Chapter 690 A Call of "Lord

“Have you made your decision?”

“I’ve wanted to go have a look ever since I was the Vice Sect Leader of the True Yang Sect, but they guarded against me as if I were a thief. Perhaps they assume everyone’s thoughts are as filthy as their own.”

Ruan Chunzi grumbled for a moment before saying with great solemnity, “I beseech you, Lord, to grant my request!”

Wang Ping pondered this for a few moments before speaking. “Fellow Daoist, it seems you still can’t get over the True Yang Sect’s past actions. In that case, how about you join Daoist Hua Yun in managing the Star God Alliance’s logistics? That way, you’ll be in a better position to learn everything you want to know.”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Chunzi immediately straightened up and cupped his fist. “Thank you, Lord, for granting my wish!”

Yuan Zheng had already processed what was happening. He knew the two of them were discussing rare secrets, but this world was full of them, so he wasn’t particularly curious. He simply watched and listened in silence.

Just then, Wang Ping’s gaze fell upon him.

“And what are your plans?”

Yuan Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand. “I don’t have any requests. Things are quite nice as they are. I spend my days on Alchemy, drinking tea, and cultivating, with the occasional trip to enjoy the scenery.”

Wang Ping nodded calmly, not pressing the matter further. After taking another small sip of tea, he took a jade slip from his storage pouch and channeled his Wood Spirit to inscribe a letter of recommendation for Ruan Chunzi.

“Take this letter to Daoist Hua Yun. She will arrange everything for you from here.”

He handed the letter to Ruan Chunzi, adding, “If anything important comes up, you can use our internal Communication Token to contact me, or anyone else from the gathering.”

“My thanks, Lord!”

Ruan Chunzi accepted the letter with great solemnity. He then bowed and said, “In that case, I shall disturb you no longer, Lord. I’ll be on my way.”

He seemed to be in a great hurry.

“Very well.”

Wang Ping didn’t try to keep him.

Yu Lian watched Ruan Chunzi’s hasty departure, then glanced at the cup of tea he had barely touched. “What a waste of such fine tea,” she remarked.

Wang Ping reached out and gently stroked Yu Lian’s head.

Yuan Zheng, who was still there, suddenly felt the pressure mounting. He immediately bowed and said, “I’ll go check on Fellow Daoist Ruan Chunzi.”

Just as he was about to leave, he remembered Yu Lian’s comment. He quickly picked up his teacup and downed the still-scalding contents, only to hear Wang Ping say, “Stay and sit for a while longer.”

“Of course!”

Yuan Zheng’s eager demeanor instantly shifted back to one of composure, almost as if he were an actor on a stage.

Wang Ping ignored Yuan Zheng’s gaffe and said with a smile, “From this moment on, I will permit you to use any of Qianmu Temple’s resources to assist the members of our gathering. However, I have one small request.”

“I await your command!”

“I need them to monitor the Star God Alliance’s activities in their respective regions. Furthermore, they are to gather any and all information that could be detrimental to me.”

“Done.”

Yuan Zheng agreed without a moment’s hesitation. He knew that given Qianmu Temple’s current power and Wang Ping’s influence, the other members of the gathering would be more than happy to accept this arrangement.

“This must be done discreetly.”

“Understood.”

“Alright, that will be all.”

Yuan Zheng immediately rose to take his leave.

His current demeanor was quite similar to how he had been when Wang Ping first met him—somewhat restless. This time, however, his restlessness was born from pressure, not impatience.

“It’s a miracle he managed to advance to the Third Realm!”

Yu Lian made the remark while watching Yuan Zheng’s retreating figure, then added, “He must have benefited from your good fortune.”

Wang Ping just smiled.

Just then, he sensed two more familiar auras at the foot of the mountain—it was Dongcan and Wu Fu. He sent a telepathic message to the Guiding Disciples to let them pass, granting them special permission to fly up.

The two landed and stopped on the stone path, ten zhang away.

“Greetings, Lord!”

Wu Fu cupped his fist in salute.

Dongcan, on the other hand, fell to the ground in a full kowtow.

“Come and sit.”

“This disciple wouldn’t dare! This disciple only came to pay respects to the Lord!”

Dongcan remained kneeling as he spoke. He was likely adhering to the etiquette the Kongshan Association used when paying respects to the South Sea Taoist.

Wang Ping was somewhat amused. He waved his hand and said, “Then you are dismissed. Cultivate diligently, and don’t let your mind wander. You have a promising future ahead of you.”

“Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Lord!”

Dongcan rose to his feet and retreated with a respectful bow.

Wu Fu, however, walked forward and, at Wang Ping’s second invitation, sat down opposite him.

Wang Ping cleared away Yuan Zheng’s and Ruan Chunzi’s cups, brought out a new one, and filled it with tea for Wu Fu. “Please, have some tea,” he invited.

“Thank you, Lord!”

Wu Fu held the cup with both hands and drained it in a single gulp.

Yu Lian nodded in satisfaction.

Wang Ping smiled and asked, “Fellow Daoist, how many years have you been in the Southern Cultivation Realm?”

“Over three hundred years, I’d say.”

“Three hundred years… it truly passes in the blink of an eye.”

“Indeed. Nanlin Road has had many ups and downs over the years. It even produced an Emperor, though it’s a pity he ultimately failed to emulate the Xia Dynasty’s successful northern expedition.”

After saying this, Wu Fu chuckled. “The current Emperor is also from the south, but he has a far more skilled strategist backing him.”

The two seemed to converse quite freely, and Wang Ping gained a new perspective on Nanlin Road through Wu Fu’s eyes.

Before they knew it, Half an Hour had passed.

Wang Ping poured Wu Fu another cup of tea and asked, “Fellow Daoist, do you wish to advance to the Fourth Realm?”

“Yes. But I know that without the Star God Alliance’s approval, I cannot advance to the Fourth Realm. I hope that you, Lord, can make it possible!”

With that, Wu Fu stood, took a step back, and cupped his fist in a formal salute.

Wang Ping did not keep him waiting. He promised at once, “I will speak with the Star God Alliance and bring this up at the council meeting. However, are you certain you wish to advance?”

“Yes. I can no longer endure this endless slaughter, even if those I kill deserve to die. Advancing might bring about some kind of change… or perhaps it will bring an end to it all.”

“Are you confident?”

“No. In fact, my chances of a successful advancement are very low. But I want to try.”