Chapter 749 - 536: Household Slave and Wild Fox Zen (Part 2)

Chapter 749: Chapter 536: Household Slave and Wild Fox Zen (Part 2)

The true secret treasure is this Cloud-Stepping Flowing Clouds Chariot, which has nothing to do with the four Dragon Steeds attached to it.

Master Ling Xuan simply found it absurd to have an empty Cloud Chariot flying without any Spirit Beasts pulling it, so he arranged for four Dragon Steeds to pull the chariot for a majestic and luxurious appearance.

This raises a question: What kind of person is Master Ling Xuan, someone who loves gorgeous clothing, grand spectacles, and appears in women’s attire?

An intriguing person, indeed.

The Jade Scroll clearly states that this Cloud-Stepping Flowing Clouds Chariot is powered by the array within the carriage compartment, not consuming the cultivator’s spiritual power. It only requires Spirit Crystals for power supply and Divine Sense to guide its direction.

The Flowing Clouds Chariot is made from various rare materials, composed of talismans and arrays, with its highest escape speed reaching four thousand miles per hour, twice the speed of an average Golden Core’s escape speed, and two-thirds the average speed of a Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch!

That is its most significant reason for being called a secret treasure.

Other features like dust resistance, durability, solid defense, and the luxurious appearance important to Master Ling Xuan are just supplementary functions.

It differs greatly from the Secret Treasure Tunneling Armor Divine Decree Lu Qian currently holds.

The Tunneling Armor Divine Decree can be used for group travel, increasing the entire group’s escape speed by twenty to thirty percent. When used by an individual, it can make a Foundation Establishment escape speed comparable to a Golden Core, but it has little effect on a Golden Core user.

However, the Cloud-Stepping Flowing Clouds Chariot can carry a number of people entirely based on their body size—if they fit in the compartment, it could seat ten, but typically holds five or six adults comfortably.

On this basis, by consuming a large number of Spirit Crystals, the Cloud Chariot can achieve its maximum escape speed of four thousand miles per hour.

From this perspective, those four Dragon Steeds are indeed superfluous.

Even with their unique bloodlines and ability to chase the clouds, all four together can only barely approach the speed of a Golden Core.

If the Flowing Clouds Chariot utilized its full escape speed, it would be the carriage pulling the horses, not the other way around.

Thus, unless it’s for displaying grandeur, these Dragon Steeds have little use and can be temporarily kept in reserve.

At the maximum speed of four thousand miles per hour, the Flowing Clouds Chariot consumes about ten Spirit Crystals per hour.

At first glance, this might seem insignificant, but to travel twenty thousand miles across state commanderies would cost fifty Spirit Crystals, equivalent to sixty to seventy thousand Spirit Stones, which is indeed astonishing.

Of course, if one maintains a low cruising speed, the consumption will be much reduced.

Therefore, the focus of the Cloud-Stepping Flowing Clouds Chariot and the Tunneling Armor Divine Decree is completely different.

Lu Qian gently placed his hand on the Flowing Clouds Chariot, and immediately resplendent light erupted from the top of the chariot, with the Treasure Pearl shining brightly. He already had a plan in mind and was about to use this Cloud Chariot.

If a crucial moment arises, spending Spirit Crystals to achieve such high speed would be worth it, without sparing any expense.

At critical times, it can exert enormous strategic significance, enabling the fast, long-distance deployment of elite forces.

This kind of secret treasure beneficial for military campaigns was given away by Master Ling Xuan just like that; even with the identity of a Xuanwei Sect Golden Core Perfection, it’s impossible to be so generous. It must be due to the prior indications of Qiancheng Spirit Monarch.

Qiancheng Spirit Monarch, "Wild Fox Zen"...

Lu Qian’s thoughts raced, and through his conversation with Master Ling Xuan, he had a general understanding of the situation.

The leader of Cangzhou, the Xuanwei Sect, is not a monolithic structure but consists of several factions, mainly three.

The first is the "Household Slave" faction, composed of Spirit Seeds born within Xuanwei Sect, forming the strongest faction with two Nascent Soul Spirit Monarchs as leaders.

The other is "Wild Fox Zen," a mixed group mainly composed of external cultivators absorbed by Xuanwei Sect.

Lu Qian was slightly startled upon hearing this, but Master Ling Xuan laughed and said, "What’s so strange about that? Our Xuanwei Sect is a Primordial Spirit Major Sect with high status, commanding great influence in Cangzhou. When small sects’ talented disciples get a chance to join Xuanwei Sect, they could not be happier."

It turns out that besides their own Spirit Seeds, Xuanwei Sect periodically recruits talented disciples and young talents from all sects in Cangzhou, except for Spirit Beast Sect, Qinglian Sect, and Sikong Family.

As for whether this recruitment involves any coercion, Lu Qian was unsure. However, as people aim high, and water flows downward, even without any coercion, the mere open doors of Xuanwei Sect serve as a perfect enticement. As Master Ling Xuan says, how many talented visitors from small sects could resist such temptation?

Lu Qian couldn’t help but feel grateful that he had always hidden Wu Yan securely until she advanced to the Golden Core, fully binding her fate before unveiling her, otherwise, she might have been directly taken by Xuanwei Sect.

These external cultivators were quite numerous and naturally talented, quickly rising in power after joining Xuanwei Sect, becoming a significant and eye-catching part of the sect.

However, they’ve always been squeezed out by the "Household Slave" faction, so they huddled together for warmth, with fierce overt and covert battles between the two factions. Whenever Miaomiao Profound Monarch makes decisions, one faction would say left, and the other would definitely say right; one wants to go forward, the other naturally wants to go backward.

The leader of "Wild Fox Zen" is none other than Qiancheng Spirit Monarch.

Additionally, there’s a third faction, the "Hermits." This faction, led by an almost lifespan-ending Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch, strives to focus on cultivation without concerning itself with worldly matters, staying neutral in the "Household Slave" and "Wild Fox Zen" struggles.

They intend to focus solely on cultivation, with all others not seeking them out.

Unfortunately, ideals are lofty, but reality is stark; residing in the world of martial arts, how could one simply retire?

Hence, this faction is the weakest, with members often reluctantly joining either "Household Slave" or "Wild Fox Zen."

Currently, in Cangzhou, the rise of Yunshan Sect naturally attracted the attention of Xuanwei Sect.

This attention peaked when Yunshan Sect revealed the Celestial Spiritual Root Wu Yan and led various Golden Cores in boldly besieging Qiming Spirit Monarch.

Yunshan Sect’s migration to Qingzhou, with its rootless outsider status, delighted Qiancheng Spirit Monarch, who then sent Master Ling Xuan to extend goodwill, seeking an external alliance.

Understanding this, Lu Qian naturally was unafraid, accepting all offered gifts.

Sitting on the fence is inadvisable; neutrality often leads to quick demise. In the face of Xuanwei Sect’s internal strife, where Yunshan Sect is already regarded as outsiders by the "Household Slave" faction, the only choice is to accept the goodwill extended by "Wild Fox Zen."

Fortunately, Yunshan Sect also received cultivation and care from the Spirit Beast Sect, maintaining a degree of flexibility and confidence.

Observing the internal strife in Xuanwei Sect, Lu Qian felt a wave of emotion and confusion.

Yunshan Sect, having been founded not long ago, is developing rapidly with open avenues for advancement, everywhere lacking personnel for key positions, displaying a scene of vibrant and harmonious growth.

However, in the distant future, Yunshan Sect’s continuous growth could eventually reach a bottleneck, over hundreds or thousands of years... growing stagnant, with deep waters, many elders holding significant positions, while young talents struggle to make their mark, with upward pathways nearly blocked, and numerous factions arising with frequent disputes...

Unacceptable, Yunshan Sect must never become like this.

After the Pill Formation Ceremony, the immediate reform of Yunshan Sect should be placed on the agenda. There must be every effort to ensure Yunshan Sect remains vibrant.

Externally maintaining a progressive stance, internally stimulating motivation through reform.

Yet, that Miaomiao Profound Monarch might still be content with this status quo.

Using "Household Slave" today to suppress "Wild Fox Zen," lifting "Wild Fox Zen" tomorrow to belittle "Household Slave," achieving power balance and holding sole authority.

Being caught up in political maneuvering, thinking oneself skillful, ending up as nothing more than an old, stagnant figure.

By observing Xuanwei Sect’s situation and Miaomiao Profound Monarch’s actions, eventually, Yunshan Sect will surely replace it given time!

Ahem, of course, for now, let’s see what rewards Xuanwei Sect has conferred...

As Lu Qian unfolded the reward scroll, eager to see clearly, Lin Le, who had just left, hurriedly returned.

"Sect Leader, the envoy from Jiyang Manor in Xinghu County has arrived, and they’ve brought a letter from Master Kan Yuan!"

Lu Qian received the letter, indeed perceiving Kan Yuan’s Golden Core aura on it. As he opened it and glanced, his gaze suddenly froze.

On that paper were speckles of bloodstains, blooming like plum blossoms.