Chapter 1148: Lu Family's Visit

Chen Xudong examined it carefully, then stated with a serious expression, "The areas marked are either spiritual herbs or spiritual fruit trees. They weren't taken for various reasons. If they still exist after all these years, they would be at least a thousand years old and quite rare."

The Chen family ancestors had once entered the Five-Dragon Secret Realm, yet they left nothing behind except a map.

"Are you certain?"

Chen Xudong pondered for a moment before replying with a wry smile, "It's hard to say. This map isn't a family heirloom of the Chen family. Everyone's markings differ, and there might even be powerful demonic beasts in those locations."

Wang Mengfen nodded and said, "I understand. I heard you've successfully refined formation talismans."

Formation talismans are a manifestation of spell formations. Their advantages include simple and quick deployment, as they don't require cultivators to infuse them with spiritual power for control. However, they are consumable items and become useless once their power is depleted.

The Chen family was skilled in talisman crafting. By the time Chen Xudong joined the Wang family, he was already capable of refining second-tier talismans. With significant support from the Wang family, he successfully created formation talismans, although his success rate was not high.

"Thanks to the substantial support from the family, I've been able to refine several types of second-tier formation talismans: the Seven-Star Warning Formation, the Minor Four Symbols Formation, and the Quicksand Formation."

Chen Xudong explained truthfully that formation talismans combine spell formations and traditional talismans, making them considerably difficult to refine and requiring a significant initial investment. If he had relied solely on his own resources, he wouldn't have been able to produce them so quickly. Mastering any of the hundred cultivation arts demands substantial investment.

Wang Mengfen gently patted his shoulder, encouraging him, "Keep up the good work. Teach more clan members how to draw formation talismans. Don't hesitate to ask for any materials you need; the family will fully support you."

"Yes, Patriarch, I will do my best," Chen Xudong said, his face setting in a serious expression.

Suddenly, Wang Mengfen took out a palm-sized azure jade plate. He cast a spell into it, and a line of small characters appeared on its surface, causing him to frown slightly.

"Alright, you continue your work. I have other matters to attend to."

Wang Mengfen put away the azure jade plate and left the Talisman Crafting Institute.

After a short while, Wang Mengfen arrived at the council hall, where two men and one woman had been waiting for some time.

"I am Lu Hengbin, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Wang," said a plain-looking middle-aged man, cupping his fists. "These two are Madam Sun from the Golden Blade Sect and Fellow Daoist Yu from the Rogue Cultivators Alliance."

"You are too kind, Fellow Daoists," Wang Mengfen replied warmly. "As neighbors, we should interact more frequently. How may I help you today?" The Lu family and the Wang family were neighbors, though they belonged to different factions. Their cooperation was minimal in scope.

The Golden Blade Sect was a major sect in the Fire Pig Sea Region, having also migrated from elsewhere. The Rogue Cultivators Alliance, based in the Golden Clam Sea, was a loosely organized group of rogue cultivators, with three Nascent Soul cultivators overseeing it, and it had attracted many unaffiliated cultivators.

"Here's the situation," Lu Hengbin said, somewhat excitedly. "Our Lu family has obtained a Golden Dragon Token, and the Golden Blade Sect and the Rogue Cultivators Alliance each possess a Five-Dragon Token. We've heard your Wang family has an Azure Dragon Token. With four tokens, the Five-Dragon Secret Realm can be opened. Fellow Daoist Wang must have heard of it, right? Would you be interested in joining us to open the secret realm and seek treasure?"

Lu Hengbin continued with some excitement, explaining that the Five-Dragon Palace once controlled a vast portion of the Five-Dragon Sea Region and wielded immense power. Several Nascent Soul cultivators had collaborated to establish a secret realm for cultivating their disciples. Although the Five-Dragon Palace had long since fallen, the secret realm remained, untouched for over a millennium.

"The Five-Dragon Secret Realm hasn't been opened for over a thousand years," a curvaceous young woman in a golden dress asked with a smile. "Without a doubt, it must contain thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. What are your thoughts, Fellow Daoist Wang?" Three tokens were insufficient to open the Five-Dragon Secret Realm; four would be more secure. Otherwise, they wouldn't have approached the Wang family.

"Five-Dragon Tokens?" Wang Mengfen mused. "How many disciples do the three of you intend to send into the realm?"

Lu Hengbin smiled triumphantly and stated proudly, "Our Lu family initiated this. The Five-Dragon Secret Realm is located close to us, so we will send twenty-five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Fellow Daoist Sun and her group will send twenty. Since you are joining last, you will send fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators." Secret realms offer both opportunities and dangers, so naturally, too many cultivators cannot be sent inside.

Wang Mengfen chuckled softly, then took out a communication plate and cast a spell into it.

"Fellow Daoist Lu," he said, "I don't agree with your proposal. Since everyone has a token, why should our Wang family be limited to sending only fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators? Without the Five-Dragon Token held by our family, you might not even be able to open the Five-Dragon Secret Realm."

"Each of us holds one Five-Dragon Token," Lu Hengbin said with a frown. "Our Lu family initiated this, and we've put in all the legwork. It's not unreasonable for us to send a few more people. There's a principle of first-come, first-served." The Wang family produced complete sets of puppet beasts, and the more Foundation Establishment cultivators they sent into the secret realm, the greater the benefits they would acquire, diminishing the share of the other three families.

"Opening a secret realm isn't based on a first-come, first-served basis," a sharp female voice retorted. "Furthermore, who said we only have one Five-Dragon Token?" A large white flood dragon flew in, with Wang Qingling seated calmly upon its head. With a flip of her hand, an azure token and a blue token materialized in her palm.

"The Azure Dragon Token! The Water Dragon Token!"

Lu Hengbin and the other two exchanged glances, their expressions visibly darkening. They had not anticipated that the Wang family possessed two Five-Dragon Tokens.

After a heated debate, they finally reached an agreement: the Wang family would send twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators into the secret realm, while the Lu family and the other two factions would each send twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Wang family's complete sets of puppet beasts were exceptionally powerful; they had personally witnessed their might. To limit the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators the Wang family could send into the secret realm, the Lu family, Golden Blade Sect, and Rogue Cultivators Alliance had no choice but to reduce their own numbers. The Wang family's possession of two tokens was a significant advantage.

To be frank, Wang Qingling could have been more assertive, compelling them to make even greater concessions. The Wang family only needed to win over two of the factions to open the secret realm. However, she chose not to; they would inevitably cross paths again, and it would be too costly to antagonize three major forces purely for more entry slots into the secret realm. Excessive assertiveness from the Wang family would only compel the other factions to unite against their cultivators. After the agreement was settled, they discussed the specific details, planning to open the secret realm and jointly seek treasure in two months.

After seeing off Lu Hengbin and his companions, Wang Mengfen let out a sigh of relief and smiled, "Grand-aunt, I'm afraid we'll need you to lead this expedition." Wang Qingshan was in secluded cultivation, and only Wang Qingling had the authority to keep the other factions in line.

"The Five-Dragon Secret Realm isn't too far from Jinlian Market City," Wang Qingling instructed methodically. "Let's notify Senior Guang. Ask him to make an appearance then to stabilize the situation and prevent the Lu family and other factions from attempting any tricks. Also, dispatch a few more Core Formation cultivators to oversee the market city." Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Qingshan were all in secluded cultivation. Wang Qingqing, Ye Haitang, and Wang Qingjun had traveled to the Northern Border Cultivation World. Wang Mengbin and Wang Qiuming were overseeing Silver Serpent Island. Given these circumstances, Wang Qingling was the only suitable choice to lead the expedition.