CHAPTER 490: CHAPTER 475: ANOTHER 7 YEARS! [3RD UPDATE, PLEASE VOTE FOR MONTHLY TICKETS!]

The Deputy City Lord of Cangyuan Immortal City is named Geng Zhong. He has a cultivation at the Second-Layer Golden Core and has been practicing for over six hundred years.

Geng Zhong has been following the Cangyuan Wanderer since the Purple Mansion Stage because he made contributions in establishing Cangyuan Immortal City back then. Cangyuan Wanderer specially took him as a registered disciple and helped him quite a bit when he was forming his core.

Over the years, Geng Zhong has been loyally assisting the Cangyuan Wanderer in managing various affairs in Cangyuan Immortal City, even to the point of neglecting much of his cultivation.

In Geng Zhong’s mind, he has long considered Cangyuan Immortal City as his own, just waiting for the Cangyuan Wanderer to pass into ascension so he can rightfully take over this Immortal City.

By then, with the whole Immortal City as his foundation, together with his painstaking management over the years, the Geng Family he established, would indeed have the opportunity to become one of those thousand-year Golden Core families.

After the Cangyuan Wanderer returned injured from the battlefield, Geng Zhong was the first to visit with medicine.

His actions were not only to show loyalty but also mainly to observe the true extent of Cangyuan Wanderer’s injuries and assess how much longer he would have to wait to take over Cangyuan Immortal City.

The result of that visit delighted him greatly, because based on his judgment, even if Cangyuan Wanderer could recover, the injuries would certainly affect his remaining lifespan, causing him to ascend sooner.

And when he secretly spread this news, the number of cultivators within Cangyuan Immortal City who covertly pledged allegiance to him suddenly increased significantly. Some who previously showed no interest when he tried to win them over, were now swayed and no longer resisted his overtures.

Thus, before Zhouyang’s arrival, the situation for Geng Zhong in Cangyuan Immortal City was looking quite favorable.

But now, with Zhouyang’s arrival and the news of Li Mubai and Zhou Guangxiang’s engagement spreading throughout the city, this favorable situation has instantly deteriorated to the extreme.

In just one day, the number of bad news Geng Zhong received exceeded the total amount of bad news he had received in the past hundred years!

Those cultivators who pledged allegiance to him rapidly, now betrayed him equally quickly.

Even some cultivators originally loyal to him were now panicking, unsure of what to do.

Cangyuan Immortal City is indeed a city of Loose Cultivators, but it’s not just them here. Over several hundred years of development, several Purple Mansion Clans and dozens of Foundation Establishment Clans have emerged within the city.

These cultivation clans are the foundation of Cangyuan Wanderer and Geng Zhong’s rule over the Immortal City. The city has been able to maintain normal operations because of these cultivation clans assisting in its construction and undertaking various functions.

So even for someone like Geng Zhong, who played a key role in establishing Cangyuan Immortal City, to smoothly inherit this Immortal City in the future, he still needs to win over these cultivation clans and gain their support.

Before Zhouyang’s arrival, Geng Zhong had already secured the support of over half of these people, making the momentum seem unstoppable.

But now, only less than twenty percent of cultivators are still willing to come to him for discussions!

"Curse that brat!"

"I never expected the one to ruin my grand plan would be that brat Li Mubai!"

"Had I known Zhou Guangxiang’s background, would I have let Li Mubai win the beauty? In terms of cultivation, appearance, and ability, my Ming’er excels him tenfold!"

Geng Zhong’s hatred was such that he wished he could dismember Li Mubai, the one ruining his plans.

His plans, which he had devised for hundreds of years, were disrupted by a junior he never regarded highly. If Cangyuan Wanderer weren’t still alive, he would have charged into the Li Family to kill Li Mubai.

"This isn’t over!"

"How can my hundreds of years of waiting be forfeited because of a few juniors?"

"So what if he’s a registered disciple of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator? I, Geng Zhong, surely have backing too!"

A cold light flashed in his eyes as Geng Zhong forced down his anger, his expression returning to calmness as he began to reassure those anxious supporters.

Zhouyang didn’t expect that he, not yet at Core Formation, would already have such a significant influence.

Of course, he noticed the tumultuous changes in Cangyuan Immortal City, and even on the day the engagement news spread, numerous clans within the city sent representatives with gifts to visit him.

Apart from one clan that fully leaned towards Geng Zhong, all other Purple Mansion Clans had sent invitations, inviting him to their residence to teach their young members.

This change left him somewhat amused.

When he initially considered coming to Cangyuan Immortal City, it was to avoid such social engagements, yet unexpectedly, he has found himself back in them after a roundabout route.

However, fortunately, he’s now not the same as before, and the clans within Cangyuan Immortal City are not those great clans and forces he must avoid.

Therefore, he accepted all the gifts presented, instructing Qin Yue’Er to open the gift list and keep track.

He’s come to terms that since he can’t kill or drive Qin Yue’Er away, he might as well truly treat her as a maid.

By keeping her under his watch, he could monitor her actions, though it’s better than letting her secretly plot against him.

As for the invitations, he rejected them all, citing a need to retreat and comprehend the Golden Core Dao.

Actually, this wasn’t entirely an excuse because he indeed planned to retreat for a while to refine the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill" he possessed, to purify his magical power.

The "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill," a Tier Five Spirit Pill that even Nascent Soul Stage cultivators owe favors to obtain, has effects that are absolutely not exaggerated.

After Zhouyang’s cultivation reached the Ninth-Layer of the Purple Mansion, his cultivation couldn’t improve further, but after consuming the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill," his magical power was refined and purified, reaching nearly twenty percent purification!

According to Han Xiao, the Sect Leader of Cyan Origin Sword Sect, a typical Ninth-Layer Purple Mansion cultivator could purify their magical power by twenty to thirty percent after consuming the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill."

That Zhouyang managed less than twenty percent was not an issue with the Spirit Pill, rather his magical power had already been more refined than usual due to the "Qianyang Immortal Light," hence the benefits he gained from the Spirit Pill were naturally smaller.

Nonetheless, he was thoroughly satisfied with the results of the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill."

Purely in terms of magical power refinement, within the Purple Mansion Stage, he’s confident no cultivator can compare, not even those who also consumed the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill."

More refined magical power makes the first step of Core Formation, "Condensing Pill," easier.

This is why Zhao Hao once said the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill" is a treasure that can enhance the success rate of Core Formation.

Originally, after purifying his magical power, Zhouyang could have attempted Core Formation again, but since it was less than three years since his last attempt, the impact from the previous failure hasn’t completely dissipated from his Dantian. So for now he has to set this plan aside and focus on other matters.

He first took out the Tier Five Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact "C Fire Thunder Bottle" that he acquired along with the "Three-Turn Pure Essence Pill".

After refining this artifact, it can release a kind of Fire Divine Thunder called "Binghuo Divine Thunder" for attack, its power being significantly stronger than ordinary Tier Four High-Grade Thunder Magic, but far inferior to true Tier Five Thunder Magic.

In fact, for Golden Core Stage cultivators, this artifact is somewhat tasteless as its offensive power poses little threat in Golden Core Stage battles.

And because using this artifact to release "Binghuo Divine Thunder" consumes a lot of magical power, a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator would be drained of magical power after not many uses, making its role not very significant for them either.

It’s precisely because it’s not much use for cultivators of both the above and below realms that it was given as an added bonus to Zhouyang.

As a Tier Four High-grade Refiner, Zhouyang naturally understood the issue with this "C Fire Thunder Bottle", but he didn’t mind spending time refining it due to his own interest in Thunder Technique Divine Techniques.

Speaking of which, the battle in the Deathmatch Arena was dangerous, but it also allowed Zhouyang to acquire many treasures.

Especially the final battle, where he suddenly surged forward to slay his opponent, gaining the opponent’s two Tier Five Spirit Talismans, a Talisman Treasure, and a treasure sealing the divine techniques of a Golden Core Stage cultivator, which became a powerful trump card in his hand.

With these treasures in hand, plus the Tier Five Middle-Grade Defense Spiritual Artifact "Profound Turtle Shield" he had already refined, even facing an attack from an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he could exchange a few moves and then calmly use the "Blood Escape Technique" to flee.

In other words, even without relying on external forces like Xu Song, if he encountered an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, as long as the opponent wasn’t someone who had refined a Tier Five High-Grade Spiritual Artifact or mastered a powerful divine technique, he could easily preserve his life and retreat.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven years had passed.

In seven years, Zhouyang consecutively refined three Tier Five Artifacts: the "C Fire Thunder Bottle", "Thunderbolt Golden Light Divine Shuttle", and Spirit Beast Ring, and also advanced his Talisman Making Art to Tier Four Middle Grade.

In these seven years, the injuries that Cangyuan Wanderer suffered on the Deathmatch Arena finally eased a lot, and he came out of seclusion to handle affairs.

The wedding of Zhou Guangxiang and Li Mubai that had been delayed for seven years also began to be officially planned because of Cangyuan Wanderer’s re-emergence.

Before the wedding, Zhouyang first visited Cangyuan Wanderer’s cave mansion to pay a visit.

At that time, on the Deathmatch Arena, Cangyuan Wanderer had also witnessed him continuously slay three opponents, and he also witnessed Cangyuan Wanderer survive the opponent’s Golden Core self-detonation.

Their first official meeting recalled these events to both, and they couldn’t help but smile knowingly at each other, feeling a sense of mutual admiration.

"Hahaha, when the old me saw Zhou Xiaoyou’s heroic figure of winning three consecutive battles, I told my comrades beside me that one day I must invite Zhou Xiaoyou for a drink to get acquainted, and I didn’t expect this day to come so soon. Moreover, we’ve even become in-laws!"

In the cave mansion, after meeting Zhouyang for the first time, Cangyuan Wanderer laughed heartily, proactively approaching to grab Zhouyang’s arm, sitting beside a tea table, and warmly took out a jar of cherished spirit wine from his Storage Ring, breaking the seal and pouring a bowl of spirit wine for Zhouyang.

Then he picked up the spirit wine, handed it to Zhouyang, and laughed, "Come, Zhou Xiaoyou, let’s drink this full cup for the wonderful fate between us!"

Zhouyang didn’t expect that the over 800-year-old Cangyuan Wanderer would still have such a passionate and forthright spirit, truly vigorous even in old age, commanding respect.

Therefore, after a slight pause, he was also stirred up with fervor, disregarding any formalities, directly taking the wine bowl and said loudly, "Alright, junior first toasts Elder Li a bowl, for your safe emergence from seclusion!"

After saying this, he directly raised the bowl and drank it all at once, downing it in one gulp.

Cangyuan Wanderer saw this and immediately laughed even more heartily, then poured himself a bowl of wine and downed it in one gulp.

In fact, it’s a very adventurous thing for two unfamiliar cultivators to drink the spirit wine or spirit tea given by the other upon meeting, because no one knows whether the other party might have poisoned it.

It’s known that there are many toxins in the Cultivation Realm that even Golden Core Stage cultivators can’t detect or resist. Once poisoned, even if not dead, one’s strength would be greatly diminished, becoming easy prey.

However, Zhouyang dared to drink Cangyuan Wanderer’s spirit wine because he knew that if the other party truly wanted to deal with him, there was no need to resort to poisoning.

Moreover, bearing the identity of a registered disciple under the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator Guo Jinhong, unless Cangyuan Wanderer had gone mad, under no circumstances would he strike against him without reason or enmity.

Nonetheless, Zhouyang’s attitude of drinking without hesitation made Cangyuan Wanderer feel very comfortable, as it fully represented Zhouyang’s trust in him, which made him smile even more joyfully.

Thus, the two of them drank wine while chatting about various topics, getting along exceedingly well.

Finally, their conversation turned to the two juniors Zhou Guangxiang and Li Mubai.

After gulping down a big bowl of spirit wine, Cangyuan Wanderer suddenly, full of emotion, said:

"Speaking of it, when Mubai pursued your niece, Zhou Xiaoyou, the old me wasn’t very supportive initially, because I intended for him to marry a daughter from the Geng Family. This way, when the day came for me to rest for eternity, Geng Zhong would, out of past sentiments and connections with his own younger generations, wouldn’t be too harsh on the Li Family!"

"However, the old me also very much appreciated Zhou Xiaoyou’s words; matters concerning the younger generations should first and foremost prioritize their preferences!"

"As cultivators, our aim in cultivation is to pursue longevity and freedom. If that original intention is violated, then what meaning is there in living? It’s nothing but a puppet of flesh without self-awareness!"

Zhouyang, hearing this, guessed he was speaking about the situation of fighting on the Deathmatch Arena on behalf of someone else out of obligation.

This matter involves another Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and though he is usually bold, he dared not make reckless comments.

However, he thought of another matter, immediately raised his hand, took out a Jade Box, and handed it over, saying: "I heard Elder Li, your injuries are severe. I have here a Tier Five Lower Grade Spirit Pill, the ’Life-Restoring Pill’. It might help with your injuries. Please accept it as my humble wedding gift for Guangxiang and forgive my refusal!"

This "Life-Restoring Pill" was obtained when he killed the Beast Taming Sect’s Golden Core Stage cultivator Zhong Chuming. Even when he was severely injured by the Tier Five Demon Beast "Heart-devouring Demon Wolf", he didn’t use this Spirit Pill for healing.

Now he’s taking out such a treasure as Zhou Guangxiang’s wedding dowry, giving it to the Cangyuan Wanderer for his recovery, clearly showing his affection for Zhou Guangxiang.

Even in the mundane world, parents know that the richer the dowry they provide, the more their daughter is valued in her husband’s family.

As Zhou Guangxiang’s elder, Zhouyang worried himself to ensure his niece would be well-treated in her in-law’s house.

Upon hearing his words, Cangyuan Wanderer was first slightly stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh:

"Zhou Xiaoyou, your generosity is truly great!"

"With such a generous dowry, if I don’t provide my Mubai with a fitting bride price, won’t people laugh at the Li Family for being stingy?"

After laughing, he also waved his hand, taking out a treasure.

ps: Ten thousand words in three Chapters, asking for a monthly ticket, asking for subscriptions!