Excellent.
It seemed that during this period, True Inheritor Jiang had investigated him further, likely having uncovered his connection to the Reverse Spirit Three Young Masters. The swift agreement was telling. It also served as indirect proof that meeting Yan Ling was not only a matter of significant importance but one of extreme urgency.
After storing the secret letter securely, Wang Yu showed no inclination for further conversation and departed directly.
As for whether this act of extortion for spiritual materials would offend True Inheritor Jiang, he harbored no real fear. Following his contract with the Reverse Spirit Triad, he now had the formidable backing of three entire Nascent Soul families standing behind him. They were the undisputed top-tier rulers of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect! Even if he could only borrow a sliver of their influence, it was sufficient to ensure that offending a mere True Inheritor would not bring dire consequences. Coupled with the fact that intelligent individuals always weighed costs and benefits, True Inheritor Jiang would certainly consider whether the payoff justified the expense before moving against him. If the motive were merely to vent displeasure, that man would never take action.
So much had transpired in this single excursion outside.
Returning to the Enforcement Hall within the Evil God Quarter, Wang Yu felt a slight headache coming on as he absently stroked Xue Yu's fur.
His demand for third-grade spiritual materials was, of course, intended for the forging of the [Ghost-Weeping Flute]. With a matching magical instrument to assist him, the several legacies left by the Dark Crow Ascetic could be unleashed to their maximum potential. Although the forging method itself only reached the Foundation Establishment level, it could imbue the instrument with a foundational profundity. Crafted into a peak second-grade magical instrument, it would possess the latent potential to advance into a third-grade treasure in the future. At that point, it would be an entirely different entity. He still possessed a fingernail-sized piece of third-grade Earth Spirit Gold, which would be perfectly suitable to refine into it alongside the bamboo.
Having finished contemplating the utilization of his resources, Wang Yu settled into a period of quiet waiting. Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the spiritual materials he desired were delivered to the Enforcement Hall of the Evil God Quarter.
The item was sealed within a black sandalwood incense box approximately ten feet in length, engraved with Spirit-Sealing Restriction Arrays—a specialized method to prevent the loss of the spiritual material's innate essence. Strictly speaking, this was Wang Yu's first time coming into contact with a complete, high-quality third-grade spiritual material.
He couldn't help but rub his hands together in anticipation before carefully opening the box.
Inside, a length of dark, jade-like bamboo, roughly one and a half meters long, lay in serene repose. Its entire form seemed to emit mournful wails reminiscent of shrieking wraiths, and a layer of black spiritual light abruptly unfolded around it. It was akin to a miniature netherworld manifesting; within the range of this eerie radiance, specters conjured from Yin spiritual energy flitted and writhed. These phantasms possessed a certain aggressiveness, capable of assailing a cultivator's very soul.
A jade tablet within the box bore the name of this treasure.
"The Lamentation Bamboo of the Netherworld, a third-grade Marvelous Treasure!"
"An excellent treasure!!!"
After confirming its authenticity, he stored it away with the utmost care. This object could fully serve as material for a Core Formation life-bound treasure, though using a Ghost-Weeping Flute as one's life-bound artifact felt somewhat lacking in ambition. Considering a life-bound treasure for the Core Formation stage was also premature. It was better to utilize it now for immediate strength and seek out superior materials in the future.
Now that the item was in his possession, it was time to fulfill his obligation. He gave Xue Yu a pat and stored her within the spirit beast pouch.
Before long, the familiar sight of Tantai's Herb Garden came into view.
Standing before the familiar bronze door knocker shaped like an inverted bat's head, Wang Yu stepped forward and rapped it firmly.
*Knock, knock, knock—*
"Fellow Daoist Tantai, Wang Yu pays a visit."
The beast-head knocker emitted a faint red beam of light that scanned his body from head to toe before the gate swung open automatically.
The interior remained largely unchanged, though the spiritual herbs cultivated there had been upgraded significantly. The front courtyard's flanking plots no longer held the most basic Five Essence Grass but had been replaced with a relatively versatile second-grade medicinal herb, the Spirit Dew Flower. This blossom possessed the effect of harmonizing medicinal properties and was used in the majority of pill recipes, its value dozens of times greater than Five Essence Grass. It appeared Tantai Chan had also been striving for higher realms these past years, her wealth now far surpassing what it had been during their first meeting.
Walking down the wind-chime corridor, he spotted her from a distance and immediately sensed her unconcealed cultivation aura—the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment! She had clearly reached the late stage. Her progress was remarkably fast.
Glancing around, he did not see Yu Tangtang's figure.
"Stop looking. She's not here," Tantai Chan's voice came, cool and direct. "What business brings you?"
Wang Yu offered a slight smile and proactively presented the letter. "This item was entrusted to me by True Inheritor Jiang, the victor of the Celestial Corpse Peak's recent Corpse Duel Grand Conference, to be delivered to your True Inheritor Yan Ling."
Tantai Chan was puzzled for a moment before comprehension dawned. "A secret letter?"
"Correct. When you deliver it, there must be no one else present."
"I understand."
She accepted the item without further inquiry, her reaction aligning with Wang Yu's predictions. Only the lower half of her face was obscured by her veil, leaving her eyes and brow visible. The two willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows visible to Wang Yu gradually furrowed together, indicating she sensed this task might be troublesome.
Wang Yu pressed on, emphasizing, "This matter must be handled with all possible speed. Delay risks unforeseen changes."
"Wait."
Tantai Chan suddenly stood up. Her chest, noticeably constricted by tight wrappings to minimize its apparent size, presented the illusion of a normal, slender silhouette. In reality, only if those bindings were removed could one comprehend the true, substantial nature of what they concealed.
*Truly worthy of being a wet nurse~* Wang Yu mused inwardly. *Yu Tangtang's nourishment must be exceptionally ample.*
But Tantai Chan seemed to recollect herself. The last time she had followed Wang Yu's arrangement, it was on her master's orders. Why should she assist him this time? She had never held any fondness for Wang Yu, who knew her secret. Furthermore, during their last encounter, when Wang Yu was merely at the Qi Refining stage, he had acted with shocking arrogance. His imperious, commanding attitude had been truly detestable. Now, rumors swirled that he had broken through using the Foundation Seizing Art, his potential exhausted. Even if Yu Tangtang remembered past affections, he was unlikely to wield any significant authority. In those brief moments, a torrent of thoughts flashed through Tantai Chan's mind. It seemed she had undergone a meticulous internal deliberation.
*BANG!*
Her hand struck the table. "I almost let you bluff your way through," she said, her voice sharp. "Why should I help you?"
Wang Yu was not surprised by her reaction. In the earliest days, he had worked in Tantai Chan's herb garden twice, and on both occasions, she had exerted immense pressure on him, even instilling fear. The transaction involving Yu Tangtang had also served as a vent for his inner frustrations; at most, he had directed Tantai Chan slightly, breaking the psychological barrier formed during his weaker days. It could hardly be considered a true offense.
He composed himself and replied leisurely, "Think about it. Is this truly *my* affair? I am merely a messenger. And think further on this: how has Yan Ling treated you? Would you truly allow a slight bias against me, Wang, to lead you to fail your Lady Yan Ling?"
At this moment, Tantai Chan finally grasped the underlying meaning. "*My* Lady? My Lady has always been only one, and that is…"
"Yu Tangtang, yes, I know," Wang Yu cut her off with a wave, interrupting her performance of loyalty in front of him. "Let's not speak of such hollow, grandiose sentiments. Fellow Daoist Tantai, how do you believe True Inheritor Yan Ling has treated you?"
Before coming, Wang Yu had made inquiries. Due to his previous arrangements, Yan Ling had gained the support of a second-grade alchemist and swiftly gathered a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Cold Blood Peak. Coupled with the support in spiritual herbs and alchemical techniques, within a mere five years, she had nurtured Tantai Chan's alchemy skills to the superior grade, expending significant effort and resources. The aim was to better utilize superior-grade cultivation-aid pills to win over hearts and minds. Moreover, Tantai Chan's rapid progress in cultivation was also because she benefited from resources from both sides. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, a cultivator's body and meridians could endure more prolonged and powerful spiritual energy infusion. Consequently, methods to enhance the speed of advancement were no longer limited to pills. Precious sites like spirit spring cold pools could accomplish in half a month what would take a hundred days of arduous cultivation.
Tantai Chan could not be said to have provided help in a time of dire need, nor was she a superfluous addition. Rather, she had helped Yan Ling save a great deal of time that would have been spent on persuasion and negotiation, allowing her to swiftly rise to the top among the True Inheritors of Cold Blood Peak in the shortest time possible. For a genius like Yan Ling, who possessed a Heaven Water Spiritual Root, time was often the most precious commodity. As a result, her treatment under Yan Ling was undoubtedly substantial.
Wang Yu's current move was simply meant to stir the most genuine desire deep within Tantai Chan's heart: freedom! Liberation from Yu Tangtang's control! The label 'human slave' was a mountain weighing on her, and was it not, in its own way, another form of spirit slavery? She must have seen in Yan Ling a possibility to break free from these shackles. It was precisely for this reason that Wang Yu used the term "your Lady" to hint at this potential.
It seemed Tantai Chan had now reasoned it through.
The atmosphere in the room grew silent for a time.
She sighed. "So, your desire to join the slave-catching team back then... you had already discerned my intentions? Aren't you afraid Tangtang will find out?"
She might harbor no malice toward Yu Tangtang—after all, she had raised the girl from infancy—but she absolutely loathed being controlled by Yu Tangtang's father, the 'Blood-Eyed Demonic蛟 (Jiāo - flood dragon/demon)'.
Hearing this, Wang Yu inwardly scoffed. How could he have predicted today's events back then? He had purely utilized every available condition to achieve his goals at the time, and it was the same now. "Naturally, achieving two goals with one action is always preferable. I simply didn't anticipate needing to call upon you again so soon."
Wang Yu unceremoniously admitted to his 'scheming'. "Aside from this matter, I need you to refine a single superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill for me. Here are thirty thousand spirit stones. Consider it a normal transaction."
"…"
Tantai Chan's expression froze, somewhat unable to grasp Wang Yu's methods. Had he been direct from the start, she would have certainly refused. Yet after their conversation, she actually felt a sliver of... gratitude?
*What a truly sinister demon!*
Seeing her silence, Wang Yu suddenly leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, penetrating murmur. "Once True Inheritor Yan Ling breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, she will be in a position to negotiate with the Guardian Deity of the Sect. You will have a significant opportunity to realize your aspirations. I help you, you help me. We are not enemies."
Hearing this, Tantai Chan finally nodded and accepted the task. "Come to me for the pill in one month."
"My thanks."
Having achieved his objective, Wang Yu lost interest in further conversation. Tantai Chan was not weak in strength, her alchemical skills were profound, and her web of connections was complex and extensive. Her personal network was also a resource Wang Yu could potentially leverage. This opportunity was rare. Having shed their previous preconceptions, the two could now become close cooperative partners, a far more reliable relationship than the superficially amicable but inwardly discordant one he had with someone like Zhao Shang. Befriending Tantai Chan would undoubtedly bring more benefits than drawbacks.
"Then I shall take my leave. If you encounter any trouble on Sister Tangtang's side, do not hesitate to inform me. If it is within my capabilities, I will certainly assist."
"I understand."
She watched his departing figure with a complex expression, uneasily rubbing her chest. Feeling the dampness once again seeping through her robes, her wavering resolve suddenly solidified with fierce determination. She utterly despised these... things, especially after the side effects caused by the secret technique modification years ago. They were both a lingering consequence and a recurring nightmare, a scar she could not escape.
"This is my only chance to change my fate," she whispered to the empty room. "I can only hope I am not betting wrong."
If she failed, there was only death.
(End of Chapter)