Ch. 2274Yuan Family (Seeking Monthly Votes and Subscriptions)
1. Key Plot Points and Events
- Return-to-Zen, a figure from the Yuan Family's secret realm, receives Yellow Earth Demon Venerable. He offers him a pot of Sixth Stage Longevity Brew and two Three-Jade Divine Essence Pills, persuading the demon to report to Lord Jinling about a proposed exchange.
- Yellow Earth is reluctant at first, but the wine and gifts win him over. Return-to-Zen states the transaction will occur later that month at the previous location.
- In the Jinling Secret Realm, Lord Jinling, Earth-Origin Demon Lord, Wasabi Demon Lord, and human sages Sage Lord Origin Tiger and Sage Lord Prayer-Smoke are gathered with the nervous Yuan Family patriarch (a Void Refinement cultivator).
- They discuss a faction that has been impersonating the Yuan Family during secret deals. With five Eighth Stage cultivators, they plan to ambush the impostors at the upcoming transaction.
- Yellow Earth arrives and confirms the meeting time and place. The group agrees to cooperate, with the human sages promising better terms, compensation, and additional reinforcements.
- After the humans leave, the demon lords speak privately. Jinling reveals that his subordinate Yun Li died (suspecting Yellow Earth), but he has placed his own spies behind Yellow Earth as a precaution.
- The human sages and the Yuan patriarch then speculate which faction could be impersonating the family. Unable to identify any known force, they conclude the culprit must be an outsider from a foreign faction, and decide to wait for the deadline to find out.
2. Character Developments
- Return-to-Zen: Shows loyalty and foresight, admiring his master's planning. He handles Yellow Earth skillfully, using alcohol and pills to secure cooperation.
- Yellow Earth Demon Venerable: Greedy and opportunistic, accepting bribes and openly pocketing the wine. His earlier report of Yun Li hints at hidden motives.
- Jinling Demon Lord: Cunning and calculating, keeping secrets (like the Eighth Stage treasures) even from his allies. He is cautious, having arranged double layers of surveillance.
- Sage Lord Prayer-Smoke & Sage Lord Origin Tiger: Pragmatic and strategic, willing to yield profits for a chance to capture the impostors and obtain rewards from Chi Tao Demon Immortal.
- Yuan Family Patriarch: Fearful and submissive, powerless among stronger cultivators, yet essential as a witness to identify the impersonators.
3. Significant Themes
- Deception and Identity Fraud: The core plot centers on an unknown force posing as the Yuan Family, leading to a trap. Trust is uncertain.
- Greed and Bribery: Yellow Earth's character is easily swayed by wine and pills, showing how material desires can influence loyalty.
- Political Intrigue Among Races: Demons and human cultivators form temporary alliances for mutual benefit, while still harboring private secrets and suspicions.
- Information and Misinformation: Plans are made based on incomplete knowledge; the true enemy remains unknown until the very end.
4. Character Interactions
- Return-to-Zen ↔ Yellow Earth: A master manipulator and a willing pawn; Return-to-Zen flatters and bribes Yellow Earth into carrying messages, while Yellow Earth greedily takes everything offered.
- Jinling Demon Lord ↔ Human Sages: Formal alliance with mutual promises, but each side retains hidden agendas. Jinling withholds details about his own secret treasures.
- Sage Lord Prayer-Smoke ↔ Yuan Family Patriarch: Reassurance and intimidation; Prayer-Smoke tries to calm the nervous patriarch while extracting information.
- Demon Lords (Jinling, Wasabi, Earth-Origin): Trust is fragile; Jinling reveals his suspicion of Yellow Earth but assures double surveillance, showing internal power struggles.
- Human Sages ↔ Yuan Family Patriarch: Cooperate to identify the enemy, but the patriarch has little say; he only provides a list of possible factions, highlighting his subordinate position.