Chapter 605 - 85: Speaking Frankly

Ruan Chunzi and Yuan Zheng weren’t particularly surprised by Wang Ping’s problem. If they were in his shoes, with someone secretly spying on them, they too would do whatever it took to eliminate the threat.

Moreover, Wang Ping had already made it clear he was planning his breakthrough to the Fourth Realm. This advancement was far from as simple as reaching the Third Realm. If he didn’t eliminate potential enemies, their sudden appearance during the critical moment of his promotion would be a true disaster. Some madmen might even go so far as to attack Qianmu Temple just to stop him.

The reason Wang Ping had so readily agreed to the plan from Zi Luan and the others, playing his piece on the board with such confidence, was precisely to use himself as bait. He intended to lure out his hidden enemies and then crush them under controlled circumstances.

He just never expected that such a probing move would actually hook a big fish, which left him somewhat surprised.

Of course, this surprise was mixed with relief and regret. He was relieved that his preparations had been thorough, but he regretted they weren’t thorough enough. If he had arranged for the Artifact Cultivators from Shanwu Road to be there, he might have been able to keep a few of them from escaping.

"The Southeast Sea Region is the territory of Lishui Prefecture," Ruan Chunzi began, analyzing the situation for Wang Ping. "To eliminate Chengxi, you first need to get Lishui Prefecture under control. Judging from the previous attack, Chengxi has considerable influence there. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to mobilize their Water Cultivators."

"The main task now is to figure out which faction Chengxi belongs to. The Third Prince? The Seventh Prince? Or is he neutral?"

Yuan Zheng Taoist took a seat by the window. He flicked his loose sleeves, settling in more comfortably, and looked at Wang Ping. "There are no outsiders here. I’ve watched you cultivate step by step from the Qi Refining Stage all the way to the Third Realm, and Fellow Daoist Ruan Chunzi also genuinely wants to help you. Of course, we have our own selfish reasons, but we have absolutely no intention of harming you, so..."

His expression turned serious as he continued, "We won’t pry into your specific plans, but you can at least give Fellow Daoist Ruan Chunzi and me the gist of it, can’t you?"

Wang Ping met Yuan Zheng’s gaze. He set down the kettle he was holding and, after a few moments of contemplation, said, "I am determined to reach the Fourth Realm of the *Taiyan Talisman*. But it’s clear that I’m not the only one with my eyes on a Fourth Realm slot this time. Furthermore, all of them are old-timers, each with an unfathomably deep foundation. That’s why, before my promotion, I must know who is an enemy and who is an ally!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Chunzi instantly grasped Wang Ping’s intentions. "Are you planning to use the struggle for the Zhongzhou Divine Artifact to forge alliances?" he asked.

Wang Ping nodded. "The Zhongzhou Divine Artifact is a massive prize. The interests involved are sufficiently complex. Only when we are bound by mutual benefit can I trust these so-called allies. Allies like that are the only ones who will actually step in to help when it counts."

On the surface, the fight for the Zhongzhou Divine Artifact seems to be a struggle for secular power in the Mortal World. But in reality, it’s a war over the Dao lineages of the various sects!

The day the dust settles on the Zhongzhou Divine Artifact will be the day the rights to pass down Dao lineages are re-carved. For instance, the True Yang Sect, which was driven out of the Zhongzhou Continent, is certain to have its own schemes. Then there’s the Vajra Temple, which has always wanted to return to Zhongzhou. The various factions of the Earth Cave Sect will each show their special prowess, and Lishui Prefecture’s current maneuvering is enough to prove they have their own ambitions.

Finally, there are the Heterodox Loose Cultivators and the powers backing the various Star Gods. They all need to find a place in Zhongzhou to spread their teachings and ensure their lineages continue. For all cultivators, this is another way of pursuing eternal life.

Of course, many people dislike such conflict and competition. Before the struggle begins, they will quietly migrate out of Zhongzhou to live in seclusion on the Eastern or Western Continent. By the same token, ambitious cultivators from the Eastern and Western Continents will come to Zhongzhou to test their strength.

"I have an idea..."

Yuan Zheng looked at Wang Ping and said, "Let’s not overcomplicate things. You can break through anywhere. Changqing, you just go into seclusion and cultivate like you always do. Fellow Daoist Ruan Chunzi and I will hold down the fort at Qianmu Temple. We’ll handle it, even if the sky falls down."

Before Wang Ping could reply, Ruan Chunzi shook his head. "Advancing to the Fourth Realm is crueler than you imagine. From what I understand, it involves a game played by even higher powers. To put it simply, a Fourth Realm cultivator is, in a sense, a proxy. Advancing means picking a side, and it also means racking up a mountain of debt."

Yuan Zheng scoffed at that. "When have we ever advanced without racking up a mountain of debt? During my Qi Cultivation Stage, I was desperate to break through. Afterward, I spent decades performing Alchemy, day in and day out, just to pay off the cost of that first step. What little time I had left was just enough to plan for the Second Realm. After breaking through, I spent several hundred years inside the Upper Dan Sect paying off that debt. And now that I’ve reached the Third Realm, my sitting here right now is just another way of paying what I owe!"

His words were blunt. He then turned to Wang Ping and added, "Part of that is a debt I owe to your master, and part of it is to you. But it’s more of an investment. I’m betting on you. Perhaps my own opportunity to reach the Fourth Realm in the Upper Dan Sect will one day depend on you."

Wang Ping didn’t comment on this, as he wasn’t one for empty pleasantries.

Ruan Chunzi patiently waited for Yuan Zheng to finish, then replied, "That’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is..."

Yuan Zheng glared at him. "I know what you mean. Fine, I admit I was oversimplifying things."

Ruan Chunzi was momentarily speechless. He turned to Wang Ping and asked, "Can you secure a slot for the Fourth Realm?"

"In the message Xiao Shan Lord left for me, he mentioned that if I want to advance to the Fourth Realm, I should seek out Wan Zhi Daoist," Wang Ping shared freely.

"So you’re already in the running. But don’t be hasty. Once you officially enter the competition for a Fourth Realm slot, the opposition you face will be many times what it is now." Ruan Chunzi’s words came out in a rush, a flood of ideas seemingly unlocked at that moment. As he spoke, the Fire Swift on his shoulder repeatedly spat flames out the window.

He untied the gourd of wine from his waist, took a deep swig of the strong liquor, and continued rapidly, "The matter with Chengxi definitely needs to be handled. He’s the true wild card right now. But we don’t necessarily have to do it ourselves. Leave it to me. I can’t guarantee I’ll succeed, but I can certainly keep them occupied for a while."

Wang Ping, however, shook his head. "My plan is to eliminate him openly and honorably. First, because he can also be considered part of a branch lineage of the Taiyan Sect. Second, I want to make my stance clear to everyone who has designs on me. And third, I want to see how the various factions react."

His words stunned both Yuan Zheng and Ruan Chunzi. Just as they were about to speak, Wang Ping added, "Of course, if I can’t eliminate him directly, I’m not opposed to resorting to other methods."

Yuan Zheng spoke before Ruan Chunzi could get a word in. "In that case, let’s first get a clear picture of his background and untangle this Lishui Prefecture connection before we proceed to the next step. And before we do that, we need to gain control of the Chu Country’s Imperial Court and bend it to our will. After all, given the rules set by the True Monarchs, the secular power of the Chu Country can sometimes be more expedient than the power of the Cultivation Realm!"