Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Plotting in the Shadows

Purple Cloud Valley, Yue Kingdom.

The Meng family’s ancestor stayed here for several days before leaving in satisfaction.

The public announcement was that, as Meng Qingyi’s elder, he had made a special trip to Purple Cloud Valley to discuss the details of her marriage.

Shortly after his departure, Huang Yunzi sent word to the Core Formation Sects of five kingdoms, including the Ji and Chi Kingdoms, inviting them to Purple Cloud Valley for a meeting.

At the same time, the three kingdoms once again sealed the borders leading into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, cutting off Fenglan Immortal City’s connection to the Western Wilderness.

Moreover, this blockade was even stricter than the one from over a decade ago, ensuring that not even a fly could enter the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and reach Fenglan Immortal City.

Because the blockade was so sudden and executed so decisively, for a short time, even those in the Immortal City were unaware that the three Sects had sealed the borders once again.

As expected, the messengers dispatched from Jixia were also stopped. They had been sent to Fenglan Immortal City and other regions to announce that the four Demon Dao Sects had allied with the Tuluo People to invade the Daoist Guardian Alliance, but they were blocked at the border between the three kingdoms and the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Thus, aside from Li Ping, no one in the Immortal City—neither Fenglan Master nor Dai Sangyu—was yet aware of the matter.

...

The Meng family’s ancestor returned to the Immortal City and did nothing.

It was not until the day before Huang Yan was to arrive for the wedding procession that he summoned Meng Qingyi to lay his cards on the table.

"Ancestor," Meng Qingyi said softly as she entered the study.

The Meng family’s ancestor nodded. With a slight movement of his fingertips, he cast several Sound Insulation Shields, enveloping both himself and Meng Qingyi to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

Seeing her ancestor’s cautious actions, a look of astonishment appeared in Meng Qingyi’s eyes. However, she said nothing and waited quietly for him to finish casting the spell.

The Meng family’s ancestor gestured for Meng Qingyi to sit. Then, with a grave expression, he began to speak, recounting the news he had heard from Li Ping, his special trip to Purple Cloud Valley in the Yue Kingdom, and the cooperation agreement he ultimately reached with Huang Yunzi.

At first, Meng Qingyi’s expression was merely one of surprise. She was shocked that the Daoist Guardian Alliance was about to be drawn into another bitter war, one on such a large scale that it might even involve the Immortal City.

But when she heard about the agreement her ancestor had made with Huang Yunzi, she was completely dumbfounded.

She never imagined that her ancestor, who had always been so level-headed and had taught her to endure in the face of adversity, would do something so insane.

"Ancestor," although she knew no one could be listening, Meng Qingyi still lowered her voice as much as possible, "have you gone mad? Our Meng family ancestors followed Master to establish the Immortal City and have shared its fate for over 240 years. Master has shown the Meng family great kindness. How could you do something like this?"

Questioned by Meng Qingyi, the Meng family’s ancestor remained perfectly calm. "The Master is one thing, the Immortal City another, and Dai Sangyu is Dai Sangyu. If the Master still had a long life ahead of her, what would it matter if I and the Meng family suffered a little injustice? But she has less than a sixty-year cycle left. Our family is being targeted like this even while she’s still alive. What fate will befall the Meng family the day she passes away?"

Hearing this, Meng Qingyi’s expression became hesitant, but she ultimately shook her head in resignation. "Ancestor, you’ve gone too far. I believe there must be a better way to resolve this."

"Qingyi." The ancestor’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, his tone still level. "Do you think I’m doing this for myself? I am already over one hundred and eighty years old. I might even pass away before the Master. If I just endured it, the rest of my life would pass by."

At this, the ancestor’s expression softened. "What I cannot let go of is you, and the family! You are the family’s future hope, but that fool Dai Sangyu, without even seeking the Meng family’s consent, decided with a single sentence to marry you off to a distant land. She wants to ruin you, to ruin the Meng family. How can I possibly swallow this insult!"

Meng Qingyi could hear the sincerity in her ancestor’s voice, but this only made her heart ache more. She couldn’t understand how the Immortal City, which had been so good, had ended up in such a state.

How had it come to this, to a point where one side must be destroyed for the other to survive!

"I have already made arrangements with Senior Huang Yunzi. After this is done, your marriage to Huang Yan will be canceled, and you will remain the City Lord of the Immortal City!" The Meng family’s ancestor looked at Meng Qingyi dotingly. "I have no hope left, but you, Qingyi, you still have a chance at Core Formation. If you can form your Core, our Meng family can stand tall in the Western Wilderness’s Cultivation Realm and watch over the Immortal City forever!"

Meng Qingyi looked at her ancestor, as if trying to discern whether the person before her was truly her ancestor or an impostor in disguise.

After a long silence, she sighed.

If her ancestor had discussed this with her before going to Purple Cloud Valley, she would have resolutely opposed it.

But now that her ancestor had already made an agreement with Huang Yunzi of Purple Cloud Valley, opposing it would only be dragging him and the Meng family down.

If the plot succeeded, the Meng family could still endure.

If it failed, the entire Meng clan would be annihilated.

Thinking of her parents, uncles, nephews, and nieces... all those vibrant lives, Meng Qingyi closed her eyes.

Although she still disagreed with her ancestor’s methods, he had already committed to this path. She couldn’t hold him back now.

The family had raised her, educated her, and provided her with abundant resources. If she had to choose between her family and her master, she would choose her family.

She was first and foremost the chosen prodigy of the Meng family, and only then the favored disciple of Fenglan Master.

Besides, she harbored some resentment in her heart over her master making her marry in place of her senior sister.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through her mind. Meng Qingyi took a deep breath and asked, "Ancestor, by cooperating with Huang Yunzi, aren’t you worried about letting the wolf in the door?"

Hearing this question, a look of gratification appeared on the Meng family ancestor’s face. "It’s fine. Huang Yan and I have sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath to each other. Huang Yunzi might not care about himself, but he wouldn’t go so far as to disregard the future of his most outstanding descendant."

Meng Qingyi nodded, then began asking about other matters, helping her ancestor check for any oversights in his plan.

...

Twenty days passed in a flash while Li Ping was immersed in his arduous cultivation. The day finally arrived for Huang Yan and Meng Qingyi to become Daoist partners.

On this day, the Immortal City was as bustling as ever, with no discernible difference from any other day.

Up on Cyan Dragon Mountain, however, things had been busy for a long time.

Following Fenglan Master’s instructions, Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, and the others had already set up dozens of tables for an immortal banquet in the Hall of General Affairs.

It wasn’t that there were few guests, but that few were qualified to attend this wedding banquet.

Invitations from the Meng family were generally only extended to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

And due to the Immortal City’s status, those below the Foundation Establishment realm were similarly not qualified to attend the banquet.

After all, this wedding banquet held the great significance of mending the relationship between the Immortal City and Purple Cloud Valley.

The Grand Elder of Purple Cloud Valley, Huang Yunzi, would be personally attending in the Immortal City.

As a show of respect, the Immortal City’s two Core Formation Cultivators, Fenglan Master and Xinjian Master (Dai Sangyu), would also be present to witness Huang Yan and Meng Qingyi become Daoist partners.

How could Qi Refining Cultivators possibly be qualified to enter the hall for the feast?

They would be lucky just to get a distant glimpse from outside Cyan Dragon Mountain.

...

Outside the Grand Array of Cyan Dragon Mountain, Li Ping took out the invitation the Meng family’s ancestor had given him and presented it to a guard for inspection.

While the guard was examining the invitation, he glanced around and soon spotted a familiar face.

The ’Artifact Refiner’ Wu Feng, a fellow artisan from Immortal Peach Mountain, had also come to attend the wedding banquet.

Li Ping smiled and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoist Wu, long time no see!"

Hearing the greeting, Wu Feng looked up and saw Li Ping. He smiled and nodded. "Ah, it’s Fellow Daoist Li... Huh? You’ve cultivated to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment! Congratulations, congratulations!"

Li Ping chuckled. "Heh heh... Thank you for your kind words, Fellow Daoist!"

Just then, the guard finished inspecting their invitations and opened the Array to let them in.

The two decided to proceed together, flying up the mountain under the guidance of a guard.

Li Ping observed the scenery on Cyan Dragon Mountain with great interest.

In truth, this was not his first time on Cyan Dragon Mountain.

However, the last time he came, he was practically brought here under escort. His heart was filled with anxiety the entire way, and he was too busy worrying to take in the scenery.

So, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say this was his first real visit to Cyan Dragon Mountain.

A moment later, the two landed in the plaza in front of the hall. The Qi Refining Cultivator who had led them here bowed respectfully and departed.

They looked up and saw the Meng family’s ancestor greeting guests outside the hall.

The ancestor was welcoming guests personally, which showed how much importance he placed on this wedding banquet.

Li Ping and Wu Feng exchanged a smile and walked toward the Meng family’s ancestor together.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Meng," the two said in unison, each taking a gift from their Storage Bag.

Wu Feng’s gift was a Tier Two Lower Grade Dharma Artifact, while Li Ping’s was two Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Talismans.

Accepting their gifts, the Meng family’s ancestor smiled. "I thank you both for attending the banquet. Hmm... Fellow Daoist Li, did you draw these Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Talismans yourself?"

He couldn’t help but be a little surprised upon sensing the astonishing Spiritual Power contained within the Spirit Talismans Li Ping had presented.

Li Ping smiled and nodded. "I was just lucky. I managed to successfully create Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Talismans before the year’s end. It’s just that my success rate isn’t very high yet, so I haven’t put any up for sale."

Now, Li Ping could already create Tier Two Upper Grade Spirit Talismans, so revealing his skill as a Tier Two Middle Grade Talisman Maker was no longer a big deal.

It didn’t affect his trump cards, and could even, to a certain extent, raise his social standing.

"Then I must truly congratulate you, Fellow Daoist Li, on your breakthrough in the art of talisman making," the Meng family’s ancestor said.

The three exchanged a few more pleasantries before Li Ping and Wu Feng walked into the hall with a smile.

Leaving the Meng family’s ancestor standing outside the hall with a thoughtful expression.

’Come to think of it, if I remember correctly, this Fellow Daoist Li seems to have a significant grudge against Dai Sangyu as well.’

’So, when he told me the news he heard from Jixia, was it a simple warning, or did he have some other motive?’

As he pondered this, the Meng family’s ancestor suddenly broke into a carefree smile. "Heh heh... Whatever his motives, if this plan succeeds, I’ll still have him to thank for telling me the news."

While he was lost in thought, more guests arrived, and he quickly greeted them with a smile.

From his appearance, it was clear he was in a very good mood.

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