Chapter 612 92: The Attitudes of the Various Parties

Gan Qi's words immediately drew the eyes of Wang Ping and Wu Quan.

"What did you just say?"

Wu Quan's tone was that of an elder questioning a junior, and he certainly had the right. He and Ganxing had known each other for over a thousand years, so he had practically watched Gan Qi cultivate every step of the way. After Ganxing's fall, it was Wu Quan who helped Gan Qi take control of the Loose Cultivator Alliance.

Gan Qi did not answer the question. He solemnly clasped his fists in a bow toward Wu Quan and said, "I have been contemplating this for the past ten years. This was not a decision made on a whim."

"You…"

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be angry. To each their own, as they say. Since Fellow Daoist Gan Qi has already made his decision, forcing him would be pointless."

Wang Ping stopped Wu Quan's useless outburst. He understood Gan Qi's reasoning to some extent. 'For Gan Qi, this conflict no longer holds any benefit. He's still young; of course he doesn't want to stake his entire future on this alliance.'

'If I were in Gan Qi's position, I might have made the same choice.'

"I ask for Changqing Zhenren's understanding. Also, I've received word that the Ji Family regime in the Liangjiang Region has been very active recently. It seems they intend to tear up the treaty and push south. I can help you maintain the situation for another six months at most. I hope you will quickly select a capable commander to oversee Fuming Prefecture!"

Gan Qi said, his head bowed low.

Yu Lian spoke inside Wang Ping's Spirit Sea, 'He's ready to give up his entire inheritance. It's just like the old saying: "The grandson who sells his grandfather's land feels no regret."'

Beside them, Wu Quan erupted. "Do you have any idea how the Loose Cultivator Alliance was founded? Do you know what your adoptive father sacrificed for it?"

Gan Qi remained silent, only offering a deep, respectful bow.

His mind was made up!

Before Wu Quan could speak again, Wang Ping cut in, "In that case, you may leave. I will arrange for someone to take over all affairs in Fuming Prefecture within six months."

"My two seniors, take care!"

Gan Qi bowed once more, then severed the connection to his projected consciousness.

Wang Ping sounded composed, but inwardly he felt helpless. He had no one to take the place of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, and he had just lost his last ally in Nanlin Road.

If he failed to handle this properly, he would lose his previous level of control over Nanlin Road, and his ambition of influencing the entire Southern Cultivation Realm would become impossible.

After a long silence, Wang Ping looked at Wu Quan. "Is everything alright on Mozhou Road?"

Wu Quan answered, a bit distractedly, "Don't worry. I still have some influence within the Earth Cave Sect. I can absolutely guarantee the stability of Mozhou Road. I just won't be able to offer you any support for now."

"As long as you can guarantee Mozhou Road's stability, that's all that matters. Leave Nanlin Road to me." Wang Ping's voice was filled with a powerful confidence, though at a time like this, it was all he could do to sound that way.

With that, he shared the memories he had just read with Wu Quan and said, "Those people are likely pawns of Lishui Prefecture. You need to uproot them as soon as possible."

"Rest assured, I'll go handle it myself in a moment. I will grind their bones to ash!" Wu Quan's tone was chilling. It seemed he intended to vent his fury on them.

Wang Ping studied Wu Quan's expression. "Can I trust you?"

Wu Quan froze. He met Wang Ping's gaze and held it for several moments before speaking. "I need to secure my footing in Mozhou Road, and cooperating with you is essential for that. As for Zi Luan… although I don't know why he's hiding, he lost a great deal the moment he made that choice."

Wang Ping nodded, accepting Wu Quan's explanation. He then said, "Let's stay in contact. The sky hasn't fallen yet. The Southern Cultivation Realm isn't something just anyone can get their hands on."

Wu Quan nodded. "I'll go make arrangements to deal with those County Government Offices you mentioned."

With that, he straightened up, gave a quick salute, and severed the connection to his projected consciousness.

At that moment, Yu Lian performed Tengyun, rising to a spot above the central coffee table. She met Wang Ping's gaze and asked, "Do you think Wu Quan is in contact with Zi Luan?"

"If Zi Luan were in contact with Wu Quan, he wouldn't have needed to disappear!"

"That's true. Then why did he suddenly disappear?"

Wang Ping sank into thought. Just then, his Communication Token pulsed with energy again. He picked it up, extended his Primordial Spirit into it, and found it was Zhi Gong.

'The news has already reached Hai Zhou Road? That was fast.'

"What did she say?"

Yu Lian could sense Zhi Gong's aura but couldn't perceive the message's content.

Wang Ping chuckled. "What else? She's asking about Zi Luan. She actually thinks I killed him and wants to schedule a projection call."

"How could she believe something so stupid?"

"Exactly. If even Zhi Gong believes it, or at least has her doubts, imagine what everyone else is thinking."

Yu Lian landed on Wang Ping's shoulder and nuzzled his cheek with her small head. "Don't overthink it. It's not as if everyone in the world thought you were a saint before this happened."

"That's true."

Wang Ping extended his right hand, formed a Spell, and materialized the surrounding Wood Spirit Qi. He used it to alter the signal anchor of the Communication Array before activating the Array.

After a moment, the figure of Zhi Gong Daoist materialized. She wore a loose, grayish-white robe, her hair tied back casually. Her complexion had a sickly, sallow hue, and a faint, earthy-yellow halo occasionally pulsed from her skin. She had spent years keeping her Spirit Veins constantly overflowing in order to sense the aura of the Earth Veins, which had resulted in her current appearance.

"A century has passed, Fellow Daoist, yet you seem unchanged."

Zhi Gong offered a casual salute.

As Wang Ping returned the salute, another figure materialized beside them. It was Hu Yin, all the way from the northern part of Ningzhou Road. She was dressed in a wide-sleeved, crimson robe that made her alluring fox head seem small by contrast.

"You all just stirred up a commotion in Mozhou Road. Are you planning to raise hell in Nanlin Road now, too?" Hu Yin was holding a silver goblet. She took a sip of the fine wine within, licked the fur at the corner of her mouth, and looked at Wang Ping. "What exactly happened?"

Wang Ping explained the situation again, though he omitted the part about Gan Qi's departure.

"I'll investigate the situation with Huaimo at once!" Zhi Gong declared immediately. Just like Wang Ping, her first suspect was the Huaimo Taoist.

Hu Yin then looked at Wang Ping and voiced her support. "I'm with you on this. The Southern Cultivation Realm can't descend into chaos again. We almost let those scoundrels from Lishui Prefecture get their way last time."

She didn't want any upheaval in the Southern Cultivation Realm; it was in her best interest for Wang Ping to remain its leader.

Zhi Gong was even more opposed to chaos in the Southern Cultivation Realm, as she was plotting her own path to the Fourth Realm of the Earth Vein. She even supported Wang Ping expanding outward and pushing the defensive lines further north, though she would never say so aloud.

"The most urgent matter right now is to guard against the secular powers from the East Sea Region," Zhi Gong warned. "Chu Country is currently riddled with internal strife. If they invade now, Shang'an Prefecture will bear the brunt of the attack, and you won't be able to intervene personally. When that happens, you'll be in a truly difficult position."

The moment she spoke, Wang Ping's mind went to Gan Qi's departure. 'When that time comes,' he thought, 'I won't just be facing the secular powers from the Southeast Sea Region. The armies of the Liangjiang Region will be bearing down on me, and even the three regions of True Yang Mountain might try to get in on the action.'

Just as he was thinking this, his Communication Token pulsed with energy. He couldn't afford to be careless at a time like this. He picked it up, extended his Primordial Spirit into it, and froze.

"What is it?"

Hu Yin asked.

Wang Ping looked at her. "Lishui Prefecture is really making a move!"