Chapter 1077: Interrogating Monk Wangchen

The golden formation flags were covered with Buddhist runes, but several of them were damaged, and three of the sub-formation plates were missing small corners.

A complete fourth-tier formation was valued at over a million spirit stones, enough to purchase a second-tier magic treasure. Buddhist formations were notoriously sturdy, making them considerably more valuable than ordinary ones.

"Fellow Daoist Hai," Wang Changsheng asked, "if I may be so bold, how did this set of formation flags get damaged?" Wang Changsheng asked with a hint of curiosity. Buddhist formations were renowned for their resilience; typically, even Nascent Soul cultivators trapped by them couldn't break free.

"It was the Flood Dragon clan," Hai Dashan explained with a smile. "This formation had trapped a mid-Nascent Soul Flood Dragon and an early-Nascent Soul Black Phoenix. The Flood Dragon and Black Phoenix are among the top-ranked demon races. Coupled with harassment from other demon creatures, the formation was eventually breached. Even so, the Flood Dragon was severely wounded, and the Black Phoenix was killed by Fellow Daoist Dai." He added that a Nascent Soul ice ape was worth far more than a fourth-tier formation.

"I have significant use for the vital essence and demon core," Wang Changsheng continued. "How about this: I'll give you some thousand-year snow wood in exchange?" As Wang Changsheng had taken the most valuable demon core and vital essence, the remaining ice ape was naturally insufficient to exchange for a complete fourth-tier Buddhist formation.

Hai Dashan readily agreed to the exchange with Wang Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Hai Dashan said, "may we meet again if fate allows." Hai Dashan put away the ice ape's corpse, then turned and departed.

Upon leaving the teahouse, Wang Changsheng saw Wang Ruyan standing at the entrance, while Dai Ren was nowhere in sight.

"Husband," Wang Ruyan said, "Fellow Daoist Dai has invited us to his residence for a discussion. He mentioned there's an important matter he wishes to discuss with us." If Wang Changsheng's guess was correct, the Myriad Sword Sect likely had instructions for the Wang family, perhaps concerning preventing the Lu family's expansion, contributing to the sect's efforts, or fulfilling certain obligations.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a secluded courtyard. Besides Dai Ren, there was also a woman in her early forties, dressed in a purple skirt. The woman in the purple skirt was tall with fair skin, and she wore a purple jade hairpin in her hair. Her cuffs featured a volcano pattern, with various colored flames visible on it, which was the symbol of the Myriad Flame Palace.

The Myriad Flame Palace was one of the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea, boasting profound foundations. Its headquarters were situated in the Myriad Flame Sea Region. After the Immortal-Demon War, the Myriad Flame Palace was severely weakened and had not fully recovered in the years since. Nevertheless, it remained one of the South Sea's Ten Great Sects and was not to be underestimated. The woman in the purple skirt was an early Nascent Soul cultivator, with a cultivation level lower than Dai Ren's.

"Madam Mu, allow me to introduce you," Dai Ren said, gesturing towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. "These two fellow Daoists are the Azure Lotus Immortals. Fellow Daoist Wang, this is Madam Mu, the Enforcement Elder of the Myriad Flame Palace."

"So it is Madam Mu," Wang Changsheng said, cupping his fist respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you."

The woman in the purple skirt smiled gracefully. "Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too kind," she said. "My humble reputation pales in comparison to yours. The name of the Azure Lotus Immortals has long spread throughout the South Sea and even reached the Central Plains Cultivation World. Fellow Daoist Ying from the Great Qin Dynasty even inquired about you with me!"

"Madam Mu, you must be jesting," Wang Ruyan humbly replied. "It's all a misunderstanding. My husband and I do not possess the great divine abilities attributed to us in legends; they are merely rumors." Wang Ruyan spoke modestly, believing that one should always maintain a low profile. Just as people fear fame and pigs fear gaining weight, being too well-known was not always a good thing. For instance, if two Nascent Soul cultivators were to engage in a fight, and one was particularly renowned, the other would exercise extreme caution. However, if the first cultivator had little renown, the opponent would not be overly concerned.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," the woman in the purple skirt said, "I dislike beating around the bush, so I'll be direct. Would you be willing to sell Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul to me? A second-tier magic treasure, refining materials, or anything else I can provide would be acceptable." Her expression was serious, and she gazed at Wang Changsheng with eager anticipation.

Wang Changsheng was slightly taken aback and utterly bewildered. He turned to Dai Ren, hoping for an explanation. Truth be told, Wang Changsheng had no intention of selling Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, it's like this," Dai Ren explained politely, his tone sincere. "Over three hundred years ago, Monk Wangchen encountered Madam Mu and Fairy Li. Fairy Li, in an attempt to protect Madam Mu, was captured and violated by Monk Wangchen. Madam Mu swore a blood oath that if she ever had the opportunity, she would personally exact revenge. Madam Mu and I have known each other for many years. If it is possible, I humbly ask Fellow Daoist Wang to make an exception."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were slightly taken aback. It would have been easier for them to refuse Madam Mu alone, but with Dai Ren also making a request, it became challenging. Wang Changsheng still needed to interrogate Monk Wangchen for the secrets he held. He was genuinely reluctant to hand over the monk's Nascent Soul so readily.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please reconsider," the woman in the purple skirt pleaded sincerely, bowing slightly. "If you are willing to sell that lecherous monk's Nascent Soul to me, I will owe you a great favor. If not for Junior Sister Li all those years ago, I would surely have died at that lecherous monk's hands. For all these years, I searched for him everywhere, but unfortunately, my efforts were in vain. I never imagined he would be hiding in the Fire Barbarian Tribe."

"Husband," Wang Ruyan interjected, "Madam Mu is a woman of strong character. After three hundred years, she still remembers to avenge her fellow disciple. Based on this alone, we should hand over Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul to her." Wang Ruyan spoke, acknowledging that given the circumstances, refusal was difficult. It would be better to do a good deed and incur a favor than to haggle over a sale. The fact that Madam Mu still sought revenge for her fellow disciple after three centuries spoke volumes about her character.

"Alright," Wang Changsheng conceded. "However, we have one condition: we will give him to you tomorrow, but you must kill him in front of us. How does that sound?" Wang Changsheng intended to interrogate Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul overnight, pressing him for any secrets he might possess. Then, when Madam Mu destroyed the Nascent Soul in front of Wang Changsheng, everyone would feel at ease.

"Good, no problem at all," the woman in the purple skirt readily agreed. "Thank you. You can hand him over in three days; that day marks exactly three centuries since Junior Sister Li's vital soul lamp extinguished."

Wang Changsheng agreed, then changed his tone and asked, "Fellow Daoists, have either of you ever visited the Central Plains Cultivation World? I've heard there's a place called the Fallen Immortal Cave there." Monk Wangchen would not easily answer their questions. Wang Changsheng needed to learn more about the Fallen Immortal Cave to better deceive him.

"I went there after forming my Nascent Soul," Dai Ren replied, "and almost didn't make it back." Wang Ruyan smiled slightly. "Fellow Daoist Dai," she said, "would you be able to disclose some information about the Fallen Immortal Cave to us? We only need a general understanding of its conditions; there's no need to recount your personal experiences there."

After a brief moment of thought, Dai Ren concisely recounted his experience of entering the Fallen Immortal Cave, including the demonic beasts he encountered and the landscapes he observed.

After approximately the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan found themselves inside a five-story blue pavilion, where numerous restrictions had been placed. Wang Ruyan took out a jade box and retrieved Monk Wangchen's Nascent Soul. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's gazes were grim, causing Monk Wangchen to flinch in alarm.

"You were indeed lying," Wang Changsheng stated coldly, his face full of killing intent. "We rushed non-stop to the Central Plains Cultivation World and entered the Fallen Immortal Cave, but there were no Six Pure Bamboos at all. Instead, we encountered a mid-fourth-tier Tiger-Eagle and almost died in there. You're quite bold to dare to deceive us."