Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
chapter-327-30041322

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The Health Prosper Pellet required five types of 3,000-year spirit herbs, but they were of the common and ordinary variety. The Heart Forging Pellet was the complete opposite, requiring three types of 3,000-year spirit herbs which were all extremely rare and precious: the Nine Layer Grass, Seven Stars Flower, and Yin Yang Branch.

Both were half-step Avatar Realm pellets, but the Heart Forging Pellet was much more difficult to concoct.

Fortunately, Lu Ping had obtained the Nine Layer Grass and Seven Stars Flower from Enlightened Master Liao Ding’s heritance. He had also found the rarest one, the Yin Yang Branch, inside the Golden House. Their quantities were enough for three cauldrons of Heart Forging Pellets.

Sadly, the recipe required a lengthy preparation time before he could actually start the alchemy, and even more time to digest the Heart Forging Pellet’s medicinal efficacy for his breakthrough and cultivation base consolidation. Hence, Lu Ping could only push back his schedule until after he handled the Wang Clan.

A week passed in a flash, Lu Ping was cultivating in his room when suddenly, a loud angry whistle sounded a few miles away from Ashen Mountain Island. At the same time, a strong burst of aura surged towards the island coast.

The aura was formed by a divine revelation, so whoever he was, he must be an Enlightened Master. Lu Ping frowned, not because of this fact, but because the divine revelation was directed at their Blood Condensation Realm cultivators to crush their minds and morale. This was an unspoken taboo in the cultivation world.

Lu Ping slammed his hand on the floor and as the ground rumbled, the island’s protective formation was activated. A sky-blue light dome was raised, enshrouding the island and weakening the divine revelation.

Lu Ping walked out of the cave-dwelling with Chilian Ying and the rest trailing behind him. The only exceptions were Ye Bu-Qi who was in closed-door cultivation, Wu Yan who was not in the Core Forging Realm, and Luan Yu. After all, Luan Yu was a Wood Luan, and there was always a risk that others may see through his identity, so it was better if he appeared privately than in public.

Lu Ping, Chilian Ying, Hong Ying, and Qiao Wei-Ying walked onto the island and saw two middle-aged cultivators standing in mid-air, their hands clasped behind their backs. One looked at the four of them with interest while the other looked gloomily at the island’s protective formation, which was much stronger than the Wang Clan’s.

Meanwhile, Chilian Ying and the others tensed up when they saw the pair. Had the Wang Clan placed all of its bets by sending out its last remaining Mid Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters? They looked towards Lu Ping for his instructions.

The gloomy-looking Enlightened Master stared at them murderously and asked, "You’re the ones who killed my third brother and stole our establishment?"

"Well done. Now that you’ve set an example, the disciples on Three Clans Island can also learn what true prowess looks like."

Lu Ping’s reply was sarcastic, pointing out that the Enlightened Master had broken the cultivation world’s unspoken rule.

The Enlightened Master’s murderous intent faltered for a moment. His anger had gotten the best of him, making him forget there were Blood Condensation Realm cultivators on the island as well. He regretted it a little—the last thing he wanted was another Enlightened Master harassing the Wang Clan disciples and breaking their morale. After all, a matured power needed more than just Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters, the Blood Condensation Realm disciples were the seeds of their future.

"Hoho." The other Enlightened Master, dressed in a green scholar’s robe smiled and said, "You must be Master Alchemist Lu Jiu, yes? The root of all this comes from your actions. Killing Enlightened Master Wang Hua, slaughtering Wang Clan disciples on Ashen Mountain Island, and seizing said island. It’s not unreasonable for Enlightened Master Wang Zhou to lose his temper—he is not in the wrong for wishing to avenge his fallen brother and clansmen, is he? My conscience won’t allow me to sit by and watch such rampant injustice go unchecked."

Lu Ping looked at him, then glanced at his surroundings. With a sudden laugh, he asked, "May I know your name and why you’re interfering with the Northern League’s affairs?"

The Enlightened Master’s heart tightened at Lu Ping’s laughter, but he remained calm in his reply, "All you need to know is that I’m a close friend to Enlightened Master Wang Zhou. Who I am matters not."

"Hoho, Dao Friend Qiu Yong-Zhen. The Qiu Clan may be neighbor to the Three Clans Alliance, but since when have you become close friends with Wang Zhou? Hmmm, are you suggesting that Crystal Palace’s Qiu Clan has a close friendship with Northern League’s Wang Clan?"

A voice called out clearly from a mile away, with the appearance of two figures flying towards them—they were none other than Zhang Feng and Li Mao-Lin.

Although everyone knew about the collusion between the Wang Clan and Crystal Palace, knowing and publicizing the relationship bore two different meanings. No one would dare to admit anything at this time.

As long as the Wang Clan didn’t do an act of clear betrayal, there was nothing the Northern League could do either. At least, not openly. Thus, the situation had evolved to this. None of it would be possible without the Northern League’s tacit approval.

Wang Zhou and Qiu Yong-Zhen clearly didn’t expect to see Zhang Feng and Li Mao-Lin, let alone be faced with such a sensitive and critical question, one that could give the Northern League good reason to openly annihilate the Wang Clan.

Finally, Wang Zhou was forced to answer, "It’s just a personal friendship between us. The Wang Clan and Qiu Clan have nothing to do with this, nor are they associated with each other, let alone with the Northern League or Crystal Palace. And why were Brother Zhang and Brother Li hiding earlier? Were you seeking to question me? Were you two also there when my third brother was killed? Or perhaps, you even took part in the killing?!"

Wang Zhou was also not an easy target. First proclaiming his innocence, then sarcastically questioning their own actions and possible involvement.

Li Mao-Lin smiled. "Brother Wang must be joking. Brother Zhang and I are here to let you know that Wave Listening Island is a power under the Northern League. The fight between both parties remains an internal conflict under the Northern League. The Wang Clan’s act of involving external parties is against the rules, and so the Zhang Clan and Li Clan will be forced to take action if necessary."

Wang Zhou’s face changed drastically. "Wave Listening Island? Wasn’t it the Crimson Shadow Island before this? Whose power is it… Lu Jiu! Hong Ying’s just a puppet, you’re the real leader! Since when did the Northern League acknowledge Wave Listening Island as a power? Who is backing this claim? And why wasn’t the Wang Clan informed about this?"

To the side, Qiu Yong-Zhen was also taken aback. He stared at Li Mao-Lin as if to determine the truth of his words.

Suddenly, a voice spoke up from the other side, "Wave Listening Island was acknowledged half a year ago. I, Black Mountain Gang Lord, am the guarantor. Dao Friend Wang, are you convinced now?"

The crowd looked over and saw a cultivator in his fifties casually flying towards them. Upon seeing his face, Wang Zhou, Zhang Feng, and the others turned to look at the young man standing behind Lu Ping, whose appearance bore a striking resemblance.

This new arrival was naturally Black Mountain Gang Lord Qiao Zheng-Yan, whom the clan heads naturally recognized. Although the group was listed as a medium-sized party under the Northern League, and its power seemed weaker than the Three Clans Alliance, the Black Mountain Gang had never been underestimated. After all, the group was based in Qian Yuan City, the Northern League’s headquarters, so no one was foolish enough to regard them as an ordinary medium-sized party.

In fact, Lu Ping had noticed signs of this back in Qian Yuan City. The Black Mountain Gang was much too influential for their status. Lu Ping didn’t think any other medium-sized party could instruct the spirit herb stores to sell their 1000-year spirit herbs to Lu Ping!

Each of those spirit herb stores must surely be backed by Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters!

Hence, Lu Ping had started making plans half a year ago during the period when Luan Yu was advancing to the Core Forging Realm. He asked the Black Mountain Gang to be his guarantor for Wave Listening Island’s application to become a party under the Northern League. That way, the fight between his party and the Wang Clan would be counted as an internal conflict, in order to avoid a direct confrontation with the Crystal Palace.

Sure enough, the Crystal Palace sent Qiu Yong-Zhen to back the Wang Clan. Of course, Qiu Yong-Zhen couldn’t openly represent them, and could only appear as a close personal friend to Wang Zhou. Then, his actions wouldn’t be cause for suspicion with the Northern League.

Little did they know that Wave Listening Island had already been acknowledged by the Northern League and they were the ones being kept in the dark. This was clearly a scheme aimed at them! If Qiu Yong-Zhen insisted on interfering, then Zhang Feng, Li Mao-Lin, and Qiao Zheng-Yan would have just cause to step in as well. He didn’t think he could survive a siege from the three of them.

Wang Zhou also knew that the Northern League was involved in this plot, just to punish his clan’s collusion with the Crystal Palace. He knew the Wang Clan had no choice but to swallow this bitter fruit and deal with this matter without any support.

"Why have you all…!?"

Wang Zhou muttered softly with a tone filled with murderous intent. His head whipped up, and he stared down at Lu Ping, saying, "… an internal conflict, huh? It really is a good plan, I’ll give you that. But the Wang Clan isn’t so easy to meddle with either. You want to challenge us? As you wish! A life-and-death duel—I die, the Wang Clan will admit its defeat; you die, then remember that you asked for it. Brat, are you truly ready to face our wrath?!"

Qiu Yong-Zhen wanted to say something, but eventually kept quiet and stood to the side. He didn’t think Wang Zhou would lose, and he also didn’t think Lu Ping would take the challenge. After all, Wang Zhou was an experienced combatant, in the peak of the Fourth Layer Core Forging Realm, just one step away from the Fifth Layer. He was nothing like Wang Hua.

Hong Ying and Qiao Wei-Ying also advised Lu Ping not to accept, while Chilian Ying criticized Wang Zhou for bullying them with his superior prowess. However, Wang Zhou was not affected and only looked at Lu Ping with a cold smile on his face.

Zhang Feng, Li Mao-Lin, and Qiao Zheng-Yan also looked at Lu Ping, they were hinting him to not take the challenge as well.

Lu Ping mulled for a moment, then looked at Wang Zhou with a sarcastic smile, he said, "Gladly!"

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