Path and Demonic Path alone. Any one of them is enough to wipe out the Miaoyin Sect, excluding me. You cannot afford to provoke them, and besides, this matter ultimately started because of me. Naturally, I will resolve it."

"Since the Star Palace wants to use me as a blade, I will grant their wish and satisfy their desires. However, this blade of mine is one that will bite back."

Yan Taibai narrowed his eyes, and his tone turned cold, making both Zhou Yuan and Yan Ruyan shiver, as they clearly felt the killing intent in Yan Taibai's heart.

Of course, this was also a given; being used like this, anyone would be angry.

"Brother Yan, the Star Palace has controlled the Chaotic Star Sea for tens of thousands of years and has never had any problems. You must be careful."

A moment later, Zhou Yuan frowned deeply and could not help but offer a reminder.

"I know. Therefore, before condensing my Nascent Soul, I will not do anything extra and will only act according to their requirements. After all, this also brings me sufficient benefits. There is no help for it; the cultivation art I practice requires truly massive resources."

Yan Taibai nodded and said.

"Brother Taibai, is there anything Yan'er can do?"

Yan Ruyan did not try to dissuade him; she understood Yan Taibai's strength and divine abilities better than anyone.

She was also very clear that once Yan Taibai advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, there would be no more threats in the entire Chaotic Star Sea or the Tiannan Cultivation World.

Therefore, now they only need to exert all their strength to condense the Nascent Soul as quickly as possible; everything else is unimportant.

And to condense a Nascent Soul, the most important things are resources, resources, and resources.

Now the Star Palace has sent a batch of resources, but they need to use Yan Taibai to deal with the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path to seize this batch of massive resources that he cannot refuse.

This is an open scheme, almost unsolvable!

As long as Yan Taibai wants the resources, it is an unsolvable problem.

In the Chaotic Star Sea, wanting an island with an entire mineral vein is, one could say, too difficult.

Do not be fooled by the fact that most islands are ownerless; islands with Spirit Stone veins, just like in the Tiannan Cultivation World—and perhaps even more severely—are all under the control of major factions.

Even a faction like Ji Yin Island, which has a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding over it, at most possesses a small low-tier Spirit Stone vein. As for large Spirit Stone veins, it is simply not their turn.

It is only sects like the Qingyang Sect and Night Dragon Island, which are top-tier first-class factions across the entire Chaotic Star Sea, that can possess them.

And the Tianjin Star Island that Yan Taibai spoke of ranks within the top twenty across the entire Inner Star Sea.

Back then, in order to fight for this island, the Righteous Path's Wanfa Sect, Shengmo Island, and the Star Palace fought for a full hundred years before things finally calmed down.

In the end, it was jointly controlled by the three parties!

But now, the Star Palace has "given it up" to Yan Taibai.

"No need, just cultivate well. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Yan Taibai shook his head; this was an unsolvable problem, and there was simply no refusing it.

"Yan'er understands."

Hearing this, Yan Ruyan nodded her head slightly and said nothing more.

"The Miaoyin Sect should also not act rashly. Once I obtain this Tianjin Star Island, just help me mine the Spirit Stones and Meta-Gold Stone. I will handle other matters myself."

Yan Taibai glanced at Zhou Yuan, who seemed to have more to say, and instructed her indifferently.

"Also, please help me register."

"Very well, that is no problem; just leave it to me."

Zhou Yuan bowed and agreed.

"Hmm! Then we shall wait for the Zhaixing Assembly to begin."

Yan Taibai nodded, exhaled a breath of stale air, and said in a slightly cold tone.

"Brother Taibai, please be careful!"

Yan Ruyan still could not help but remind him.

"Rest assured, as a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, I do not fear any other cultivator."

Yan Taibai said with immense confidence.

He indeed possessed this strength.

"Even so, Brother Taibai must still be extra careful. Yan'er always feels that the Star Palace cannot be this simple."

Yan Ruyan shook her head slightly and reminded him again.

"Very well, Yan'er, rest assured, I have my own discretion."

Yan Taibai smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.

"Hmm!"

Seeing this, Yan Ruyan felt her heart ease slightly and said no more.

Instead, she began to ask Zhou Yuan about the rules and details of past Zhaixing Assemblies, as well as the various incidents that had occurred, to avoid any accidents.

Zhou Yuan had grown up in Heavenly Star City since she was a child; in over three hundred years, she had watched two Zhaixing Assemblies and heard about several others.

At the same time, if not for the fact that Wang Heng had fallen this time, the couple had indeed considered participating in this Zhaixing Assembly to see if they could seize an Outer Star Island.

Unfortunately, Wang Heng had fallen, but now the Star Palace had actually taken the initiative to invite Yan Taibai, which was truly unexpected.

Although there were ulterior motives, for the Miaoyin Sect, which currently had no foothold, it was indeed a rare opportunity.

In any case, as long as Yan Taibai was there, there would not be any great danger.

As for offending the righteous and demonic paths, that was also unavoidable.

This was also the purpose of the Star Palace, and they were certain that Yan Taibai would almost certainly not refuse.

Therefore, she spoke in extreme detail, telling him everything she knew without reservation.

At the same time, the two Nascent Soul Stage elders of the Star Palace also informed the Heavenly Star Sages.

"Will this Fellow Daoist Yan really participate in this Zhaixing Assembly as you predicted? If he does not participate, wouldn't your plan fall through? In the entire Inner Star Sea, he is the only one who can contend against the righteous and demonic paths. Moreover, I don't know how long he can hold out; let's hope he doesn't give up after thirty or fifty years, or join forces with the righteous and demonic paths. If that happens, our trouble will be huge."

Ling Xiaofeng still felt that Wen Qing's plan was inappropriate.

"Husband, rest assured, this Fellow Daoist Yan will definitely agree. Do you know the value of the Demon Beasts he has hunted himself and the Metal-attribute Intermediate Spirit Stones and various materials the Miaoyin Sect has helped him collect over these years?"

Wen Qing smiled charmingly, appearing sufficiently confident.

"How much? It couldn't be worth ten million Spirit Stones, could it? He is just a Golden Core Stage Cultivator?"

Ling Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow and asked uncertainly.

"Indeed, it is over thirteen million Spirit Stones. The value of the Demon Beasts he hunted alone reached five or six million Spirit Stones, and the rest are the Metal-attribute materials and Spirit Stones the Miaoyin Sect helped him collect. These things added together are equivalent to the entire fortune of a first-rate sect. Yet for him, it seems far from enough, and the Miaoyin Sect is still helping him collect them to this day. Because of him, the value of Metal-attribute Spirit Stones and materials throughout Heavenly Star City has increased significantly. This is enough to prove this Fellow Daoist Yan's desire for Metal-attribute Spirit Stones and materials."

"Therefore, how could he not be tempted by the Spirit Stone and material veins on such a large island? As for the Wanfa Sect and Shengmo Island, there is even less need to worry. They could never give up the Spirit Stone and material veins on the entire island. The combined value of these two is calculated in the hundreds of millions of Spirit Stones, and the demand for Spirit Stones and materials for the next thousand years will need to rely on that Tianjin Star Island. How could they possibly give it up to someone unrelated, just because of the Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind him?"

"Aren't Wan Sangu of the Wanfa Sect and my eldest brother on Shengmo Island also Great Cultivators of Nascent Soul Late Stage? There is no need to fear anything."

"Furthermore, whether there is truly a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind him is still up for debate. So many years have passed, has anyone ever seen one?"

Wen Qing's tone became increasingly cold.

This made Ling Xiaofeng nod slightly, expressing his agreement.

"In that case, perhaps there isn't a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind that Fellow Daoist Yan?"

"It is possible. After all, none of us have ever seen this person. For this person to come to the Star Palace, it would be reasonable and logical for him to come and visit you or me, or Wan Sangu of the Wanfa Sect, or my eldest brother on Shengmo Island? Yet he hasn't to this day, which is truly suspicious."

Wen Qing nodded her head slightly and continued.

"What you say is true, but what if there is? We should both be clear about how serious the consequences would be if we were to scheme against a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage?"

Ling Xiaofeng still expressed his concern.

"But as things stand, the Anti-Star Alliance, formed by the secret alliance of the righteous and demonic paths, has already taken shape, and many righteous and demonic forces and islands have joined it. And since you and I cannot leave Heavenly Star City while cultivating the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light, we are unable to take action against them and eradicate these sects, so we must borrow strength. The only one in the entire Star Sea who has this strength, has few concerns, and has no ties to the righteous and demonic paths is this Fellow Daoist Yan and the Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind him."

"As for offending him, as long as the Anti-Star Alliance established by the righteous and demonic paths is resolved, or if we delay it for some time so that we can successfully cultivate the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light and leave Heavenly Star City, it will no longer be a problem. By then, if he comes to hold us accountable, perhaps you will have already broken through to the Spirit Severing Stage, and there will be no need to worry about anything. Even if you haven't broken through, with you and me joining forces and relying on the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light, we wouldn't need to fear even a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator."

"If it really comes to it, we can just compensate him with a few islands with Spirit Stone and material veins."

Wen Qing smiled charmingly and said with great confidence.

"But what if he joins forces with the Wanfa Sect and Shengmo Island?"

Ling Xiaofeng still voiced his greatest worry. This consequence was too severe; at the very least, although Ling Xiaofeng was the number one person in the Chaotic Star Sea, he still could not guarantee he could deal with the divine ability Yan Taibai used to slaughter the entire Poison Dragon Association back then.

Even if he successfully cultivated the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light, he still did not have much confidence.

"If that happens, we can only consider ourselves unlucky."

The smile on Wen Qing's face gradually disappeared, and she sighed.

"As things stand, it is better than doing nothing. Once the Anti-Star Alliance is established and we cannot leave Heavenly Star City, the entire Star Sea will be in chaos. The Star Palace will also have huge trouble."

"What you say is also correct; I was worrying too much."

Hearing this, Ling Xiaofeng was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Wen Qing's view.

There was no other way; currently, their cultivation of the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light restricted them to Heavenly Star City, and they could not leave to destroy those large sects of the righteous and demonic paths and provide sufficient deterrence.

If it were in the past, Ling Xiaofeng would have attacked the Wanfa Sect and Shengmo Island alone, and severely injured or directly killed the culprits of the Anti-Star Alliance, Wan Sangu and Liudao Jisheng.

But now, that ability is gone, and he can only stay in Heavenly Star City.

This is also where the confidence of Liudao Jisheng and Wan Sangu lies.

Therefore, Wen Qing has no choice but to choose to borrow external forces to deal with the Wanfa Sect and Shengmo Island of the righteous and demonic paths.

It should be said that Liudao Jisheng and Wan Sangu are the two who were defeated by him.

(End of this chapter)