But first… before repelling the outer chaos, one must settle the inner.
A few plans in place would suffice. The rest would depend on improvisation.
So it was.
Three months later, at the end of the ninth month in the fifth year of Wang Yu's stewardship—
The Feiyun Boat drifted into a vast and unfamiliar region. At a glance, countless green reeds swayed gently in the breeze, growing in shallow waters that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The shallowest parts barely covered one's toes, while the deepest reached only to the neck of a grown man.
This region spanned a full three thousand li.
It was known as—The Three-Thousand-Li Reed Marsh.
The waters here were wide and shallow, clear but not fertile. Only thumb-sized fish and shrimp could survive in this aquatic expanse. Occasionally, one might glimpse a larger fish, but even then, it weighed no more than ten jin. Coupled with the thick mist unique to Cloudridge Province, the scenery was ethereal.
From afar, it truly resembled a celestial realm.
The mist clung to the water's surface. Fishermen poled their canopied boats through the haze, as if sailing through a sea of clouds. The view was breathtaking—every glance a living ink-wash painting.
"What a place…"
Wang Yu was captivated at first sight. His fingers itched with inspiration. He instinctively reached for his Ghostcry Flute, only to recall its eerie nature. Hastily, he swapped it for a plain bamboo flute.
He played in the sky, while the fishermen drifted below.
One still, one in motion—yet somehow, they harmonized.
It was as if his soul had been cleansed. As his flute techniques evolved, he began to faintly grasp the method of weaving emotion into melody.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
When he finally stirred at dusk, the three soul-sound dual-path techniques inherited from Master Yin Crow had all advanced significantly.
Only then did he murmur in realization, "So it's this simple… to infuse the corresponding emotion…"
Below, the fisherman had long since vanished. Wang Yu sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. What he had just experienced was the legendary "moment of enlightenment."
Only a rare few ever encountered such a thing.
Alas, his insight had lasted but a single day. He hadn't entered the deeper state of awakening. Had he remained in that state for ten days or half a month, stepping into the realm of perfection wouldn't have been impossible.
With more perfected techniques under his belt, Wang Yu's understanding of the Dao far surpassed that of his peers. In truth, they weren't even on the same level.
Once his emotions settled, he resumed his journey toward Spiritridge City. The Three-Thousand-Li Reed Marsh was already behind him. Only a thousand li remained.
He would arrive before sunrise.
Just as the Feiyun Boat picked up speed, a gentle voice called out behind him.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait."
Wang Yu's heart jolted. He had only just arrived in Cloudridge Province—this kind of encounter was rarely a good omen. He was about to accelerate when another flying boat, clearly of higher grade and faster speed, cut him off.
In the blink of an eye, it blocked his path.
It was much larger than the Feiyun Boat, stretching twelve or thirteen meters long. Its design resembled a flower barge, with a crimson two-story pavilion at its center.
From the second floor, a corner of a beaded silk curtain was drawn aside.
The soft voice rang out again.
"Fellow Daoist, your mastery of the musical path is quite profound. Might I invite you to join our Dreamcloud Pavilion? Our sect is a branch of the Pleasure Sect, specializing in the Dao of Yin and Yang.
"If you are willing, you may play your melodies within our halls during… intimate moments. In return, we offer spirit stones, wondrous techniques… or beauties, as you desire."
Pleasure Sect? Wang Yu's brow furrowed. Why were their people everywhere? The Dao of Yin and Yang, the principles of human desire—truly, they found purchase in every corner of the world.
Even Confucius had said: this is human instinct, nothing to be ashamed of.
Judging by the direction the barge was headed… could it be?
Wang Yu cupped his hands and replied, "You flatter me, fellow Daoist. Might I ask—are you bound for Spiritridge City?"
"Indeed. You are cautious by nature. If you do not wish to join, perhaps we could travel together? Dreamcloud Pavilion is located in the northern district of Spiritridge."
"That would be no trouble."
After agreeing, Wang Yu pondered silently.
The northern district? That was under the jurisdiction of the City Lord's Manor. Perfect—he could use this opportunity to gather information. He steered the Feiyun Boat closer to the second-floor window of the barge.
"Might I trouble you to tell me about Spiritridge City? I've come from Blood Abyss Province and plan to settle nearby for cultivation."
"A newcomer?"
The voice paused, then resumed.
"If you're confident, come aboard my Rouge Barge. Dreamcloud Pavilion is open for business—including the business of information. It all depends on what tier you're after."
Without hesitation, Wang Yu retracted his Feiyun Boat and stepped onto the second-floor balcony.
Throughout history, casinos, brothels, and taverns had always been the most well-informed places. That Dreamcloud Pavilion dealt in both flesh and secrets was only natural.
The surface-level intel from the Third Young Master had been detailed enough. But for the hidden truths, only locals could provide timely and reliable information.
Inside, a stunning matron reclined on a soft couch, her hair styled in the elegant Chaoyun bun. A low table before her held a tea set, steam curling from a jade cup.
One slender hand supported her chin, the other toyed with a string of beads.
She wore a peony-red robe embroidered with phoenixes and gold pearls. Beneath it, a tight, pale corset and short skirt hugged her curves, with translucent white gauze trailing down her legs.
The outfit revealed a generous expanse of snowy skin, the cleavage accentuated to perfection—a veritable treasure trove of nourishment.
Alluring, yet not vulgar. Seductive, yet not wanton.
Her beauty was veiled just enough to stir the imagination. Especially those full, shapely legs beneath the gauze—one couldn't help but let their gaze wander upward, into forbidden territory.
Wang Yu's expression remained calm, betraying only a quiet appreciation for beauty. The phrase "heart willing, strength lacking" described him perfectly.
"How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"
"Wang Yu."
"Chao Yun-niang."
"A pleasure, a pleasure~"
After the pleasantries, they got down to business. Chao Yun-niang sat up and poured him a cup of tea.
"Daoist Wang, you're quite the handsome one. What sort of information are you seeking?"
"The situation in Spiritridge City—internal factions, external powers, nearby opportunities… the more comprehensive, the better. I'm new here and would rather not offend the local powers."
"Understandable—"
Chao Yun-niang nodded and produced three jade slips.
"I have three tiers of intel: low, medium, and high. Prices are one thousand, three thousand, and five thousand low-grade spirit stones, respectively. Which will you choose?"
"The high-tier."
Wang Yu tossed over a storage pouch and picked up the slip, prompting Chao Yun-niang to smile.
"Seems you're quite capable."
"Just a modest skill to rely on."
It took Wang Yu only a few moments to absorb the contents of the jade slip, and sure enough, it contained many details that weren't available through public channels.
Three major clans dominated Spiritridge City: the Bai, Guan, and Jiang families.
The Bai Clan specialized in spiritual agriculture. They owned the largest number of spirit fields and cultivated a rare grain known as Bloodfang Rice. Their foundation ran deep, and their annual spirit stone yield approached two hundred thousand.
The Guan Clan controlled a spirit bamboo grove and a mountain of rare stones. They operated a thriving business in the cultivation world, producing paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones. Ranked second among the three, they boasted many powerful cultivators and earned close to one hundred fifty thousand spirit stones annually.
The Jiang Clan inherited four major cultivation crafts: alchemy, artifact forging, talisman creation, and formation arts. Each discipline had multiple branches, though most were first-tier. Only their alchemy heritage reached the second tier. They ranked third, with an annual yield of nearly one hundred thousand spirit stones—but their expenses were even greater, and signs of financial strain had begun to show.
Fortunately, these were only their primary income streams. Each clan had other ventures to supplement their earnings.
For instance, the Bai Clan secretly traded with the Nether Spring Temple, allegedly helping them collect the souls of deceased cultivators—a lucrative but shadowy source of income.
Beyond the three great clans, Spiritridge City was home to many smaller factions founded by Foundation Establishment cultivators. These were scattered evenly across the city's districts. Dreamcloud Pavilion was one such faction, though the intel mentioned little about it.
As for the City Lord's Manor, information was scarce—only a handful of stewards who frequently appeared in public were named.
At this point, Wang Yu felt fortunate to have met Chao Yun-niang.
The financial reports, the minor factions, the Bai Clan's dealings with Nether Spring Temple… none of it had appeared in the official intelligence brief.
Five thousand spirit stones well spent.
She also spoke of external powers. Three Core Formation sects—Inkveil Gate, Violet Dragon Mountain, and Fragrant Doctrine—were the dominant forces surrounding Spiritridge City.
Each had a branch within the city, most of them located in the northern district.
In other words, the northern district was a fragmented territory, divided among four competing powers. Though nominally under the City Lord's jurisdiction, it was clear that control was tenuous at best.
Still, Wang Yu was satisfied. But one question lingered.
"Why is there so little information about the City Lord's Manor? Not even a headcount?"
Chao Yun-niang hesitated.
"Well…"
Wang Yu's expression remained neutral as he tossed another storage pouch onto the table.
"Three thousand spirit stones."
Whatever he spent now, he'd make back once he reached Spiritridge. Triple compensation would be more than enough. He wasn't a devil, after all.
With the spirit stones in hand, Chao Yun-niang's smile returned.
"The City Lord's Manor is directly subordinate to the Blood Reversal Sect. The City Lord is appointed by the Holy Sect, but all stewards, attendants, and subordinates must be personally recruited by the City Lord.
"The previous City Lord of Spiritridge returned to the sect nearly a century ago and hasn't been heard from since. The people of the city only recognize General Tuoba, who commands the manor, but they don't know of any City Lord.
"The Tuoba family rose to prominence only recently. Their foundation is far shallower than the three great clans, but General Tuoba himself is powerful. Rumor has it he's already broken through to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment and is on the verge of Core Formation.
"The entire City Lord's Manor is now under Tuoba's control. They have roughly three hundred Qi Refining cultivators and two Foundation Establishment experts."
Wang Yu nodded in understanding.
The previous City Lord, Zhuo Kuangsheng, had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. But during his Core Formation attempt, something went wrong. He died in his cave before even triggering the tribulation lightning.
Such a failure was rare among the three great Nascent Soul clans. Even the weakest cultivators usually managed to summon the lightning.
This mishap led outsiders to believe Zhuo Kuangsheng was still seeking an opportunity. It took three or four decades before the truth came to light, and internal factions began vying for control of Spiritridge City.
Only when Zhuo Shouqing secretly dispatched agents to help Wang Yu seize the city did the matter finally settle.
That part, Wang Yu already knew.
As for the Tuoba family, who had taken over the manor like cuckoos in another bird's nest—Foundation Establishment eighth layer or not, even early Core Formation cultivators would kneel before him. Of all places to occupy, they chose the City Lord's Manor.
Clearly, they were tired of living.
But it was perfect—an ideal target to establish his authority.
No wonder the three young masters hadn't expected much trouble. With such a convenient scapegoat, things would go far more smoothly.
(End of Chapter)