Chapter 275: Conspiracy (In Celebration of Yu Tianxing Tianxing Wuxie, the Alliance Lord)

Mu Family Ancestral Hall.

The family lord, Mu Wanlü, the Golden Core elders Mu Wanqing, Mu Wanda, and Mu Mu Qingfeng, along with several pseudo-Core stewards, were all present.

In recent years, the Mu family has been in decline, with no new Golden Core cultivators emerging.

On the contrary, many pseudo-Core stewards have been lost.

At this moment, Mu Wanlü, clad in a golden cultivation robe, sat in the main seat, his appearance stern and imposing.

Yet his brow was heavy with worry.

After becoming family lord, he realized this position was like sitting atop a volcano—conflicts between branches and external pressures came one after another…

Even though Mu Wanlü prided himself on his countless stratagems, he was still worn down to exhaustion.

'If this were a rising family, the gains would be enough to soothe the discontent of each branch… but now the family is in decline… Fortunately, Mu Mu Wulong has fully retreated, and by sacrificing his faction's interests, we've barely maintained surface harmony—but it won't last much longer…'

Mu Wanlü glanced around and asked: 'For this family assembly, was Elder Mu Wulong invited?'

After stepping down as family lord, one automatically becomes a family elder.

'An audio talisman has been sent.'

Mu Wanqing replied.

He too found it strange: for years, Mu Mu Wulong's soul lamp had flickered like a candle in the wind, yet he stubbornly refused to die, still occupying the fourth-rank cultivation cave.

That was the most spiritually potent cave on Mount Mount Baihua!

Was he going to cling to it until he died of old age?

Yet, the man had previously shown noble virtue, voluntarily relinquishing vast benefits and even severing his own arm to kill the Divination Immortal.

No one in the Mu family dared speak another word.

On the contrary, if he dared reach out again, he'd be branded a traitor—this was a family, not a criminal gang!

Even criminal gangs maintained a veneer of righteousness.

'Cough… cough…'

Not long after, 'Mu Mu Wulong,' an old man with white hair and a haggard face, who coughed intermittently, entered the ancestral hall: 'Alas… what a turbulent time—yet I, this old bone, must be disturbed…'

'Please, Elder, take your seat.'

Mu Wanlü rose, showing respect to Fang Xing.

He was a clever man—he knew his position as family lord came from Fang Xing's legal authority.

Thus, to hold onto it, he must at least uphold the appearance of filial piety—this was the only way to maintain family cohesion.

'Hmm.'

Fang Xing sat down shakily, listening as Mu Wanqing spoke of the Mu family's recent troubles: 'The White Crane Gate seems determined to fight us to the death… Their Supreme Elder, White Crane Immortal, has just broken through to late Golden Core—this is deeply concerning…'

'A single late Golden Core cultivator alone isn't enough to warrant such serious discussion…'

Mu Wanlü said: 'According to our latest intelligence, both orthodox and demonic factions intend to… open the wild lands!'

'Open the wild lands?'

Fang Xing blinked, recalling his years in the untamed wilds, then his expression grew distant: 'How many years have passed since the war ended, and now they're preparing another Kaihuang war?'

'Originally, we should have rested and recuperated—but it's all that damned Feng Shangren's fault… He alone seized four Nascent Soul Fruits and slew numerous demonic Golden Core cultivators; the orthodox side lost Hunyuan Zi as well. The critical issue is that we can't even gather the main ingredients for a single batch of Nascent Soul Pills.'

When mentioning Fang Xing, Mu Wanlü showed no good will.

'But there are still two Nascent Soul Fruits left, aren't there?'

Fang Xing blinked.

'Those two— one was seized by the demonic Xioyao Marquis and has vanished without a trace; he's likely seeking a secret place to form his Nascent Soul. As for that body cultivator, there's been no word at all.'

Mu Wanda replied: 'High-level cultivators from both orthodox and demonic factions have scoured the entire cultivation world and found nothing… And as for Feng Shangren, multiple high-level experts have confirmed he is an outsider from beyond the realm—he has long since left Da Jing.'

'Damn it!'

Fang Xing's face twisted with hatred: 'That cowardly imposter pretending to be Feng Shangren—I will not let him off!'

'Alas, how could we possibly spare the strength to retaliate against a Nascent Soul True Immortal?' Mu Wanlü chuckled bitterly: 'Even Meng's sisters and Lady Die Rui are still alive and well…'

'Why?' Fang Xing's face turned fierce.

'Alas, isn't it because we dare not risk it? A few early Golden Core female cultivators mean nothing… but if we provoke a Nascent Soul retaliation, it would be disastrous.'

Mu Wanqing said: 'Moreover… it's said a demonic Nascent Soul cultivator once targeted those women, using the "Heart-Testing Technique"… and confirmed the real Feng Shangren had long since died—even the Nascent Soul cultivator didn't know their true face… those women were essentially used and discarded, utterly wronged…'

Fang Xing snorted, but his heart stirred.

'So… this barefoot Nascent Soul True Immortal of mine still carries real Weishe.'

'Even demonic Nascent Soul cultivators dare not use soul-searching techniques that damage the spirit—they used the "Heart-Testing Technique" instead… that speaks volumes.'

'The more they avoid confronting me, the more I must stay hidden… a missile is most threatening before it's launched.'

'Enough—back to the matter at hand. This joint orthodox-demonic opening of the wild lands involves each side choosing a major direction; our Mu family will naturally follow the orthodox side and likely be assigned under the Du Qiankun Dao's jurisdiction… For this Kaihuang, our family must send at least three Golden Core cultivators—that's the upper sect's demand…'

Mu Wanlü spoke.

'After the orthodox-demonic war, instead of resting, they choose to open the wild lands—and both sides agree… Could it be…?'

Fang Xing stroked his beard, his eyes brightening.

'Brother Mu Wulong, what are you thinking?'

Mu Wanda's eyes lit up.

'Rumors say the Nascent Soul Pill formula has been revised multiple times; one version can substitute a fourth-rank transformed beast king's essence pill for the Nascent Soul Fruit… but the resulting Nascent Soul Pill is slightly weaker, and the success rate drops significantly.'

Fang Xing said: 'Now both orthodox and demonic factions need to cultivate Nascent Soul seeds—they're preparing to wage war against the transformed beast kings in the wild lands… This Kaihuang will likely require killing at least several transformed beast kings to meet demand. But the wild lands are extremely dangerous—fourth-rank middle and even upper-tier transformed beast kings are active… and rumors say deep within the great wilds, fifth-rank ancient beast kings still slumber…'

' Kaihuang is indeed perilous, but our ancestors crossed the sea, hacked through thorns, and opened many cultivation realms—legend says a Shen-level master from the Hanhai Cultivation Realm once negotiated an agreement with the Lord of the Wilds: beings above Shen-level would not actively target low-level cultivators.'

Mu Wanlü smiled: 'Besides, the regions we occupy—even including the new ones to be opened—are but a drop in the ocean of the great wilds; they could never provoke a Shen-level master.'

'Even so, encountering just one fourth-rank beast would be enough to crush us to dust…'

Fang Xing shook his head: 'Are we expected to risk our lives for a Nascent Soul Pill as reward? This is a losing proposition—we're being used as cannon fodder to fill the upper sect's hunger.'

At these words, the faces of the Golden Core cultivators turned grim.

Though the rewards for Kaihuang are rich, the Mu family is already a Golden Core clan—the Du Qiankun Dao wouldn't be foolish enough to support them. This time, even if they fight to the death, the best they'll receive is a newly reclaimed third-rank spiritual land and one Golden Core Pill—nothing more.

If their battlefield merits are insufficient, they might not even get a Golden Core spiritual item!

'Even so, we cannot defy the upper sect's orders…' Mu Wanqing looked troubled: 'Shall we… follow the old rule?'

The old rule meant sending up the old, weak, sick, and infirm, and temporarily recruiting wandering cultivators to fill the ranks.

'Cough… cough…'

At this moment, Fang Xing burst into violent coughing: 'I am severely wounded—I fear if I go out again, I'll die on the road… I can no longer serve the family.'

Old, weak, sick, and infirm?

Wasn't that just describing 'Mu Mu Wulong'?

If this were the real Mu Mu Wulong, he might have truly sacrificed himself for the family and died in Kaihuang.

But Fang Xing was no fool—he wouldn't go.

He needed to continue his hidden cultivation and aim to break through to late Golden Core within ten years!

'Old bastard! Playing the veteran card!'

Mu Wanqing silently cursed, but when Mu Mu Wulong truly became shameless, he had no good solution.

He couldn't force the former family lord to go to his death.

That's what happens when a man loses his shame—he becomes invincible.

'In that case, let Mu Wulong and Wanqing remain to guard the family. This time, I will lead the expedition myself, with Wanda and Mu Qingfeng accompanying me.'

Mu Wanlü looked at Fang Xing. Though disappointed, Mu Mu Wulong's cowardice dealt another blow to his prestige—which actually benefited Mu Wanlü.

Moreover, the man had fully retreated, and there was still old goodwill between them—he decided to tolerate this once.

Still, Mu Wanlü took precautions: he reassigned the relatively pro-Mu Wulong Mu Wanda and the neutral Mu Mu Qingfeng, leaving only Mu Wanqing, loyal to him, to keep watch.

Mu Mu Wulong was still at early Golden Core—his injuries clearly hadn't healed.

Mu Wanqing, however, had deep spiritual power; dealing with a wounded Mu Mu Wulong posed no real problem.

'Then thank you. I'm currently refining a healing pill batch—I must return to check the fire. With Wanqing managing family affairs, I'm at ease.'

Fang Xing bowed slightly, then turned into a streak of light and departed immediately.

After the Golden Core cultivators in the ancestral hall gradually took their leave, only Mu Wanlü and Mu Wanqing remained.

'Mu Mu Wulong has truly changed… In the past, he would have gone without hesitation.'

Mu Wanqing was puzzled.

'It's only natural—the older one gets, the more one fears death… In the cultivation world, how many venerable elders with noble appearances, when nearing the end of their lifespan, resort to absorbing essence through dual cultivation, practicing demonic arts, or transforming their bloodline… they'll do anything to extend their lives! We wield the power to move mountains and fill seas—we can maintain our bodies' vitality until our Golden Core collapses, free of illness and suffering… who wants to die?'

Mu Wanlü accepted this reality with calmness.

What else could he do?

Could this Mu Mu Wulong be an impostor?

If he were, his bloodline would have been detected the moment he entered the ancestral hall!

The Mu family, as a Nascent Soul clan, had excellent methods for verifying their own bloodline.

'Rest assured, Lord—I will keep a close eye on that old man during my time in the family!'

Mu Wanqing promised.

'Brother Mu Wulong has already relinquished the lordship, and his faction has been crushed… If we spread today's meeting details truthfully, his reputation as a coward will be sealed… What threat does this Mu Mu Wulong pose to us? Wanqing, think long-term—our true enemies are the wolves outside. This Mu Mu Wulong now? We might even be able to win him over…'

Mu Wanlü spoke with solemn weight.

Mu Wanqing's face showed indifference—he hadn't truly listened.

…

Several days later.

A desolate mountain.

The wilds were bleak and silent, broken only by occasional bird calls.

A thin mist had somehow appeared, shrouding the mid-slope.

Not long after, a streak of green light shot through the air and plunged straight into the mist.

Upon a massive green rock at the mid-slope, a figure had suddenly appeared.

He wore a pure white crane-feather cloak, his face youthful yet his hair snow-white, with two long white eyebrows hanging down and a red mole on his brow—truly ethereal and Daoist in bearing.

He stood with his hands behind his back, beside him a white crane, its crown red as cinnabar, its feathers sharp as swords, standing in the stream and poking at fish with its long beak.

The green light faded, revealing a cultivator enveloped in green radiance, who bowed first: "Greetings, White Crane Immortal!"

"Hehe, young friend, to abandon darkness and embrace the light… you've rendered great service to my White Crane Sect. I swear, your lineage will suffer no harm, and boundless celestial blessings await you…"

The White Crane Immortal plucked at his white eyebrows, smiling: "I can even sign a third-rank spirit pact with you first…"

"Thank you, Immortal."

The figure within the green light bowed again, then raised a hand.

A cluster of green light wrapped a jade slip, which landed in the White Crane Immortal's hands.

"Good, very good! Indeed, it's the formation diagram of the Ten Thousand Flowers, Thousand Illusions Array! Hmm? And also the travel dates and route of Mu Wanlü and his party?"

The White Crane Immortal stared in surprise at the figure within the green light.

"If you're going to act, act utterly… Nandao you don't plan to ambush Mu Wanlü and his group?"

The figure spoke as if stating the obvious.

"Well… I naturally intend to strike, but they are your own kin—such actions still give me pause…"

The White Crane Immortal sighed.

"Great families harbor all manner of filth—forgive me for troubling you. I have no objections whatsoever. If you kill Mu Wanlü and then assault the Ten Thousand Flowers, Thousand Illusions Array, we can coordinate from within and without—shutting down the array will be no problem. Then, the Mu family will be nothing but chickens and dogs."

The figure within the green light glanced at the strange spirit crane playing in the stream: "Congratulations, Immortal—this spirit beast has surely reached the upper tier of third-rank. No wonder you dare plot for a fourth-rank spirit vein… but you still need the Du Qiankun Dao's recognition."

Yunzhou lies within the Du Qiankun Dao's sphere of influence; such matters cannot be bypassed.

Otherwise, the fury of a Nascent Soul sect is beyond any Jin Dan cultivator to withstand.

"Rest assured, my own great-granddaughter has married the Du Qiankun Dao's 'Five Elements Son' as a concubine. I personally visited the Du Qiankun Dao's master—I offered up this old body, and he gave his tacit approval… After all, I bring two late-stage Jin Dan combatants, invaluable for frontier expansion, while what remains of the Mu family?"

The White Crane Immortal chuckled.

"Then it seems… the Mu family is doomed."

The figure within the green light spoke coldly, revealing no emotion.

(End of Chapter)