ATPnovel Chapter 175 Entering the Throne
Chapter 175 Entering the Throne
After a while.
"Thank you, young master."
Zhong Lingxiu stood up. After Fang Qing withdrew the spiritual fire and took a pill, his complexion had improved considerably.
"Is the sect you mentioned real or fake?"
Fang Qing stood with his hands behind his back and casually asked.
"It's true. This sect is called the 'Heavenly Frost Sect.' There is a Nascent Soul cultivator there. My ancestors had a connection with this sect. After I went to the East Sea, I was able to join their sect... After going through countless hardships, I successfully formed my Golden Core and was finally received by my master, who accepted me as a disciple..."
Zhong Lingxiu respectfully handed over a jade slip: "This contains my observations and experiences in the cultivation world of the East Sea..."
"Not bad, not bad."
Fang Qing took it, intending to take a good look at it later.
After he reaches the Core Formation stage, this small universe will be insufficient to sustain him; one can guess this simply by looking at the fact that Ruan Zhixuan is still only a Core Formation stage cultivator. In the future, he will still need to travel to the Eastern Sea cultivation world.
The dangers of the vast sea route are nothing special to Core Formation cultivators.
"Later, you'll come with me to put on a show, and from then on, we'll be stationed on Taibai Island, forming a three-way division with Bihaimen and the Annihilation Alliance..."
Fang Qing explained her plans.
Since he was too lazy to step onto the stage, he decided to let a true Core Formation cultivator "seize" Taibai Island and establish a sect.
Jade Island is already in a bit of a mess, does it dare to be attacked from both sides?
"At that time, we can also use this person's name to get a share of the spoils from the ruins and secret realm of Zhou Tian Xing Palace."
Fang Qing secretly gave himself a thumbs up, then glanced at Zhong Lingxiu, still remembering the grudges from the fishing grounds: "Hmm, you have good aptitude. I won't give you the Mingzi position; you need to learn to develop on your own... no, I mean, cultivate!"
He has taken in many disciples, and there are still two remaining positions of Mingzi and Mingfei.
It was only taken back after Fa Quan and Fa Jian were killed back then.
As for Qin Ruxue, Xiang Dahu, and Xu Hei... they are all old subordinates, so it's not appropriate for them to kill and seize power.
"Indeed, once you're in the position of Prince Ming or Princess Ming, it's very difficult to be dethroned unless you die completely..."
"This is utterly incompetent and a complete waste of talent... Why can't we just appoint someone and then take them back? That person on the snowy mountain needs to work even harder..."
Fang Qing thought to herself, "I got a good deal, but I'm still being smug."
Rumble!
The great formation roared, accompanied by chanting Buddhist hymns and golden light filling the sky.
"Island Owner..."
Bei Lingshu looked at Xiang Dahu beside him: "I wonder how the Island Master is doing? I have already sent a message to the sect..."
What she really wanted to say was, while the Core Formation cultivator was being held back by Fang Qing, should they try to escape?
Although Qi Refining cultivators are unlikely to escape, Foundation Establishment cultivators still have a sliver of hope to escape alive.
But Xiang Dahu, with a serious expression, shook his head and refused: "I swear to follow the island lord to the death..."
"As expected... this person is a die-hard fan of Fang Qing."
Bei Lingshu hesitated for a moment, and then it was too late.
Splash!
Then, a burst of radiant light spread out, revealing Zhong Lingxiu's figure.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold and aloof, like a plum blossom braving the snow.
Fang Qing, on the other hand, had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, indicating a severe loss of energy.
"Not bad, not bad... To withstand three of my moves, your cultivation is quite profound. I've heard you're also an alchemist?"
Zhong Lingxiu smiled and said, "Would you like to serve me?"
"Dream on!" Fang Qing sighed. "I have received great kindness from the Azure Sea Sect; I cannot betray my sect..."
Upon hearing this, even Bei Lingshu was somewhat moved: "Only at the crucial moment do we realize what kind of person the Island Master truly is... And yet there is still so much doubt within the sect, they are simply not human."
"Haha, you have to admit it whether you like it or not."
Zhong Lingxiu waved her hand, and a beam of white light landed on Fang Qing: "I have placed a restriction on you. From now on, you will be locked in the Ice Soul Cave and obediently refine pills for me..."
He turned to the remaining cultivators, unleashing his Core Formation aura without restraint. The Qi Refining disciples immediately turned pale and staggered. "Submit, or die? As cultivators of the Azure Sea Sect who destroyed the Zhong family, I have already been extremely lenient with you... If you don't want to die, come over here and obediently have a divine sense restriction planted on you..."
Behind Zhong Lingxiu was a patch of icy, mysterious light, like a sharp sword hanging high, ready to fall at any moment.
Bei Lingshu bit her cherry lips, wanting to say something like Fang Qing, but her mind and body were trembling.
"Greetings, Island Lord..."
Beside him, Xiang Dahu suddenly knelt down.
His kneeling seemed to drain the last breath from the hearts of those Qi Refining disciples; many knelt silently without a word. "Haha..."
Zhong Lingxiu laughed loudly, then looked at Bei Lingxu: "And you? Today, I haven't touched the blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so I feel this revenge isn't sweet enough..."
Bellingshu remained silent.
Zhong Lingxiu could tell at a glance that this woman did not want to die, but she could not bring herself to beg for mercy.
"Ultimately, he's too thin-skinned... but as long as he doesn't want to die, there's a good chance of persuading him to surrender... Young Master doesn't want to commit murder, so this is the only way." He immediately pointed at Xiang Dahu: "Alright, today you are the steward of Taibai Island... First, suppress these two Foundation Establishment cultivators, then send out notices to all sides that the Zhong family... has returned!"
Even though it was acting, Zhong Lingxiu's eyes reddened unknowingly by the end, showing a spirited demeanor.
Sanyuan Island.
A sound transmission talisman, carrying a flame, flew into the main hall.
"Disaster..."
Upon seeing this, Zhan Hongxiu's scalp tingled: "The Zhong family's former 'Ice Soul Child,' Zhong Lingxiu, has returned, already formed her core, and taken over Taibai Island? No, it should be that she has re-entered Taibai Island... Quickly, immediately inform all the retainers."
Before long, many cultivators gathered together.
The one closest to Zhan Hongxiu was a female cultivator from the Merfolk who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
In addition, there were some of her former fellow disciples who had been separated from her, most of whom were at the late stage of Qi Refining.
"Fang Qing, the former garrison commander of Taibai Island, did me a great favor... Now, I'm said to have been captured by Zhong Lingxiu and is being used to refine pills..."
Zhan Hongxiu showed the communication talismans to everyone and said, "Xiang Dahu, the chief steward of Taibai Island, has sent word that Master Zhong has ordered us to submit... What do you all think?"
"The Zhong family? They are indeed the masters of Taibai Island... but Sanyuan Island is strategically important and has always remained neutral."
The merman, having established his foundation, spoke, his voice clear and melodious: "Unfortunately, the Lesser Universe is now divided into three factions. If we do not side with one, we will inevitably be the first to decline in the chaos of war."
"Currently, the three major Core Formation forces are Taibai Island, Bihai Sect, and the Extinction Sea Alliance... Taibai Island is undoubtedly a mortal enemy of Bihai Sect, and Bihai Sect is the strongest, with two Core Formation cultivators... It's possible that Taibai Island might ally with the Extinction Sea Alliance..."
A late-stage Qi Refining elder stroked his beard and said, "In this way... the position of the Azure Sea Sect's overlord is unstable, and the world of this Little Universe is about to change."
"The key question is, where do we go from here?"
After much arguing, the group eventually turned their attention to Zhan Hongxiu.
In the cultivation world, strength is paramount, and Foundation Establishment cultivators have always made all the decisions; the others simply follow.
Zhan Hongxiu's mind was in turmoil. Her life had been full of ups and downs, and she had made too many important decisions.
Almost immediately, he acted on his impulse and made a decision: "My Sanyuan Island can submit to Master Zhong... but Fang Qing of Taibai Island once did me a favor. On this basis, my Sanyuan Island will submit to Taibai Island, hoping that Master Zhong will treat Fang Qing a little better..."
"The island lord is compassionate, kind-hearted, and never forgets past kindnesses; he is truly a role model for us all."
The elders exchanged glances, all praising the move, but inwardly thinking, "They see the Azure Sea Sect is failing and are preparing to switch sides, even using past favors as a pretext? It's quite a respectable way to put it..."
Jade Island.
"Uncle... Senior Sister Qin Ruxue is requesting an audience outside."
Inside the waterside pavilion, Linghu Chong, looking exhausted, put down the documents in his hand. Just then, Linghu Qiuye, who had completed his Foundation Establishment, entered and whispered his report.
"Sigh... They must be begging me to ask the Ancestor to intervene and rescue Junior Brother Fang. How could I possibly have the face to do that? I won't see him!"
Linghu Chong gave a few more instructions, then added, "Go and explain properly. The sect is currently in dire straits... Even the two elders are powerless to help. It's all because Junior Brother Fang got used to being out in the wild. Now look what's happened! Fortunately, he's only imprisoned for alchemy, his life isn't in danger... Moreover, through the Qi Refining spies on Taibai Island, we can see that Junior Brother Fang is still loyal to the sect. As for that Xiang Dahu... he's groveling and become Zhong Lingxiu's lackey!"
After seeing Linghu Qiuye off, Linghu Chong stared at the scroll in his hand, still somewhat incredulous: "That Zhong Lingxiu... has really formed her core? Our sect has gained another major enemy."
He now has a vague suspicion that the current Sect Leader Shi is actually in a similar state to his ancestor back then, but is still a notch below a true early Core Formation cultivator.
Once Zhong Lingxiu joins forces with that Black Yuan True Person, the two Core Formation Ancestors of the Azure Sea Sect will probably be no match for them and will have no choice but to retreat and defend the great formation.
After all, that Black Origin True Person was no weakling. Although he was defeated by two Core Formation cultivators, his defeat wasn't humiliating. "We still don't know how skilled Zhong Lingxiu is in combat, but coming from the East Sea cultivation world, she's clearly not..."
Linghu Chong sighed, massaging his acupoints to calm his mind, feeling somewhat dazed.
"My Azure Sea Sect fought for decades, finally pacifying the Lesser Universe Sea... How come in the end, the situation is the same as before?"
the other side.
Taibai Island, high in the sky.
Looking at Zhong Lingxiu, who wore the Ice Soul Pearl atop her head and was clad in ice armor, Black Origin True Man forced a smile: "Congratulations on your Core Formation, young friend. When I first met you, I knew you were extraordinary and far from ordinary..."
"Hmph, you were the one who hunted me down back then."
Zhong Lingxiu gritted her teeth: "However, there is no deep-seated hatred between us like that of Jade Island!"
"Excellent..." Master Hei Yuan was delighted. "Therefore, there is still a great possibility for cooperation between us, especially regarding the Azure Sea Sect and the ruins..."
Although he stole the map and information about the ruins from Zhong Lingxiu back then, he certainly didn't have a deep-seated hatred for her, like the one that led to the destruction of his family.
Driven by self-interest, Core Formation cultivators could easily join forces.
But the negotiations that followed made Hei Yuan Zhenren very uncomfortable. Zhong Lingxiu's few words all hit his weak points and were just close to his bottom line...
In the end, however, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree to Zhong Lingxiu's conditions and give up many benefits.
This Black Yuan Master, of course, had no idea that his disciple was an internal traitor who had long since betrayed him...