Marquis Chu Yu's Scheme

On the Origin Continent, within the Skypeak Ice Field, lay a vast territory known as the Black Sky World. For endless ages, this place had been shrouded beneath an immense expanse of black clouds. The area covered by those black clouds was so vast that it nearly matched the territory of an entire second-rate nation like Yu Country or Food Country.

"Luo He?"

Deep within the black clouds, a winged figure was hidden.

"This Luo He is quite bold. He should have guessed that a God King stood behind that exotic beast, yet he still refused to show me any respect?" The winged figure pondered. "The Marquis Chu Yu he follows is a newly promoted First-Class Marquis! Competition among the First-Class Marquises of the Di Chu Lineage is brutal. It will not be long before Luo He is beset by trouble."

"I'll make my move when a suitable opportunity arises." Having lived for endless ages, the winged figure had become increasingly cautious in his actions.

Those who reached the peak of the Chaos Realm could retain their complete memories even through reincarnation.

Even he was unwilling to make a powerful enemy lightly.

Yet he knew very well that, at a crucial moment, a little secret manipulation could drive certain experts into desperate straits.

"I secretly enslaved this exotic beast. It has never been made public."

"This time, after the exotic beast exposed itself, I also concealed the karmic threads with a secret technique. Across the entire Origin Continent, only a handful could trace it back to me..." The winged figure mused. "Emperor Qing of the Yan Feng Ancient Nation and the current emperor, Di Fu—both are skilled at investigating karmic threads and could uncover my identity."

"However, the Sky Tune Mine I targeted lies within territory controlled by the Di Chu Lineage. Di Chu would not go so far as to ask Emperor Qing and Di Fu for help over such a minor theft."

Long ago, the winged figure had also been a Chaos Realm guest elder of the Yan Feng Ancient Nation. In that era, he had even been an existence at the level of Chaos Realm Transcendence.

Later, after becoming a God King, his strength naturally grew ever deeper, and he left the Yan Feng Ancient Nation.

Many God Kings established their own nations or factions. They all believed themselves strong enough to stand firm in this world, and extraordinarily difficult to destroy. Sitting Mountain Guest had once believed the same—that he possessed more than enough strength to protect himself and could handle most dangers on the Origin Continent. He had never expected the Food Country Lord to act with such utter recklessness.

"The Yan Feng Ancient Nation and the Thunder Ancient Nation occupy the core regions of the entire Origin Continent, monopolizing nearly every kind of treasure. What does it matter if I take a tiny portion? After all, these are rare treasures nurtured by heaven and earth." The winged figure thought, "The other exotic beasts have not been exposed for now."

"Buzz."

The winged figure merged into the endless black clouds. Those boundless black clouds were where his true body resided.

Within the entire Black Sky World blanketed by black clouds lived countless cultivators and countless exotic beasts. Whenever a Chaos Realm exotic beast was born, he would quietly enslave it, then send it to the Two Great Ancient Nations to steal Heaven and Earth Treasures.

Chu Capital, Chu Yu Marquis Estate.

"Brother Chu Yu." Luo Feng informed him of the mission's details.

Di Chu Yu frowned slightly after listening. "This Chaos Realm exotic beast was never recorded in the intelligence reports. It was likely captured and enslaved soon after it was born. I wonder who its master is."

"Anyone daring to send an exotic beast into the Yan Feng Ancient Nation to steal Heaven and Earth Treasures is either powerful enough not to fear investigation by our Di Chu Lineage, or an expert within our imperial clan." Di Chu Yu understood clearly that the ones who stole the most treasures were the many marquises within the imperial clan.

The competition among the marquises was intense. If they could not obtain enough resources through competition, they would start entertaining crooked thoughts.

"Being able to uncover the exotic beast's detailed identity means your mission was already a success." Di Chu Yu smiled. "As for the rest, there is no need for you to concern yourself with it. Whether the one behind the exotic beast is a marquis of the imperial clan or some Ancient Existence, neither is something you should interfere with."

Luo Feng nodded. "After that exotic beast died, it left behind no Weapon Secret Treasures, only some Tianqu Stone Essence."

With a wave of his hand, piece after piece of Tianqu Stone Essence half the height of a person appeared, along with a pile of Tianqu Stone Essence granules.

"There are twenty-three pieces of Tianqu Stone Essence in total, along with some fragments," Luo Feng said.

"That exotic beast likely handed over some of the stolen Tianqu Stone Essence to its master at regular intervals." Marquis Chu Yu glanced at it. "There are slightly more than twenty-three pieces, worth over twenty-three thousand merit points. Keep them. All spoils from carrying out a mission belong to you."

Luo Feng nodded and put them away.

Merit points in the Yan Feng Ancient Nation were extremely valuable, and Universe Sand could not be exchanged for merit points.

From what Luo Feng understood, a complete piece of Tianqu Stone Essence required one thousand merit points to exchange for. Buying one outside cost nearly three hundred million Universe Sand. That price fluctuated, since Tianqu Stone Essence offered for sale was exceptionally rare.

"By the way, I made some inquiries about the materials from perfect-level Chaos Layer creatures that you need," Di Chu Yu said. "Our Yan Feng Ancient Nation should have seven of them. Six are in the hands of God Kings, while one is in the hands of Wu Huang Marquis. Wu Huang Marquis belongs to Emperor Wu's lineage... and his relationship with our Di Chu Lineage is very poor."

"I'll need to put more thought into this. It will probably take quite some time to obtain materials from those Chaos Layer creatures." Di Chu Yu also found the matter difficult.

"If we can't get them, then forget it. There's no need to force it," Luo Feng said.

Because the first tribulation of the Eight Tribulations Lifeform contained no record of a Transformation Method, Luo Feng needed to continuously improve one on his own. He had made considerable progress in the aspect of Life Spirituality, but Luo Feng had also realized...

The Chaos Layer creatures he had captured possessed life structures that were still too simple, with relatively low upper limits. Yet deducing more profound life structures from nothing was far too difficult.

Naturally, Luo Feng hoped to obtain some more perfect Chaos Layer creatures and study the composition of their lives.

But from the looks of it, even Di Chu Yu found obtaining them difficult.

"Take it slowly." Di Chu Yu smiled. "I have only been a First-Class Marquis for a short time. In the future, I'll make more and more friends, and there will be a way. There are seven perfect-level Chaos Layer creatures in our Yan Feng Ancient Nation. I refuse to believe that I can't obtain even their materials."

Di Chu Yu understood clearly that the thirty epochs after reaching the Chaos Realm were a protection period, with no mandatory missions. It gave him sufficient time to grow.

Once the protection period ended, he would face the same competitive environment as the other six First-Class Marquises. Then, he would need the help of Luo He Guest Elder.

Time passed, and Luo Feng had already spent more than three epochs in the Chu Capital.

He focused wholeheartedly on comprehending the inheritance of the first tribulation of the Eight Tribulations Lifeform. The inheritance was as vast as an ocean. Luo Feng absorbed its knowledge while constantly attempting to improve his Transformation Method.

Within an elegant pavilion, Marquis Chu Yu sat facing a woman clad in crimson armor.

"Marquis Chu Yu, rest assured. As long as the North Sea Beast Forest is placed under my control, I will definitely help you obtain the materials from perfect-level Chaos Layer creatures that you need." The crimson-armored woman smiled brilliantly, brimming with confidence.

"Of course I trust the Refining Jade City Lord's promise." Marquis Chu Yu smiled. "Before long, the Refining Jade City Lord should receive the appointment."

The crimson-armored woman and Marquis Chu Yu drank and chatted together.

A moment later.

"Hm?" The woman in crimson armor revealed a delighted expression. She had received a mission issued by the royal family, assigning her to oversee the North Sea Beast Forest for ten thousand epochs.

Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately accepted the mission.

"Chu Yu Marquis truly keeps his word." The woman in crimson armor immediately rose. "I'll go ask my royal father right away! Within three days, I will definitely bring you the materials you need."

Chu Yu Marquis stood as well. "I'll have to trouble the Refining Jade City Lord."

Besides the God Kings of the royal lineage, the Yan Feng Ancient Nation also had some guest God Kings. These guest God Kings had completely integrated into the Yan Feng Ancient Nation and had even been granted territories. Even their clans and descendants had multiplied within the Yan Feng Ancient Nation.

The father of this Refining Jade City Lord was Sky Capital King, who had been granted a territory by the Yan Feng Ancient Nation.

The Yan Feng Ancient Nation had no regard for ordinary God Kings, and those ordinary God Kings were not qualified to obtain territories within the Yan Feng Ancient Nation.

Sky Capital King was a Direct Disciple of the Yan Feng Ancestor. He addressed the Emperors as fellow disciples and was an extraordinary existence.

The Refining Jade City Lord... was the only one among Sky Capital King's many children to reach the Chaos Realm. However, the Yan Feng Ancient Nation was governed by the thirteen Emperors, with the first-class marquises of the royal family handling affairs. Guest God Kings had no authority to interfere.

"An Ancient Existence capable of searching an entire Chaos Layer and capturing a perfect Chaos Layer creature would either be an Emperor or someone on Sky Capital King's level." Chu Yu Marquis also felt that this had not been easy. "After plotting for so long, it has finally succeeded."

Chu Yu Marquis trusted the Refining Jade City Lord's promise.

Whoosh.

Chu Yu Marquis left the pavilion with his subordinates, among whom were two Chaos Realm cultivators. The Yan Feng Ancient Nation also had some relatively ordinary Chaos Realm cultivators. They would do everything they could to draw close to first-class marquises in pursuit of opportunities.

"Di Chu Yu!" A vicious voice rang out.

Chu Yu Marquis's expression changed slightly as he turned to look.

He saw two figures approaching with a group of subordinates.

"Di Chu Yu, both Chu Ji Marquis and I asked you to help us with this North Sea Beast Forest mission, yet you gave neither of us any face!" said an ugly figure covered in black fur. Lightning flowed through his eyes. "I guessed you were helping the Refining Jade City Lord. So it really was true."

"For more than three epochs now, I've been rather accommodating when it came to mission assignments. But this North Sea Beast Forest mission is very important to me." Di Chu Yu said, "I can't yield again."

"You've gotten rather bold." The black-furred figure let out a strange chuckle. Baleful energy rushed toward Di Chu Yu, making his heart pound with alarm.

Among the Seven First-Class Marquises, this Chu Yuan Marquis was a madman. As he possessed the bloodlines of both the Yan Feng royal family and the Lightning royal family, Chu Yuan Marquis had endured countless hardships and torments in his youth, which had made his temperament increasingly twisted and violent.

Chu Yuan Marquis was only close to Chu Ji Marquis, whose temperament matched his own.

"When you're weak, you should do things suited to the weak." The burly figure at the side looked at Di Chu Yu. "Do you think you deserve to take a King-Level Task?"

"We first-class marquises hold equal status." Di Chu Yu's expression was equally grim. "I yielded every previous King-Level Task and never claimed a single one! This North Sea Beast Forest mission... since I have never claimed one before, I naturally have priority."

"Priority?" The ugly black-furred figure angrily rebuked him. "We already told you to give it to us! You still dared to snatch it?"

Boom!

A terrifying wave struck Di Chu Yu's body and spread to the subordinates at his side. Even the two Chaos Realm cultivators beside him felt that terrifying might sweep over them.

The formation protecting this place of pleasure immediately emerged. Di Chu Yu was blasted backward into the formation, and the two Chaos Realm cultivators beside him were likewise hurled against it. The thunderous crash drew the attention of quite a few guests.

As for Di Chu Yu's ordinary attendants? They had long since been reduced to ash.

"Oops, I accidentally killed a few of your attendants." The ugly black-furred figure gave a strange laugh. "I'll probably be fined a few thousand merit points? Hahaha, fine me however you like."

"This time is just a warning."

"Next time, I won't be so gentle." The ugly black-furred figure turned and left.

Chu Ji Marquis, standing nearby, also cast a cold glance at Chu Yu Marquis. "Di Chu Yu, you know Chu Yuan Marquis's temper! Behave yourself, and you'll suffer less. Otherwise, even I won't be able to stop him."

With that, Chu Ji Marquis left as well.

Di Chu Yu and the two Chaos Realm cultivators beside him all wore ugly expressions.

"My lord, are we just going to endure this?" One Chaos Realm cultivator with several tentacles could not help asking.

"Go back," Di Chu Yu said coldly, then turned and left.

The many guests in this place of pleasure were all people of some standing, but upon seeing the conflict between three first-class marquises, none dared to watch for long.

Two days later.

Di Chu Yu arrived at Luo Feng's cave residence.

"Brother Chu Yu." Luo Feng came out of seclusion to meet him.

"I've finally lived up to Brother Luo He's expectations." Di Chu Yu laughed heartily. "After plotting for three epochs, I finally obtained the materials from a perfect-level Chaos Layer creature."

As he spoke, Di Chu Yu took out a jade box and opened it. Inside lay a yellow feather, shimmering with an unusual radiance like precious jade.