Chapter 1316: Notice

"Get back! Who told you to come here?" Lu Yongyi shouted. She emerged from the rock face, her complexion pale. She knew very well that if Wang Changsheng had wanted to kill her, Wang Ruyan would not have stood by idly just moments ago.

Lu Hengbin and the others exchanged glances before finally backing away.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, your mastery of the Dao is profound. I am truly impressed and admit my inferiority," Lu Yongyi said in a deep voice, taking a deep breath. Her gaze fell upon the Grand Clarity Soul Slaying Blade, an artifact much larger than typical ice-attribute treasures.

"That Class 3 spirit mine now belongs to us. Madam Lu, please withdraw your people. Furthermore, five Nascent Soul-forming spirit items and fifty islands – you know what you did, so I don't need to elaborate, do I?" Wang Changsheng said with a half-smile. He intended to teach Lu Yongyi a lesson; otherwise, the Lu family might continue to think the Wang family was easy to bully.

"The mine is one thing, but five Nascent Soul-forming spirit items and fifty islands? You're asking for an exorbitant amount," the middle-aged scholar said, frowning with a hint of displeasure.

"Exorbitant? Demanding only this much is already showing you great respect. Or would you prefer we come to your Lu family to collect it ourselves?" Wang Changsheng scoffed with a cold snort.

Lu Yongyi and the middle-aged scholar's expressions darkened significantly. Wang Changsheng alone was formidable; if Wang Ruyan were added to the equation, destroying them would be no difficult feat. If they truly fell out, the Lu family would undoubtedly suffer.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, we were also deceived. We truly cannot provide Nascent Soul-forming spirit items; that mine alone is worth a considerable amount of spirit stones," Lu Yongyi bargained. The Lu family genuinely didn't possess many Nascent Soul-forming spirit items; most were held by major sects. If the Lu family could refine spiritual elixirs that aided Core Formation, their strength would have already made a huge leap.

"Then we'll change it to twenty Core Formation spirit items. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Lu Yongyi's mouth twitched, and she offered a wry smile: "We can't provide that either. Ten at most."

The Lu family had many cultivators, and most of their Core Formation spirit items were acquired through purchase. With more monks than gruel, they truly didn't have twenty.

"Eighteen." Wang Changsheng's tone hardened considerably, his face filled with killing intent.

"Fifteen. We genuinely cannot produce more." Lu Yongyi was nearly in tears. Judging by the stance of the Green Lotus Immortals, if they weren't satisfied, they truly would kill them. Yet, the Lu family simply didn't have that many Core Formation spirit items.

"Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Since we are neighbors, fifteen it is! However, if this happens again, it won't be a simple sparring match; it will be a fight to the death." Wang Changsheng said with a half-smile, his eyes gleaming with cold light.

Lu Yongyi offered a wry smile, nodded, and agreed.

"Deliver the items to our Wang family as soon as possible. Farewell." After saying this, Wang Changsheng departed White Crane Island with Wang Ruyan.

A month later, the Wang family posted a notice. It stated that the demon race had hired rogue cultivators to retaliate against the Wang family, but fortunately, the Lu family of White Crane Island and the Wang family cooperated fully, eliminating the invading enemies. Some remnants had escaped, and a hefty reward was offered for information leading to their capture.

The Wang family characterized the incident as demon retaliation, without mentioning Yellow Dragon Island. They also implicated the Lu family, ensuring that if Huang Yuxu ever sought revenge in the future, the Lu family would also be a target.

Wang family cultivators maintained a unified stance, spreading the word that the demon race had hired rogue cultivators to retaliate against the Wang family. According to a certain Wang family disciple, the demon race had also hired other rogue cultivators to exact revenge on forces that had slain Nascent Soul-stage demons during the human-demon war. Whether higher-level cultivators believed this was unknown, but many lower-level cultivators did.

The story spread rapidly, and with more people believing it, it gradually became accepted as fact.

Adopting a "better safe than sorry" attitude, many factions strengthened their defenses. When the matter reached the ears of the human race's high-level figures, they too heightened their vigilance, strictly preventing the demon race from causing trouble at this opportunity.

On Green Lotus Island, in a quiet courtyard, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Murong Bo were sitting in a stone pavilion, drinking tea and chatting.

"This was truly perilous. I never expected the demon race would hire assassins to retaliate against you. Fellow Daoist Wang should have told me sooner; had I known, I would have hastened my journey," Murong Bo said with a smile. Naturally, he didn't believe such a story. If the demon race truly acted this way, it would be tantamount to provoking a war. Even if it were genuine demon retaliation, how would the Green Lotus Immortals, far away in the Central Plains cultivation world, know of the demon race's plans? Would the demon race specifically send someone to inform the Green Lotus Immortals if they sought revenge against the Wang family?

It was none of his business, so he simply enjoyed watching the show.

With the Green Lotus Immortals absent from Green Lotus Island, yet the Wang family was still able to defeat powerful invaders, it seemed the Wang family's strength was even greater than he had imagined.

The stronger the Wang family became, the more assistance they could provide to the Murong Royal Family.

"We weren't aware beforehand; we just felt uneasy and suspected something might have happened to our family. By the way, Fellow Daoist Murong, where would you like to visit? I can accompany you," Wang Changsheng briefly explained, changing the subject.

"With such an incident occurring in your family, how could I impose on Fellow Daoist Wang to accompany me on a leisurely stroll? How about this! Let your grandson accompany me instead!" Murong Bo said with a smile. Wang Qiuming was the Green Lotus Immortals' grandson, and having him as a shield would make things more convenient for Murong Bo.

He had come to the South Sea not just to foster relations with the Wang family, but also to search for a secret location left by the Murong clan. Having Wang Qiuming accompany him was merely to dispel others' suspicions.

"No problem at all. Qiuming also greatly admires Fellow Daoist Murong. Wherever Fellow Daoist Murong wishes to go, just have Qiuming take you there! Our family has some influence in the Five Dragon Sea Region. As for other sea regions, it's harder to say, but my husband and I have also befriended some fellow Daoists. As long as it's not too big a problem, I believe other Daoists will show us some deference," Wang Ruyan said with a radiant smile. Murong Bo staying indefinitely on Green Lotus Island wasn't ideal, so his willingness to have Wang Qiuming accompany him was perfect.

"Then I thank Madam Wang very much. I have long heard that the South Sea region is vast, with each sea region spanning tens of millions of miles. With dozens of such regions in the South Sea, I am eager to visit each one and experience their diverse landscapes," Murong Bo said with a hearty laugh, appearing genuinely interested in the South Sea cultivation world.

"Indeed, the South Sea's territory is vast, and its customs and traditions are vastly different from the Central Plains cultivation world. Fellow Daoist Murong, you can tour for as long as you like; I will have Qiuming accompany you throughout," Wang Changsheng readily agreed. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Murong Bo wouldn't have come all the way to the South Sea just for sightseeing. Having Wang Qiuming accompany him was merely fulfilling their duties as hosts.

This time, Wang Qiuming would accompany Murong Bo on his travels, making it perfectly justifiable for the Wang family to request help from the Murong Royal Family in the future.

"Then I thank Fellow Daoist Wang," Murong Bo said with a chuckle, expressing his gratitude.

The next day, Murong Bo and his group left Green Lotus Island with Wang Qiuming. They planned to first travel through the Five Dragon Sea Region. Wang Changsheng did not inquire further, only instructing Wang Qiuming to host Murong Bo well.

"Madam, please watch over the family; we will return soon," Wang Changsheng instructed, before leaving Green Lotus Island with Wang Qingling and the couple Zhang Wuchen.

Wang Qingling was still stuck at a bottleneck. By accompanying Wang Changsheng to the Heavenly Void Cavern, she might be able to resolve it. Additionally, she was skilled in insect and beast control. Since Wang Changsheng and the two others intended to hunt Golden Scale Beasts, Wang Qingling might be able to assist, as no one knew what troubles they might encounter.

There would certainly be dangers, but with three Nascent Soul cultivators accompanying her, Wang Qingling would not be in significant peril.