Meng Zhang and Gu Yue Huaidie had been acquainted for many years, and there were extensive business dealings between Taiyi Sect and Gu Yue Family. Including Sect Master Meng Zhang, many members of Taiyi Sect had close friends and allies among Gu Yue Family members.

Meng Zhang's visit to Gu Yue Family this time was not an official visit but rather a friendly call to visit many friends. Despite being a Sect Master and a Gold Core Daoist Master, he didn't carry any airs. He treated people with courtesy and equality, not looking down on anyone, including those who were his friends back during the Foundation Building period.

As for the progress of Meng Zhang's cultivation base, it had improved too quickly. Many cultivators from Gu Yue Family, who were at the same Foundation Building level as him in the past, were still lingering in the Foundation Building period, while he had already formed his Core for many years.

Meng Zhang was amiable, but Gu Yue Family couldn't afford to underestimate him. They assigned Gold Core stage elders to accompany him throughout his visit, satisfying all his needs.

Some members of Gu Yue Family, in various ways, tried to obtain information about True Monarch Tian Zhu from Meng Zhang. Even if they didn't get the answers they wanted, they didn't pester him about it.

Although True Monarch Tian Zhu's situation greatly affected the surrounding situation, it didn't have any direct impact on Gu Yue Family. Rumors about True Monarch Tian Zhu about to break through to the Return to Emptiness stage were something families like Gu Yue, with extensive knowledge, wouldn't believe.

Not to mention Jiuqu League and its surrounding regions, even in the Middle-Earth Continent, where the cultivation civilization was exceptionally developed, with many cultivation Holy Lands and exceptional talents, there were very few Great Powers at the Return to Emptiness stage.

Even if True Monarch Tian Zhu had a great reputation, he was still a loose cultivator. How could he break through to the Return to Emptiness stage without a solid foundation?

If devouring a Fifth Rank Earth Spirit was enough to break through to the Return to Emptiness stage, there would have been major sects and even cultivation Holy Lands rushing to compete for it.

Only someone like True Monarch Tian Zhu, who came from the loose cultivator background and lacked knowledge, would have such delusions and desperately cling to a useless lifeline.

Although Gu Yue Family was only a Gold Core family, they had a mysterious origin and an extraordinary background, giving them the confidence to disdain True Monarch Tian Zhu. As long as True Monarch Tian Zhu hadn't broken through to the Return to Emptiness stage, he couldn't shake the rule of Jiuqu League or affect Gu Yue Family.

Before any conflicts of interest arose, Gu Yue Family still valued their friendship with Taiyi Sect. They would secretly probe Taiyi Sect's secrets but wouldn't openly have a dispute with them to avoid losing an increasingly important business partner.

When talking with Gu Yue Family's cultivators, Meng Zhang casually asked many questions about Jiuqu League, including how to become a member of Jiuqu League. Gu Yue Family had a long heritage, and not only did they jointly rule Great Wind City with Lu Family, but they also held considerable influence among the high-ranking members of Jiuqu League.

If it weren't for the lack of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch in the family, Gu Yue Family would probably have become a core family of Jiuqu League.

Gu Yue Family's cultivators were very familiar with various information about Jiuqu League, the public rules, and the secret rules. They freely shared this information with Meng Zhang when he asked.

On the surface, Jiuqu League appeared to be an alliance of orthodox sects, although there were constant internal disputes, they managed to maintain overall peace and unity. When dealing with external matters, they generally presented a united front.

However, if one could delve deeper into the internal workings of Jiuqu League, they would realize that the intrigues and struggles for power within the Cultivation World were not scarce within Jiuqu League either.

Details of various conflicts and dark histories need not be mentioned. Based on the information Meng Zhang obtained from the others, he summed up the various challenges that Taiyi Sect would face if they wanted to join Jiuqu League.

Jiuqu League's higher-ups naturally welcomed the absorption of new forces and expanding their influence. In general, it wasn't difficult for new sects and families to join Jiuqu League.

However, Taiyi Sect's situation was quite special.

Taiyi Sect originated from the Endless Sea of Sand and, at least on the surface, was considered a loyal subordinate of True Monarch Tian Zhu.

If Taiyi Sect were to join Jiuqu League, it would lead to a conflict between Jiuqu League and True Monarch Tian Zhu.

The high-ranking members of Jiuqu League wouldn't offend a late-stage Primordial Spirit True Monarch for the sake of just one Taiyi Sect.

Even if True Monarch Tian Zhu didn't care about Taiyi Sect and allowed them to join Jiuqu League, Jiuqu League wouldn't readily accept them. Who knew if Taiyi Sect was an undercover agent sent by True Monarch Tian Zhu to sabotage Jiuqu League from within?

This was the inevitable choice that Jiuqu League's higher-ups would make, considering that they were unaware of True Monarch Tian Zhu's life or death.

If Meng Zhang confessed everything to the high-ranking members of Jiuqu League and revealed True Monarch Tian Zhu's fate, would Taiyi Sect be allowed to join Jiuqu League?

The answer was very difficult.

Let's not forget that Taiyi Sect was previously an enemy of True Monarch Profound Wind and True Monarch Mountain Peak.

The high-ranking members of Jiuqu League wouldn't disregard the thoughts of their own Primordial Spirit True Monarchs.

In such a powerful force as Jiuqu League, Primordial Spirit True Monarchs held absolute authority and power.

Even if True Monarch Mountain Peak and True Monarch Profound Wind put aside their past grievances and agreed to let Taiyi Sect join Jiuqu League, Taiyi Sect would still face many problems.

For a Primordial Spirit True Monarch to make things difficult for a Gold Core sect, unless that Gold Core sect could obtain the protection of another Primordial Spirit True Monarch, their days would be tough.

In short, considering the current situation of Taiyi Sect, it was extremely difficult for them to join Jiuqu League.

The only way out was to obtain the protection of another Primordial Spirit True Monarch within Jiuqu League.

However, for a Primordial Spirit True Monarch to risk offending cultivators of the same level by providing protection to Taiyi Sect, the cost would be something

that Meng Zhang could never accept.

Despite these high and mighty Primordial Spirit True Monarchs appearing righteous on the surface, they were also individuals who didn't shy away from eating others, having enormous appetites.

Even if Taiyi Sect were to sacrifice its entire sect, it still might not be able to fill that insatiable black hole.

Meng Zhang was deeply disappointed, realizing that the path for Taiyi Sect to join Jiuqu League was temporarily impassable.

He kept his composure on the surface, continuing to visit his friends in Gu Yue Family and exploring Great Wind City.

To avoid exposing his true intentions, Meng Zhang had to act as if he didn't care about these rumors and also find ways to divert the attention of Gu Yue Family cultivators.

He informed them that Taiyi Sect would increase its investment in Great Wind City and develop extensively there.

As one of the rulers of Great Wind City, Gu Yue Family naturally welcomed this. The better the development of Great Wind City, the more prosperous it became, the more benefits Gu Yue Family would gain from it.

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