265: Chapter 265 Behind the Scenes

Cangwu Kingdom, somewhere.

Deep within a palace where candlelight flickered, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Zhu Wutong sat high upon the primary seat, his face as dark as water. Behind his broad black jade throne, a monstrously shaped "Erosion Source Blood Tree" grew quietly, emitting an ominous red light. Its gnarled roots were buried deep into the ground, as if siphoning the Life Qi of the palace. A dark red halo flowed across its bark, reflecting off Zhu Wutong's face, making his expression shift between light and shadow.

His gaze swept over the several people standing below. The Sect Master of the Fenglei Sect and the Sect Master of the Danding Sect stood with their hands down, not daring to breathe loudly.

Beside them were several Cultivators with formidable Auras, their cultivation levels ranging from Void Tempering to Body Integration. These were all core figures planted or controlled by the Niding Alliance within the various Sects of Cangwu Province. Usually, they would not appear easily, but the current occasion was clearly very important.

Two people among this group were particularly conspicuous: one was as burly as an iron tower and as silent as a mountain; the other was a young man holding a folding fan, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"How is the cultivation of that Erosion Source Blood Tree in the Hu Kingdom progressing?" Zhu Wutong's voice carried a hint of impatience.

The Fenglei Sect Master hurriedly bowed. "Reporting to the Hall Master, everything is going smoothly! It will definitely mature within half a month. It will surely be ready before that damned 'Dingding Ceremony' in Cangwu City!"

Zhu Wutong nodded slightly, a sharp light flashing in the depths of his eyes.

"Two trees—one here, and one in the Hu Kingdom. Once the timing is right, we will use the vast Erosion Source power within them to nourish the main root of the Fallen Immortal Ancient Banyan that extends to this place. This will surely help it break free from the suppression of the wu tripod! At that time, the Alliance Leader will surely bestow rewards, and I can..."

A fanatical light flickered in his eyes.

"Hall Master,"

The youth with the fan seemed to see through Zhu Wutong's thoughts. He shook his head and spoke up. "That Sect Master of Moon Shadow Sect, Ling Hao... he is already a Mahayana Supreme! Even if we can get close to the wu tripod, what can we do? Nourishing the roots takes time. I fear that before we can even activate the blood trees to nourish the roots, we will be gone!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall fell silent, their faces showing intense dread. After Ling Hao underwent his tribulation in the Wanxian Dynasty, he suppressed Di Futian with a turn of his hand. If even Di Futian was like that, they—these Void Tempering and Body Integration Cultivators—were like ants before Ling Hao.

Zhu Wutong snapped out of his fantasy, his expression turning sour as he glanced sideways at the youth with the folding fan.

When the boss is picking up food, you spin the table; when the boss is fantasizing, you shatter it...

You fucking...

However, this was indeed his greatest concern right now.

He had originally planned to wait for the Erosion Source Blood Tree to mature and then request a tenth-level Undergoing Tribulation Elder dispatched from the Central Province Alliance to preside over the situation, launching the plan with thunderous force.

Who could have expected that Ling Hao would reach the heavens in a single step and Breakthrough to Mahayana! He even took the initiative to hold a Dingding Ceremony, which made his prepared plan exceptionally difficult, perhaps even impossible to carry out!

Because... they simply couldn't win!

Just then, a slight spatial ripple came from outside the palace doors.

Zhu Wutong looked up abruptly, the gloom on his face instantly replaced by wild joy. The heavy pressure within the hall also lightened.

The palace doors opened silently, and a figure stepped inside. The newcomer was tall, his features somewhat similar to Zhu Wutong's but more cold and arrogant. He wore a purple cloud-patterned robe, his hands behind his back, his gaze disdainful as if he regarded everyone in the hall as nothing.

His Aura radiated naturally, unfathomably deep.

"Welcome, Elder!"

Everyone in the hall immediately bowed and saluted, their postures incredibly respectful.

"Seventh Uncle!"

Zhu Wutong's face was full of excitement as he stepped down from the primary seat, his tone carrying obvious closeness and agitation.

This Elder was not only a strong reinforcement sent from Central Province, but also his Seventh Uncle from his own Family. With a cultivation at the tenth level of Undergoing Tribulation, he held a venerable position within the Family.

The matter of the wu tripod cracking would naturally not be told to outsiders; this was an Opportunity belonging to their Zhu Family!

Zhu Tianlu's gaze swept over Zhu Wutong, and he praised via voice transmission: "Wutong, you have done well. The original Cangwu Hall Master has fallen, and you have been able to take sole control of the Hall Master positions for both Cangwu and Fusang Provinces. Your methods are impressive."

The smile on Zhu Wutong's face grew even wider as he replied humbly via transmission:

"It is all thanks to the Family's cultivation and support; your nephew does not dare take the credit. There are many eyes watching this position."

He knew clearly in his heart that without the Family's influence within the Alliance, he could not sit securely in this position.

Zhu Tianlu nodded slightly and scanned the hall. "How is the situation? When do you plan to start the project?"

The joy on Zhu Wutong's face faded slightly, replaced by solemnity:

"Seventh Uncle, that Ling Hao... is very strange! He has already broken through to the Mahayana Stage! This plan... I'm afraid..."

"Mahayana? What a coincidence."

Zhu Tianlu raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling into a disdainful arc.

"But a mere Mahayana who luckily broke through in a remote place—what is there to speak of?"

His Aura suddenly exploded, and a terrifying pressure of celestial Divine Might instantly filled the hall, completely suppressing Zhu Wutong's fifth-level Undergoing Tribulation Aura! Everyone in the hall was terrified, nearly falling to their knees.

"I have also broken through the heavenly gate on this trip and achieved Mahayana!"

Zhu Tianlu's face was full of confidence as he said contemptuously,

"Furthermore, I have received a generous gift from the Alliance Leader: the true inheritance of an Immortal Art and the command of a Semi-Immortal Artifact! Not to mention that Ling Hao is only at the first level of Mahayana; even if he were a second-level Cultivator, I could still slay him!"

For a Cultivator who has broken through to the Mahayana Stage, each level is a massive chasm!

"Yes! Yes! Seventh Uncle's Divine Might is peerless!"

Zhu Wutong was wild with joy, agreeing repeatedly, his face glowing once more.

It truly was a case of finding a way out when all seemed lost!

Seventh Uncle breaking through to Mahayana, plus having an Immortal Art and a Semi-Immortal Artifact in hand—this was simply heaven blessing me, Zhu Wutong!

He calculated in his mind again. If this plan succeeded and helped the Fallen Immortal Ancient Banyan free its main root, then as the primary executor, the rewards he would receive would be enough for him to charge into the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation!

The fantasy from just now could come true!

Zhu Wutong immediately said:

"Seventh Uncle, the plan remains unchanged! Once the Hu Kingdom's Erosion Source Blood Tree matures, we will act immediately! At that time, I request Seventh Uncle to preside over Cangwu City and suppress the overall situation! I and the others will sneak underground to activate the two Erosion Source Blood Trees and nourish the main root of that ancient banyan!"

Zhu Tianlu waved his hand, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. He pointed at the Erosion Source Blood Tree on the primary seat and laughed,

"This tree was brought by you from Fusang Province, wasn't it?"

Zhu Wutong nodded.

"That's right. I was afraid one wouldn't be enough, so I brought the one from Fusang Province as well!"

He had been nurturing this tree all along, and now it was coming in handy.

Zhu Tianlu clapped his hands.

"Good. Let the timing be on the day of the Dingding Ceremony! But what you must do first is activate the Erosion Source Blood Tree in the Hu Kingdom, and activate this one behind your seat from Fusang Province as well!"

"I want you to stir up a massive Erosion Tide around Cangwu City!"

Zhu Tianlu's lips curled into a cold smile:

"Let these two Erosion Source Blood Trees feast upon this Erosion Tide banquet until they are full, and then, in their most satiated state, go and nourish the roots of the ancient banyan!"

"What Dingding Ceremony? It will be a Ding Shattering Ceremony! The wu tripod will be destroyed, and the ancient banyan will be freed! The light of the ancient banyan will shine upon the entire Three Provinces Realm!"