ragginovel Chapter 2606 Metamorphosis
Chapter 2606 Metamorphosis
Chapter 2606 Metamorphosis
Yu Chang'en secretly came to the Northern Region, disguised himself, and established a cave dwelling there. Now, with various forces from Xunzhou gathered in the Northern Region, a mixed bag of people, no one has seen through the Yu family's scheme.
The Yunbo Society established its training grounds, creating quite a stir, yet Yu Chang'en insisted on coming alone, even trying to conceal his presence. This demonstrates that what Young Master Yan said was not unfounded; the Yu family's situation within the Yunbo Society was indeed precarious.
Yu Yin was Yu Chang'en's right-hand man and knew the difficulties the Yu family was facing. The trade route with the alien race's Heavenly Division was almost the Yu family's only bargaining chip. When Qin Sang, the ruler of Qingyang, suddenly appeared in Xunzhou, he realized that this was no small matter and worried that unexpected troubles might arise. He told Qin Sang the truth directly and immediately took Qin Sang to the Yu family's secret residence.
Qin Sang also learned some things from Yu Yin.
When the two sides formed an alliance, due to limited energy, Qingyang Zhi decided to devote all his energy to developing Kanzhou and had no plans to open a branch of the Qingyang Alliance in Xunzhou for the time being, thus granting the Yu family exclusive rights in Xunzhou.
The share that Qingyangzhi gave to the Yu family was less than one-tenth of the total, but it was enough to fill the Yu family's stomachs. It should be noted that not only Qingyangzhi was involved in this business, but also the Zhu Yan, Si You, and Jiao Jiao, who were high-ranking clans of the Heavenly Division. They also secretly colluded with the Chi Ru, a high-ranking clan of the Water Division, and even made connections with the Holy Land of the Otherworldly Race through Yu Zhen.
Yu Chang'en was self-aware; taking on these shares was already beyond the Yu family's capacity, and they shouldn't be greedy.
He was extremely grateful to Qingyang Zhi and diligently developed this trade route. Soon, he made a name for himself in the business, and in a short period of time, the Yu family rose to prominence.
Moreover, Yu Chang'en's approach was very clever. He never allowed his subordinates to have direct contact with the deacons of the Qingyang Alliance. He put a lot of thought into it and devised a complicated handover process. To this day, only he and Yu Yin in the entire Yu family know the exact location of Qingyang Zhi.
This move also helped the Yu family protect themselves when the crisis came. From the old patriarch Gong Ming to the current Yunbo Association, they all tried to take this trade route away from the Yu family. Yu Chang'en sensed something was wrong and asked Qingyang Zhi for help. Qingyang Zhi, out of consideration for their long-standing relationship, agreed to his request and declared that he would only deal with the Yu family. Only then did those who coveted the route not make any rash moves.
While direct plunder is not allowed, it doesn't mean that sabotage is forbidden. Judging from Yu Yin's expression, he seems to regard Qin Sang as the savior of the Yu family.
Of course, if Qin Sang is willing, there is no need to reveal his identity. As long as a Nascent Soul cultivator is invited to the Yu family as a guest, the Yu family's situation can be greatly improved.
Unfortunately, Qin Sang wasn't thinking about supporting the Yu family; instead, she was figuring out how to make a move by targeting the Yu family.
It's clear from Yu Yin's words that the Qingyang Alliance has always focused on Kanzhou, to the point that it hasn't established a branch in Xunzhou for over a thousand years.
Once he returns, this situation will definitely change. He must allow the Qingyang Alliance to advance into Xunzhou and establish a firm foothold there before he can secretly connect with Geng Chuzhi.
The marketplace is like a battlefield. Xunzhou is full of business alliances and has a strong business atmosphere, unlike the aloof and exclusive families and sects in other prefectures. If the Qingyang Alliance wants to do business with them, they will certainly welcome them wholeheartedly. However, if the Qingyang Alliance wants to reach into their bowls to snatch food, it will not be easy.
In this way, the Yu family becomes a good stepping stone.
Qin Sang's thoughts raced. He then realized that Yu Yin seemed to be leading him in circles. His mind stirred slightly, and he guessed the reason. He said calmly, "Just go straight. There are no people following us."
Yu Yin hesitated. He was now almost like a frightened bird. No one knew how many people were secretly watching his every move. He had seen all sorts of insidious tricks and strange supernatural abilities. He wondered if this Master Qin could see through them all.
Just then, the talisman he had sent earlier also received a response.
Upon seeing the contents of the letter, Yu Yin breathed a sigh of relief and bowed, saying, "My uncle has already left the manor to personally welcome Senior Qin."
Qin Sang nodded slightly and remained silent. After a moment, a streak of light appeared on the horizon and broke through the air. Soon after, a burly man with a full beard landed in front of them, looking very different from the Yu Chang'en they remembered.
After a quick glance, Qin Sang saw through his disguise and greeted him with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yu, how have you been?"
"It really is Master Qin!"
Yu Chang'en was overjoyed. He glanced around warily, then wiped his face mask to reveal his true appearance.
At the same time, he was secretly surprised. His disguise technique was a secret of the Yu family. It was obtained by an old ancestor of the Yu family at a high price. He had traveled all the way to the Northern Region without being seen through, but this Qin Zhenren saw through him at a glance!
The Yu family and the Qingyang Alliance had frequent exchanges, and Yu Chang'en also knew some of the deeds of this Master Qin.
Back then, this Master Qin only had a mid-stage Refinement Realm cultivation. It is said that he made further progress after the Yuanqiao Dharma Assembly. Later, news spread that Master Qin had left Qingyang Prefecture and was traveling around. For a long time afterward, no news came back.
That Master Li even asked the Yu family to inquire whether Master Qin had left any trace in Xunzhou.
It seems that during his travels, this Master Qin obtained some kind of opportunity.
Yu Chang'en silently observed Qin Sang and found that this person's aura was restrained, like a calm pool without ripples, giving people a feeling that it was unfathomable, which was incomparable to his former self.
His thoughts weren't out of his mind; he simply raised his hand in a gesture of invitation.
"This is not the place to talk. Please, Master Qin, come to my humble abode..."
The three then flew towards the Yu family's secret residence.
To avoid attracting attention, the Yu family only established one cave dwelling for the time being. The cave dwelling was located in a naturally formed wind cave, and the use of the wind cave in conjunction with a large array was quite ingenious. The cave dwelling was not large, and the inner chamber was narrow, but fortunately, Yu Chang'en did not bring many people, so it did not feel crowded.
Upon entering the quiet room, Yu Yin tactfully withdrew, dismissed the others, and personally served them.
When an old friend appeared before him, Qin Sang didn't mince words. Having just heard Yu Chang'en mention the Jade Axe, he asked directly, "Has the Jade Axe broken through to the Void Refinement stage?"
Yu Chang'en thought to himself that this person had indeed not returned to Qingyang Temple for a long time, and immediately praised, "Master Li is a person of extraordinary talent, how could he be hindered by the Refinement of Void Realm? A thousand years ago, when Yu Yin and I were invited to visit Qingyang Temple, Master Li was already one of us!"
Li Yufu finally lived up to his expectations.
Qin Sang finally felt relieved. In Qin Sang's eyes, Li Yufu was more than a disciple to her, as he carried the last wishes of Mingyue and Yunyouzi. Qin Sang had always regarded him as her disciple.
Li Yufu was appointed to take charge of Qingyang Temple to look after Qin Sang's rear. Qin Sang disappeared repeatedly, but he remained diligent and conscientious, leading Qingyang Temple through one calamity after another and relieving Qin Sang of her worries.
He was one of Qin Sang's most trusted people. If he stopped at the Refinement Realm, it would undoubtedly be a major blow to Qin Sang. Unfortunately, cultivation is a matter of individual destiny, and Qin Sang at that time did not have the ability to help Li Yufu break through to the realm.
When Li Yufu was mentioned, Yu Chang'en recounted their interactions in detail. Over the years, he and Li Yufu had developed a friendship.
Upon hearing that Li Yufu had asked the Yu family to inquire about her, Qin Sang sighed inwardly.
When he left Qingyang, he never imagined that this parting would last so long.
Before leaving, he told Su Nu and Yu Fu that he would send a message to let them know he was safe every now and then. Unexpectedly, a strange thing happened at Dengbao Mountain, and he was directly teleported to the Demon Realm. He then drifted from the North Sea to Dafeng Plain and was trapped in the Demon Realm.
Separated by the wind and sea, they could not communicate. At that time, Qin Sang was surrounded by dangers and had no time to attend to this matter.
His disappearance back then was too sudden; no matter how powerful Yu Fu and his companions were, they couldn't possibly find his whereabouts. With so much time without a trace, everyone in Qingyang probably thought he had perished outside. It's pitiful that Yu Fu is still relentlessly searching for him.
At this moment, Yu Chang'en continued, "To be honest, Master Qin, the Yu family opened this secret residence at the request of Abbot Li. Abbot Li has been planning to open a branch of the Qingyang Alliance in Xunzhou. This turmoil in Xunzhou is a good opportunity. Abbot Li has sent a message that he will come in person soon. My purpose in coming here is to pave the way for Abbot Li."
"Oh?"
Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, showing no surprise.
He had told Li Yufu many secrets about the Daoist Court, and Li Yufu knew that he was the Thunder Department Envoy of the Daoist Court, and that the structure of Qingyang was also a continuation of the Daoist Court's regulations. Now that news of the Daoist Court's emergence had spread throughout the Great Zhou, if Li Yufu wanted to find him, he would definitely come to the Northern Region of Xunzhou.
Yu Chang'en never imagined that the person in front of him was the legendary Daoist Heavenly Lord who could summon the Thunder Ancestor and was awe-inspiring in the Demon Realm, and was the source of this turmoil.
Qin Sang thought to herself, "It's good that Li Yufu can come directly. We need manpower to develop the secret palace here."
This time, the master and apprentice will establish a foothold in Xunzhou.
In the future, via the Yu family's trade route, through the teleportation array between Xunzhou Immortal City, and with the help of the Purple Lake Realm, a passage can be opened between the two realms. Of course, the prerequisite is that Zhang Tianshi can uncover the secrets left by Lu Tianshi in the Purple Lake Realm and open this realm.
Thinking of this, Qin Sang carefully observed Yu Chang'en and saw that he maintained the joy of reuniting with an old friend, without showing the slightest sign of anxiety. Such composure is truly admirable; no wonder he dared to travel alone to the alien race to attend the Yuanqiao Dharma Assembly.
Qin Sang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, "I've heard that the Yu family is in a difficult situation right now. Is that patriarch Gong Ming dead or alive?"
Yu Chang'en was slightly taken aback. He glanced at the door and assumed that Qin Sang had learned about it from Yu Yin.
He slowly wiped the smile from his face and sighed deeply.
"To be honest, I don't know whether that old man is alive or dead. Although the Yu family spares no effort in supporting him, I, like those outsiders, am not qualified to enter the Yinming Water Mansion!"
He grew increasingly resentful as he spoke, “That old bastard was somewhat reasonable at first, but later he treated us like servants. The Yu family was weak and could only let him boss us around. As the tribulation approached, he became even more demanding, each time more harsh than the last. The Yu family’s years of accumulation and the profits from that trade route were almost all poured into that bottomless pit. It’s hateful that old bastard was ruthless in his exploitation of the Yu family. Not only did the Yu family not fare well, but because of his stubbornness and self-will, he made enemies everywhere, bringing the family to the brink of collapse and completely ruining our promising situation!”
Qin Sang listened quietly without saying a word.
The Old Ancestor Gong Ming may not be as despicable as Yu Chang'en claims. It is only natural that the Yu family worships this person, seeks his protection, and does their best to help the Old Ancestor Gong Ming overcome his tribulation.
However, the Old Ancestor Gongming spared no effort to overcome his tribulation, acting as if he didn't care about the consequences after his death, which led to those who relied on him suffering the consequences. He was indeed not very considerate.
"Is the Yinming Water Palace still demanding tribute from you?" Qin Sang asked.
Yu Chang'en nodded helplessly.
Without confirmation of Patriarch Gongming's death, how could he dare to cease offerings? Not only could he not cease them, but he dared not reduce them even by the slightest. Otherwise, if Patriarch Gongming was truly only in seclusion healing his injuries, the Yu family would be caught in the middle, pleasing neither side. At least three thousand years of lifespan was more than enough time for Patriarch Gongming to thoroughly deal with the Yu family.
This is why the Yu family is now in a dilemma, with many concerns.
If it were before, with that trade route providing financial support, the Yu family could barely survive. Now, with the fate of the Gongming Ancestor unknown and those with ulterior motives starting to target the Yu family in order to test the Yinming Water Mansion, they are now taking action against the Yu family.
In just a few decades, several of the Yu family's treasure ships disappeared without a trace in the East China Sea, resulting in heavy losses.
Yu Chang'en couldn't find any clues, so even if he knew who did it, he could only grit his teeth and admit it.
The gates of Yinming Water Mansion remained tightly closed, and Yu Chang'en was refused entry several times when he tried to see him, watching the situation deteriorate day by day.
Perhaps because he had been suppressing his bitterness for too long and had nowhere to vent it, Yu Chang'en stopped pretending in front of Qin Sang and poured out his grievances now that he had already spoken his mind.
He did not place his hopes for resolving the Yu family's crisis on Qin Sang, but only hoped that Qin Sang would consider their past relationship and get the Qingyang Alliance to fully support the Yu family. Only by holding this bargaining chip could they hope to overcome this crisis.
Little did they know, the person opposite them was plotting to bring the Yu family under their control.
As Qin Sang listened to Yu Chang'en's complaints, she gained a more detailed understanding of the Yu family, the Yinming Water Mansion, and the Yunbo Association.
The Yunbo Guild is located at Xianlin Lake, on the easternmost edge of Xunzhou, the closest point to the Fog Sea, making its location extremely important. Opening a trade route from the Fog Sea to Xunzhou is inextricably linked to the Yunbo Guild.
Xunzhou appears to be a thriving commercial hub, with everyone constantly talking about "harmony brings wealth," but in reality, it is extremely xenophobic. It is virtually impossible for external forces to penetrate Xianlin Lake.
The Qingyang Alliance needs internal support from the Yunbo Society to advance into Xunzhou.
The Yu family barely met the requirements before, but Qin Sang wants more than just a trade route; she also wants to use it to cover her tracks.
Yu Chang'en's mouth was dry from talking. Seeing Qin Sang playing with the teacup and remaining silent, he knew that this Master Qin had been away from Qingyang for too long and would not make a promise easily.
However, this act still needs to be made. As long as it can plant a seed in Qin Zhenren's heart, so that he can remember the difficulties of the Yu family when making decisions in the future, he will be satisfied.
Therefore, Yu Chang'en racked his brains trying to figure out how to properly entertain this Master Qin.
Just then, Yu Chang'en noticed that Qin Sang suddenly looked surprised.
'Snapped! '
Qin Sang slammed down her teacup, splashing tea everywhere.
At this moment, within his body, a burst of spiritual light intertwined with thunder and fire surged like a heartbeat, and an unusual energy continuously washed over his dantian.
The fluctuations suddenly became extremely violent, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring, and flames raging in the dantian.
This scene...
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly is actually attempting to break through the barrier!
Without any prior warning, Qin Sang had no idea that this day would come so quickly and suddenly.