Chapter 1403: Shangguan Wei Emerges from Seclusion

More than three months later, Wang Changsheng returned to Qinglian Island. Immediately upon his return, he received good news.

In the meeting hall, Wang Changsheng sat in the main seat while Wang Mengbin stood by his side. In Wang Changsheng's hand was a palm-sized white gourd, emitting a bone-chilling cold.

"Taiyin Cold Water. Qingshan is thoughtful. He's not seriously injured, is he?"

Wang Changsheng asked with concern. He wasn't concerned about the Taiyin Cold Water, but about Liu Ye.

Liu Ye had visited Qinglian Villa. Broadly speaking, he intervened for the human race; more specifically, he acted on behalf of the Wang family. In terms of seniority, Wang Qingshan was Liu Ye's grand-disciple.

Without concrete evidence, minor forces wouldn't aggressively target the Wang family over a supposedly non-existent cultivation sect ruins. However, the Ten Major Sects of the South Sea might be different. Eventually, the truth would come out. The Wang family's connection with a Soul Transformation cultivator was like coating the Wang family with a protective layer. Out of respect for the Soul Transformation cultivator, the Ten Major Sects of the South Sea would not go too far.

If Wang Mingren hadn't died and had instead advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, even if the ruins were exposed, the Ten Major Sects of the South Sea wouldn't necessarily deal a heavy blow to the Wang family. Even the Wang family members living in the Zhenhai Sect ruins were unaware of the existence of a fifth-order spiritual vein.

A mere large island without a fifth-order spiritual vein held no appeal for the Ten Major Sects of the South Sea. What could entice them, besides Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures, were high-grade rare spirit herbs. Wang Changsheng possessed neither of these. It was important to note that the Zhenhai Sect ruins had already been thoroughly plundered by others, so the treasures he obtained were not particularly numerous.

"Thank you for your concern, Ancestor. Uncle Gao is fine."

Wang Changsheng then inquired about the situation of the clan members in the Eastern Barrens. Wang Mengbin answered truthfully.

Over two thousand Wang family cultivators were gathered in the Wei Kingdom, with some others lying in wait in the shadows.

"You've done well, Mengbin. Rest well tonight, and tomorrow, return to the Eastern Barrens. Inform Qingshan about the situation in the South Sea. Unless it's something truly urgent, you don't need to return. The situation in the South Sea is quite chaotic, and your presence there serves as a deterrent."

Wang Changsheng instructed with a solemn expression. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Wang Qingshan and the others being absent from the South Sea not only reduced risk but also acted as a deterrent. Cultivation families differ from cultivation sects; families rely on bloodline inheritance, and bloodlines do not change with distance or time.

More than sixty years had passed since Yellow Dragon Island was destroyed. No Yellow Dragon Island cultivator had sought revenge against the Wang family, which spoke volumes. Perhaps they were unaware that True Monarch Yellow Dragon died at the hands of the Wang family, or perhaps their influence had waned, or they were simply biding their time.

The longer the time, the fainter the Yellow Dragon Island cultivators' desire for revenge. Even the Zhenhai Sect, annihilated nearly a millennium ago, had no cultivators acting under its banner, nor did anyone seek trouble with the Sun Moon Palace. Rogue cultivators were unburdened but also more indifferent and selfish, as they only needed to look after themselves, with a weak sense of collective responsibility.

Wang Mengbin readily agreed, bowed, and withdrew.

"Trouble is brewing. I didn't expect the ruins to be exposed. Given this, I rather hope Zhou Sihong doesn't perish too soon."

Wang Ruyan walked in and sighed. As long as Zhou Sihong lives, the Ten Major Sects of the South Sea cannot rest easy. Naturally, they wouldn't have the leisure to concern themselves with whether the Wang family controlled the ruins of a major cultivation sect.

"It's hard to say. Given it concerns the safety of the South Sea cultivation world, Soul Transformation cultivators might personally intervene. Previously, Soul Transformation cultivators didn't act because they didn't know Zhou Sihong's whereabouts. Now that his approximate location is known, he probably won't be able to escape."

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply, then shifted his tone and continued: "News of Qingshan's encounter in the Eastern Barrens must be spread quickly. As long as our Wang family is linked to Liu Ye, even if the ruins are truly exposed, there shouldn't be a problem."

"I hope so. It would be great if Aunt Ximen could form her Nascent Soul. It's a pity about Uncle Mingren."

Wang Changsheng nodded with a wry smile. "What's done is done. Everyone has their own destiny. If reincarnation truly exists, Uncle Mingren might appear somewhere else, albeit with a different identity. I'm more curious about the situation with the Nine Serenity Sect. If they aren't the culprits, we truly have no leads to investigate."

The thought of the Nine Serenity Sect gave Wang Changsheng a headache. The Nine Serenity Sect, Sun Moon Palace, and the Sky Fox Clan were among the top thirty powers in the Eastern Li Realm. The enemies the Wang family had provoked were no ordinary foes. A single misstep could see the Wang family revert to its original state, or even be erased from the Eastern Li Realm by its enemies.

"Who knows! There will always be a way forward. Perhaps Qingshan will find a way to uncover the true culprit."

Northern Frontier, Nine Serenity Sect.

Inside the Nine Serenity Hall, Shangguan Wei sat emotionlessly on a black jade chair. She had been in seclusion for over a hundred years and had already advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage, her strength surpassing her previous level.

Lei Yiming and Fang Sisi stood by, looking somewhat nervous.

"During my secluded cultivation, several Nascent Soul cultivators died. Junior Brother Lei, is this how you manage the sect?"

Shangguan Wei's tone grew significantly heavier, indicating her anger.

Lei Yiming was startled and quickly explained: "Senior Sister Shangguan, you exaggerate. This matter was mishandled by me; I accept the punishment."

"Punishment? I have no interest in punishing you. What I want is results. So much time has passed, and you still haven't found the true culprit?"

Shangguan Wei's tone grew significantly heavier, indicating her anger. It's not about making mistakes, but correcting them. In comparison, incompetence is far more serious.

"The culprit possesses a Zhenhai Ape, so they might be a cultivator from the Zhenhai Sect. However, the Zhenhai Sect was destroyed nearly a millennium ago, so it's unlikely to be them. Rumor has it that Situ Mei, the Deputy Palace Master of Sun Moon Palace, led a force into the Zhenhai Sect's main headquarters, and she was the one who destroyed the Zhenhai Sect. It's not surprising for the Sun Moon Palace to obtain the Zhenhai Ape, and it's highly probable they were behind this. Senior Brother Sun died at Situ Mei's hands, which is why our two factions became hostile."

Fang Sisi said cautiously. The Nine Serenity Sect and Sun Moon Palace were both among the top forces in the Northern Frontier and South Sea, respectively. Though separated by billions of miles, the Sun Moon Palace had no motive to do this.

"Are there no other suspects besides the Sun Moon Palace?"

"Yes, there are: the Qinglian Wang family, the Guanhu Qin family, and Golden Phoenix Mountain. However, what we did back then was very secretive, so the Wang family couldn't have known. Furthermore, at the time of the incident, the Qinglian Immortals appeared to be traveling in the Central Plains cultivation world. Most importantly, the Wang family is not what it once was; they are backed by the Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Myriad Sword Sect, and their prospects are very good, so they have no reason to provoke us. In contrast, the Guanhu Qin family is highly suspect. The Qin family was extensive and powerful, and many of its members managed to escape the calamity. The Qin family's direct descendant was already at the eighth layer of Core Formation at the time, and with his talent, the chances of him reaching the Nascent Soul stage were quite high."

The Guanhu Qin family, as mentioned by Lei Yiming, was a major cultivation family in the Northern Frontier cultivation world. However, the Qin family was involved in colluding with outsiders to scheme against the Nine Serenity Sect, and was consequently annihilated by the Nine Serenity Sect as a warning to others. Only a small number of Qin family members managed to escape.

Shangguan Wei pondered for a moment, then instructed: "This matter must be investigated thoroughly until the truth is revealed. And by the way, is there any trace of the Nine Serenity Command Token?"