Chapter 1285: Family Legacy Has Someone

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were not on Qinglian Island. Under normal circumstances, the Wang family would not easily allow high-level cultivators onto the island. However, Zhang Wuchen's status was different. She was not only an in-law but also an ally of the Wang family. Moreover, with Nascent Soul cultivators guarding Qinglian Island, they had no fear of anyone causing trouble.

Wang Mengfen invited Zhang Wuchen to the main hall. As soon as Zhang Wuchen was seated, a Wang family cultivator brought in a pot of spirit tea, placed it on the table, and then respectfully withdrew.

"Young friend Wang," Zhang Wuchen said directly, "please inform them that I have an important matter to discuss face-to-face with Daoist Wang or Madam Wang."

"I am truly sorry, Senior Zhang," Wang Mengfen replied politely, "both ancestors are currently in secluded cultivation, and we dare not disturb them." He was careful not to tell the truth.

"Secluded cultivation?" Zhang Wuchen frowned, her expression appearing somewhat peculiar. Could Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan have been injured after killing Yuan Gang? It was certainly possible. If she couldn't meet Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, Zhang Wuchen wouldn't be able to test their true abilities, nor could she prove if they were descendants of the Zhenhai Sect. Once a seed of doubt was planted, it only needed time to be verified.

"Very well then!" Zhang Wuchen said, her tone significant. "Please deliver a message for me: A number of cultivators from Huanglong Island have been spotted in the Golden Whale Sea, inquiring about Daoist Taihao's whereabouts. If your ancestors emerge from seclusion, they can find me on Qingli Island. Remember, what I have to say concerns the very survival of your Wang family." Zhang Wuchen's tone was meaningful; she was warning Wang Changsheng that Huanglong Island had already identified him as the culprit, a clear gesture of goodwill. The enemy of one's enemy is a friend. Although the Zhang family and Huanglong Island were formerly allies, their interactions had dwindled and their relationship had cooled since Huanglong Island pledged allegiance to the Sun and Moon Palace.

"Yes, when the ancestors emerge from seclusion, this junior will certainly convey your message truthfully." Wang Mengfen readily agreed.

"I won't disturb you further. Farewell." Zhang Wuchen rose to leave. She hadn't walked far when she suddenly paused, but quickly resumed her pace and walked out. Wang Mengfen stood up to see her off. No sooner had they left than Fairy Ziyue emerged from a side room behind the main hall.

"Cultivators from Huanglong Island have appeared in the Golden Whale Sea, inquiring about Senior Brother Wang's whereabouts," Fairy Ziyue mumbled to herself, a hint of worry in her beautiful eyes. "It seems Huanglong Island suspects him. This matter must be reported to Senior Brother Wang." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were not in the South China Sea; if Huanglong Island were to make a move, they would face considerable trouble.

A short while later, Wang Mengfen returned. "Senior Lin, Senior Zhang has already left."

Fairy Ziyue nodded and ordered, "Tell everyone to maintain a relaxed exterior but be highly vigilant internally. Thoroughly investigate any suspicious individuals. Also, send someone to the Northern Border to inform Daoist Wang: 'The Sun and Moon are unharmed, and paper cannot conceal fire.'" Assassinating Yuan Gang was a top secret, so she couldn't speak of it directly, but she was confident Wang Changsheng would understand. "The Sun and Moon are unharmed" meant the Sun and Moon Palace had not discovered their identities, while "paper cannot conceal fire" naturally referred to the assassination of Yuan Gang.

"Yes, Senior Lin," Wang Mengfen readily agreed, as Wang Changsheng had specifically reminded him to obey all of Senior Lin's commands.

After Wang Mengfen left, Fairy Ziyue flipped her wrist, and a piece of thin purple gauze appeared in her hand. She mused to herself, "Zhang Wuchen seemed to have detected me just now. That shouldn't be possible! I personally tested the concealing effect of the Purple Cloud Gauze; even Senior Brother Wang and Senior Sister Wang couldn't detect me. How could Zhang Wuchen? Is her spiritual sense comparable to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? Or has she cultivated a technique to enhance spiritual sense? Such strong spiritual sense in an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is truly rare."

In a secluded courtyard, near a blue stone pavilion, a tall young man in a blue robe was holding a lifelike wooden monkey. On the ground, numerous crafting materials were scattered, along with several other lifelike golden monkey puppets.

A soft sound of footsteps broke the silence, and Wang Qingjing walked in. The young man in the blue robe seemed not to have noticed Wang Qingjing's presence, completely absorbed in crafting puppet beasts. Wang Qingjing looked at the young man in the blue robe with tender affection. This young man, Wang Yinghao, was her descendant whom she had personally brought up and diligently instructed. Wang Yinghao had not disappointed Wang Qingjing's guidance; his puppet-making skills were quite advanced, thanks to both her careful instruction and his diligent study.

An hour passed, and Wang Yinghao still hadn't noticed Wang Qingjing. The monkey puppet in his hands was now complete. Wang Qingjing smiled knowingly and took a step toward Wang Yinghao. Just then, a stone slab on the ground suddenly transformed into a turtle puppet beast, opening its mouth and lunging at her. After all, Wang Qingjing was a Core Formation cultivator, so her reaction was very fast. She swayed, rapidly retreating, and the turtle puppet beast's attack missed.

"Yinghao, you already noticed me?"

Wang Yinghao grinned sheepishly and said, "Ancestor, have you forgotten that your grandson's spiritual sense is stronger than average?" Some cultivators are born with inherently stronger spiritual sense than others, though such individuals are exceedingly rare. Wang Yinghao and Wang Changsheng were both among them. This advantage typically diminishes after Core Formation. However, before reaching that stage, Wang Yinghao could leverage his superior spiritual sense to his great benefit, making him a natural artificer.

"Excellent," Wang Qingjing praised with a smile. "You've put what you've learned into practice, crafting puppet beasts into floor slabs. Without careful observation, I truly wouldn't have noticed."

Wang Yinghao grinned proudly and said, "Ancestor, please look closely again. Is there anything else different in the courtyard?"

Wang Qingjing turned to survey the courtyard. Beside the stone pavilion stood a rock garden, and next to it, a ten-foot-tall willow tree.

"Is the rock garden a puppet beast?"

Wang Yinghao chuckled. He formed a hand seal, and the rock garden glowed yellow, instantly transforming into a six-foot-tall golden giant ape. Then, after the willow tree glowed green, a large green python slithered out from its hollowed-out, thick trunk. Descendants can see further and go further by standing on the shoulders of their predecessors. Since Wang Qingjing was a disciple of Fairy Ziyue, Wang Yinghao's puppet-making skills were far superior to those of his peers within the clan.

"Good. It's truly impressive how you can camouflage puppet beasts with the terrain," Wang Qingjing said, her tone stern but with an underlying affection that anyone could detect. "However, you must remember that these are just small tricks. They're useless against cultivators with powerful spiritual sense. But they will be very effective before you reach Core Formation. While crafting puppets is important, you must not neglect your cultivation, understand?" Given time, Wang Yinghao's achievements would certainly be no less than hers.

"Yes, Ancestor," Wang Yinghao said in a deep voice, his face filled with grim determination. "Your grandson will cultivate diligently, and one day, I will personally slay our enemies." Wang Qingjing had told him about Zhao Zheng and Zhao Ziyu, and Wang Yinghao had always kept this matter in mind. Hearing this, Wang Qingjing nodded, a look of satisfaction on her face.

She guided Wang Yinghao in crafting puppet beasts. Whenever Wang Yinghao encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask questions, delving deep until he completely grasped the concept. Wang Qingjing was very satisfied with Wang Yinghao's eagerness to learn, and thus taught him even more diligently.