Allegiance

A moment later, in the reception hall, Yaoguang met Wu Changfeng, a man who, by all accounts, was supposed to be one of Zong Wenxian's capable subordinates. "Sect Master Yaoguang, please take a look." Without the slightest hesitation, the Void Refining expert directly handed over a jade talisman. Though baffled, Yaoguang took the jade talisman and probed it with his divine sense. However, with just a single glance, he abruptly rose to his feet, profound astonishment etched across his brow. "This is..." "The complete layout and operational pathways of the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation!" Wu Changfeng explained, pausing briefly before continuing, "The Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation is the core formation of the Heavenly Dao Sect in Nandu. In the past, the critical keys to this formation were held only by the sect master and the deputy sect master serving as ruler of the Southern Domain. However, eight hundred years ago, when Sect Master Song rebelled, the sect master disclosed the key details of the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation to several supreme elders to quell the rebellion as swiftly as possible. Afterwards, when the sect master entrusted me with the temporary administration of the Southern Domain, he also informed me of the formation's layout and operational pathways." Hearing this, Yaoguang could not help but frown. So many people knew the secrets of the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation? After a moment, a thought struck him. "Among the three supreme elders tasked with quelling the rebellion, Supreme Elder Jing Yuntian was one of them, wasn't he?" "Correct." Wu Changfeng nodded. "Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the Jing family to claim the lion's share of Carefree Valley in the Southern Domain and freely reap tens of millions of Pure Yang Great Pills each term." Hearing Wu Changfeng's words, Yaoguang finally understood why Jing Zhengyang was confident he could disrupt the smooth activation of the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation. This formation... was practically leaking like a sieve. Still, it was unavoidable. After all, the one who wanted to deal with him was none other than Zong Wenxian, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect. Even if the Jing family hadn't exposed this hidden landmine now, it would have detonated sooner or later when he eventually clashed with Zong Wenxian. The sooner it was brought to light, the sooner it could be resolved. "Sect Master Yaoguang, please look at these locations. These positions are key nodes of the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation. As long as someone coordinates sabotage from within and without, it would be quite easy to disrupt the formation's operation." Wu Changfeng conscientiously explained every detail. Yet Yaoguang... gazed at him with a look of surprise. He looked at the Void Refining expert. "Why are you telling me this?" At Yaoguang's question, Wu Changfeng smiled faintly. "In truth, I am not someone good at expressing my true thoughts with words. What kind of person someone is and where their allegiance lies—I believe such things are far better expressed through actions. Therefore, after we interact for several decades or a century, I imagine Sect Master Yaoguang will come to know what kind of person I am." "I want to know right now." Yaoguang stared at him. "What is the point of doing this, and what is your goal?" "My goal..." Wu Changfeng pondered for a moment, then said, "Since Sect Master Yaoguang wishes to hear it, I shall speak." Yaoguang was in no rush to leave now. The Southern Domain was vast. Given True Monarch Crimson Fiend's traveling speed, even if Yaoguang delayed by half a day, he could easily catch up to that Void Refining demon cultivator before the latter left the Southern Domain. Let alone taking just an hour or two here. "Six thousand eight hundred years ago, I was born in a small city in Sen Prefecture," Wu Changfeng began, his eyes remarkably calm. "Though there were no top-tier experts in that city, it lay within the territory of the Heavenly Dao Sect, so my childhood was quite peaceful. I originally thought the entire world was like that. But once I walked out of Sen Prefecture and encountered the real world, I truly realized the cruel reality of existence... "On Beihai Star, almost every corner is rife with chaos, slaughter, death, and destruction. I encountered countless perils along the way, yet I was fortunate. Every time I found myself on the brink of life and death, by sheer luck, I would encounter one or several good people, and with their help, I weathered the crises." At this point, he smiled self-deprecatingly. "My talent was never exceptional. I only formed my Radiant Sun Golden Core at the age of one hundred and eighty, and reached the Void Piercing realm at eight hundred. And from Void Piercing to Void Refining, it took me fully five thousand years..." "At least you successfully reached the Void Piercing realm," Yaoguang remarked. Reaching Void Piercing was in itself a capability, an achievement, and a blessing of fortune. Those lacking sufficient karmic luck might make every preparation and still fail to take that final step. Just like those on the current Void Piercing Candidate Rankings—even the one ranked first dared not claim a one-hundred-percent guarantee of breaking through to the Void Piercing realm. "Indeed, my luck has always been good," Wu Changfeng said. "Though I have weathered countless trials and tribulations, witnessed endless rises and falls, and was even swept up in Sect Master Song's rebellion and its suppression, I still survived. Just as I said before, whenever I faced mortal danger, noble benefactors would appear to pull me from the fire. On Beihai Star, this can truly be called a miracle." The Void Refining expert looked up at Yaoguang. "Therefore... I felt I ought to give something back to this world. And so, while Sect Master Song was biding his time and husbanding his strength awaiting the right opportunity, I reported his movements to the Sect Master." These words caused Yaoguang's pupils to constrict. Song Youque's rebellion had originally been prepared in total secrecy. But suddenly one day, his ambitions were exposed. Zong Wenxian had continually dispatched investigators, striking straight at vital vulnerabilities each time, forcing Song Youque's hand to assassinate them. Ultimately, this blatant defiance handed Zong Wenxian the perfect pretext to deploy the sect's armies, crushing Song Youque and his faction with overwhelming force. "This is my homeland," Wu Changfeng said calmly. "What I wished to do was always very simple: to repay this place, to repay this land, and to sincerely hope that the people living here could lead better lives, spared from the agony of war, separation, bloodshed, and slaughter... Song Youque's rebellion could never succeed. Had he been allowed to grow further, the fallout of that rebellion would have inevitably engulfed the entire Southern Domain. To prevent the entire Southern Domain from being swept into war, I committed an act that many consider thoroughly shameful. "Yet... I saved the Southern Domain. I spared countless lives from being consumed by a conflagration destined to ravage this land." Yaoguang looked at Wu Changfeng. He would verify whether these words were true or false. However... If true, this Void Refining expert... was truly a rare idealist on Beihai Star. Of course, from Song Youque's perspective, he was an out-and-out traitor. "Whether under Song Youque's rule or Zong Wenxian's, everything I did was carried out diligently, bearing hardship without complaint, and even... asking for no reward," Wu Changfeng smiled. "That was why Song Youque trusted me deeply, believing that I would sacrifice my own interests for him, that I was dependable, making me his confidant. Likewise, Zong Wenxian trusted me completely, because over these eight hundred years, I handled every matter near-flawlessly, thoroughly securing their interests. Coupled with my lack of personal ambition, they held me in high regard." He lowered his head slightly. "Yet in truth, everything I did was merely what I ought to do. I was merely... doing my duty." Doing his duty! Yaoguang turned those words over in his mind. Two words as ordinary as could be. Faithful and diligent! Yet in a place like Beihai Star, where selfishness was taken to the utmost extreme, such behavior was an utter anomaly. And in the eyes of superiors seeking faithful draft animals, this made him a tireless, reliable workhorse worthy of heavy responsibility. Thus, both Song Youque and Zong Wenxian placed immense trust in him. The only thing they had misjudged was... the object of his duty and loyalty was neither Song Youque nor Zong Wenxian, but the land of the Southern Domain beneath his feet. And the myriad living beings who dwelt upon it. "So, no matter who becomes ruler of the Southern Domain, you would treat them the same?" Yaoguang asked curiously. "There are still differences," Wu Changfeng replied. "If the ability Sect Master Yaoguang displayed had been mediocre, I would have aided the sect master in suppressing you as quickly as possible to prevent any potential disruptions. However, Sect Master Yaoguang... you are different from Sect Master Song and the other deputy sect masters. Perhaps, compared to Sect Master Zong, you can bring a brighter future to this land..." "Aren't you afraid I might eventually be suppressed by Zong Wenxian, and that it could even spill over into the Southern Domain?" Yaoguang asked, intrigued. "I do not deny the possibility. But at present, if you possess the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation, you will have the capital to contend with Sect Master Zong. Furthermore..." Wu Changfeng paused. "Compared to Sect Master Zong's exploitation of this land, you have brought development. Looking from the perspective of the beings inhabiting this land, living under your governance ought to be better than living under the sect master's." Yaoguang understood Wu Changfeng's reasoning. When both sides possessed comparable strength to stand against each other... he would support whoever could bring greater prosperity to the Southern Domain. Such a stance... Yaoguang pondered for a moment, then cast a look at Wu Changfeng. "The fact that you haven't died really is because you met noble benefactors time and again." "Rather, fortune has favored me. At critical moments, I have always managed to make the right choice," Wu Changfeng replied. "Your temperament has also added much to your favor: 'The highest good is like water; water benefits all things yet contends with none,'" Yaoguang said. "You flatter me, Sect Master," Wu Changfeng bowed slightly. Yaoguang looked at him. Naturally, he did not take these claims entirely at face value. Still... Wu Changfeng's stance was indeed peculiar. It had been the same throughout the years. Judging from the intelligence he had gathered regarding this Void Refining expert... perhaps this man truly was an unyielding Void Refining cultivator free of selfish desires. And yet... how could that be possible?! Such people were exceedingly rare even in the Cangwu Great World and the Yaoguang Realm, let alone on Beihai Star, a fiercely competitive realm fraught with endless perils. Therefore, he needed to observe further. Just as Wu Changfeng had said at the very beginning, he was better at acting than talking. From his deeds and words over time, one would naturally be able to judge the true measure of his character. With this in mind, Yaoguang said, "Although Li Hanqiu and Wan Liugui have taken over the Southern Domain, there are many matters they are not accustomed to without assistance. Why don't you assist the two of them moving forward?" He added, "Of course, they are only Void Piercing Battle Immortals, whereas you are an esteemed Void Refining cultivator..." "It matters not. So long as it benefits the Southern Domain, who takes the lead is of no consequence," Wu Changfeng replied with a smile. Yaoguang nodded. After explaining several key nodes that could cause flaws in the formation, Wu Changfeng took his leave. Yaoguang watched him depart, still unable to see through him completely. Was he deeply calculating and shrewd, or... did such a mutant variety really exist on Beihai Star? "Never mind, no need to dwell on it. As long as I grow fast enough and become sufficiently strong, someone pretending to be honest will become truly honest, and remain honest for the rest of his life." Unable to reach a definitive conclusion, Yaoguang simply put the thought aside. Activating the Two Realms Ruler, his figure flickered through space as he sped straight toward Xuan Prefecture.