Chapter 1373: The Choice of the Clan

For millennia, only Gongsun Yang has successfully cleared the thirty-sixth level. Everyone is eager to see if anyone can achieve that feat this time. It’s no exaggeration to say that whoever clears the thirty-sixth level, be it human or demon, will undoubtedly become a prime candidate for cultivation within their respective forces.

Wang Changsheng does not intend to participate. Gongsun Yang is the next island master of Myriad Beasts Island and possesses a spirit physique. Given his success in clearing the thirty-sixth level, Myriad Beasts Island likely invested considerable resources. In terms of accumulated resources and heritage, the Wang family is vastly outmatched by Myriad Beasts Island. While the Wang family did acquire treasures left behind by the Zhenhai Sect, many are unusable. Furthermore, the Wang family’s development history is short; they cannot hope to catch up to Myriad Beasts Island in the short term, unless a great tribulation occurs.

One must possess self-awareness. Not knowing one’s own limits might invite ridicule, which isn’t the primary concern. A single misstep could lead to one’s demise and the end of their cultivation.

Li Tianyang shook his head, saying, “There’s no point in betting on such matters. Youngsters have their own destinies to pursue.”

Winning such a wager would require proving that the person who cleared the thirty-sixth level is one’s own disciple. This is a border region, and the demon race has already massed considerable forces, poised to invade at any moment.

Under these circumstances, there’s no need for wagers. Furthermore, even if someone were to clear the thirty-sixth level, they would not admit it.

Inside the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, on the thirty-fourth level.

Wang Qingjing’s face was pale, with two heavily damaged puppet beasts standing by her side. Zhou Yunxiao had proven incredibly difficult to defeat; she had damaged two third-tier puppet beasts and expended two Golden Core stage talismans before finally defeating Zhou Yunxiao.

Contestants who manage to clear the thirty-fourth level are far from ordinary. It remains to be seen if anyone will be able to clear the thirty-sixth level.

Over a dozen golden jade tables materialized, each bearing a treasure.

Clearing the thirty-fourth level had already been a formidable challenge for Wang Qingjing. She did not believe she could clear the thirty-fifth level.

Her gaze settled on the golden jade tables; she was entitled to three treasures.

“Gengjin Sand – this is an exceptional material for refining flying sword magical artifacts. Blade and sword-type magical artifacts imbued with Gengjin Sand will see their power greatly enhanced.”

Wang Qingjing observed a pale golden jade box; within it, pale golden grains of sparkling sand shimmered.

In addition to crafting materials, there were two millennium-old spirit herbs and a spiritual item for Nascent Soul formation.

After careful deliberation, Wang Qingjing selected three items: Gengjin Sand, a complete fourth-tier demon beast hide, and a spiritual item for Nascent Soul formation.

The Gengjin Sand could be used by both Wang Changsheng and Wang Qingshan for artifact refining. The fourth-tier beast hide could be given to Wang Ruyan for refining talisman soldiers, while the spiritual item for Nascent Soul formation she would keep for herself.

A dazzling burst of light swept beneath Wang Qingjing’s feet. Her vision blurred, and she suddenly found herself hovering over a vast, endless ocean, with no other cultivators in sight.

She quickly retrieved a pale blue orb and imbued it with a spell. With a flash of azure light, the orb flew off into the distance. Just then, over a dozen dark figures surged forth from afar.

Cultivators emerging from the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda are susceptible to pursuit by others. Furthermore, since the Pagoda manifested near the border this time, not only human cultivators but also demon beasts are present.

Startled, Wang Qingjing’s escape light intensified, and she followed the pale blue orb as it soared higher into the sky.

A deafening thunderclap suddenly ripped through the void. A silver lightning bolt, as thick as a millstone, descended from the sky, striking directly at Wang Qingjing.

Wang Qingjing hastily activated a small azure umbrella, which cast down a protective shimmer of azure light, enveloping her entire body.

Boom!

A surge of silver lightning engulfed the small azure umbrella, yet Wang Qingjing remained completely unharmed.

Over a dozen dark figures gave chase, led by a black-robed youth with a pair of black feathered wings on his back. Beside him flew over a dozen massive black crows.

The black-robed youth was a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator, and all dozen-plus black crows were third-tier demon birds.

With his right hand, he made a grabbing motion towards Wang Qingjing in the void, causing spatial ripples. A black eagle claw, several meters in size, abruptly appeared above Wang Qingjing’s head. Like a claw reaching for the moon reflected in the sea, it lunged towards her.

At that moment, a loud whoosh echoed through the air as an azure long rainbow shot forth, instantly shattering the black eagle claw and unleashing a powerful shockwave.

“Who goes there?! How dare you interfere with my affairs!”

The black-robed youth’s face darkened, and he let out a furious roar.

“You are quite audacious, daring to attack my cousin.”

A man’s voice, utterly devoid of emotion, drifted from the horizon, as an azure long rainbow became visible in the distant sky.

“No good, it’s a Human Nascent Soul cultivator! Retreat quickly!”

The black-robed youth felt the astonishing aura emanating from the azure long rainbow. His face changed, and he violently flapped the feathered wings on his back, stirring up a fierce gale as he flew back the way he came.

An azure escape light shot forth, and in less than three breaths, it had caught up to the black-robed youth.

The black-robed youth made a grabbing motion towards the void with his right hand, and a black eagle claw, several meters in size, materialized out of thin air and struck upwards.

Boom!

The black eagle claw shattered instantly. The black-robed youth also clearly saw the true form of the azure escape light: it was an azure lotus flower, about a *zhang* in size, continuously flickering with spiritual light.

The azure lotus flower spun rapidly, unleashing countless azure sword energies. Simultaneously, a fierce gale erupted, transforming into an azure tornado over a hundred *zhang* tall, trapping the black-robed youth and several black crows within its swirling vortex. They were shredded to pieces, and a shower of blood rained down from the sky, plummeting into the ocean.

With a flash of azure light, the azure tornado dissipated, transforming back into a misty azure flying sword that returned to Wang Qingshan’s hand.

“Eighth Sister, are you alright!”

Wang Qingshan looked at Wang Qingjing, his eyes filled with deep concern.

The higher the cleared level, the greater the teleportation range, and the teleportation itself was random. As soon as the sensing orb in Wang Qingshan’s hand reacted, he immediately rushed to her location. Fortunately, Wang Qingjing’s teleportation point was not exceptionally far.

“I’m fine! What about Twelfth Brother and the others? Are they alright!”

“I’m not sure about them. I came to pick you up; I don’t know their current situation. Let’s head back first!”

Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjing flew back the way they had come, quickly vanishing into the horizon.

In the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, on the thirtieth level, Wang Qingjun gazed at the treasures on the dozen golden jade tables, his eyes burning with eagerness.

His face was pale. To be fair, his strength was not insignificant, but the difficulty of the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda was considerable. Clearing the thirtieth level was already a remarkable achievement for him. He was a cautious individual and intended to select three treasures before departing.

The treasures on the thirtieth level were not exceptionally valuable. After careful deliberation, Wang Qingjun selected three items: a drop of One-Yuan Heavy Water, a bottle of millennium spirit milk, and a high-grade spirit stone.

Other treasures were either readily available to the Wang family or simply not useful to Wang Qingjun.

Wang Changsheng required One-Yuan Heavy Water. The millennium spirit milk could be kept for his own use. The high-grade spirit stone could be used for setting up formations and controlling fourth-tier puppet beasts.

A shimmer of silver light emanated from beneath his feet, and Wang Qingjun vanished.

On the thirty-fourth level, Wang Mengbin’s aura was weak, his face pale, and his body bore numerous injuries. The area around him was in disarray. Zhou Yunxiao lay on the ground, completely charred, with a pile of broken metal scattered about.

To defeat Zhou Yunxiao, Wang Mengbin had exhausted all his abilities. His lightning-based spells were incredibly powerful, yet Zhou Yunxiao’s attacks proved even more formidable. It was no wonder Wang Qingshan had failed to defeat Zhou Yunxiao previously.

Prior to this, he had originally intended to attempt the thirty-fifth level. However, it was now clear that his strength was indeed insufficient. Forcing his way through would only lead to his demise.

Wang Mengbin let out a soft sigh and walked towards the dozen golden jade tables.

He selected a spiritual item for Nascent Soul formation, a fourth-tier Yin beast’s demon core, and a Thunder Rhino Crystal. Both the Thunder Rhino Crystal and the spiritual item for Nascent Soul formation were useful to him. As for the fourth-tier Yin beast’s demon core, it was an item Wang Changsheng had personally ordered to be sought out.

A burst of iridescent light rose from beneath his feet, and Wang Mengbin disappeared from sight.