Chapter 1237: Wang Tianqing’s Formation of the Core

Qingli Island, Red Moon Sea.

Joy radiated from the face of every cultivator of the Zhang family, and the island was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. This year, the Zhang family had gained three new Core Formation cultivators, a truly rare occurrence. To celebrate this, the Zhang family hosted a grand banquet, inviting relatives by marriage and old friends.

On a vast bluestone plaza, Zhang Zhiyang, the Zhang family head, sat at the head table. Over a dozen Core Formation cultivators were seated on either side, while hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators occupied the rows behind them. Wang Tianqing and Zhang Sichun shared a table, both having advanced to the Core Formation stage this year. Wang Tianqing was the great-granddaughter of the Azure Lotus Immortals. As a crucial link between the Zhang and Wang families, she naturally received preferential treatment from the Zhang family.

A tall, slender young woman in a green dress asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, has Fellow Daoist Wang from Silver Snake Island not arrived? How could he miss such a significant celebration?" The Zhang and Wang families were connected by marriage, and Silver Snake Island was not particularly far from Qingli Island. It was quite odd for the Wang family not to send representatives for Wang Tianqing's advancement to the Core Formation stage. Wang Mengbin was stationed at Silver Snake Island, and it wouldn't take him long to reach Qingli Island. Had the Zhang and Wang families broken ties? Or had something happened to Wang Mengbin?

Just then, Zhang Zhiyang took out a blue spirit shell, activated it with a hand seal, and a joyful male voice suddenly announced, "Family Head, Fellow Daoist Wang from Silver Snake Island has arrived." Zhang Zhiyang's face lit up, and he instructed, "Tianqing, Sichun, go and welcome Fellow Daoist Wang."

"Yes, Family Head."

Wang Tianqing and Zhang Sichun transformed into two streaks of light, breaking through the air and flying eastward.

Outside Qingli Island, Wang Mengbin sat on the back of a Lion-Roc beast, accompanied by over twenty Wang family cultivators mounted on spirit birds. Their faces exuded a strong sense of confidence. All clan members in the Red Moon Sea were managed by Wang Mengbin. He spent most of his time in secluded cultivation, leaving general affairs to five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Consequently, no force dared to provoke the Wang family. The Wang family in the Red Moon Sea comprised over five thousand cultivators, with four Core Formation cultivators: Wang Mengbin, Wang Qiuxin, Wang Tianhai, and Wang Qiuli. Wang Qiuxin and Wang Tianhai were outwardly cultivators of the Cloud Sea Sect, seemingly unrelated to the Wang family. Wang Qiuli, a descendant of Wang Changhao, had failed her first attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage but succeeded on her second try. She was currently in secluded cultivation on Silver Snake Island. After decades of recovery and recuperation, the number of cultivators on Silver Snake Island and within the Cloud Sea Sect had significantly increased. Including the strength of the Cloud Sea Sect, the Wang family could mobilize nearly twenty thousand cultivators in the Red Moon Sea, as the Cloud Sea Sect had numerous affiliated forces.

Suddenly, a white streak of light flew out from Qingli Island. Wang Mengbin's gaze swept over it and recognized Zhang Wuchen. He was about to salute, but Zhang Wuchen ignored him, disappearing into the sky with a few flashes. "What happened? Senior Zhang is in such a hurry!" Wang Mengbin wondered silently, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

At this moment, Wang Tianqing and Zhang Sichun flew over. Wang Tianqing said with a smile, "Mengbin, you finally made it! We thought you weren't coming." As the great-granddaughter of the Azure Lotus Immortals, if the Wang family didn't send representatives to her Core Formation celebration, it wasn't just outsiders who would speculate; even she couldn't help but wonder. Wang Mengbin asked calmly, "I just emerged from seclusion, so I'm glad I didn't miss Great Aunt and Great Uncle's Core Formation celebration. By the way, Great Aunt, Great Uncle, has anything major happened recently? I just came out of seclusion." As Core Formation cultivators of the Zhang family, Wang Tianqing and Zhang Sichun should know some inside information.

"Major events? Nothing major! The biggest news is just our advancement to the Core Formation stage. Anyway, let's go inside first! The Family Head is getting impatient."

Wang Mengbin nodded, glancing in the direction Zhang Wuchen had departed. The Lion-Roc beast beneath him spread its wings and flew into Qingli Island, with the other clan members quickly following suit.

In Qingli Market, Zhang Wuchen appeared at the entrance of Qingli Hall, where many cultivators were constantly going in and out. As soon as Zhang Wuchen entered Qingli Hall, all Zhang family cultivators bowed in respect. Inside the hall were over a dozen teleportation arrays of varying sizes. Without saying much, Zhang Wuchen stepped onto a golden formation, activated it with a hand seal, and a burst of golden light immediately illuminated and enveloped her figure. After a slight dizzy spell, Zhang Wuchen reappeared in a hall of similar size, from which a clamor of voices drifted in from outside. She walked to another teleportation array and activated it with a hand seal.

After teleporting five or six more times, Zhang Wuchen emerged into a bustling market town, where the streets were teeming with people. She strolled along the streets. About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Wuchen, now transformed into a white-robed old woman with a face full of wrinkles, appeared in a secluded courtyard. Inside the courtyard stood a three-story green pavilion, next to which was a green stone pavilion. A kind-faced old man in a green robe sat in the stone pavilion. The old man's robe bore a sun and moon emblem, clearly indicating he was a cultivator of the Sun Moon Palace.

Zhang Wuchen said with a frown, "Why did you suddenly contact me? Didn't I tell you not to reach out unless it was truly important?" From her words, it was clear she knew the old man in green, but her altered appearance suggested she was worried about being recognized by him.

The old man in green concisely explained the situation. "Palace Master, I have discovered the whereabouts of the Zhenhai Sect remnants. I found traces of a Zhenhai Ape in the Myriad Python Sea." He was Zhang Wuchen's hidden asset, so concealed that even the two Palace Masters were unaware of his connection to her. Zhang Wuchen's goal of bringing down the Sun Moon Palace was extremely difficult, requiring her to unite every force she could gather.

"So, whoever turns out to be the murderer of Yuan Gang is a remnant of the Zhenhai Sect?" Zhang Wuchen's gaze was somber, yet there was a hint of excitement in her expression. She had personally experienced the power of a fourth-tier Zhenhai Ape. Only the Zhenhai Sect remnants could subdue a Zhenhai Ape; other cultivators simply couldn't.

"That's right. Yellow Dragon Island is also searching for the murderer, but I helped erase the traces to prevent True Immortal Yellow Dragon from reporting to the two Palace Masters. By the way, one of the culprits likely used a heavy, orb-shaped magical artifact, as a massive circular pit was left at the scene." A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Wuchen's eyes. There wouldn't be many Nascent Soul cultivators who used heavy, orb-shaped magical artifacts. Coupled with the clue of having a grudge against Yellow Dragon Island, the true culprit would surely be found.

"I understand, Zhong Chen. You've done excellent work. Rest assured, once I regain control, I am willing to govern the Sun Moon Palace alongside you." Zhang Wuchen promised generously. Zhong Chen was someone she had raised herself. After joining the Sun Moon Palace, Zhong Chen had always sided with Fang Yue. When the Sun Moon Palace had an internal conflict, Fang Yue emerged victorious and initiated a major purge. Everyone from Zhang Wuchen's faction was eliminated, except for Zhong Chen.

Zhong Chen said earnestly, "If it weren't for Foster Mother, I would have died long ago, let alone reached the Nascent Soul stage." He was raised by Zhang Wuchen, who overtly suppressed him but secretly assisted his cultivation. Most importantly, Zhang Wuchen held leverage over him. Even if he betrayed Zhang Wuchen, the two Palace Masters would not spare him. Fang Yue once said, "Better to mistakenly kill three thousand than to let a single one escape." In Fang Yue's eyes, betrayal of the Sun Moon Palace was unforgivable.