Chapter 1060: Ghost Cultivator Chen Ze

Wang Qingling asked with concern, as Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had instructed her to look after Ye Haitang before their departure.

Ye Haitang shook her head and said, "It's nothing, a fellow Daoist asked to meet me to discuss something."

"If you encounter any trouble you can't solve, remember to tell us. We are family, and Venerable Qinglong personally promised that if we faced any insurmountable difficulties, we could ask for his help."

"That's right, Cousin Aunt! Grandfather and Grandmother have achieved such great merits. If anyone truly tries to make things difficult for you, don't be afraid. Speak up bravely, and we will help you."

Wang Qiuming chimed in, agreeing.

Ye Haitang nodded with a smile and said, "Don't worry! If I truly encounter difficulties, I will tell you. Now, I have something else to attend to. You two can continue chatting."

Watching Ye Haitang's retreating figure, Wang Qingling slightly frowned and instructed Wang Qiuming, "Qiuming, keep an eye on Cousin Haitang during this period. Don't let her leave the market town alone. As long as she stays within the market town, there won't be any problems."

"Understood, Tenth Aunt."

Wang Qiuming agreed without hesitation, as it was not a difficult task for him.

"Alright, Youwei, you should go back and rest. The war isn't over yet, so don't take on too many concubines, and don't make promises to other factions. I always feel that the information is incorrect."

Wang Qingling said with a frown. As far as she knew, since the war began, there were eight Nascent Soul cultivators with significant battle achievements.

Gongsun Yang, early Nascent Soul, killed three Nascent Soul foreign cultivators.

Phoenix Feather Immortal Ye Rou'er, mid Nascent Soul, one of the Five Immortals of the Overseas, killed three Nascent Soul foreign cultivators and severely wounded three others.

Huangfu Rui, mid Nascent Soul, from the Huangfu family, one of the Ten Great Families of the South Sea, killed three Nascent Soul foreign cultivators and severely wounded five others.

Myriad Sword Immortals Li Rui and Nangong Fu, early Nascent Soul, both sword cultivators. Their combined swordsmanship was unstoppable. From the Myriad Sword Sect, they killed four Nascent Soul foreign cultivators.

Mu Qiuming, mid Nascent Soul, an elder of the Four Seas Sect, killed five Nascent Soul foreign cultivators.

Elder Beihan Fang Hong, leader of the Five Immortals of the Overseas, late Nascent Soul, killed six Nascent Soul foreign cultivators and severely wounded two Nascent Soul demonic beasts.

Palace Master Du Chang of the Sun Palace of the Sun-Moon Palace, late Nascent Soul, killed seven Nascent Soul foreign cultivators and severely wounded three Nascent Soul sea creatures.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, merely at the early Nascent Soul stage, had actually killed eleven Nascent Soul foreign cultivators, ranking first?

The Wang family's foundation was simply incomparable to these major powers. Ye Rou'er and Fang Hong were renowned Nascent Soul cultivators of many years, and the other six all came from the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's achievements were simply too great.

As the saying goes, 'A tall tree in the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind.' Wang Qingling felt that someone was deliberately spreading rumors, attempting to set them up for a fall with exaggerated praise.

The great war had not yet ended, yet infighting was already brewing within the human race. Wang Qingling strongly disliked such behavior, but she had little influence and could not control the factions spreading the news, so she could only restrain her own clansmen.

"The information is incorrect? I heard Fellow Daoist Ouyang say that his seventh grand-uncle personally spoke of it. It shouldn't be false, right?"

Wang Youwei asked in surprise and doubt. This was a genuine merit; why would anyone falsely report battle achievements for no reason?

"It's a setup. Grandfather and Grandmother's performance is so outstanding that other factions can't help but take notice. If even a few 'rotten apples' appear in our Wang family then, our enemies will endlessly magnify it. This is also why we are questioning your taking on concubines. As the saying goes, 'a tall tree in the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind.' Being too prominent is not always a good thing."

Wang Qiuhong earnestly advised. He also found it hard to believe that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had achieved such a sensational victory.

Wang Youwei thought carefully and broke out in a cold sweat. After a slight hesitation, he recounted how he had unexpectedly obtained a Jiao Bloodstone. He realized the seriousness of the matter and dared not be careless.

"This is your fortune. You paid sufficient spirit stones, so it wasn't a forced transaction. There's nothing to worry about. Just be more discreet and low-key in your actions from now on, to avoid being scrutinized or criticized."

"Yes, Tenth Aunt. I should still give this Jiao Bloodstone to you! Anyway, your grandson won't be able to use it."

Wang Youwei took out the Jiao Bloodstone and handed it to Wang Qingling.

Wang Qingling waved her hand and smiled, "No need. This is your fortune; keep it for yourself!"

Wang Youwei knew Wang Qingling's character – she was resolute and truly not interested in refining materials. He suddenly remembered something and took out a blue wooden box containing two egg-sized silver insect eggs.

"Oh, by the way, Grand-aunt, your grandson acquired a few lightning-attribute spirit insect eggs. I can't hatch them, so please hatch them for me!"

Wang Qingling took the wooden box, examined it carefully, nodded, and dismissed Wang Youwei.

"Mengbin, you can hatch these two spirit insect eggs! Haven't you always wanted to raise some lightning-attribute spirit insects?"

Wang Mengbin was slightly taken aback and said, "Grand-great-aunt, didn't Uncle Youwei say he couldn't hatch them? Could you hatch them first and then give them to me?"

Wang Qingling smiled and said, "He's very clever. He said he couldn't hatch them, but they're actually quite easy to hatch. I can guarantee that these spirit insects are definitely on the 'List of Heavenly and Earthly Marvelous Insects.' Youwei has truly inherited Qiuhong's knack; he would never explicitly state how precious a gift is. You'll know once you hatch them."

Hearing the words "List of Heavenly and Earthly Marvelous Insects," Wang Mengbin's face lit up with joy. He expressed his gratitude and accepted the insect eggs.

In a secluded courtyard, a several-acre lake occupied the center, with a three-story blue pavilion standing in the middle of the lake.

Beside the blue pavilion was a blue stone pavilion, where Ye Haitang sat with an indifferent expression.

Not long after, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in his early forties walked in.

The middle-aged man was dressed in dark robes, thin as a bamboo pole, with a black gourd tied to his waist. A chilling aura emanated from him.

"Immortal Ye, you're being overly cautious! Every time we meet, it's at your residence, and you've even set up a formation. You wouldn't even agree to meet at a tea house."

The middle-aged man said with a frown. From his tone, it was clear he knew Ye Haitang.

"We are merely casual acquaintances, not even friends. We simply take what we need. So, have you brought what I asked for?"

Ye Haitang said with a cold expression. The middle-aged man's name was Chen Ze, a Core Formation Stage cultivator at the sixth level. He was a ghost cultivator whom Ye Haitang had met at a Core Formation cultivator's trade fair.

Chen Ze let out a chuckle, flipped his hand, and a black jade box appeared in his palm. A silver talisman was affixed to it. With a flick of his wrist, the black jade box slowly flew towards Ye Haitang.

Ye Haitang flicked her sleeve, and a gust of wind swept past. The black jade box slowly landed on the water surface, three Zhang away from Ye Haitang.

An ape-monkey puppet emerged from the bottom of the lake, grasped the jade box with its left hand, tore open the silver talisman with its right, and took out a black crystal the size of a watermelon.

As soon as the black crystal appeared, a bone-chilling gust of yin wind immediately swept through the surroundings.

Seeing Ye Haitang's extreme caution, Chen Ze slightly frowned.

Ye Haitang released her spiritual sense and carefully scanned the black crystal. After confirming there were no issues, she asked Chen Ze:

"I'll take this Profound Yin Crystal. What do you want in exchange?"