Chapter 1354: Joyful Treasure Acquisition

"We didn't say that, and we don't want to escalate this matter. How about this: you cede two hundred islands, and we will withdraw our troops. What do you say?"

Ye Yuwei gazed at Madam Qingyan and Master Jingtao with a half-smile. Ever since the Rogue Cultivator Alliance settled in the Golden Clam Sea, conflicts with the Ye family had been frequent. The Ye family had long harbored resentment. When the Wang and Lu families approached them, offering to help deal with the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, the Ye family readily agreed.

As the Ye family had anticipated, the allied forces of the three families swept through, killing hundreds of Rogue Cultivator Alliance disciples and severely crippling the Alliance.

"Hmph, you want to fight when you please and withdraw when you please? There's no such easy deal! I've long wished to experience Madam Lu's divine abilities. Madam Lu, would you be willing to grant me that?" Madam Qingyan's expression turned cold as she spoke without reservation. With her side having gained no victories, she had no standing to bargain, even in peace talks.

"Very well! I also wish to experience Madam Wei's divine abilities. However, let us spar at a higher altitude to avoid harming the juniors." Lu Yongyi agreed. Both she and Madam Qingyan were at the early Nascent Soul stage. If she could defeat Madam Qingyan, she would gain significant advantages; if she lost, the repercussions would be minimal.

The two figures soared into the sky. Soon, a deafening roar echoed from above as streaks of green and blue light intertwined. Wang Qingqing and Ye Haitang watched the green and blue lights high above, their faces showing envy. Despite the allied forces' sweeping victories, if Madam Qingyan's divine abilities proved superior, they wouldn't reap much benefit.

After a while, a piercing female shriek resounded, and a cluster of blue spiritual light descended from the sky. Ye Yuwei extended her jade hand into the void, and countless blue light particles converged, forming a massive blue cloud that cushioned the descending blue light.

Lu Yongyi's face was pale, and a cluster of green flames enveloped most of her body.

"Azure Sun True Flame!"

A flash of surprise crossed Ye Yuwei's eyes. With a flick of her jade hand, an ancient-looking small purple mirror appeared. A purple light pulsed, and a vast expanse of purple mist surged forth, engulfing Lu Yongyi. After a moment, the purple mist dissipated. The green flames on Lu Yongyi's body vanished. Her face was pale, her clothes disheveled, and she appeared somewhat distressed. The Azure Sun True Flame was a divine ability accompanying Madam Qingyan's cultivation technique. After centuries of nurturing, its power surpassed even the nascent flame of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Lu Yongyi quickly retrieved a blue magic robe and put it on, a trace of fear evident in her eyes. Wang Qingqing and Ye Haitang exchanged glances. They hadn't expected Lu Yongyi to be defeated so quickly. It seemed there was good reason for the Rogue Cultivator Alliance to establish itself in the Golden Clam Sea.

Madam Qingyan descended from the sky, her expression indifferent. "I thought you had some formidable skills! Turns out you're nothing special!" she sneered, her face full of disdain.

"It seems Madam Wei's divine abilities are extraordinary. I, Wang, would like to seek some guidance from Madam Wei. What do you say, Madam Wei?" A somewhat indifferent male voice drifted from the horizon. A long azure rainbow appeared in the sky and, after a few flashes, came to a halt. It was Wang Qingshan. Beneath Wang Qingshan's feet was a shimmering azure sword light. His long hair flowed freely, giving him an air of immortality.

"Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign!" Madam Qingyan's beautiful face changed, and a hint of apprehension appeared in her eyes. She would have been willing to spar with other Nascent Soul cultivators, but with Wang Qingshan, she absolutely refused. The Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign had become famous at a young age, with legends of him spanning the Eastern Wilderness, the South Sea, and the Central Plains. Sparring with someone of his caliber, Madam Qingyan's chances of winning were slim. If she won, that would be one thing, but if the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign seized the opportunity to kill her, to whom would she appeal? Even if she won, the Rogue Cultivator Alliance would still have to cede territory and seek peace; it would merely be a question of how much. Gambling on whether Wang Qingshan would kill her over some territory was too great a loss; it was not worth it at all.

Having considered this, Madam Qingyan's eyes darted around, and she said, "Hmph, and what if I win? Will our deceased disciples be resurrected? If you want a life-and-death battle, just say so. We are not afraid of you; we'll take a few of you down with us, even if we die."

Ye Yuwei had not expected Madam Qingyan's attitude to be so unyielding. She could see that Madam Qingyan's arrogance had somewhat subsided due to Wang Qingshan's arrival.

"Madam Wei, you've misunderstood. How about this: let each side send out five disciples for five matches. The side that wins three out of five matches will be victorious. If we win, two hundred islands will be ours, along with a sum of wealth. If we lose, we will withdraw our troops immediately." Madam Qingyan naturally would not agree to such humiliating terms, as there would be no benefit to her whether she won or lost.

After about an hour of wrangling, both sides reached an agreement. Each faction would send five Core Formation cultivators to spar. The first to win three out of five matches would be the victor. If the Rogue Cultivator Alliance won, they would receive compensation, and the three allied families would peacefully retreat. If they lost, the Rogue Cultivator Alliance would cede one hundred and fifty islands and present several treasures as compensation to the three families.

After deliberation, Ye Yuwei, Wang Qingshan, and Lu Yongyi decided to send Lu Hengbin, Wang Qingqing, Wang Huaxing, Wang Qiuming, and Ye Ruolan. The strength of the Wang family's Core Formation cultivators was well-known. As long as the Wang family secured three victories, it wouldn't matter even if Lu Hengbin and Ye Ruolan lost their matches.

Wang Qingqing's opponent was a short, stout old man in a red robe, a cultivator at the eighth level of Core Formation. As soon as the match began, Wang Qingqing released a third-tier flood dragon and two third-tier puppet beasts. The green flood dragon thrashed its tail and charged towards the red-robed old man, while a golden giant bear, ten feet tall, strode towards the opponent. A thirty-foot-large azure giant eagle circled high above, seeking an opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

The red-robed old man struggled against the attack of a single third-tier flood dragon, let alone two mid-grade third-tier puppet beasts. Neither his spiritual arts nor his magic treasures could destroy the puppet beasts. Instead, the third-tier flood dragon seized an opportunity, sweeping its tail to strike the old man, sending him flying backward. Before he could regain his footing, countless thick yellow ropes erupted from the ground, coiling around his body, as an azure giant eagle and a green flood dragon descended from above.

"Stop! I surrender!" The red-robed old man, drenched in a cold sweat, quickly shouted, as a large expanse of crimson flames erupted from his body's surface.

"Stop! Junior Nephew Li has lost." Madam Qingyan called out loudly.

Wang Qingqing smiled knowingly and withdrew her green flood dragon and puppet beasts. Wang Qiuming released a third-tier flood dragon and two mid-grade third-tier puppet beasts, easily defeating his opponent. Wang Huaxing was even more formidable, moving like the wind, rendering his enemies unable to even touch him, and leaving them utterly helpless against his attacks.

After Wang Qingqing and the other two had defeated their opponents, with Lu Hengbin and Ye Ruolan's duels still ongoing, Madam Qingyan directly declared the sparring session over. This sparring session was practically unwinnable. Facing a single third-tier flood dragon in a one-on-one fight, who could stand against a cultivator from the Wang family?

Having lost the match, Madam Qingyan had no choice but to honor the agreement, ceding one hundred and fifty islands and presenting six treasures as compensation to Wang Qingshan and the other two. Wang Qingshan received two drops of Primordial Heavy Water. Wang Changsheng had been searching for Primordial Heavy Water, and with these two drops, he could gather the remaining materials to forge two more Sea-Calming Pearls. The more Sea-Calming Pearls he possessed, the stronger his power would become.

Their objective achieved, Wang Qingshan and the others departed together.

"It hasn't even been a hundred years, and the Wang family has actually cultivated so many third-tier flood dragons. It seems the true inheritance of the Five Dragon Palace has fallen into the Wang family's hands. From now on, we must avoid the Wang family," Madam Qingyan murmured to herself, an envious expression on her face. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, she didn't even possess a single third-tier flood dragon as a spirit beast, yet several Core Formation cultivators from the Wang family each had one. It was truly infuriating to compare oneself to others.

It was foreseeable that, as time passed, the number of third-tier flood dragons in the Wang family would only increase. Coupled with the presence of the Azure Lotus Immortals and the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign, the Wang family's rise was unstoppable. As long as the Azure Lotus Immortals and the Azure Lotus Sword Sovereign remained, the Wang family would only continue to prosper.