Chapter 1338: Falling Flowers Are Intentional, Flowing Water Is Heartless

Ye Zhongren took out a light-blue square token and gently waved it towards the blue misty sea in front. A streak of azure light flew out, instantly vanishing into the mist.

The blue misty sea emitted a muffled, thunderous sound. It violently churned like an ebbing tide, and a blue cloud ladder, over a hundred zhang long, flew out and landed in front of Ye Zhongren.

"Esteemed seniors, please."

Ye Zhongren made a gesture of invitation. Zhou Ningshuang put away her golden flood dragon and was the first to fly onto the blue cloud ladder. The other cultivators followed suit, flying onto the ladder, and Ye Zhongren was the last to step on.

The blue cloud ladder carried them back into the blue misty sea. Zhou Ningshuang and the others felt a momentary blur before their eyes. When they regained their senses, they found themselves on a sandy beach. Not far ahead stood a majestic azure city. Its walls were three hundred zhang high, constructed from massive azure boulders, and inscribed with numerous array patterns on their surface.

Ten glowing third-tier puppet beasts were positioned on the long city walls, and a team of cultivators in azure armor patrolled the walls. Wang Mengfen flew out from within the city. Feeling Zhou Ningshuang's powerful spiritual pressure, his expression turned solemn.

Ye Zhongren quickly walked up to Wang Mengfen and respectfully said, "Patriarch, this is Senior Zhou from the Great Yan Imperial Family. They are all imperial descendants."

Wang Mengfen nodded, bowed, and said, "This junior, Wang Mengfen, greets Senior Zhou. Welcome, Senior Zhou, to our Wang family. Please come in."

Zhou Ningshuang asked, "Are the Azure Lotus Immortals available now? I have something I'd like to discuss with them."

"The patriarch is currently meeting with guests. Senior Zhou, please stay here for now. This junior will relay your message to the patriarch."

"Very well, then we shall impose."

Wang Mengfen promptly led Zhou Ningshuang and her group. Currently, more than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators resided on Azure Lotus Island, including representatives from the Ouyang family who had arrived earlier, and the Qianyang Immortals. Only those who didn't value their lives would dare cause trouble on Azure Lotus Island.

A verdant mountain peak, covered in exotic flowers and rare plants, housed a secluded courtyard. To the left of the courtyard gate stood a three-story azure pavilion, beside which was an azure stone pavilion. The courtyard itself was planted with numerous exotic flowers and rare herbs.

Wang Ruyan, Wu Chang, and Li Ling'er were sitting in the stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting. Wang Changsheng was still in secluded cultivation. Wang Ruyan had been extremely busy recently because various powerful forces, including the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Myriad Flowers Sect, Tang Family, and Ouyang Family, had sent representatives to attend Wang Qingshan's Nascent Soul formation ceremony, showing great respect to the Wang family.

With Nascent Soul cultivators personally visiting, Wang Ruyan was busy entertaining them. With so many powerful forces attending Wang Qingshan's Nascent Soul formation ceremony, other forces in the South Sea region would not easily dare to confront the Wang family.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, Mrs. Wu, thank you for traveling thousands of miles to the South Sea to attend Qingshan's Nascent Soul ceremony. If there's ever anything you need from us in the future, please don't hesitate to ask." Wang Ruyan smiled faintly and exchanged pleasantries.

She hadn't truly expected the Qianyang Immortals to personally make the trip to the South Sea. She had thought they would, at most, send representatives, as their acquaintance was only brief, and their relationship not particularly deep.

"Mrs. Wang, you're too kind. My visit this time isn't solely to attend your nephew's Nascent Soul ceremony. I, Wu, wish to spar with Fellow Daoist Wang once more." Wu Chang's eyes gleamed as he finished speaking.

Over thirty years ago, he had sparred with Wang Changsheng and lost due to overconfidence. Now, having reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he would not underestimate his opponent this time.

Wang Ruyan smiled and nodded, saying, "My husband told me that Fellow Daoist Wu is very strong, and he also wishes to spar with you again."

"Mrs. Wang, you flatter me. By the way, where is the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign? Is he still in secluded cultivation?"

Li Ling'er was full of curiosity about Wang Qingshan. Legends of Wang Qingshan circulated throughout the Eastern Wilderness, South Sea, and Central Plains cultivation worlds, and his deeds were widely spread. During the Foundation Establishment stage, Wang Qingshan became famous after sparring with Zhou Yunxiao. At the Myriad Swords Sect's Sword Fighting Convention in the South Sea, he achieved sudden enlightenment on the spot, making his name known throughout the South Sea. During his travels in the Central Plains, he sparred with young talents of the Great Yan Dynasty, losing rarely and winning frequently. The only cultivation world Wang Qingshan had not visited was the Northern Border.

"Qingshan is currently meeting an acquaintance. I will bring him to visit both of you in a few days."

When Wang Ruyan spoke of Wang Qingshan, her face also showed pride. This nephew had a firm Dao heart, a strong sense of belonging to the family, and was neither arrogant nor impatient. Both Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were very optimistic about Wang Qingshan's future.

In a valley filled with exotic flowers, a group of spirit butterflies danced gracefully among the blossoms. Wang Qingshan and Liu Meier sat silently in a stone pavilion.

Liu Meier had formed her Nascent Soul ten years prior. At that time, the Myriad Flowers Sect had sent an invitation to the Wang family. However, the Azure Lotus Immortals were in the Central Plains, and Wang Qingshan was in secluded cultivation. Wang Mengfen had dispatched several Core Formation cultivators to attend Liu Meier's Nascent Soul formation ceremony.

The two had not seen each other for sixty years. Liu Meier had become much more composed. After the Myriad Flowers Palace split, the Myriad Flowers Sect's strength significantly declined, forcing them to rely on the Taiyi Immortal Sect for survival. The Tang family was similar, having become dependent on the Shangqing Daoist Temple.

Lin Siruo and Tang Yunshang might have regretted their actions, but if given another chance, they would likely still choose to split. The two had always been at odds. The Myriad Flowers Palace was severely weakened, existing in name only, so a split was inevitable. If they hadn't split, one of them would surely have eliminated the other, for a single mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.

Liu Meier pondered for a moment, then broke the silence, saying, "You've formed your Nascent Soul. Congratulations."

Before this, she was the senior disciple sister of Myriad Flowers Palace, possessing a dazzling array of titles, and countless young talents had fallen for her charms. After the Myriad Flowers Palace split, all these titles disappeared, and she slowly grew up, becoming mature and composed.

She primarily operated in the Eastern Wilderness and had visited the South Sea and Central Plains, but she hadn't gained widespread fame like Wang Qingshan.

Liu Meier clearly understood that Wang Qingshan would become even more dazzling after forming his Nascent Soul, and she might not be able to keep up with his pace. She had lived a pampered life since childhood, with Lin Siruo providing all the cultivation resources she needed, eliminating any need for her to take personal risks. Wang Qingshan, on the other hand, had carved his path through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Wang Qingshan came from an insignificant small family, and the hardships and exhaustion he endured to reach his current position were beyond her comprehension.

"Thank you. You've changed; you seem somewhat unfamiliar," Wang Qingshan said softly, sighing lightly in his heart. He knew Liu Meier had feelings for him, but he felt nothing for her, or rather, he had never considered romantic relationships.

During his Nascent Soul tribulation, the inner demon manifested as Liu Meier and Bai Ling'er. Wang Qingshan easily broke through the inner demon, as he had never considered seeking a Dao companion, so the inner demon naturally posed no challenge to him.

Liu Meier sighed softly, gazing at the spirit butterflies dancing gracefully in the sea of flowers. She said wistfully, "People always grow up. Master protected me too well, making me like a child who never grew up. Some things, I've only come to understand in recent years."

When she was attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, her inner demon had manifested as Wang Qingshan, causing her considerable trouble. Wang Qingshan was not the only man who had rejected her, but he was certainly the one who had moved her the most. Unfortunately, Wang Qingshan was devoted to the Dao and uninterested in romantic relationships.