Chapter 265: Escalating Conflict
Su Yan sneered, the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth appeared at his side, its body shrinking to the size of a palm, transforming into a pitch-black blade that shot straight toward Cao Cangfeng’s face.
Cao Cangfeng’s expression changed slightly, not expecting Su Yan to confront him so directly.
Scales appeared on his arms, pitch-black and ferocious, with azure flowing light at the edges like swimming snakes, and he punched at the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth.
A clear clang rang out, Cao Cangfeng’s body shook, and the arm that blocked it went numb.
However, the next moment he heard a cracking sound, and the armguards were actually bitten off a large chunk by the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth.
His face darkened, and he immediately struck at the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, but before he could attack, he was blocked by a streak of Silver Radiance.
“Nine Peaks Sect has quite the audacity, saying exchanged items are unavailable just like that. Pass my order: cut off all supplies of Healing Blood Pills and Meridian Nurturing Pills. Beast King Sect’s resource mobilization is limited, and our current stock is also depleted.”
A clear and cold voice transmitted over, unhurried yet making one’s heart sink.
Cao Cangfeng turned his head, his face suddenly turning ashen: “Shui Manyi!”
Shui Manyi gracefully walked toward Su Yan, standing at his side, and smiled: “If you want to exchange for things, why not come find me? It saves others from thinking that within Wangtian Pass, Nine Peaks Sect is calling the shots and fighting Demonic Sects alone.”
Veins bulged at Cao Cangfeng’s temple, his knuckles turning white, the anger in his chest forcibly suppressed, his face extremely ugly.
Out of personal grudge, he planned to hold up the Poison Dragon lineage’s people.
But this woman Shui Manyi directly cut off supplies of several critical pills.
This was different from what Su Yan was exchanging for; Su Yan’s items were all for cultivation, so holding them up a bit wouldn’t cause major issues.
But what Shui Manyi cut off were all healing and treatment medicines, mostly first and second-order pills, which were the most needed by Body Tempering Realm and True Intent Realm Martial Artists—a cutoff would mean deaths.
At this moment, Cao Cangfeng was in a dilemma, his face growing even uglier: “Shui Manyi, you’re joking about the Great War.”
“Who’s the one joking.”
Shui Manyi spoke unhurriedly, pressing Cao Cangfeng step by step.
Tap tap tap
Urgent footsteps approached, and a Spirit Nurturing Realm young martial artist stumbled over in haste.
“It’s here, it’s here, Nine Peaks Sect’s supplies have arrived.”
The voice broke the stalemate.
Zhao Zhong kicked that person in the butt and cursed: “Why didn’t you deliver it earlier? Where were you?”
He immediately switched to a smiling face: “Please calm down, esteemed True Persons. The supplies just arrived; this lowly one will go count them first to check if it’s enough. If not, we’ll make further plans.”
Cao Cangfeng snorted coldly: “Go.”
He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave; this dispute had cost him face, and he wouldn’t let it end like this.
Zhao Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly dragged his subordinate away.
In the private room, candlelight flickered, faint sandalwood lingered, Shui Manyi slightly swayed her deep purple skirt hem, leaning back in the chair, her body tilting toward Su Yan, contrasting his cold and stern demeanor.
She giggled, her eyes flowing like autumn water, teasing: “Should I call you Nephew Disciple, or Fellow Daoist?”
In the Cultivation World, strength reigns supreme; within sects, Dan Qiao Realm True Persons are generally addressed as peers. Unless the master-disciple relationship is close, seniority titles are rarely kept.
“Martial Uncle is joking.”
Shui Manyi said: “Long Qiushui truly got lucky, picking up a disciple like you for free. Just now, Cao Cangfeng suffered a hidden loss.”
Shui Manyi had sharp eyes; Cao Cangfeng’s third-order Spirit Artifact armguards were directly gnawed a large chunk by that Fierce Insect—without some time to nurture and repair them, the Spirit Artifact would be ruined.
This Nephew Disciple’s abilities were truly as rumored, incredibly hard to believe.
Su Yan smiled: “That was him asking for it.”
Shui Manyi asked curiously: “If I hadn’t come, what would you have done?”
“Press his head down and make him go to Nine Peaks Sect to get the items.”
Shui Manyi widened her eyes: “You truly fear neither heaven nor earth.”
“My Grandmaster is at Dharma Aspect Realm.”
Shui Manyi rolled her eyes at him: “You little rascal, so sly.”
Shui Manyi was a fox-like woman, completely different from Long Qiushui.
Chatting with Su Yan, she didn’t act like an elder at all, more like a swaying rose, drawing their relationship much closer.
With such a personality, it was no wonder she represented Beast King Sect in handling these exchanges.
She was truly interested in Su Yan, asking much about Cold Shadow Peak’s killings of Dan Qiao Realm cultivators.
About a quarter of an hour later, Zhao Zhong hurriedly arrived, presenting another storage ring with both hands.
With three million contribution points’ worth of resources in hand, Su Yan stowed them away, bid Shui Manyi farewell, and left Wangtian Tower.
He hadn’t gone far from Wangtian Tower when his mind stirred, sensing that there were still Blood Bees in the city.
“Nangong Hong Yue is also at Wangtian Pass?”
He showed a puzzled expression and followed the sensing to a guesthouse near the East Gate.
The guesthouse was seven stories tall, with winged eaves, vermilion-lacquered corridor pillars carved vividly, quite luxurious. Those coming and going were all martial artists, dressed splendidly with attendants front and back, somewhat like merchants.
Su Yan entered without heed to the waiter greeting him, went up to the third floor, and knocked on the private room door.
He didn’t conceal his aura, and after the knock, light footsteps came from inside.
The door creaked open, and Nangong Hong Yue’s eyes showed surprise: “Lord, you’re also inside Wangtian Pass?”
She welcomed Su Yan in; the room held only her, surrounded by a faint fragrance identical to her scent, clearly showing she’d stayed for some time.
“In the Righteous and Demonic Great War, though subordinate forces will be mobilized, Sacred Insect Merchant Guild and Red Moon Pill Workshop are not forces supported by our Beast King Sect.”
Nangong Hong Yue said: “We’re here not due to Beast King Sect’s conscription, but for business.”
Su Yan showed surprise, and seeing his expression, Nangong Hong Yue’s lips curved slightly, revealing a smile: “Does Lord still think Sacred Insect Dao is just small-scale operations?”
Sacred Insect Dao was the alias Su Yan had once used; after hearing from Jiao Yang Sou brothers, Nangong Hong Yue had grouped Sacred Insect Merchant Guild and Red Moon Pill Workshop under it, calling it Sacred Insect Dao.
The Sect Master was Su Yan, Elders were Nangong Hong Yue, Old Ancestor Bai Cang, and Yuan Ye—nine deacons: Jiao Yang Sou, Yang Kun brothers, Ding Meng, Wang Cang, Cai Peng, and from Fire Crow, Black Bear, Red Fox Tribe: Na Hu, Wuli Ke, Wu Yun, and Ling Yuer.
Under Nangong Hong Yue’s operation, Sacred Insect Dao now had over three thousand subordinate martial artists, though most were Body Tempering Realm, with few at Spirit Nurturing Realm.
Such a force already had the ability to control a county.
Surprise showed on Su Yan’s face; Nangong Hong Yue developing it to this extent in a few months truly exceeded his expectations.
“Such development must have been hard on you.”
Nangong Hong Yue’s heart rejoiced, her smile even brighter, whether due to Bloodline Gift or her already being subdued by Su Yan.
Gaining Su Yan’s approval was reward enough for her.
Nangong Hong Yue poured tea for Su Yan and softly said: “As long as Lord doesn’t blame me for acting on my own, it’s fine. Due to expansion, many origin stones and medicinal herbs went into pill refining. I used Blood Marrow Worms to control several second-order Pill Masters to aid Sacred Insect Dao’s development.”
“Such expenses are nothing.”
Su Yan didn’t mind these; as long as the force developed, later benefits would be greater.
Moreover, with his growing strength, materials for Fierce Insect metamorphosis and his own cultivation herbs were slowing in collection.
Nangong Hong Yue said: “Though expenses were high, with Qing Family’s betrayal and exterminating them, we gained quite a few benefits.”
Su Yan frowned slightly; the Qing Family betrayal was a significant blow to Beast King Sect’s prestige.
They had lain low for long, clearly three brothers but revealing only two. Through repeated schemes, using Yan Ying Sect, they moved away over half their main assets and personnel, leaving only decoys.
“Qing Family’s main branch in Southern Sky City?”
“Mm.” Nangong Hong Yue nodded, massaging Su Yan’s shoulders, her hands soft and slightly cool.
Su Yan showed a hint of surprise, then smiled.
Nangong Hong Yue continued: “What Qing Family left in Southern Sky City were only pawns, but their industry couldn’t run. We took the lead in the joint extermination and got the lion’s share, even taking several Spirit Sealers under our wing. Now Sacred Insect Dao is Southern Sky City’s top house.”
Rock Demon Ant swarms and Blood Bee swarms had now become Sacred Insect Dao’s material sources.
Nangong Hong Yue, Yang Kun, Yang Lun had Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust Bloodline Gift, equivalent to Heavenly Fiend Mother Queen physique, able to control Fiend Bees, Blood Bees, and bee insects for mutual breeding.
Large numbers of Blood Bees devoured beast blood to condense Blood Crystals as raw materials for refining Blood Yuan Pills, Blood Bone Pills, etc., keeping Sacred Insect Dao’s pill sales high.
Meanwhile, for Rock Demon Ants, Old Ancestor Bai Cang, Ding Meng, Cai Peng were all transformed by this bloodline, equivalent to Rock Demon Ant physique, below the Rock Demon Ant Queen but above the Rock Demon Ant Generals in the hierarchy, also with control ability.
Thus, endless Rock Ant Black Crystals became forging materials; whether Spirit Sealing Talismans, Spirit Sealing Artifacts, or sharp weapons, they became Sacred Weapon Path’s industries.
Some dead Rock Demon Ant corpses could even become pill refining materials.
These two Feral Beasts thus became Sacred Weapon Dao’s foundation.
Hearing this, Su Yan truly understood: Nangong Hong Yue had earned him such a massive industry.
Without using for expansion, just monthly origin stone income would likely exceed two hundred thousand origin stones.
Enough to support a regular Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist with plenty to spare, and most importantly, for resource collection.
“Spread the word: without hindering Sacred Insect Dao’s expansion, help me seek news of Blazing Purple Scorpions and collect materials for Seed Aperture Pills.”
“Good, I’ll order Yang Kun brothers right away.”
This was Sacred Insect Dao’s purpose; Nangong Hong Yue had prepared long ago.
She hesitated to speak, then said: “There are two more matters needing Lord’s instruction.”
“Speak.”
“I want to expand Blood Marrow Worm usage: above True Intent, all must be implanted with Blood Marrow Worms.”
Su Yan looked up at her, seeing her calm expression, and asked: “Why?”
“Blood Marrow Worms are both control means and ‘Inner Cores’ for refining bloodlines, able to boost subordinate strength. Moreover, the longer used, the more dependency and belonging it fosters, to varying degrees.”
Her tone was serious: “Sacred Insect Dao needs no second voice.”
She was planning ahead; Blood Marrow Worms differed from Bloodline Gifts, truly creating bloodline suppression from above.
But this threat and opportunity coexisted; daily reliance on Blood Marrow Worms to refine body qi and blood would strengthen dependency psychologically.
“Approved.”
Su Yan didn’t refuse; stronger control over subordinates benefited him more, and with Fierce Insects constantly strengthening, control would enhance, no worry of losing control.
“And the other matter?”
“Take Yanwu Mountain Range and the three tribes, place Sacred Insect Dao’s base there.”
Su Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly: “You think Beast King Sect is in the way?”
“No matter how convenient Southern Sky City is, it’s under Beast King Sect’s feet. They can allow one or two Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists, but not more, or allow a force that could produce Dharma Aspect Realm to emerge.”
Nangong Hong Yue hit the nail on the head: “Especially after the Qing Family incident, control over subordinate forces will only tighten.”
Su Yan pondered; Sacred Insect Dao centered on Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust branch’s Blood Marrow Worm control and Bloodline Gifts—its development was more like a secret society serving him specifically than a sect.
Growing to a certain extent would indeed draw Beast King Sect interference.
And with his identity, handling their relationship was tricky, at least short-term.
“How have Wuli Ke, Na Hu, Ling Yuer been lately?”
“Very obedient.”
Nangong Hong Yue’s lips curved up slightly, then she said: “Demonic Sects are attacking fiercely; though the three tribes don’t fully belong to Hundred Caves Witch Sect, they’re implicated, and tribal forces have suffered. Now targeted by Tianshui Sect, Tieying Sect, and Huoyun Sect, gradually oppressing the three tribes. This opportunity was proposed by Ling Yuer.”
“Hm?”
Su Yan showed surprise: “How so?”
“Yu Luo Old Ancestor was severely injured by Tianshui Sect Sect Master; though not dead, her injuries won’t heal soon. And she’s not young; if she can’t break through, likely…”
Lifespan nearing end, plus heavy injuries—almost certain death.
Though Ling Yuer was already at half-step Dan Qiao, breakthrough was no easy feat.
For now, her only way to save Yu Luo was that miraculous Blood Marrow Worm.
If a stronger Blood Marrow Worm were used for blood essence refining, it would surely aid injury recovery.
With this move, she sold out all three tribes.
But among the pushers, there might be tacit approval from Na Hu, Wuli Ke, Wu Yun.
If the three tribes were taken, they’d naturally become the leaders, perhaps attaining power like Wang Cang and others.
That was Innate Martial Body, even if granted later—a priceless treasure.
As long as it passed down, tribal prosperity was imminent.
And they only needed to offer loyalty.
He lightly tapped the table, then said: “How many Dan Qiao Martial Artists in Tianshui Sect, Huoyun Sect, Tieying Sect?”
“Four Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists; Tianshui Sect Sect Master and Deputy Sect Leader take two. But if I, Bai Cang, Yuan Ye act, we can take them down. However, to capture the three tribes’ Tribe Leaders alive, Lord must act.”
Su Yan nodded upon hearing: “Then it’s settled. Arrange for Na Hu and them to respond, and I’ll act when the time comes. If obedient, granting each Tribe Leader Primal Blood isn’t impossible.”
