Chapter 1417: The Refining Method of the Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure

Three days later, a golden light flew out from the Sunset Desert.

The golden light receded, revealing a glittering jade shuttle adorned with shifting runes. Fan Ruoruo, Wang Qingshan, Wu Chang, and Li Linger stood atop the golden jade shuttle, all four with expressions of lingering fear on their faces.

“We’re finally out,” Fan Ruoruo said solemnly. “Fellow Daoist Wang, I can never repay your life-saving kindness. If you ever need my help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.” Fan Ruoruo spoke earnestly, as she would have lost her life had Wang Qingshan not intervened.

Wang Qingshan nodded. “If there’s a need, I will certainly ask.”

“It’s a promise. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. Farewell, Fellow Daoist Wu and Fellow Daoist Li.” Fan Ruoruo greeted Wu Chang and his wife, then transformed into a golden streak of light, soaring into the sky and vanishing into the horizon.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, let’s head back too! We can talk more once we’re there.” The three of them transformed into streaks of light and disappeared into the distance.

Over two months later, they returned to Phoenix Cry Villa.

On the way, they briefly exchanged their experiences, though they naturally held back some details. After they separated that day, Wu Chang and Li Linger were also trapped by restrictions. Later, they managed to escape after someone unknowingly triggered the formation. Wang Qingshan did not mention True Monarch White Wolf, only stating that he had discovered a weak point in the restrictions and attacked it to escape.

“It’s a great fortune amidst misfortune that we managed to escape safely. We just don’t know how Fellow Daoist Huang and the others fared,” Wu Chang said. “Oh, and Fellow Daoist Wang, regardless of what you say, we owe you a favor for your willingness to help. Please come with me to our family’s treasury and pick two treasures.” Wu Chang spoke sincerely, as Wang Qingshan’s strength was considerable, and he wished to strengthen their relationship.

Wang Qingshan shook his head. “I can’t accept something for nothing. I didn’t help much.”

“Fellow Daoist Wang, my wife and I always keep our word; it’s our principle. Please accept them,” Li Linger said with a smile.

Hearing this, Wang Qingshan found it difficult to refuse further. He followed Wu Chang to a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. The rock walls on either side of the valley were reddish, like scorching hot stones. The valley was enveloped by a vast expanse of crimson mist. Wu Chang took out a round red token; with a flash of red light, a beam shot out and disappeared into the valley.

Shortly after, the crimson mist within the valley churned violently and then suddenly dissipated. Wang Qingshan followed Wu Chang inside. Within the valley was a cave entrance about ten feet wide. The cave walls were carved with numerous profound red runes, and a nine-meter-long red giant lion lay at the entrance, seemingly asleep and motionless. The cave was somewhat hot and dry. After passing through a long tunnel, a red jade-carved gate appeared before them. The gate was inscribed with the image of a red giant lion.

Wu Chang took out a square red token, infused it with magic power, and with a flash of red light, a beam shot out and vanished into the stone gate. The red stone lion seemed to come alive, opening its jaws wide and letting out an angry roar. The stone gate automatically opened, revealing an underground cavern about an acre in size. To their left, on a red meditation cushion, sat a benevolent-looking elder in red robes, his eyes closed, as if asleep.

Wu Chang bowed respectfully to the red-robed elder, then led Wang Qingshan forward. The stone walls of the underground cavern were carved with numerous red runes, emitting faint fire-attribute fluctuations. There were ten red display shelves, each nine meters tall, crafted from a type of beautiful red jade, glowing with red light. The shelves held a vast array of items: magical treasures, refining materials, demon cores, talismans, formation plates, and various other objects. Wang Qingshan estimated roughly that the Wu family’s treasury contained over five thousand treasures, each capable of fetching a high price at auction.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, you can pick any two items from these,” Wu Chang said generously, gesturing towards the ten shelves. The Wu family had a legacy spanning over ten thousand years, and accumulating these treasures had not been easy, requiring immense effort and dedication. Had it been any other Nascent Soul cultivator, Wu Chang would not have been so generous.

Wang Qingshan leisurely browsed the shelves. Indeed, there were many excellent items, including a set of four red flying swords. He hesitated briefly, then averted his gaze. He circled twice and finally chose two items: One piece of five-foot-long thousand-year fire rhinoceros wood. The fire rhinoceros wood was hard yet very light, suitable for crafting fourth-tier puppet beasts. The Wang family could currently craft third-tier puppet beasts, but not yet fourth-tier ones. A significant reason for this was the scarcity and difficulty of gathering materials for fourth-tier puppets, unlike third-tier ones, which could be collected with enough time. In addition to the thousand-year fire rhinoceros wood, Wang Qingshan also selected a bundle of silkworm threads spun by fourth-tier high-grade Golden Flame Silkworms. With this bundle, Wang Changsheng could help Wang Ruyan refine a musical magical treasure.

Wu Chang was somewhat surprised; he had expected Wang Qingshan to choose the set of flying swords but he didn't. He didn't ask further and led Wang Qingshan away.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Qingshan took out a pile of jade slips and meticulously examined them. He felt that True Monarch White Wolf’s death was not so simple, and perhaps the secret lay within the jade slips. After a while, Wang Qingshan’s expression turned solemn, his eyes filled with disbelief, as he held a silver jade slip in his hand. This jade slip recorded the crafting method for an ultimate spirit treasure, the Immortal-Slaying Blade. According to the slip, the crafting method for the Immortal-Slaying Blade was left behind by the Puppet Emperor.

“The Puppet Emperor! The Immortal-Slaying Blade!” Wang Qingshan took a deep breath, his expression turning excited. The materials required to craft the Immortal-Slaying Blade were quite rare, many of which Wang Qingshan had never even heard of. He recalled that Wang Changsheng possessed a Great Clarity Spirit-Slaying Blade. Even if Wang Changsheng couldn't craft the Immortal-Slaying Blade, he could search for similar materials to create another spirit treasure, or even a magical treasure whose power would far exceed that of ordinary magical treasures. The fact that the crafting method for the Immortal-Slaying Blade originated from the Puppet Emperor alone made it superior to many magical treasures.

“This trip to Ten Thousand Puppets Palace wasn’t in vain. I obtained two refining materials and the crafting method for the ultimate spirit treasure, the Immortal-Slaying Blade. It seems True Monarch White Wolf likely penetrated to the core of Ten Thousand Puppets Palace. I wonder if anyone managed to retrieve an ultimate spirit treasure.” Wang Qingshan murmured to himself, a curious expression on his face. Given that the Puppet Emperor possessed even the crafting method for an ultimate spirit treasure, it wasn’t surprising to Wang Qingshan that the Puppet Emperor, a Soul Transformation cultivator who once unified the Northern Border immortal cultivation world, owned ultimate spirit treasures.

He put away the jade slips from the ground, then flicked his sleeve. Nine Azure Glaze Swords flew out, circling him erratically, emitting clear, resonant sword cries, their sword energy crisscrossing.

He planned to cultivate at the Wu family’s residence for some time. He would not leave the Northern Border anytime soon.