C635 A Huge Profit!!
Feng Zhong, a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Solar Spirit Realm and a figure of legend, was known for his playful approach to life and cultivation, reminiscent of the Windspeaker's methods. His trusted aide, Gao Qin, was never far from his side.
In a moment captured within a crystal ball conjured by Zhu Peining, Feng Zhong, separated by thousands of miles, met with Yu Yuan in an unconventional manner. With a chuckle, he teased, "Yu, my dear friend, you've truly lived up to the moniker 'God of Plagues' bestowed upon you by the Consortium. Just look at the chaos you've caused! After your visit to the Godsblight Marsh, the Sword Prison was snatched from the extraterrestrial realm, unleashing countless devils in the process."
"And to think, the Evil Statue has found its way into the Moonfall Sanctuary."
"The turmoil on Aetherius and the strife among its empires can all be traced back to you, Yu Yuan!"
Upon his arrival, Feng Zhong wasted no time in addressing Yu Yuan with these words. Yuan Lianyao, who sat in meditation, took a Violet Spirit Elixir and began to refine its effects, enhancing her Lunar Spirit. Zhu Peining, with a wry smile, urged, "Sir, let's focus on the matter at hand."
"Ah, yes, business first, of course!" Feng Zhong responded, tapping his head within the crystal ball, his demeanor growing more earnest. "Yu Yuan, if you trust me, share what you learned about President Lyi in the Marsh. You're aware that he was the former head of the Skyreach Consortium. I won't lie; I've always held President Lyi in high regard."
"The Skyreach Consortium owes its current stature, its status, and many of its unyielding rules to President Lyi's leadership."
"I have immense respect for President Lyi! Had he not been exiled to the extraterrestrial Star River, allying with demons, our Consortium might have risen to the first level of sects in the Land of Quiescence, alongside the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep!"
"We're eager to learn all we can about President Lyi. Depending on the significance of the information, we'll offer you a fair price."
"What do you say, Brother Yu?" Feng Zhong asked, sincerity in his voice.
Yu Yuan pondered briefly before nodding with a smile. "President Lyi is likely the mastermind behind a secretive power. Whether he's the most powerful, I can't say. But it's certain that individuals like Tan Yuan of the Forgeroses, Shen Feiqing, the Silvermoon Queen, and others have ties to him. He's even rallied members from the Nightbane, the Binders of Shadows, and the Nagas."
As he pondered, he succinctly shared his experiences within the Marsh. The pact between President Lyi and the Untamed, the collaboration between the master and apprentice skilled in space magic, the Ghoul King's control by the Abyssal Leviathan, the death of Qi Hongyi, and the flight of Green Willow, Zhongli Dapan, and Xi Quan, as well as Loong Jie's capture.
Subsequently, the exchange between the Abyssal Leviathan and President Lyi hinted at a prior acquaintance between them, and the Sky Fiend that had taken over Lin Zhuyun after emerging from the Frozen Hellscape seemed to have a deep connection with President Lyi as well.
It took him a full half-hour to clarify all the details regarding President Lyi. Throughout his account, Feng Zhong and Zhu Peining refrained from interrupting, listening intently without a hint of impatience.
When he finished, Feng Zhong remained silent within the crystal ball, seemingly processing the information about President Lyi and making his assessments in silence.
After a considerable pause, Feng Zhong finally spoke from within the crystal ball, "Little Zhu, how much does Yu Yuan owe the Consortium in soulstones?"
"By soulstone count, a total of 180,000, including the magic items Qin Yun used for his Spirit Walk breakthrough, as well as the herbs and rare extracts he later withdrew," Zhu Peining promptly replied.
"Consider the debt cleared, and give Yu Yuan an additional 20,000 soulstones for the value of this information," Feng Zhong declared decisively. He then simply smiled and nodded at Yu Yuan, adding, "We'll talk more next time."
He was likely eager to relay this new intelligence to the Consortium's higher-ups for thorough discussion.
"Do you prefer the amount to be recorded, or would you like the physical soulstones?" Zhu Peining inquired.
"Please record it," Yu Yuan responded with a smile.
"The Consortium places great importance on any information regarding President Lyi. Anything related to him commands a premium price," Zhu Peining explained. "An hour's worth of information exchange for 200,000 soulstones is quite remarkable."
She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
"Yuanyuan, would you be able to stay on and heal your wounds?" Yu Yuan asked.
"Certainly," Zhu Peining replied with a smile. "Rest assured, we'll be billing the Ruby Hand for this. They're well-funded and hold Miss Yuan in high esteem. They won't skimp on the protection fee due to us."
"I understand."
After consoling Yuan Lianyao with a few gentle words, he departed from the secret chamber.
...
In Gavanas, the grand hall erected by Shadow's Keep, Lord Dusk Raven and Python Queen Xu Zixi sat in silence.
"The state of affairs in the Everlands is increasingly opaque," Lord Dusk Raven lamented, his brow furrowed with concern. "We've just received word that Lord Astral Tiger has been wounded in the Star River beyond our world."
Xu Zixi was taken aback. "Who inflicted the injury?"
The Moonfang Tiger, a tenth-level archdemon and a Dark Deity of Shadow's Keep, was the most formidable demon the Keep had seen in a millennium.
His injury in the Star River beyond was a matter of grave consequence.
"That unmentionable sect is growing stronger in the Star River beyond," Dusk Raven, an eighth-level archdemon with a long life behind him, was privy to ancient secrets. "When the bronze coffin shattered the seal of the Moonfall Sanctuary and surged into the Star River four years ago, I expected internal chaos."
He sighed, a wry smile on his face. "Much like the upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, who band together in the face of external threats, the factions within that sect have surprisingly united because of the one in the bronze coffin. They've abandoned the idea of a single, independent Sect Master and the God-King, opting instead for a collective approach to their actions."
"Since their consolidation, they've mounted a counterattack, unleashing a formidable force!"
He spoke only of the strength of the Boulderdawn Sect, carefully omitting who had injured the Moonfang Tiger.
"Is there any connection between them and the Untamed?" Xu Zixi inquired softly.
"What do you think?" Lord Dusk Raven huffed, giving her a chilly stare. "The Untamed gained renown before Lord Astral Tiger and after Lord Dark Phoenix. During their reign over the Everlands, the Untamed frequented the Moonfall Sanctuary. Aware of their ambush and exile to the extraterrestrial, the Untamed consequently sealed off the Marsh."
"In the years that followed, the Untamed has had no dealings with Shadow's Keep or any other sect."
"If the Untamed sides with them, things could change dramatically if they ever return to the Everlands."
Dusk Raven faced the unknown with immense pressure.
"With the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, along with so many Primordial Spirits and Dark Deities, how could we possibly lose?" Xu Zixi exclaimed.
"By themselves, with their single sect against the entirety of the Everlands, victory is naturally impossible," Dusk Raven said, his expression darkening. "But there are increasing signs of their close ties with the Star-Spawned Terrors and the Otherkin of the Star River. Some of them are even leaning towards forming alliances with these external forces."
Xu Zixi's face turned pale.
She was acutely aware that if the remnants of the Boulderdawn Sect were to ally with the Star-Spawned Terrors and the Otherkin, the sects of the Everlands would face a grim prospect of victory.
"Zhan Tianxiang, Zhao Yafu, and the younger generation of evilkind will soon converge in Gavanas City," Dusk Raven continued with gravity. "The three upper sects, the seven lower sects, the Devil Palace, and the youth from various other sects will also gradually make their way to Gavanas City. The teleportation circle of the Ethereal Void will transport them to the eastern frontiers of the Songbird Empire to defend several strategic points."
"Are the younger ones up to the challenge?" Xu Zixi asked, her concern evident.
"If they perish, it simply means they lacked the strength to survive in this world," Dusk Raven replied with a merciless tone. "Lord Golden Elephant has mentioned that Yu Yuan is welcome to join them if he chooses."
