Conspiracy

A night of deliberation. The consensus reached between Sima Huiniang, Qin Liangchen, his wife, and the others was to take the conventional route. They would detour through Liuguang Market, cross Gaoling Plain, and head straight north until reaching the outer fringes of the Jade Cauldron Domain's heartland. At the speed of the Sky Eagle flying boat, traveling by day and resting by night, the entire journey would take roughly two months. That was assuming nothing went awry along the way. This conventional route had been mapped out through years of exploration by major organizations like the Lianyun Merchant Alliance. Though somewhat more troublesome, it was unquestionably far safer than the other two options. The Sky Eagle flying boat was not particularly fast, falling far short of a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator flying at full speed. Luo Chen stood on the deck, gazing down at the surging Lancang River. Only now did he truly feel the sorrow of leaving home for distant lands. "Actually, it's not really leaving home—it should be considered returning home." A faint smile touched the corner of Luo Chen's lips. According to his memories, not far past Liuguang Market lay Yuanzhao State. The original host had journeyed all the way from Mount Baixiu in Yuanzhao State, traversing mountains and rivers to reach Dahe Market. The only reason he had bypassed the closer Liuguang Market back then was that he had traveled by water and missed it. Otherwise, the transmigrated Luo Chen might never have become Luo Chen the rogue cultivator of Dahe Market. In all likelihood, he would have become Luo Chen the bandit of Liuguang Market. Thinking of the stark contrast between the two fates, Luo Chen couldn't help but chuckle. "President, the Li family and the Nangong family have caught up." Sima Huiniang stepped forward to report. Luo Chen turned to look into the distance. His sharp vision allowed him to make out a massive crowd several li away. There were late-stage Qi Refining cultivators riding escape lights, as well as a large number of mortals seated aboard flying boats. On the ground, early and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators guarded robust mortal martial artists riding beasts of burden and dragon horses. They kicked up rolling clouds of dust, shouting as they kept pace with the main force. Such was a clan's migration. The disparity in cultivation realms was too wide, their miscellaneous resources too extensive, and there was a multitude of mortals incapable of flight. They simply could not muster any real speed. In short, it boiled down to one word: troublesome! At their current respective paces, the distance between them and the Luotian Association would only grow wider. Luo Chen hesitated, about to tell Sima Huiniang to reduce their flight speed and maintain a set distance without straying too far from them. Yet in the next instant, his expression shifted drastically. He cast his gaze far upstream along the surging Lancang River. A faint, looming, immense aura felt like a primordial behemoth swallowing and exhaling the river. "Veer toward the land and increase speed!" Sima Huiniang was somewhat puzzled, but she complied immediately. Under Duan Feng's control, the Sky Eagle flying boat gradually shifted its course, pulling completely away from the airspace above the Lancang River. *The River-Swallowing Toad ate its fill, yet it's still restless.* Luo Chen was certain his senses had not betrayed him. The colossal presence sweeping from upstream belonged without a doubt to that third-tier demonic beast, the River-Swallowing Toad, which had blocked their way before. *However, it doesn't seem to be foraging right now.* *Could it be...* A faint suspicion formed in Luo Chen's mind, and excitement began to stir within him. Back then, he had expended a vast quantity of Jade Marrow Pills to feed the River-Swallowing Toad just to satisfy its appetite completely. Furthermore, to prevent the beast from slaughtering people for sport after eating its fill, he had added a special ingredient. Supreme-grade Myriad Wonders Pills! Indeed, he had tossed in three supreme-grade Myriad Wonders Pills. As the old saying went: when food and warmth are plentiful, lustful thoughts arise! After eating so much, besides digesting, it naturally needed something to occupy its energy. Luo Chen had merely acted on a whim at the time, never expecting that after so many days, it would actually take effect. A first-tier supreme-grade pill could genuinely affect a thick-skinned, tough-fleshed third-tier demonic beast? This thrilled Luo Chen to no end. Still, thrill aside, he had no intention of crossing paths with the toad. As the Sky Eagle flying boat veered from the primary course, Li Yixian and Nangong Jin were both taken aback in the rear. Yet they felt no suspicion; instead, they harbored a touch of gratitude toward Luo Chen. Previously, the Sky Eagle flying boat had been flying above the Lancang River, while they were traveling by land, making mutual support impossible. Now that it had shifted over the land, it was far easier for them to follow. It was just that the boat was moving a bit fast. Nangong Jin took a deep breath. "Qin'er, have the people below pick up the pace." "Yes!" Nangong Qin cupped his hands at once and passed down the order. Soon, the Nangong family accelerated. The Li family, however, struggled to keep up. There was no helping it; the Nangong family had already weathered two migrations and numerous battles along the way, weeding out the weak long ago. Those remaining, even mortals, were individuals who had learned some mundane martial arts and grown exceptionally robust under the nourishment of spiritual energy. The Li family had not shared such a trial. Having enjoyed years of peace in Dahe Market, they had far more elderly, weak, women, and children among them. Seeing this, Li Yixian could only instruct the mortal martial artists riding dragon horses to push ahead as quickly as possible. Her Li family was renowned for rearing dragon horses; these creatures, falling somewhere between wild beasts and first-tier demonic beasts, possessed respectable speed. By straining to keep up, they could at least keep the vanguard's silhouettes in view. Li Yixian looked back at her family's retinue and let out a wry smile. "Despite having reached Foundation Establishment, I don't feel the slightest thrill of riding a sword on the wind and roaming freely between heaven and earth. "A family..." *** "The Great River Gang's base will remain at the docks. In the future, our business will mainly expand toward Liuguang Market and Yuelang Market, while we have no plans to return to Dahe Market. "As for Snow Lotus Market, the water route is impassable, so we must consider opening an overland trade route. "Regarding the spiritual grounds?" Atop Red Toad Mountain, Wang Haichao was discussing the Great River Gang's future plans with Huo Hu. It appeared to be a conversation between equals, but it carried the distinct undertone of a subordinate reporting to a superior. The difference in status was unmistakable. Huo Hu chuckled. "Don't worry about the spiritual grounds. Taishan Market appears to possess only a single second-tier spiritual vein, but in truth, five hundred li away beneath a turbulent stretch of the Lancang River lies another second-tier water vein. It's a very small second-tier spring, more than enough for your use." Hearing this, Wang Haichao finally felt at ease. Others assumed he was timid and dared not venture to a major immortal city to carve out a living. Yet who could have guessed that Taishan Market also held opportunities for advancing his path? A second-tier spiritual ground would undoubtedly be of tremendous aid to him. And that was not the sole reason he had paid a steep price to pledge allegiance to the Huo clan. The Flame Alliance! The opportunity for Core Formation! That was his true objective. The Lianyun Merchant Alliance was unreliable; during the late period in Dahe Market, he had already parted ways with them. He had even poached Min Longyu, a prodigy in talisman and array formations, from under Zhou Qing's nose. Only a Golden Core sect like the Flame Alliance possessed mature methods for Core Formation. The Huo clan shared tight ties with the Flame Alliance, so submitting to them offered him that slender sliver of hope to spy upon the Golden Core stage. "Work diligently for my Huo clan, and you will not be mistreated in the future, Fellow Daoist Wang!" Huo Hu's arrogant voice rang out, and Wang Haichao nodded slightly. Suddenly, as if recalling something, he said deliberately, "Those three factions departed early this morning!" Huo Hu's eyes instantly lit up. "They left?" "In which direction!" "Toward Liuguang Market, but according to my conjecture, their ultimate destination is very likely Tianlan Immortal City." Huo Hu was puzzled. "Why go to Tianlan Immortal City? It's nothing but trouble over there. A bunch of rustic rogue cultivators going there to dig in the mines?" *Rustic rogue cultivators!* Those words made Wang Haichao's expression freeze for a moment. He had also emerged from Dahe Market. Suppressing his displeasure, he murmured, "It's hard to speak for the others, but I know that Luo Chen very well. He is bold yet meticulous, and unwilling to remain mediocre. "Back when he was still in Qi Refining, he dared to borrow the prestige of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect to bluff me. "Now that he has achieved Foundation Establishment, he would certainly dare to go to a rogue cultivator immortal city." Huo Hu sneered. "Ignorant fools who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!" Tianlan Immortal City was far more than just a haven for rogue cultivators. The number of sect Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there was ten or a hundred times greater than in places like Taishan Market. Those rustic rogue cultivators had no concept of the chasm between rogue cultivators and sect disciples. Once there, even he would have to rein in his temper rather than acting like a tyrant as he did in Taishan Market. If that band of miscellaneous cultivators went there and offended the wrong person, they would be courting death! "Young Master Huo is right; they truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth." Wang Haichao let out a cold laugh, remembering how Nangong Jin had bled him dry and the parting words he had delivered. He recalled the looks Li Yixian and Luo Chen had cast his way. Those people were already walking a path to their own graves! "When do we strike?" Huo Hu suddenly asked. The underlying implication was that they intended to target the three Dahe Market factions. What should have been a shocking proposition seemed entirely expected to Wang Haichao, who showed not the slightest surprise. In a steady tone, he said, "It is inappropriate to act near Taishan Market; it would too easily draw suspicion. My suggestion is the Gaoling Plain past Liuguang Market." *Gaoling Plain!* Huo Hu paused, surprised. So far away? Immediately after, his lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. Indeed, striking in that region would lead everyone to believe it was the work of Liuguang Market's bandits, never suspecting the Huo clan of Red Toad Mountain. "Very well, I agree to your plan. "I am determined to claim that defensive magic treasure, the Marsh Country Gui Chart!" Huo Hu's eyes burned with greed. With fierce friction escalating between the two Nascent Soul overlord sects, the winds of change were shifting unpredictably. The scope of the conflict was no longer confined to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and the Falling Cloud Sect. Even Golden Core sects like the Flame Alliance and Azure Pill Valley had been drawn into the fray. Even in a place like Taishan Market, though free of open warfare, the very fact that the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had handed Taishan Market over to the Flame Alliance's Huo clan was proof enough of what the core of the battlefield had become. Under such overarching circumstances, petty Foundation Establishment cultivators like them could easily perish if they were not careful. Having only recently attained Foundation Establishment, Huo Hu had no hope of boosting his strength through a realm breakthrough in the short term. Thus, he could only rely on external aids! Magic treasures! Ordinary spirit tools—even top-grade ones—no longer satisfied him. Only a magic treasure could amplify his combat strength to the utmost. He already possessed an offensive magic treasure gifted to him by Huo Quan. What he lacked was a defensive magic treasure. Yet it was widely known that defensive items, whether spirit tools or magic treasures, were extraordinarily rare and precious. Even within the Flame Alliance, a sect renowned for its artifact crafting, there were few defensive magic treasures. Most were reserved for Golden Core Masters. While some trickled down to Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were completely out of reach for a mere inner disciple like Huo Hu. Only Dao Seed disciples were qualified to use them. His hasty return to Taishan Market this time had been prompted by learning the whereabouts of a defensive magic treasure from his grandfather, Huo Quan. *Others assume I fled in fear of the sect war, but who could fathom the depth of my foresight!* *Once I secure the Marsh Country Gui Chart and refine it to completion, not only can I distinguish myself in the coming sect conflict, but I will also have a shot at contending for the title of Flame Alliance True Inheritance disciple, or even a Dao Seed position!* Watching Huo Hu's eager, restless demeanor, Wang Haichao sneered inwardly. *Nangong Jin, oh Nangong Jin!* *An ordinary man incurs guilt simply by possessing jade.* *Back then, for the sake of the Marsh Country Gui Chart, you betrayed your alliance with Duan Qiankun. Do not blame me for shifting the calamity onto you now.* "However, there is one detail Young Master Huo must keep in mind." "Hm?" Huo Hu looked over in confusion. Wang Haichao spoke eloquently, "The three of them travel together and will certainly advance and retreat as one during the opening stages of battle. Therefore..." "No need to worry about that. On our side, Foundation Establishment True Cultivators will only outnumber them, not fall short." Huo Hu was brimming with confidence, his eyes gleaming with shrewd calculation. "I am no fool. Since what we are undertaking is hardly honorable, I will naturally choose to overwhelm them with superior numbers." "There is another person in the Luotian Association named Wang Yuan. He follows the path of body refinement and possesses remarkable combat prowess. He can hold his own against a Foundation Establishment cultivator without losing ground for a short time." "Wang Yuan? A body cultivator?" Huo Hu asked curiously, "Second tier of body refinement?" "Yes!" "Has he attained Foundation Establishment?" "No. He attended the auction as well; you should have seen him. At present, he appears to be merely at the Qi Refining Great Perfection." "Pfft... Qi Refining." Huo Hu sneered, then waved his hand dismissively. "Do not worry, leave that man to me!" *Uh...* Wang Haichao was stunned for a second. *You truly are a shrewd genius!* He avoided Nangong Jin, who possessed a defensive magic treasure, avoided the deeply entrenched Li family, and did not even want to tangle with the newly promoted Luo Chen. Instead, he went straight for Wang Yuan. Picking the softest persimmon to squeeze. Yet he spoke with such grandeur, as if shouldering the heaviest burden. Wang Haichao said helplessly, "Even so, the other side has four Foundation Establishment combatants. Where will we gather so many... Could it be you intend to invite Senior Huo Quan?" "What are you thinking?" Huo Hu shot him a glance. "My grandfather is in seclusion striving for the late Foundation Establishment stage; he even entrusted the auction to me to handle. How could I possibly ask him to intervene? "Besides, this matter is hardly honorable, so we certainly cannot let him know." *So you actually know it's dishonorable!* Wang Haichao inhaled deeply and asked, "Which fellow daoists will be joining our side, so that I may arrange the battle plan?" "You, me, and Fellow Daoist Tu Shan." As he spoke, Huo Hu clapped his hands. A figure strode in from outside the hall. Stooped and sallow-faced, he bore no resemblance to an ethereal Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, looking instead like a consumptive invalid. "I want that *Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method* on Danchenzi!" The moment he entered the hall, he laid claim to his spoils. Wang Haichao raised an eyebrow and looked at Huo Hu, who nodded in assent. A secret technique from a great sect like the *Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method* could not be transcribed at will, preventing widespread leakage. Every jade slip required meticulous examination with spiritual awareness. Unless completely mastered, even transcribing it from memory would often result in omissions. Otherwise, high-tier cultivation methods would have flooded the world long ago. The organizers of auctions would have been able to sell a single technique multiple times, severely shortchanging the cultivators who bought them. Consequently, nearly all secret techniques and cultivation methods of the second tier or higher were stored in jade slips. Without expending a vast amount of time and effort, producing transcribed duplicates was exceedingly difficult. Unable to purchase a copy from the Huo clan, Tu Shan could only set his sights on the original *Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method* on Luo Chen. It was precisely by leveraging this that Huo Hu had won him over. Since Huo Hu had already agreed, Wang Haichao naturally raised no objection. Even so, he stated bluntly, "That poison-clearing secret technique can be yours, but everything else on Danchenzi must belong to me!" Tu Shan frowned, somewhat reluctant. Danchenzi was a second-tier alchemist and undoubtedly possessed immense wealth. This had been obvious from how lavishly he spent at the auction. Though Tu Shan's primary goal was the poison-clearing technique, he had certainly harbored designs on the rest of the man's possessions. Wang Haichao's face hardened. "To remain in Taishan Market, I paid a heavy price. I need those resources to replenish my losses." Still unsatisfied, Tu Shan looked toward Huo Hu. Huo Hu chuckled. "Aren't there still the two fat prizes of the Li and Nangong families? You two are thinking far too small." Wang Haichao and Tu Shan both froze, then immediately caught on. Though Danchenzi was a second-tier alchemist, he had not been cultivating for very long. In terms of accumulated wealth, how could he possibly compare to immortal cultivation clans with centuries of heritage? "I have already made arrangements to deal with the two Foundation Establishment True Cultivators from those families as well. "When the time comes, we will certainly take them all down!" Tu Shan nodded heavily. With that, their side would boast five Foundation Establishment combatants. Against three Foundation Establishment cultivators and a mere body cultivator, success was virtually guaranteed. Wang Haichao was equally full of confidence. His realm alone surpassed that of Luo Chen and the other two. Huo Hu was a sect Foundation Establishment cultivator who possessed an offensive magic treasure and extraordinary means. With just the two of them backed by the power of the Great River Gang, their odds of winning were already substantial. Adding three more Foundation Establishment True Cultivators to the mix, he could not fathom how they could possibly lose. The only thing that left him feeling slightly uneasy was Huo Hu's final proclamation—that they would certainly take them all down. He could not shake the feeling that he had said those very same words not too long ago.