Chapter 142: The Struggle for Jiangdong, the Zouyu Bloodline
Chapter 142: The Struggle for Jiangdong, the Zouyu Bloodline
Where do True Men hold their most secret conversations?
Simple—within the Foundation Building Stage.
The Foundation Building Stage is perpetually shrouded in Binding Dragon Winds, making it impossible for even Soul Divine Consciousness to linger. Conversations here are practically immune to eavesdropping.
At Yu Jie’s suggestion, Lv Yang first excused himself from the other two True Men before dissolving into light and descending into the Foundation Building Stage. Soon, he saw a strange beast emerging from the auspicious clouds of his Dao Foundation: a tiger-bodied, lion-headed creature with snow-white fur, jet-black stripes, and an elongated tail.
This was Yu Jie’s Dao Foundation manifesting.
The moment the two Foundations connected, the beast dissolved into light, revealing Yu Jie himself. Without preamble, he bowed deeply:
“Mi, Heir of the Zouyu Bloodline, greets this Dao Companion.”
“Zouyu.”
Lv Yang’s expression remained unchanged, but his hand behind his back began silently calculating. However, he discovered the karmic weight of that name was unimaginably heavy!
“There’s no need to waste spiritual energy,” Yu Jie seemed to guess his thoughts. “The karmic threads surrounding Zouyu are too dense to unravel easily. Since this concerns the Citadel Earth, and you, Dao Companion, are currently the most promising candidate for ascension, I shall explain everything.”
His tone turned grave: “Zouyu was the predecessor of Tianwu!”
At those words, Lv Yang’s eyebrows lifted sharply.
Thankfully, they were in the Foundation Building Stage. Had this been spoken in the mortal realm, the karmic repercussions alone could have alerted those attuned to such things.
“Zouyu… Tianwu…”
Lv Yang quickly grasped Yu Jie’s meaning but couldn’t help feeling incredulous. “The Jiangdong Dao Court… had more than one dynasty? You’re saying there was a succession of regimes?”
This seemed preposterous!
How could the Jiangdong Dao Court—a power with Nascent Soul cultivators and multiple Golden Core Sovereigns—possibly have undergone dynastic changes?
“This matter involves many secrets,” Yu Jie sighed. “In short, my Zouyu Clan was the original ruler of Jiangdong. Tianwu usurped power. If not for the last Millennium Cataclysm striking Jiangdong itself, my clan might have achieved an unparalleled hegemony.”
A trace of bitterness crossed his face.
“Since then, we’ve been exiled, our ancestral treasures divided among others.”
“Tianwu seized Jiangdong’s legacy. The Sword Pavilion took our treasures. As for the Holy Sect…” Yu Jie’s voice softened with gratitude. “The Holy Sect’s elders, in their boundless compassion, offered refuge to us exiles.”
His words were polite, his tone reverent.
But as fellow Holy Sect disciples, Lv Yang understood the unspoken reality. Everyone knew the Holy Sect valued promising talents above all.
As for the final Pure Land…
“The Citadel Earth?”
“Precisely,” Yu Jie nodded. “The Citadel Earth was our clan’s supreme fruit—the most important fruit of all. It was lost to the Pure Land.”
“The Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land used immense power to bind the Citadel Earth. If not for our last imperial descendant’s final act of self-destruction—obliterating all cultivation techniques, Dao Foundations, and erasing every trace of the fruit’s connection—the Pure Land would have long since gained another Bodhisattva.”
“So…”
Lv Yang’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me you’re here because you noticed my Foundation Building has awakened the Citadel Earth’s resonance? That’s why you’re defecting to me?”
“Exactly!”
Yu Jie’s expression turned fervent. “Though my Zouyu Clan resides north of the Yangtze, generation after generation has longed to return to Jiangdong.”
“And now, another Millennium Cataclysm approaches.”
“I represent the Zouyu Clan in offering our allegiance.”
“If you truly ascend on the cataclysm’s momentum, claiming the Citadel Earth, my clan can rise again—reclaiming Jiangdong itself!”
By the end, Yu Jie was nearly trembling with excitement.
Lv Yang nodded along, smiling, even clapping politely at key moments. But he said nothing.
Gradually, Yu Jie’s enthusiasm cooled.
“Yuan Tu, the Slayer?” Lv Yang suddenly shifted tone, his smile never faltering. “How long has your Zouyu Clan been part of the Holy Sect?”
Yu Jie hesitated. “Several millennia.”
“A veteran of the old Holy Sect, then.” Lv Yang leaned in. “And yet… you’ve learned nothing in all that time?”
Understanding dawned.
The next moment, Yu Jie hurriedly produced a Dao manual from his sleeve. “I’ve heard you revere Formation Art. I’ve brought this as a gift.”
“My, what generosity!”
Lv Yang laughed, slapping Yu Jie’s shoulder as he accepted the manual. Yu Jie forced a smile but inwardly groaned:
Of course—a Holy Sect True Man!
Typical not to act without assurance. Why had he wasted all that speechifying? Just offer benefits upfront, and this guy would treat you better than his own brothers!
Sure enough, the moment the manual vanished into Lv Yang’s sleeve, his expression turned ingratiating.
“Say, Yu Brother… how many Foundation-Building True Men does your clan have? Any late-stage experts? If so, might I trouble an elder to aid me? Future rewards will be abundant!”
You’ve got some nerve!
Yu Jie shook his head. “Our clan’s glory is gone. We have only one mid-stage Foundation-Building ancestor, but his lifespan is nearly exhausted. We cannot risk disturbing him.”
“Oh.”
Lv Yang’s enthusiasm evaporated instantly. “Yu Dao Companion, I’m currently tasked with destroying the Divine Martial Gate. Other matters must wait.”
Facing the Holy Sect’s infamous fickleness, Yu Jie—the veteran True Man—was unsurprised. He bowed.
“We’ll discuss this further. Remember—my Zouyu Clan is the former imperial bloodline of Jiangdong, the original masters of the Citadel Earth. You’ll need us.”
With that, he departed the Foundation Building Stage.
Lv Yang remained, deep in thought.
“The Citadel Earth’s karma entangles not just the Pure Land, but Jiangdong itself…”
For such immense karmic weight, the Citadel Earth was clearly no ordinary fruit. His Lifebound Divine Ability already hinted at its uniqueness—far surpassing ordinary Lifebound powers.
“No rush.”
Lv Yang saw through Yu Jie’s “defection” immediately. The man had his own schemes, needing his strength for something.
Though Yu Jie painted a scenario where ascending to Golden Core required Zouyu support, Lv Yang saw the truth clearly: they needed him, not the other way around.
If he didn’t exploit this opportunity to squeeze every benefit possible, he wouldn’t deserve to call himself a Holy Sect disciple!
Just then, his mind stirred. The previously calm karmic net rippled—threads of fate were shifting.
“Here it comes.”
Zouyu’s matter was instantly forgotten. A smirk curled Lv Yang’s lips as he gazed northward. He’d expected this.
Subduing Dragon Arhat!
“He couldn’t touch me within the Holy Sect, but now that I’ve emerged, he’d never let this chance pass. Chongguang must have anticipated this too.”
The Holy Sect nurtured no useless disciples.
Chongguang had invested heavily—he’d expect returns. Lv Yang needed to prove his worth for future investments.
And Subduing Dragon Arhat was the touchstone for that proof!
The next moment, Lv Yang’s eyebrows shot up. Near Subduing Dragon Arhat’s karmic thread, he sensed another familiar presence—
“It’s him?”
Guangming had also arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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