Chapter 512

Yan Buji rose, clasped his hands, and said, "My apologies; it turns out to be the young master of the Shenlong Society right before me."

"You're too polite, Daoist." Wang Cai glanced at Yan Buji a few times, then asked strangely, "Have you been to the Shenlong Society before, Daoist?"

"This... I went there once over a hundred years ago."

"No wonder; I was wondering how you'd have a token of the Shenlong Society, Daoist."

Yan Buji's expression changed as he recalled that Wang Cai had once given him a token; he hadn't expected that even stored in his Storage Accumulation Device she could still sense it.

However, it seems Wang Cai didn't realize that token was the one she gave him; she was just coming by to check the situation.

Yan Buji smiled and said, "Back then I discussed the Dao with fellow cultivators of the Shenlong Society; now things have changed and people are gone."

"Who was that person?"

"Alas, he has passed away; I, a poor Daoist, have lost another friend in this world." Saying this, Yan Buji covered his face and wept.

Wang Cai laughed and said, "That's just how cultivation is; Daoist, don't grieve."

Yan Buji rubbed his reddened eyes and said, "I've come this time also to seek the relatives of those friends; I don't know if the young master could help this poor Daoist find a person named Fang Mazi?"

"Fang Mazi? Are you sure that's his real name?" Wang Cai looked strange, frankly saying she didn't want to waste time.

"Probably; that's what he told this poor Daoist."

"Well... I'll ask about it when I have time. Since you've come here, Daoist, please enjoy your visit; I take my leave."

"Thank you, young master."

Yan Buji saw Wang Cai leave, and his expression returned to normal.

"A Golden Core cultivator can't see through my disguise; looking at her, she's probably just curious about the source of my token."

After saying all that, the truth is Yan Buji simply didn't want to get involved with the Shenlong Society at this critical moment; although he used the pretext of an old friend, ordinary people wouldn't think much of it.

As long as his true identity isn't exposed, no one will keep a close watch on him.

On the other side.

After Wang Cai returned to her residence, seeing the people seated inside, she clasped her hands and said, "Father, Uncle Chen, greetings to Senior Wu."

"What business do you have, my son?" a bearded burly man seated in the chief position said sternly.

"Father, I'm just wondering; with so many people gathering on Hui Feng Island, how should we handle it afterward?"

"You mean well, my son, but for now I can't tell you this; go back and rest."

Wang Cai lowered her head, furrowed her brows, clasped her hands, and said, "Yes."

After Wang Cai left, the bearded burly man gave a slight smile: "Brother Wu, you've made me look foolish."

The Nascent Soul Cultivator seated nearby would, if Yan Buji were present, naturally recognize him at a glance.

It turned out to be Wu Qian!

Since that incident, Wu Qian has had no peaceful days for over a hundred years; now he can't even get by in the Heavenly Spirit Realm, so he fled in haste to the Boundless Sea and sought refuge with the Shenlong Society.

Because he had good relations with the Shenlong Society's chief, Wang Pinghua, and Chen Fu, he naturally received courteous treatment.

"Brother Wang, what... do you mean by this?" Wu Qian frowned; now that he's a member of the Shenlong Society, after being hunted for so long, having a place that will take him in is naturally a relief.

So he doesn't mind the Shenlong Society handling things, but he still can't understand why Wang Pinghua would raise his own daughter as a son.

Chen Fu beside him laughed, saying, "Brother Wu, don't worry about the chief; his educational policy has always been problematic. To raise a perfectly good daughter into a son—who knows what he's thinking?"

"Hmph, you're too embarrassed to even mention a dao companion to me."

"I've been busy cultivating these past two or three hundred years just to break through; when would I have time to seek a dao companion!" Chen Fu said indignantly.

Wu Qian gave a helpless smile: "You two, stop arguing. What exactly are you planning? You can't possibly be keeping me in the dark, can you? You say you're going to marry the young master of True Yellow Island; saying that out loud makes it sound like we're about to go to war with True Yellow Island—how could True Yellow Island possibly agree?"

Chen Fu and Wang Pinghua exchanged a glance: "Actually, we indeed intend to go to war."

"Ah?"

Wang Pinghua furrowed his brows, his expression stern: "Our relationship with True Yellow Island has never been good; they envy the demon beast resources we've obtained from the depths of the Boundless Sea, so they spread rumors that we collude with the demon race—actually that's completely untrue. The resources we've obtained are all taken from the demon and Otherworldly Races by force, something Brother Wu knows as well."

Wu Qian nodded; that's indeed the case.

Anyway, demon and Otherworldly Races aren't anything good; Wu Qian has seen them slaughter innocents indiscriminately, so he naturally holds no favorable opinion of them.

"So there will inevitably be a battle between the Shenlong Society and True Yellow Island; although they've obtained the legacy left by the former Shengming Sect, our Shenlong Society is no pushover!" Wang Pinghua said sternly.

Chen Fu nodded: "At the end of the day, it's just a struggle over interests; there's no right or wrong—winning is what's good."

"So what's the situation now?" Wu Qian couldn't grasp their meaning.

"Our struggle with True Yellow Island requires clearing the field first."

Wu Qian's expression changed; he exclaimed in shock, "You want to strike at other forces? That's not good—if you provoke public outrage, you won't be able to contain it!"

Chen Fu chuckled: "Brother Wu, you're overthinking it; we won't do something as heinous as the Sun and Moon Palace, we're just making our stance known in advance so they can declare their positions."

"So True Yellow Island thinks the same way—using this engagement ceremony to sort out the factions? But what if there are too many neutrals?"

"Huang Feng True Lord and Yunxiang Fairy aren't fools either; the more neutrals there are, the more dangerous it becomes in the end. They and we, to some extent, are of one mind; otherwise you'd think they'd agree to this humiliating engagement ceremony for no reason." Wang Pinghua laughed.

Wu Qian suddenly understood their meaning.

True Yellow Island and the Shenlong Society are alike; since they both know they can't suppress the war, they might as well go all out, using the engagement ceremony of the younger generations of both forces as a start to draw everyone in. Then, during the engagement ceremony, they'll strike, forcing everyone to pick a side.

The neutral faction will surely be the first to suffer attacks from both sides, so at this moment, conversely, it's a critical time for them to win over other forces.

"I understand; does that mean we also need to privately contact some people?" Wu Qian laughed.

"Exactly." Chen Fu laughed: "Brother Wu, if you're confident, why not go and contact these people? If you can win them over, that's best; if you can't, at least let them know the neutral faction isn't to be trifled with."

Wu Qian looked at the list and nodded: "Are these people all those who haven't declared a stance?"

"Not necessarily; some have cooperated with both us and True Yellow Island, so pressuring them is still troublesome. Others are too small; just winning them over so they don't end up on the opposing side is enough—we don't expect them to contribute manpower or resources." Wang Pinghua said.

"However, this True Lord of Elemental Water is quite capable; we should try to win him over. He controls the sea routes near Golden Bull Island; many merchants heading to the Inner Sea pass through his island, and I've heard he's quite formidable."

"Alright, I got it." Wu Qian took the list and, as a member of the Shenlong Society, set out to persuade the various households.