Chapter 1361: Linguī Advancement

Wang Qingshan turned his head to look at Liu Xinchao and the others, smiling as he asked, "Fellow Daoist Liu, what do you think?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang is right; the demon race is our sworn enemy. We shouldn't give them any opportunities."

"Indeed, thanks to Fellow Daoist Wang, otherwise we would have made a grave mistake."

"Yes! Fellow Daoist Wang truly has foresight."

Even Reverend Jinjing yielded, so Liu Xinchao and the other two naturally dared not refuse. After all, the Wang family's power was undeniable!

"Fellow Daoist Sun, what do you think?"

Wang Qingshan looked at Master Jindao, knowing that to get Liu Xinchao and the others to retreat, there had to be sufficient benefits.

Master Jindao understood this. With their forces at his city gates, he would have to cede territory and pay reparations. While this was indeed humiliating, the situation left him no choice but to yield.

"Fellow Daoist Wang is correct," Master Jindao said. "I am willing to offer some items to all of you. Please wait a moment."

Master Jindao and Reverend Jinyue flew back to the Golden Blade Sect. Less than half an hour later, they emerged.

Master Jindao gave Liu Xinchao, True Monarch Jinyan, and Fairy Qianyun each a string of storage beads. The three of them scanned the beads with their divine sense and were very satisfied.

"Fellow Daoist Jin," Liu Xinchao said with a smile, "we captured a group of your Golden Blade Sect disciples. I will release them immediately upon my return." True Monarch Jinyan and Fairy Qianyun both agreed.

They had captured many Golden Blade Sect disciples. If they annihilated the sect, they could absorb these cultivators into their ranks. If they couldn't, they could exchange them for cultivation resources. The war was fought to gain more cultivation resources, not simply for slaughter. Of course, the die-hard loyalists would certainly be eliminated to prevent future retaliation.

"Then we trouble the three of you," Master Jindao said, forcing a smile. "We will yield a portion of our territory."

Master Jindao forced a smile. Ceding territory and paying reparations was deeply humiliating, but he had no other choice.

"Alright, we won't trouble you any further. Farewell, Fellow Daoist Wang. If you have time, please visit our Fire Cloud Island. You are always welcome."

After saying this, Liu Xinchao departed with his disciples.

True Monarch Jinyan and Fairy Qianyun also bid farewell and left with their followers, leaving Wang Qingshan and his group behind.

Wang Qingshan thus averted a catastrophe for the Golden Blade Sect. Master Jindao and Reverend Jinyue knew the Wang family wouldn't be so benevolent for nothing, but they were still very grateful.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, thank you for your assistance. If not for you this time, our Golden Blade Sect would likely have been annihilated. We have already prepared a feast. Please come in."

Master Jindao made a welcoming gesture. Wang Qingshan nodded and flew back to his Icewind Flood Dragon. His left hand trembled slightly, and a stream of blood flowed down his arm. He was actually injured, but had been enduring it.

Reverend Jinjing, after all, was a Nascent Soul cultivator renowned for many years and not easily dealt with. This sparring match also made Wang Qingshan realize the gap between a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and an early-stage one. He had a spiritual treasure, but did Reverend Jinjing not have other trump cards?

During this exchange, the set of flying swords he used felt somewhat inadequate. It would be excellent if Wang Changsheng could help refine a set of flying swords suitable for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A green light illuminated Wang Qingshan's palm, and the blood instantly stopped flowing.

Half an hour later, Wang Qingshan, Master Jindao, and Reverend Jinyue appeared inside the Golden Blade Hall, where they drank tea and chatted.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Master Jindao flipped his palm, revealing a palm-sized green jade bottle.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, thank you for your assistance. I have nothing to offer in return, so please accept this bottle of diluted Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid!"

Master Jindao said with a smile, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

During his journey to the Five Dragon Secret Realm, besides the fourth-tier flood dragon skeleton, he also obtained some dragon essence. He had asked a fourth-tier alchemist to help refine it into Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid, which was an excellent body-strengthening elixir, highly beneficial for body cultivators.

To repel the invaders, the Golden Blade Sect had made great sacrifices. Giving something too valuable to Wang Qingshan would risk inciting his covetousness, while giving something too ordinary might lead to misunderstandings.

Therefore, the diluted Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid was the most suitable gift for Wang Qingshan. Master Jindao had also realized that the fourth-tier flood dragon skeleton was a hot potato in his hands. He planned to give it to his backing force in exchange for a sum of cultivation resources. If he could advance to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, he could then reclaim the lost territory and avenge his humiliation.

"Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid!"

A flicker of surprise appeared in Wang Qingshan's eyes. He had naturally heard of Dragon Essence. It was said that after a fourth-tier or higher flood dragon passed away, it might leave behind Dragon Essence, which was the essence of a flood dragon of that tier or higher. However, this didn't mean every fourth-tier flood dragon possessed Dragon Essence. This was similar to eminent Buddhist monks; only those who cultivated an indestructible Vajra body and achieved enlightenment might form a Vajra relic within their bodies after their passing, and Dragon Essence was even more precious than a Vajra relic.

Even diluted Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid was an excellent body-strengthening spiritual item.

Wang Qingshan expressed his gratitude and accepted the Dragon Essence Spirit Liquid, feeling that this trip had not been in vain.

After chatting for less than half an hour, Wang Qingshan noticed Master Jindao's distraction and proactively said, "Fellow Daoist Sun, Fellow Daoist Song, since the conflict has settled, I won't stay much longer. If you have time another day, both of you are welcome to visit Green Lotus Island as guests."

"Certainly, I will see you off."

Master Jindao did not try to keep him, personally seeing Wang Qingshan and his group off.

"Wang Qingshan reached a stalemate with Reverend Jinjing in less than a century after entering the Nascent Soul stage. Once he advances to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, Reverend Jinjing will certainly not be his match. How wonderful it would be if Wang Qingshan were a disciple of our Golden Blade Sect."

Master Jindao sighed, watching the distant Icewind Flood Dragon with a face full of envy.

"Advancing from the early-stage to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm is a significant hurdle. How many Nascent Soul cultivators are stuck at the early stage for their entire lives? We have been stuck at the early Nascent Soul stage for over a century, and we don't know if we'll ever reach the mid-stage in our lifetimes. Considering the time, True Monarch Taihao entered the Nascent Soul stage over a century ago; I wonder what his current realm is. His formation of a Nascent Soul triggered an anomaly, which is not comparable to ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators."

Reverend Jinyue said with some envy.

"Let's not talk about that now. We should first deal with the present matters! The fourth-tier flood dragon skeleton is a hot potato; we must hand it over."

Five Dragons Sea Region, Green Lotus Island.

Green Lotus Peak, a vast lake. The Qilin Turtle floated on the water's surface. It was regularly fed and spent its days playing and eating, having grown to five zhang in size.

A massive dark cloud hovered high in the sky. A silver lightning bolt, as thick as an adult's arm, struck the Qilin Turtle. It was like a tickle to the turtle, which remained completely unharmed.

The silver lightning struck its shell, and a blue water curtain appeared on the shell's surface, causing the silver lightning to dissipate and vanish.

As time passed, one thick silver lightning bolt after another struck down, but the Qilin Turtle remained unaffected, swimming joyfully in the lake. The spiritual fish in the lake, however, suffered greatly, floating to the surface, burnt crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the thundercloud violently churned, transforming into a silver lightning ball about a zhang in diameter. It descended from the sky, striking the Qilin Turtle and engulfing its body.

Three breaths later, the silver lightning dispersed, and an entirely charred turtle shell floated on the lake's surface.

The Qilin Turtle's head and limbs had retracted into its shell. Before long, it extended its head and limbs, emitting a strange hiss. Numerous blue electric arcs surged on its body, and charred pieces flaked off its shell. A brand new shell appeared on its body, and judging by its aura, it had clearly advanced to the third tier.