Chapter 1391: 青莲重建(今天没有了)

A month later, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. His face was slightly pale, and large beads of sweat covered his forehead, soaking his clothes. For the past month, he had worked day and night without sleep, using spirit flames to temper his external avatar.

Before him, a watermelon-sized blue flame flickered. Within it, a fist-sized miniature figure was vaguely discernible, its tiny body covered in fine, clearly visible blood vessels. The miniature figure had complete facial features and limbs, resembling a small infant.

Wang Changsheng took a deep breath. As his incantation changed, the miniature figure suddenly burst forth with dazzling red light, its size rapidly expanding. It instantly transformed into a naked man over three feet tall, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and a palm-sized green jade box flew out. The box was carved with several green lotus flowers, and a shimmering silver talisman was affixed to its lid. Opening the jade box, Wang Changsheng took out a miniature Nascent Soul. A pale gold talisman was attached to the Nascent Soul, its surface covered with tadpole-like runes.

He rapidly formed hand seals. Several incantations struck the naked man, whose eyes suddenly flashed with blood-red light. He opened his mouth and spat out several thin blood threads, which coiled around the miniature Nascent Soul and slowly pulled it into his mouth. Wang Changsheng’s incantation changed again. Several more incantations hit the naked man, and rice-grain-sized blood-colored runes appeared on his body, causing his aura to surge.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Changsheng withdrew his incantation. The naked man closed his mouth, his body still covered in rice-grain-sized blood-colored runes. His eyes brightened significantly. A wisp of his divided consciousness flew out from his glabella and instantly entered the naked man's head.

The naked man's face contorted in pain, and he remained motionless. A moment later, the naked man suddenly let out a painful roar, howling towards the sky.

“This isn't good!”

Wang Changsheng's expression changed. He suddenly realized something. The naked man instantly exploded, transforming into a blood-red sun ten *zhang* in diameter, engulfing Wang Changsheng's figure. A powerful blast of air spread throughout the room, and the entire stone chamber shook violently.

Three breaths later, the blood-red sun dissipated, revealing Wang Changsheng enveloped in a blue water curtain. He was unharmed, but his face was grim. His first attempt to refine an external avatar had failed. This was not surprising; the method for refining external avatars was not a top secret. Most larger sects possessed similar, albeit slightly varied, techniques. However, very few Nascent Soul cultivators ever succeeded in creating an external avatar. Otherwise, external avatars would not be so precious.

The failed refinement meant the Nascent Soul was destroyed, and the wisp of divided consciousness he had placed in the external avatar was also ruined. It would take considerable time to cultivate that wisp of divided consciousness again. He still had half a piece of Primordial Blood Jade, allowing for one more attempt. However, having just lost a wisp of his divided consciousness, his vital energy was slightly depleted. He couldn't continue refining the external avatar in the short term and needed time to recuperate.

He carefully reviewed the refinement process for the external avatar. The process itself had no issues; the problem only arose when his wisp of divided consciousness entered the avatar. According to ancient texts, a balance must be achieved between the Primordial Blood Jade, the Nascent Soul, and the divided consciousness; none can be missing. It was clear that the external avatar was incompatible with his divided consciousness, leading to the failure. This situation was quite common. Unless Wang Changsheng possessed a rare heavenly treasure capable of housing a divided consciousness, the chances of failure would remain high on his next attempt.

Heavenly treasures capable of housing a divided consciousness were extremely rare, their value no less than that of Primordial Blood Jade. Obtaining even one piece of Primordial Blood Jade this time was already fortunate, so he shouldn't hope for such a rare spiritual item. Even Ye Haitang, after passing the thirty-fifth floor, did not possess a heavenly treasure for housing a divided consciousness, which showed just how precious such items were.

He thought for a moment and decided to consult Fairy Ziyue. Refining an external avatar was a highly confidential matter; the fewer people who knew, the better. Wang Changsheng couldn't go around asking everyone. Fairy Ziyue was skilled in artifact refining, so perhaps she might have some good advice.

Wang Changsheng collected the materials from the ground, stood up, and left. Upon arriving at Fairy Ziyue's residence, Wang Changsheng recounted the entire incident.

“Senior Brother Wang, I'm afraid I can't help much with this,” Fairy Ziyue said slowly. “If the divided consciousness and the external avatar are incompatible, there's no solution unless you find a heavenly treasure that can house a divided consciousness, or other rare heavenly treasures. Alternatively, you could try reducing the proportion of various materials when you refine the external avatar again; perhaps it won't reject it then.” She had never refined an external avatar herself, and her understanding of them was not much greater than Wang Changsheng's.

Wang Changsheng gave a wry smile and nodded, saying, “It seems that's the only way.” After a brief chat, Wang Changsheng took his leave and returned to his residence.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Wang Ruyan.

“Oh, dear, you're back! You didn't run into Zhou Sihong, did you?” Wang Changsheng's eyes were filled with concern. Given Wang Ruyan's safe return, it was naturally impossible for her to have encountered Zhou Sihong.

“No, Zhou Sihong isn't in the Five-Dragon Sea,” Wang Ruyan said with a bitter smile. “According to the latest news, he appeared in the Crimson Moon Sea. He was severely wounded, but two fellow cultivators died by his hand, and two others were seriously injured. The power of a Spirit Treasure is simply too great. If Zhou Sihong hadn't been gravely injured, all the Nascent Soul cultivators encircling him might have perished.” Zhou Sihong's appearance in the Crimson Moon Sea was what allowed her to return to Green Lotus Island.

The ten major sects of the South Sea had already dispatched their masters to the Crimson Moon Sea. Several sea regions adjacent to the Crimson Moon Sea were now under strict martial law. This was the best opportunity to eliminate Zhou Sihong; missing it would make finding him again exceedingly difficult.

“Crimson Moon Sea? Our branch there isn't in any trouble, is it?”

“No problems,” Wang Ruyan sighed. “With the Demon Seeking Compass in hand, Zhou Sihong doesn't dare to stop. He's being hunted by multiple Nascent Soul cultivators, but he is indeed formidable. Even severely wounded, he managed to break through the encirclement. I hope he's apprehended soon! If Zhou Sihong were to open a spatial passage to the Demon Realm, the entire South Sea cultivation world would suffer. Chaos in the South Sea would benefit no one.”

Wang Changsheng nodded, saying, “I hope so! Oh, by the way, I recently acquired a piece of Primordial Blood Jade and tried to refine an external avatar with it. Unfortunately, the refinement failed.”

“Refining an external avatar is inherently difficult, Husband, so you shouldn't worry too much about it. There aren't many Nascent Soul cultivators who possess one. Oh, by the way, calculating the time, Qingshan should have returned to the Eastern Barren Land by now. I wonder if he has rebuilt Green Lotus Villa.” Due to Zhou Sihong, the entire South Sea cultivation world was on high alert, and communication had been affected.

“Just leave that matter to Qingshan,” Wang Changsheng said, his words full of confidence in Wang Qingshan. “I trust he can handle it well.” Wang Qingshan had never disappointed him.

Eastern Barren Land, Wei State.

After Wang Qingshan returned to Wei State, he used his great divine abilities to transform Green Lotus Mountain. Green Lotus Mountain now stood at thirteen hundred *zhang* high, its slopes steep. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, various buildings of different sizes were scattered. With Green Lotus Mountain as its center, a perimeter of ten *li* in all directions was heavily fortified with multiple restrictions, making it extremely secure.

As news of Wang Qingshan rebuilding Green Lotus Villa spread, it became a common topic of conversation among cultivators. Anyone who claimed not to know that Venerable Green Lotus Sword had rebuilt Green Lotus Villa would be ridiculed. Each day, a large number of guests arrived to pay their respects. Only a few cultivators were granted an audience with Wang Qingshan. When smaller factions visited, the Wang family merely sent a few Foundation Establishment cultivators to receive them. Even so, these smaller factions felt very excited.