Chapter 1702 - 1699: Just Want to Fish in Troubled Waters

Chapter 1702: Chapter 1699: Just Want to Fish in Troubled Waters

"Hmph, Lu Qiushang, I, Wan Daorong, am not as shameless or selfish as you imagine," Wan Daorong snorted coldly.

Tantai Chunqiu said, "Junior Brother Wan, why bother arguing with such despicable small-minded men? It’s simply not worth it to be upset over such people."

Lu Qiushang laughed heartily, "Old Tantai, do you think everyone in the Shang Qing Sect is high-minded? Had it not been for your selfishness and self-interest, wanting to swallow up the great secret of Earth, how else would today’s situation have arisen?"

As soon as he said this, the Divinity Transformation Realm Masters allied with the Wangxian Sect started speaking up one after another.

"Indeed, what qualifications does the Shang Qing Sect have to talk about lofty principles? If your sect were truly selfless, then since the Earth World was discovered in the Nancheng Territory, all of Earth’s resources should be shared by all Southern Domain cultivation forces. Why does your sect hide them and attempt to monopolize them?"

"Exactly, just a bunch of hypocrites parading morality."

"If the Shang Qing Sect had announced the discovery of Earth to all Southern Domain forces, allowing everyone to explore based on their abilities, we would have had nothing to say. But instead, they secretly sealed the news, wanting to monopolize all the cultivation resources from Earth, the Land of Origin. Such selfishness, and now they still have the nerve to call others selfish and lacking perspective?"

"Bah!"

The cultivators staunchly standing on the side of Tantai Chunqiu and Wan Daorong immediately counterattacked, and both sides exchanged insults once more.

Yan Xihua, with a radiant smile, spoke to Sun Xingyu via voice transmission, "Sun Lang, do you see, are these supposed cultivation masters any different from common street rogues?"

Sun Xingyu nodded in response, "Indeed, there’s no difference. People are bound by the nature of mankind."

Yan Xihua giggled.

Concerned for the safety of Yang Fei and other Earth cultivators, Sun Xingyu quickly said, "Ask about Yang Fei’s whereabouts."

Yan Xihua, seeing his eagerness concerning Yang Fei, shouted aloud, "Everyone, there’s no need to argue further. I’ve heard there are quite a few Earth cultivators here as well, would it be possible to let them come out for a meeting?"

Wang Yuanxiao laughed. He knew Sun Xingyu was among the first batch of cultivators from Earth. Due to the grudges between his son and Yang Fei’s Dao partner, this person had gone after his son, later feared retaliation, and fled the Shang Qing Sect.

Unexpectedly, this person was hidden in West Phoenix Valley, and he had an unusual relationship with Yan Xihua.

Clearly, Yan Xihua was asking about the whereabouts of the Earth cultivators precisely to assist Sun Xingyu.

Just the fact Yan Xihua cares about the Earth cultivators is a boon for us.

He laughed heartily, saying, "Is the Master Yan looking to see those Earth cultivators? Hahahaha, they happen to be cared for by my people."

Sun Xingyu’s heart sank.

He was acutely aware of the grievances between Tianzhu Peak and the Earth cultivators.

Now with Earth’s people in the hands of Tianzhu Peak, their fate is likely grim, especially for Yang Fei and Qin Yanyang.

He hurriedly asked, "What have you done with Yang Fei and the others?"

"Yang Fei did not fall into their hands," Wan Daorong, understanding that Yang Fei was Sun Xingyu’s main concern, promptly stated.

Sun Xingyu was overjoyed: "Really?"

Wan Daorong nodded, "He’s my closed-door disciple, how could I joke about such matters?"

Sun Xingyu was greatly reassured, he asked: "Then where is Yang Fei? What about the others, have they been rescued?"

Wan Daorong said, "That kid should have escaped back to Earth for refuge. As for other Earth cultivators who joined Tian Nan Peak... they have indeed been taken hostage by traitors."

Opposite, Wang Yuanxiao, seeing Sun Xingyu’s concern, smiled and said, "Rest assured, they have not suffered any harm."

Sun Xingyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though most concerned for Yang Fei, Wang Lei was also a brother from the Madman Organization, with whom he shared life-threatening adventures; their relationship was excellent. Now that Wang Lei is also in enemy hands, how could he not worry?

Only this complicates the prospect of rescuing Wang Lei and the others.

Everyone knows the importance of Yang Fei and Earth to Wan Daorong and Tantai Chunqiu; if rescuing them were easy, they would have done so long ago.

Lu Qiushang looked at Yan Xihua and said, "Master Yan, for both your Yan Family and my Wangxian Sect, a split within the Shang Qing Sect offers only benefits, no harm."

At this point, he glanced at Shen Wanjing: "Master Shen, is what I said correct? A split within the Shang Qing Sect means only benefits for Shifang City."

Shen Wanjing snorted coldly: "I, Shen Wanjing, won’t just focus on short-term benefits. The Shen Family’s influence spans the five Star Domains; I’ve seen too many forces slowly devoured due to external invasions. For the entire Southern Domain, if the Shang Qing Sect splits today, it represents a decline in overall strength, and Outer Domain forces will certainly come in the future, shrinking our Southern Domain territory."

Lu Qiushang coldly snorted, "Hypocritical."

He turned to Yan Xihua, "Master Yan, since you are here, surely your father has given instructions. Which side will you stand with?"

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at Yan Xihua.

Originally, both sides were evenly matched, deadlocked; now that Yan Xihua brought seven late-stage Divinity Transformation Realm Masters, joining any side would spell disaster for the other.

These Outer Domain forces support whichever side, that side would laugh last.

Not only is it about the addition of the seven Outer Domain masters, but it also represents the choice of the Yan Family from the Central Star Domain.

The top master from the Yan Family is the last surviving Unity Realm master among the five Star Domains.

Moreover, by age, this person is in the prime of the Unity Realm, younger than the other two Unity Realm elders significantly.

Yan Xihua, watched by all, seemed utterly unfazed, she smiled, shook her head slowly, and said, "To be precise, our Yan Family is here to act as mediators. Cultivation is not easy; our pursuit is none other than eternal life and long-term vision. To pursue eternal life, living well is foundational. Only with a stable foundation can we compete for more resources, power, and interests, right?"

At this moment, everyone was stunned.

Originally thought the Yan Family came to take a stance, directly jump into the fray supporting one side, suppressing the other, and then seize the opportunity to develop the Yan Family’s influence.

But unexpectedly, the Yan Family’s stance was ambiguous.

It seems they’re intent on muddying the waters in the Southern Domain.

This so-called mediation is merely to split the Shang Qing Sect in two, leading to perpetual infighting and internal consumption.

Only when the Southern Domain is in chaos can the Yan Family better establish themselves and grow rapidly.

It’s indeed a clever calculation.

Tantai Chunqiu and Wan Daorong, along with Shen Wanjing, felt intense anger, thinking the Yan Family was exceptionally despicable, taking advantage of the chaos, fishing in troubled waters.

Lu Qiushang frowned similarly, knowing that dragging it out like this is also unfavorable for the Wangxian Sect.

After all, Shifang City is determined to support the other side, thus dividing the Southern Domain into two factions, plunging into endless turmoil.

Wang Yuanxiao was quietly pleased.

This is undoubtedly a great choice for him.

It’s far better than the Yan Family choosing to support Tantai Chunqiu’s side, otherwise, he’d truly have no choice but to flee with his supporters, then seek refuge with the Wangxian Sect, living under their protection.