Setting a Precedent

"That is likely the case. After all, it hasn't been long since they set foot in Yangseo Lake."

"Hmm?" Jekyeong recognized that Im Jeseong was one of the Cultivator Alliance members who had arrived with Sangcheong Sang-in, but he showed no outward sign of it, merely furrowing his brow. "I have no idea what you are talking about. So, what is your business with me?"

"As a newcomer to Yangseo Lake, I simply wished to pay my respects to the Dragon Lord of these waters."

"How peculiar. I am of the beast race, and you are of the human race. What need is there for us to exchange pleasantries?"

Despite Jekyeong's consistently cold and sullen demeanor, Im Jeseong maintained his faint smile.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"To be completely frank, we do not wish to make an enemy of you, Dragon Lord. While relations between the beast and human races are rarely warm, that does not mean we must inevitably be adversaries, does it?"

"We?"

"Yes. I belong to the Cultivator Alliance. And my father has recently been appointed to oversee the Yangseo Lake branch of the Alliance."

Jekyeong maintained his gruff facade, but internally, his mind raced as he analyzed the man's true intentions.

So this fellow is the son of Sangcheong Sang-in. If that is the case, his presence here must be at his father's behest.

Jekyeong let Im Jeseong's claims of not wanting to antagonize him or the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace go in one ear and out the other. Trust was built on actions, not words; there was no need to attach any real weight to the drivel spewing from the young man's mouth.

For all he knew, these sweet words were merely a deception to lower his guard, so they could swoop in the moment he relaxed to strip his scales and carve his flesh.

"With that, I shall take my leave for today."

Im Jeseong repeated his desire for a friendly relationship several more times, and before departing, he left behind a spatial ring as a gift.

Once Im Jeseong had completely vanished from his Divine Sense, Jekyeong inspected the spatial ring. Inside lay a third-grade fire-attribute spiritual herb: a Red-Pointed Ganoderma.

He put some thought into this.

The Red-Pointed Ganoderma was a classic nourishing spiritual herb. It significantly bolstered one's vital energy while purifying the Dharma Power within the body, making it a common auxiliary ingredient in various alchemical pills.

While it wasn't the most valuable among third-grade spiritual herbs, a third-grade herb was still a third-grade herb. Furthermore, its attribute was a perfect match for him, making it obvious that the gift had been carefully selected with him in mind.

Im Jeseong, Sangcheong Sang-in... Neither of them is ordinary.

Even though Jekyeong was a Flood Dragon and had hung the banner of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace over his head, there was actually no real need for Im Jeseong to initiate contact and offer gifts. No matter how powerful the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was, they were only revered as the Sacred Race among the beasts; to humans, they were ultimately just another group of beasts.

While Jekyeong held the banner of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, Sangcheong Sang-in held the banner of the Cultivator Alliance. Therefore, any clash between them would transcend a mere dispute between a Flood Dragon and a Golden Core cultivator, potentially escalating into a conflict between the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace and the Cultivator Alliance. Since neither Jekyeong nor Sangcheong Sang-in could bear the weight of such a consequence, a direct clash between them was highly unlikely to occur under normal circumstances.

But a probability was just a probability. Jekyeong did not underestimate the greed of humans, particularly cultivators. A cultivator's greed was synonymous with their pursuit of the Dao; for the sake of the immortal path, it was entirely natural for them to stop at nothing.

To humans, a Flood Dragon was a living treasure trove. Every single scale and drop of blood was a natural treasure with infinite uses.

In fact, Flood Dragons did occasionally vanish without a trace. Whenever that happened, the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace would react with violent fury, rampaging not only through the missing dragon's territory but even crossing into the borders of the nearest human territory. Though they lacked concrete proof, their suspicions were enough to justify venting their wrath.

In most cases, the humans would simply swallow their pride and endure it, knowing full well that it was a justified retaliation.

Knowing all of this, Jekyeong did not let his guard down just because the other party showed a friendly attitude.

I must strengthen the Island Protecting Grand Array further.

He would have Hyeongu look into it, and if that failed, he could consider purchasing a third-grade formation through the Yeongbu Merchant Group. Although he already had plenty of expenses draining his spirit stones, he fortunately had more than enough time to prepare.

The political restructuring within the human territory would not be settled in a day or two, and by the time it concluded, the Jansu Whale King and the Gakchung Clan would surely have reached some sort of consensus. Jekyeong was ninety percent certain of this.

No matter how passive the Gakchung Clan usually is, they must understand the principle that when the teeth are gone, the gums will be cold.

Originally, the Gakchung Clan had acted as the shadow rulers of the Yangseo Lake cultivation world. However, their ironclad status had been jeopardized when they were swept up in the sudden disaster originating from Muryangae. Fortunately, because both the human and beast races had been equally devastated by the catastrophe, their position remained unchanged despite the instability. But now, with the arrival of the Cultivator Alliance, they were facing yet another challenge.

Although it remained to be seen whether the humans would bare their fangs at the Gakchung Clan, the mere fact that their dominance was being threatened would undoubtedly displease them. Moreover, the Gakchung Clan was likely well aware of the nature of humans.

The Gakchung Clan has always favored maintaining a balance of power. This time will be no exception.

Jekyeong's prediction proved entirely accurate. Less than a month after his meeting with Im Jeseong, members of the Gakchung Clan poured out from the Jusong Sea Region.

They launched a surprise attack on the humans stationed at Jusongtan. The bewildered humans, having taken a beating out of nowhere, belatedly lodged a protest, but they were met with only a single, chilling response:

"These are our waters."

Strictly speaking, they weren't wrong. Jusongtan was technically half-situated within the Jusong Sea Region. However, the Gakchung Clan had always tolerated the human presence there until now. Why the sudden, aggressive stance? Some took this incident as a clear signal.

"Those bugs are remarkably quick-witted."

At the Yangseo Lake branch of the Cultivator Alliance, Sangcheong Sang-in furrowed his brow upon receiving the report regarding Jusongtan.

"Father, something is amiss. How could the Gakchung Clan react so swiftly?"

"Why else? Someone must have gone and run their mouth."

"Do you suspect the Myeongseomun Sect?"

"Perhaps. I cannot say for certain, but they are the most likely candidates."

The genial-looking old man's narrow eyes glinted with a cold light.

The incident at Jusongtan spread like wildfire throughout the human territory, leaving every human cultivator who heard it deeply unsettled.

No cultivator making a living in Yangseo Lake was ignorant of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Gakchung Clan's power. The higher their cultivation and the deeper their knowledge, the more acutely they understood just how terrifying that power truly was.

Some even claimed that if the Gakchung Clan had wished it, Yangseo Lake would have fallen entirely under their control long ago. Those in the know understood that this was by no means an exaggeration.

Just as an ominous atmosphere began to settle over the region, Sangcheong Sang-in personally led a contingent of Alliance cultivators toward the Jusong Sea Region.

There, he clashed with the Insect Mother of the Gakchung Clan, engaging in an earth-shaking, heaven-rending battle that lasted for five full days.

Though the battle ended without a clear victor, those who witnessed the five-day clash from afar caught a glimpse of the true might of the Insect Mother, who was tacitly acknowledged as the strongest entity in Yangseo Lake. Simultaneously, it forced everyone to reevaluate Sangcheong Sang-in, who had fought such a monster to a standstill.

To fight for five days without a decisive victor...

Je Rim-so, the Sect Master of Myeongseomun, wore a grave expression as he pondered the news that had traveled from the Jusong Sea Region and was now sweeping across the human territories of Yangseo Lake.

"This Sangcheong Sang-in's strength is truly extraordinary," lamented Sanghyo, a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator of Myeongseomun. As a native of Yangseo Lake who had recently formed his Golden Core, he was well-versed in the deeper secrets of the local cultivation world.

Among those secrets was the true extent of the Gakchung Clan's power—specifically, the cultivation level of the Insect Mother. One did not have to look far back; when the Yao King from Muryangae had invaded Yangseo Lake, the local cultivation world would have collapsed entirely had it not been for the Insect Mother. No one else could have faced that foreign Yao King head-on.

Yet now, this newcomer, Sangcheong Sang-in, had fought her for five days without a clear winner. This meant his cultivation had undoubtedly reached the late Golden Core stage.

"While we must certainly remain wary of his strength, there is no need to be overly disheartened," Je Rim-so said. "The Insect Mother was severely wounded in that past battle. Wounds of that caliber are not easily healed; she has likely not yet recovered her peak cultivation."

Only those who had personally experienced that past conflict knew just how devastating it had been. Although Je Rim-so had only played a supporting role from a distance, he had still felt the sheer terror and brutality of that clash.

"But Uncle, the news has already spread everywhere. Even those who were hesitant are gradually leaning toward the Cultivator Alliance. How much longer can we hold out?"

From the moment they realized the Cultivator Alliance's intervention was inevitable, Myeongseomun's strategy had been clear: leverage the support of local factions, hold out as long as possible, and force Sangcheong Sang-in to offer a compromise.

The Alliance's methods were always the same. They would compromise appropriately with resisting local factions while slowly expanding their influence, eventually taking deep root in the region. This was the classic strategy the Cultivator Alliance employed in most cultivation domains, a method deeply tied to the Alliance's very identity.

After all, the colossal and powerful entity known as the Cultivator Alliance was ultimately a coalition of countless individual factions. If the Alliance could easily crush smaller groups without consequence, the larger factions within it would naturally grow wary.

Thus, while the Alliance wielded its might ruthlessly against external enemies, it was always cautious and delicate when managing internal affairs. Since the Alliance had always adhered to this strategy as an ironclad principle, this time should have been no different.

Yet, while the two Golden Core cultivators of Myeongseomun were discussing their future, Sangcheong Sang-in—who was rapidly making a name for himself in Yangseo Lake—issued a decree as cold and unyielding as autumn frost.

Sangcheong Sang-in was a man of decisive action. Less than three days after declaring his intent to punish the three local sects and clans near Jusongtan, he apprehended thousands of cultivators.

Although the vast majority of them were released safely after a brief interrogation, the leadership was not so fortunate. Sangcheong Sang-in accused them of colluding with foreign races and loudly proclaimed that he would subject them to a Soul Search to uncover the full truth behind the Jusongtan tragedy.

A Soul Search! The two clans and the single sect naturally could not tolerate this. Subjecting a cultivator—especially the leadership of established local factions—to a Soul Search was tantamount to laying bare all of their deepest secrets.

They raged against the injustice, forming alliances with other factions they normally associated with to exert pressure on Sangcheong Sang-in. They reasoned that although Sangcheong Sang-in was a powerful Golden Core cultivator capable of fighting the Insect Mother, he was ultimately a representative of the Cultivator Alliance and thus could not afford to antagonize the local factions excessively.

But they were wrong. Dead wrong.

"What the Cultivator Alliance protects is the safety of the human race, not the business of shameless traitors!"

Sangcheong Sang-in did not yield to the pressure of the local factions. When he brandished the righteous cause of the human race as a weapon, none dared to oppose him. Whether they feared the righteous cause of humanity or the iron fist of a Golden Core cultivator, however, remained to be seen.

"This Sangcheong Sang-in... He is running wild far too early." Having returned from a highly lucrative venture, Ju-hyeong murmured with a peculiar expression as he received a report of the events that had transpired in his absence.

Sensing his mood, Sangpyeong quickly chimed in. "You are entirely correct, Chief. This Sangcheong Sang-in is merely a newcomer who has barely set foot in Yangseo Lake, yet he is already acting so high-handed. He will surely face a fierce backlash from the local factions soon."

"Hmm." Ju-hyeong neither agreed nor disagreed. At first glance, it certainly seemed that way. The cultivation factions of Yangseo Lake had built their foundations over hundreds of years, if not longer. Their deep-rooted influence was solid, not easily shaken by a passing seasonal wind from the outside.

Furthermore, did Sangcheong Sang-in not wear the mantle of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Cultivator Alliance? While that mantle appeared prestigious, it was actually a heavy shackle that restricted his actions. The factions currently condemning and pressuring him were relying precisely on those shackles. Otherwise, how would they dare raise their voices against a powerful Golden Core cultivator capable of fighting the Insect Mother?

"Is there such a thing as a foolish Golden Core cultivator?" Ju-hyeong mused. Rumor had it that Sangcheong Sang-in was over six hundred years old. Could six centuries of accumulated wisdom and experience truly be for nothing? Could he not have anticipated what these minor factions were thinking?

"Does that mean you believe Sangcheong Sang-in anticipated all of this, Chief?"

"The probability of that is surely higher than the probability of him being a fool, is it not?"

"Then... why would he do it?"

"Perhaps he wished to make an example of them, even at the cost of a clash, or perhaps..." Ju-hyeong trailed off. Sangpyeong looked eager to hear the rest, but Ju-hyeong fell silent. He had not yet fully organized his own thoughts.

Indeed. Why? Was he not being far too aggressive? The cultivation world was ultimately a place where strength ruled; even if Sangcheong Sang-in did not act so hastily, the balance of power would naturally shift in his favor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over time. Why rush so desperately? Whether it succeeded or not, such high-handed actions would inevitably draw the resentment of the local factions.

Resentment. Resentment, is it? A sudden thought flashed through Ju-hyeong's mind, and his eyes instantly cleared. Of course. If Sangcheong Sang-in deliberately engineered this situation to weed out those who harbor resentment against him, his intention is crystal clear. He is drawing a line between enemies and allies.

Once the loudest voices were weeded out, only the quiet, submissive ones would remain. If that was Sangcheong Sang-in's goal, then everything happening now made perfect sense. It seems the Cultivator Alliance has far different plans for Yangseo Lake than before.