Chapter 181 137: Yunze Secret Realm, A Dilemma
"Talisman Master Wei, you must have also received an invitation to the clan's Foundation Establishment meeting. Why don't we go together?"
Si Qing extended the invitation.
Wei Tu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
'He usually avoided traveling with beautiful women from the Cultivation Realm like Si Qing to avoid attracting envy and resentment.'
The two traveled together and arrived at the Clan Affairs Hall of the Hee Mountain Huang Family.
By the time Wei Tu and Si Qing arrived,
most of the Hee Mountain Huang Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already gathered.
「Half a day later.」
The Foundation Establishment meeting officially began.
Just as Wei Tu had expected, the meeting was about the Yunze Secret Realm.
However, the details differed slightly from what Wei Tu already knew.
"One hundred and seventy years ago, True Monarch Wan Hai of Qingzhu Mountain came to our Ancestor and traded a piece of Purple Thunder Wood for six slots to enter the Yunze Secret Realm."
"But unexpectedly, decades ago, Qingzhu Mountain clearly sided with the Chisong Jia Family during the war between the Jia and Zhao families."
"This time, with the Yunze Secret Realm opening, the Ancestor predicts that Qingzhu Mountain will act against the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Secret Realm, and even... might let cultivators from the Chisong Jia Family join..."
The Hee Mountain Huang Family's Clan Leader, Huang Changshun, swept his gaze over the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present and said in a deep voice.
As his voice fell,
the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present looked at each other in dismay.
Wei Tu included.
Wei Tu had originally thought the Yunze Secret Realm would be an opportunity for him. After all, the cultivators entering the realm were all allies of the Hee Mountain Huang Family, so they wouldn't fight to the death inside.
But now, with the Chisong Jia Family added to the mix to muddy the waters, everything was different.
The danger within the Yunze Secret Realm would skyrocket.
"Therefore, for safety's sake, the Ancestor has decided to reduce the number of Huang Family Cultivators entering the Yunze Secret Realm this time from fifteen to seven."
"As for the remaining eight slots."
"I intend to sell some and gift the others to our esteemed Tributors."
At this, Clan Leader Huang Changshun's gaze fell upon Wei Tu, Yu Kui Master, and the others, his expression probing.
Seeing that the four Tributors didn't reply,
Clan Leader Huang Changshun stroked his beard and smiled. "The Yunze Secret Realm teleports you randomly. The danger isn't that great. It's just that for the sake of our clan's inheritance, we dare not take the risk."
"The Chisong Jia Family is the same. It's impossible for them to send all their elites into the Yunze Secret Realm. At most, they'll send one or two Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Besides, True Monarch Wan Hai has his own descendants and disciples; he won't give all these slots to the Chisong Jia Family."
Hearing this, the expressions of Wei Tu and the other three Tributors relaxed slightly.
"May I ask the Clan Leader, what is the price for a slot to enter the Yunze Secret Realm?"
Wei Tu pondered for a moment, not directly answering Clan Leader Huang Changshun's question, but instead asking one of his own.
This time, the Yunze Secret Realm was much more dangerous than before, but if handled well, it wasn't impossible to survive and obtain even greater rewards than previous explorers.
Crisis. Within every danger lies an opportunity.
'Have the heart for brave advancement, but act with the caution of one walking on thin ice.'
As for whether to enter the Yunze Secret Realm—
Wei Tu believed he first had to gather intelligence and weigh the risks before making a decision.
"Each slot, two thousand Spirit Stones," Clan Leader Huang Changshun gave the price.
The price of this slot was undoubtedly much lower than the price one hundred and seventy years ago.
But—
times have changed.
In previous ventures into the Yunze Secret Realm, few people died.
This time, that was no longer a guarantee.
"Clan Leader, could you give me three years? After three years have passed, I will give my reply."
Wei Tu said, cupping his hands.
He planned to first tell Kou Hongying and Fu Zhizhou about this matter, discuss it with them, and then decide whether to enter.
Although two thousand Spirit Stones was expensive,
it was nothing compared to the opportunities within the Yunze Secret Realm.
"You may." Clan Leader Huang Changshun looked deeply at Wei Tu for a few moments, then nodded.
He added, "Talisman Master Wei, these slots will only be put up for sale after five years. If you wish to secure them with your friends, it would be best to decide within these five years."
"Yu Kui Master, Array Master, Artifact Master Xia, what are your decisions?"
Clan Leader Huang Changshun asked again.
As his voice fell,
Artifact Master Xia was the first to speak, stating his refusal to enter the Yunze Secret Realm.
Yu Kui Master and the Array Master hesitated for a moment, then gave the same answer as Wei Tu, saying they would decide in three years.
...
After leaving the Clan Affairs Hall, Yu Kui Master walked beside Wei Tu, revealing his desire to team up.
"Talisman Master Wei, you're a Talisman Master with plenty of Talismans, while I'm a Puppet Master with many Puppets that can serve as cover..."
"If we combine our strengths, we would be a relatively strong team in the Yunze Secret Realm."
Yu Kui Master said with a smile.
'Although the Yunze Secret Realm teleports you randomly, once inside, it's not difficult to regroup using Talismans.'
"What you say makes sense, Fellow Daoist Yu. However, I won't be going to the Yunze Secret Realm alone. I'll have to ask my companions if they agree to you joining us."
Wei Tu shook his head and said seriously.
"Then I will await Talisman Master Wei's good news." Yu Kui Master laughed heartily, gave Wei Tu a cupped-fist salute, and returned to his own courtyard in the Sacrificial Hall.
He also wanted to find a few close friends to form a team like Wei Tu, but unfortunately, not long after he achieved Foundation Establishment, all his friends had passed away.
And he was left all alone.
...
After returning to Talisman Heart Residence, Wei Tu didn't hesitate. He immediately wrote letters and sent them to the Qiyue Zhao Family and Jingshui Pavilion to inform Fu Zhizhou and Kou Hongying of the matter.
「Half a year later.」
「Tiansheng Tower, Nanhang City.」
Four years after they had last seen each other, the trio met again.
"Zhizhou, Hongying."
"What are your thoughts?"
"Should we enter the Yunze Secret Realm this time, or give up?"
Wei Tu asked.
"There will be Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Yunze Secret Realm. The danger is too great..."
Fu Zhizhou was the first to shake his head. "If the three of us were at the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment right now, entering this Yunze Secret Realm would be feasible. But since we're only at the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, it's too risky."
Wei Tu nodded, agreeing with Fu Zhizhou's view.
He said, "I also think it's too dangerous for the three of us to enter the Yunze Secret Realm. The reason I didn't immediately refuse Huang Changshun... was because I was thinking of Hongying..."
As he spoke, Wei Tu looked at Kou Hongying. "I wonder if Hongying has any close fellow disciples? If we go forward, we could follow their lead and enter the Yunze Secret Realm together. If we back out, we can use me as a bridge to the Hee Mountain Huang Family, sell this information, and earn a favor."
"Fellow disciples?" Kou Hongying was startled. She thought for a moment, then said pensively, "I wonder if my master would work? She is a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and happens to be looking for an opportunity to condense her Golden Core..."