This population surge was merely a high-growth phase in Guiding Spirit City's normal development; the long-term environment remained stable.
On the other hand, for the **[Ancient Ruins: Eastern Extreme Capital]**, the initial exploration frenzy had subsided. After a period of recuperation, cultivators across Scarlet Kite had rekindled their enthusiasm for these ruins.
Especially with rumors circulating about special materials like Corpse Ghouls, Corpse Fiends, and Six-Eyed Corpse Infants, a wave of corpse path practitioners was drawn to the area. Even disciples from the Heavenly Corpse Peak of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect had begun to appear.
Even if they couldn't obtain such extraordinary opportunities, the ordinary ancient corpses preserved from antiquity were far superior to typical corpse-refining materials. A Qi Refining cultivator who captured one would have a foundation piece worth cultivating.
This officially sent Wang Yu's cave dwelling rental business into a blazing-hot period.
Spirit stones poured in like a waterfall.
Wang Yu's small provocations naturally reached Luo Chen's ears, but as Wang Yu had anticipated, while the other was furious, he did not venture out from Three Thatched City again.
Having tasted the sweet fruits of seizing others' property, how could he possibly resist? The annual income of several hundred thousand spirit stones from the city's normal operations was actually not a small sum at all.
Three Thatched City was a major producer of talisman paper, talismans, and talisman masters—definitely a high-quality asset, even a tier above Guiding Spirit, which had started with nothing.
Luo Chen's dissatisfaction stemmed not only from being a Core Formation cultivator with enormous consumption needs, but also from the fact that cultivating the talisman path was incredibly spirit stone-intensive. Unlike Wang Yu, whose alchemy skills were honed through the Placement Slot, achieving perfection before personally refining anything, effectively reducing his learning cost to zero—a pure profit skill.
If one wanted combat power far exceeding their peers, the resources consumed would naturally be greater than theirs. Three Thatched City could sustain Luo Chen's normal cultivation, but it couldn't support a lavish, high-expenditure cultivation style.
As time flowed on, Three Thatched City sank deeper into turmoil.
Another autumn arrived.
An old acquaintance, a friend from Wang Yu's past, arrived in Guiding Spirit with a contingent from the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's mountain gate. It was Gu Zhengshun, an inner disciple of the Heavenly Corpse Peak.
He wasn't the leader of the group, but rather followed a Heavenly Corpse True Disciple. Many years had passed, and Gu Zhengshun had also broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, currently at the second layer.
This Heavenly Corpse True Disciple was not the Jiang Disciple Wang Yu had dealt with before, but one of the ten True Disciples of the current generation from Heavenly Corpse Peak. His life-bound corpse had been devoured by the one surnamed Jiang during the **[Corpse Duel Grand Assembly]**.
He had been defeated in the subsequent struggle for the Nascent Soul inheritance.
After recuperating for many years, relying on his background and personal foundation, he broke through to the first layer of Core Formation. Following tradition, he left the sect to govern a territory.
Having heard about the appearance of top-grade materials near the **[Ancient Ruins: Eastern Extreme Capital]**, and with Netherflow Province ceding nine cities to Cloudveil Province, this True Disciple actively requested one.
That's what brought him to Wang Yu's Guiding Spirit City to settle in temporarily. As for why Gu Zhengshun followed, Wang Yu didn't know yet, but he could ask later.
It would also be a good chance to catch up on the latest news from the mountain gate.
In the Guiding Spirit Council Hall.
After arranging seating for everyone, Wang Yu spoke first.
"Might I inquire how this Heavenly Corpse Peak True Disciple should be addressed?"
"Brother Wang... City Lord Wang. Since we are fellow disciples, we may address each other as martial brothers. I am Wei Hao. You may call me Senior Brother Wei. How about that?"
"Of course."
The other party was, after all, a Core Formation cultivator. Respect for cultivation rank was a hierarchy engraved in a cultivator's bones. Addressing each other as martial brothers was already a gesture of respect.
If one held an official sect position, like Wang Yu's status as an Inner Sect Law Enforcement Affairs Manager, one could also use the title, though that felt more formal and distant.
This Wei Hao didn't look very old but was actually around one hundred and sixty or seventy years of age—still in his youth relative to a Core Formation cultivator's eight-century lifespan. His appearance was rather delicate and refined, seeming almost frail.
If not for a thread of gloomy, brooding energy in his brow that marred his overall bearing, he would be quite easy to have a favorable impression of.
But then again.
Having lost the True Disciple competition three or four decades ago and lost his life-bound corpse, it was no wonder his mood wasn't great. He might even have accumulated mental knots over it.
But... the surname Wei? Wang Yu remembered Ding Ming saying that the Wei family specialized in producing clever people and held not insignificant influence within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. He had always thought of them as a Golden Core family.
But if they could have True Disciples in two different peaks, they might actually be a Nascent Soul family, though perhaps not as powerful as the Zhuo Clan with multiple Nascent Souls—maybe just one or two.
Wang Yu's heart stirred. "Might I ask, Senior Brother Wei Hao, what is your relationship to Wei Shanze?"
Wei Hao was momentarily taken aback hearing Wei Shanze's name, but quickly regained his composure.
"Wei Shanze and I share the same clan, though our blood relation is quite distant. I heard a few years back that he came to the Eastern Extreme Capital once. I assume you crossed paths with him, Brother Wang?"
"Oh? Is that what he said?"
"Did... something else happen?"
"Not at all."
Wang Yu lowered his head to sip his tea, inwardly chuckling. That fellow probably didn't dare mention having half his possessions extorted. Wang Yu possessed a life-saving **[Heaven King Life-Preserving Pill]** that came from Wei Shanze.
It was said to be able to save someone as long as they had a single breath left.
"By the way, Senior Brother Wei Hao, since you've come to take up your post, do you know which nine cities the Yellow Springs Temple ceded as compensation? What's the situation? And which one did you choose..."
Hearing Wang Yu's questions, Wei Hao relaxed with a smile.
"I owe this favorable opportunity to you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten such a good deal. Zhengshun, bring the map."
Gu Zhengshun sat beside Wei Hao. Seeing Wang Yu and Wei Hao chatting and smiling so easily left him with complex feelings. Back at Profound Bone Mountain, this man was just an outer disciple.
Even inferior in status to himself back then. Now, he was the lord of a third-grade spiritual vein city, and his cultivation was so profound Gu Zhengshun couldn't see through it. The disparity in their fortunes was truly something to sigh over.
He couldn't help but think: if he had maintained a friendly relationship with Wang Yu at Profound Bone Mountain, and hadn't helped Disciple Jiang after returning to the sect, perhaps he could exchange a few words with him now.
"Zhengshun?"
"Ah, coming—"
Snapping out of his reminiscence, Gu Zhengshun hurriedly spread out the map. Seeing this, Wei Hao said,
"This fellow has been absent-minded since arriving in Guiding Spirit. I apologize for his behavior, Junior Brother Wang."
"Not at all. Probably just reflecting upon seeing me."
"Oh? You know each other?"
"Naturally."
Wang Yu waved to Gu Zhengshun, gesturing for him to move closer. He didn't hold any particular grudge against Gu Zhengshun; he was at least a familiar face.
Aside from that one incident at Profound Bone Mountain, which had genuinely angered him.
Later, the matter of passing a message for Disciple Jiang within the sect was completely inconsequential. After all, Wang Yu had obtained the rare **[Netherworld Wailing Bamboo]** from it, which counted as a fortunate encounter.
"City... City Lord Wang, you wanted to speak with me?"
"I have a few matters. Let me finish talking with Brother Wei first."
"...Alright."
Seeing this, Wei Hao didn't pry further and instead pointed to the map.
"Junior Brother Wang, here is Guiding Spirit. Here is the ancient Eastern Extreme Capital ruins."
"Netherflow Province ceded a crescent-shaped piece of territory with nine cities on it. I have chosen the one at the very bottom—**[Gazing Torrent City]**!"
Wang Yu examined the map closely and was surprised to discover the nine cities perfectly encircled the eastern side of the 'Eastern Extreme Capital,' while Guiding Spirit City lay to the west of the ruins.
It was diagonally opposite Gazing Torrent City, a distance of only about five thousand *li*—not far at all.
The Yellow Springs Temple's method of ceding territory was truly eyebrow-raising.
Because it looked like they were completely handing over the ancient ruins to Cloudveil Province. The new nine cities formed the outermost defensive line on Cloudveil's eastern flank!
What were they playing at?
Noticing Wang Yu's confusion, Wei Hao produced another map—this one a nautical chart. This left Wang Yu even more dumbfounded, as his knowledge of the sea was practically non-existent.
Wei Hao explained, "Junior Brother, look. The Chaotic Ancient Sea is divided into four shores: east, south, west, and north. The western shore is occupied by forces from Great Lake Region. The southern shore is shared by the Thunderfire Temple, the Union of Joy Sect, and the Nether Mountain Sect."
"The eastern shore belongs to our Sacred Sect and the Yellow Springs Temple. To obtain this crescent-shaped territory, the Sacred Sect made concessions in our maritime holdings. This area here contains a mineral deposit called **[Abyssal Sunken Silver]**, which has been ceded to the Yellow Springs Temple."
Wang Yu: "..."
Wang Yu opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated... He knew that place. The Golden Pavilion had just purchased it not long ago.
Damn! The Reverse Spirit Blood Sect was truly shrewd! When the Yellow Springs Temple found out, they were going to be livid! But whether they could hold onto the ceded territory would depend on whether these new city lords were capable.
Moreover, Wei Hao seemed unaware of this.
Seeing Wang Yu's unusual reaction, Wei Hao waved his hand, dismissing everyone else. His expression grew more solemn.
"It seems Junior Brother Wang knows some inside information. My coming here was indeed the right move. Might you be willing to tell me?"
Since Ding Ming had labeled the Weis as clever people, Wang Yu thought for a moment and decided to sell Wei Hao a favor, considering his polite demeanor...
"Since we've spoken to this point, I won't hide it from you, Brother Wei. The value of this mineral deposit is no less than several cities. It's highly likely to contain fourth-grade spiritual materials. And... it has already been purchased by the Golden Pavilion."
Wei Hao's brow furrowed tightly, the gloom in his eyes deepening.
"I *knew* it! That's why that Jiang bastard pointed me this way! It really is a road to the netherworld! He truly deserves death—"
Hearing this, Wang Yu was even more baffled.
"And you just trusted him?!"
Wei Hao let out a bitter laugh.
"Junior Brother Wang has never been a True Disciple, so you don't understand the unspoken rules among us. The competition within Heavenly Corpse Peak is unique even among the nine peaks, given the 'abandon nine, keep one' principle."
"Such rules, if you come from humble origins, you might be able to ignore. But for someone like me with family background, they are rules one must follow."
"While Gazing Torrent City is dangerous, misfortune and fortune are intertwined. It might yet be a path forward. I thank you for the guidance, Junior Brother Wang. Might you also be willing to share more detailed intelligence about this region?"
"Certainly."
Since he was selling a favor, Wang Yu didn't mind selling a bit more.
Wei Hao's arrival in Guiding Spirit meant the other eight new city lords would likely pass through here as well. Those with clear thinking and sharp minds would probably all pay him a visit.
Those who were hostile... that was less certain. It would depend on the individual.
"Once Brother Wei arrives in Gazing Torrent City, we should stay in contact. We can cooperate in various areas."
"That goes without saying."
The two chatted a while longer before Wei Hao excused himself. He had initially planned to stay in Guiding Spirit for a few days, but after receiving this news, it was best to hurry to Gazing Torrent City.
The people within the city still loyal to the Yellow Springs Temple needed to be purged immediately, including all spies. This required extreme speed. Once the mineral deposit incident blew up, it would be too late.
*This* was perhaps the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's true counterstrike against the Yellow Springs Temple's provocation. They truly weren't afraid of starting a fight.
Gu Zhengshun stayed behind. After a conversation with Wang Yu, he hurried after Wei Hao.
Their conversation wasn't lengthy.
But it provided Wang Yu with several pieces of new intelligence. Yan Ling, the True Disciple of the Frigid Blood Peak, had formed her Golden Core and officially become a disciple of the **[Frigid Blood Mountain Lord]**.
Wei Zhong had gone missing within the Blood Abyss. Su Yulong had emerged from seclusion at the Elephant Mountain Duan Clan, having also formed his Golden Core. It was said he had just returned to the Frigid Blood Peak after serving his confinement punishment.
"Truly, an eventful season..."
**(End of Chapter)**