Chapter 356

Upon hearing Tianchan Laozu's promise, the three of them all perked up.

Yun Caishang and the gray-clad middle-aged man had originally been reluctant, but their hesitation vanished at once.

After seeing Tianchan Laozu's gaze, Wang Yu understood even more clearly.

"Senior Brother Tianchan, my Five-Light Sparrow has long been stuck at the early stage of the Second Stage. Now, if I consume a suitable beast core, I may break through the bottleneck. I've heard the General Affairs Hall possesses a Second Stage mid-level Qingyin Bird core—I wish to obtain it." Yun Caishang, the red-clad woman, spoke bluntly to Tianchan Laozu.

"That request is acceptable. I'll have the General Affairs Hall send it to you later." Tianchan Laozu nodded, his expression unchanged.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Yun Caishang beamed, bowing slightly.

"Old Ancestor, I have just broken through to the fourth layer of the Thick Earth Technique and entered Foundation Establishment mid-stage. I urgently need pills to stabilize my realm and cultivation—I humbly beg for some." The gray-clad man spoke respectfully.

"Your Thick Earth Technique is a pure earth-affinity scripture. I have three 'Qian Earth Pills' here—each can save four to five years of hard cultivation." This time, Yinyun Laozu spoke up, flicking his sleeve and tossing out a yellow pill vial.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor, for this gift."

The gray-clad man caught the vial and bowed again respectfully.

Thus, Wang Yu was the only one left without a request.

All four pairs of eyes in the hall turned to him.

"Respectful Master, the Red Sun Great Law is too profound and mysterious. I have many points I cannot comprehend and urgently need a comparable scripture for reference. Therefore, I humbly request the sect's 'Zhuque Jue' to aid my cultivation." Wang Yu bowed deeply before speaking with utmost reverence.

Upon hearing this, the gray-clad man and Tianchan Laozu showed no reaction, but the red-robed woman beside them was startled, her gaze toward Wang Yu suddenly shifting.

"Senior Brother Yinyun, what do you think?" Tianchan Laozu did not reply to Wang Yu immediately, but turned to ask Yinyun Laozu.

"The Zhuque Jue is a scripture of the Zhuque lineage. By right, only disciples of that lineage may cultivate it. But Wang Yu's Red Sun Great Law was originally an external sect scripture—he has never followed the path of ordinary disciples. Moreover, the four sects have exchanged teachings for so many years now; granting him another branch's scripture is no great matter." Yinyun Laozu spoke calmly.

"I understand. But the Zhuque Jue is the pinnacle scripture of Zhuque Mountain. Shouldn't we first inform Li Huo, my junior brother?" Tianchan Laozu nodded, then asked quietly.

"No need. Li Huo has been in seclusion these days, refining a crucial secret technique. He must not be disturbed by trivial matters. When he emerges, I will tell him. I take responsibility for this decision."

"Here is my one-time token. Take it to the Scripture Library and exchange it directly for the Zhuque Jue." Yinyun Laozu spoke lightly, then flipped his hand—suddenly a golden tablet appeared in his palm, which he tossed to Wang Yu.

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Senior Brother Yinyun." Wang Yu caught the tablet, his face lighting up with joy.

"Enough. Since your requests are made, the three of you may leave." Tianchan Laozu gave the order.

Wang Yu and the other two bowed and exited the hall, soon leaving Tianchan Palace and arriving outside its massive gate.

"I've long heard of Senior Brother Wang's name. This is our first mission together—I hope we can cooperate well." Yun Caishang smiled at Wang Yu.

"Senior Sister is too kind. Your name has long been famed to me. With you leading, I feel much more at ease." Wang Yu smiled in return.

"I heard Senior Brother Wang fought Zhu Wuyan back in the Qi Condensation stage. Is that true?" The gray-clad man suddenly asked.

"I did fight Zhu Wuyan once in the past, but we both held back—just a brief test, nothing serious."

"But Senior Xuan's Thick Earth Technique is famed in our sect as the strongest defensive scripture. I'll rely on your protection during this mission." Wang Yu bowed respectfully to the gray-clad man.

"To escape Zhu Wuyan alive is already remarkable."

"I just received word—this 'Little Demon Lord' appeared recently in the Tianhe Prefecture and killed two Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators from Tianhe's sects in one go. His reputation is growing rapidly; even most late-stage cultivators aren't his match." Senior Xuan spoke with deep implication.

"It seems Zhu Wuyan's Blood Bone Technique is growing even stronger. But if this demon appears in Tianhe Prefecture, does that mean the demonic sects plan to launch war on two fronts at once?" Yun Caishang's smile faded at once.

"Hard to say. Logically, the Great Ming territory borders Yu Kingdom the most—demons should strike Great Ming first, then invade Tianhe. But Zhu Wuyan holds a critical position in the Yin Soul Sect. His sudden appearance in Tianhe can't be trivial." Senior Xuan stroked his chin slowly.

"What do you think, Senior Brother Wang?" Yun Caishang's eyes flickered as she turned to Wang Yu.

"How we see it doesn't matter. What matters is how the Old Ancestors see it."

"Matters of this scale are known best by the Old Ancestors—they alone can make the wisest judgments." Wang Yu replied after a moment's thought.

"That's wise. As Foundation Establishment disciples, we need only do what Foundation Establishment cultivators should do. The big picture? Senior Brother Yinyun and the others will decide." Senior Xuan clapped his hands and chuckled.

"You two are right. Our priority is completing this mission. Let's hurry back and prepare—we depart the day after tomorrow." Yun Caishang smiled sweetly, her eyes shimmering, radiant and alluring.

……

The next morning.

Wang Yu flew out from the sect's Scripture Library, a crimson jade slip now in his storage bag.

He did not return to his cave. Instead, he transformed into a white fireball and headed straight for "Senior Li's" cave. When he emerged again, a weak white spirit beast rested on his shoulder.

It was Xiao Bai.

But now, its eyes were dull, motionless, slumped against Wang Yu's shoulder.

And in Wang Yu's storage bag lay a pile of mid-grade spirit stones and half a translucent, crystalline skeleton.

That night, in the cave.

Xiao Bai soaked in the spirit pool, restoring its vitality.

Wang Yu sat cross-legged in the secret chamber, placing the crimson jade slip against his forehead, his eyes gleaming as he slowly deciphered its contents.

The day after tomorrow, noon.

Wang Yu sat motionless in the cave's secret chamber, eyes tightly closed.

At the same moment, in the silver login hall.

Wang Yu sat on a metal chair, rapidly typing the Zhuque Jue's cultivation incantations into a virtual keyboard.