Chapter 93: Wuyue of the Human Race Mocks Me for Being Old and Weak (Extra for the Alliance Leader “No More Than Seven Characters”)
In front of the ancestral temple of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe, Ruolin and five other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Hun River and others were sitting on the ground.
“Why hasn’t Lanzu Uncle returned yet?”
“Could it be that the Human Race is refusing to budge?”
“Impossible, Lanzu Uncle is strong and well-connected. Even the Nascent Soul seniors of the Sea Tribe must give Lanzu Uncle some respect. There are no Human Race Nascent Soul experts stationed in the Wuyue region, and even if they are unreasonable, they wouldn’t dare disrespect Lanzu Uncle.”
“Right, even if we can’t make the Human Race stop using the Talisman, they should at least restrain themselves. If the situation continues to develop as it is now, in another ten days at most, none of our tribe’s younger generation with the potential to transform will be left.”
“Cough.”
Lanye coughed lightly and slowly descended in front of Ruolin and the others.
The five Foundation Establishment cultivators stood up and bowed respectfully upon seeing Lanye.
The youngest among them, Hun River, who had always had an aggressive stance toward the Human Race, asked without regard for etiquette, “Uncle, will the Human Race continue to use the Talisman?”
Lanye couldn’t speak directly.
Because his trip had hardly produced any results. He could hardly fabricate achievements, could he?
“The Human Race has promised to give a response within seven days,” he said.
“Seven days?” Ruolin exclaimed in surprise, “By then, I fear…”
Juya also expressed his concern, “After seven days, I’m afraid it might be too late.”
Lanye’s expression remained unchanged, and he spoke calmly, “You shouldn’t just stand around now, we can’t place all our hopes on the sporadic goodwill of the Human Race. Quickly gather the most promising of our tribe’s younger generation and place them temporarily in lakes that are isolated from the outside water. As for the issue of the strange talisman, I will consult with my fellow tribesman again.”
“Yes.”
Having received their orders, the Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately dispersed to carry out the rescue.
Lanye looked at the majestic ancient temple and sighed.
After the Human Race’s meddling, that the vitality of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe would be greatly damaged was certain.
But how severely it would be damaged would depend on whether his older tribal brother was willing to leave his seclusion.
Lanye’s older tribal brother was named Tun Sheng, a catfish spirit at the Great Perfection Realm of Core Formation, and also the strongest being in the downstream areas of the Ming River, just one step away from reaching Nascent Soul.
Tun Sheng had been in seclusion for years, striving to reach Nascent Soul.
It was now a crucial moment, so his unwillingness to leave his seclusion was understandable.
For the entire Ming River Aquatic Tribe, Tun Sheng’s advancement to Nascent Soul was more beneficial than the younger generation of the past ten or so years.
Because even with two hundred years’ worth of younger generations, it was not certain that one would reach Nascent Soul.
But after hearing Jiang Cheng’s words, Lanye now leaned toward asking his older tribal brother to intervene.
In the ancestral temple, Lanye bowed deeply to a human-shaped stone statue.
“Older tribal brother, there are several questions that Lanye would like to ask you for your advice.”
After he finished speaking, the entire ancestral temple fell silent.
But Lanye kept his posture, bowing deeply as if he was frozen in place.
Time passed, possibly a whole day and night or two entire days and nights, and Lanye sighed softly.
He knew that Tun Sheng did not wish to deal with him, and that continuing to bow was not a solution.
He simply straightened up and turned to leave.
However, just as he was about to step out of the ancestral temple, a deep voice came from behind him.
“Speak.”
Lanye turned his head to see that the stone statue had shed its dust and transformed into a human form.
It was a plump Taoist with kind eyes and a benevolent smile.
He was none other than Tun Sheng, the strongest being of the Aquatic Tribe in the downstream waters of the Ming River!
Lanye quickly bowed and said, “Older tribal brother! The Human Race seeks to hunt and kill our tribe’s younger generation with potential. Are we going to do something about it or not?”
Tun Sheng squinted his eyes, not directly answering Lanye’s question, but said, “Lanye, in this lifetime, are you confident in achieving Nascent Soul?”
Lanye’s palms sweated as he replied, “Lanye is incompetent, without confidence.”
Tun Sheng answered, “Without confidence, one must intervene.”
“Elder cousin, then you…”
“I also do not have full confidence in achieving Nascent Soul, so I, too, must intervene.”
Tun Sheng propped himself up, jumped down from the ancestral temple’s altar, and walked towards the outside of the temple.
Lanye stood at the doorway of the ancestral temple as two fish brushed past each other.
Suddenly, Lanye turned around and called out to Tun Sheng.
“Elder cousin, there is one thing I do not understand, please enlighten me.”
Tun Sheng stopped his departing steps, turned around and looked at Lanye, “Speak.”
Lanye repeated what Jiang Cheng had said and asked, “Elder cousin, should we, as Jiang suggested, respect each fish’s own desires? Not to interfere too much with their choices?”
Tun Sheng said, “If you truly don’t want to interfere, why did you call for me?”
“I am not certain.”
Tun Sheng shook his head, “Lanye, you are bewitched. Why do you think the Human Race is strong?”
Lanye cautiously replied, “Because of their prodigies?”
Tun Sheng continued to shake his head.
“Due to their vast population?”
Tun Sheng continued to shake his head.
“Favored by fortune?”
Tun Sheng sighed and said, “I told you to read more history before, but now it seems you have not. Alright, I will just tell it straight. Thousands of years ago, the Human Race was but a sudden, small clan, when dragons and phoenixes competed for supremacy, at their most vigorous. Do you know what the Humans did then?”
“Struggled to become stronger?”
“The Dragon Clan has the surname ‘Silver.’ Back then, to steal the Dragon Clan’s bloodline, the Humans did not hesistate to have their women endure hunger and reshape their bodies, even to the extent of scraping their bones. Do you think this was voluntary for those women?”
Hearing this, Lanye was suddenly at a loss for words.
Tun Sheng sighed and said, “The power of the Human Race does not come from being adept at respecting others, quite the opposite, actually. However, now that the Human Race is at its peak, many indecent things are hidden within their towering buildings and under their glamorous clothes.”
“Elder cousin, I understand,” Lanye said, his eyes bright with the insight of someone on the verge of a breakthrough in cultivation.
Tun Sheng nodded, “Even if we don’t consider the history of the Human Race, simply applying their experiences to the Aquatic Tribe is entirely unworkable. Our Aquatic Tribe has been weak for years, and our only strategy for now is to bide our time, waiting for the right opportunity. Not to let things take their own course.”
“Elder cousin’s view is profound!”
Tun Sheng said, “Your realization is hard-earned, go and meditate to digest it. I will handle the next steps.”
Lanye reminded him, “Elder cousin, the Tongtian Sect insists that there is nothing wrong with the talismans, and I fear that even if you personally go, it won’t be very effective.”
“I am aware, I, Tun Sheng, am just a minor Core Formation cultivator, insignificant as an ant before the Tongtian Sect. However, the Human Race wields a complex web of power, and those capable of dealing with talismans and relations with the Aquatic Tribe are not limited to the Tongtian Sect alone.”
Xiang State lies at the heart of Liang Kingdom, with abundant mountains and rivers. Although Wuyue is not the capital of Xiang State, due to its central location in Xiang State, between two mountains in a valley, it is convenient for stationing troops and preparations for war.
Therefore, the military headquarters of Xiang State and the office of General are established in Wuyue.
And Qi Huangyi, the General of Xiangzhou, is one of the few in Wuyue to have achieved Core Formation.
It is rather amusing, Qi Huangyi is not of a military background, nor does he understand anything about training troops or warfare. His appointment as General is merely because of his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation.
The foundation of the Liang State Court cannot compare to the Immortal Sect; any Core Formation cultivator coming from the court must be placed in a critical position.
So Qi Huangyi quite absurdly became the General.
Fortunately, in times of peace, without need for military action, it does not really matter who the General is.
Qi Huangyi, after inspecting the barracks, had just returned to his residence when a Qi Cultivator rushed to him in a hurry.
“General, the Lord Prefect has an urgent matter and requests your presence immediately!”