Chapter 1423: Two Genuine Soul Fruits

"Since you've made your decision, I won't try to dissuade you."

Wang Changsheng flipped his palm, and an exquisite azure jade box appeared in his hand. He opened the box and took out a True Soul Fruit. He had obtained five True Soul Fruits in total. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Qingshan had all consumed one. The remaining two were initially intended for alchemy, but with the impending opening of the Immortal Ascent Ruins, he decided not to keep them.

"I've always helped Qingshan with artifact crafting because he is exceptionally talented and constantly works to advance the family. You, on the other hand, stay within the family, rarely engaging in battles, so I haven't crafted artifacts for you. But you are my child. Your grandfather entrusted the family to me, and I must treat everyone equally," Wang Changsheng sighed. In the past, Wang Mingyuan had sent him to the most desolate region to smoothly implement his family governance policies. Wang Changsheng had resented Wang Mingyuan for this, but only after taking control of the family himself did he understand Wang Mingyuan's difficulties. If he had continuously crafted magical artifacts for Wang Qingjing, what would other clan members think? Over time, they would become disaffected, which would be detrimental to the family's development.

"This True Soul Fruit can enhance your divine sense. If you consume it, you alone will be able to control the Five-Element Puppet Beasts."

Wang Qingjing looked at the True Soul Fruit in Wang Changsheng's hand, her nose tingling and her eyes slightly red. Wang Changsheng had always been exceptionally good to Wang Qingshan. When she was young, she truly didn't understand this, complaining more than once to Wang Ruyan and even wondering if she was adopted. Only after growing up did she grasp Wang Changsheng's challenges.

"Father, I was wrong. I shouldn't have complained to Mother." Wang Qingjing bit her red lip tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Wang Changsheng lightly patted Wang Qingjing's shoulder and said, "It's all right. That's all in the past now. Let it go! Go back and cultivate diligently to prepare for the treasure hunt in the Immortal Ascent Ruins."

"Understood, Father. I'll be ready."

After Wang Qingjing left, Wang Changsheng went to Hundred Spirits Peak and sent out a sound transmission talisman. Not long after, Wang Qingling rushed out of her dwelling, her face beaming with joy.

"Ninth Uncle, please come in quickly."

Wang Qingling invited Wang Changsheng into her residence, where she was feeding the Icewind Flood Dragon. In the courtyard stood a hundred-zhang-tall Ironwood tree, bare with sparse leaves. A massive black peacock perched on the Ironwood, while a yellow earthworm over ten zhang long moved around its base. Nearby was a lake spanning more than ten mu, its surface entirely frozen. Snow-white spirit fish leaped out of the icy water, and the Icewind Flood Dragon frolicked in the lake. This lake had been modified with a formation specifically for raising Ice Bone Fish, whose delicious flesh was a favorite of the Icewind Flood Dragon.

The Icewind Flood Dragon was currently a mid-tier Rank 3 beast. Both the Darkwing Crow and Earth Dragon Worm were also mid-tier Rank 3. Flood dragons, in general, advanced relatively slowly. In terms of divine abilities, the Icewind Flood Dragon was the strongest, and in terms of durability, it was also unrivaled.

Wang Qingling blew a whistle, and the Icewind Flood Dragon flew out of the lake, circled once, and landed before her. The Icewind Flood Dragon had grown to over fifty zhang long, its body constantly expanding, yet its rank remained mid-tier Rank 3. Its nostrils exhaled two chilling blasts of cold air, instantly freezing the ground, creating an icy patch over ten zhang wide.

"Qingling, it would be wonderful if it could advance to high-tier Rank 3 before the Immortal Ascent Ruins open," Wang Changsheng said with a light chuckle. Wang Qingling's individual strength was relatively weak, relying entirely on her spirit beasts and birds.

"Flood dragons don't advance that quickly. The Immortal Ascent Ruins contain many rare treasures, so perhaps this is Little White's opportunity to advance," Wang Qingling's eyes lit up. She affectionately stroked the Icewind Flood Dragon's head; she had already come to regard it as family.

"Qingling, take this True Soul Fruit. Your individual strength is quite weak, and if you were to lose your spirit beasts, your power would plummet. Even Rank 4 demon beasts roam the Immortal Ascent Ruins. By enhancing your divine sense, you can control several more Rank 3 puppet beasts and increase your survival rate." Wang Changsheng took out the last True Soul Fruit and handed it to Wang Qingling. The Immortal Ascent Ruins were extremely perilous; of the ten Core Formation cultivators the Shen family sent in, only two survived. Wang Qingling couldn't rely solely on her spirit beasts.

"Thank you, Ninth Uncle, but perhaps this True Soul Fruit should be given to my eighth sister! If I can't win, I can always run. The Earth Dragon Worm is skilled in earth evasion, the Darkwing Crow flies very fast, and Little White can stealthily move through the sea." Wang Qingling subtly declined. Wang Qingjing had only engaged in a handful of life-and-death battles, making the True Soul Fruit more suitable for her.

Wang Changsheng nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "She already has a True Soul Fruit. I don't need to worry about Haitang, and both Qiuming and Huaxiong are strong. Compared to them, I'm more concerned about you."

"In that case, I'll accept it. Thank you, Ninth Uncle." Wang Qingling beamed with joy and accepted the True Soul Fruit.

After chatting for about a quarter of an hour, Wang Changsheng returned to Azure Lotus Peak. He took out his artifact refining materials and began crafting. In two years, he planned to refine several more magical treasures for the five individuals, including Wang Qingjing, for their self-defense.

***

Red Moon Sea, Azure Carp Island.

At Dustless Peak, within a vast estate, Zhang Wuchen and Lin Yuzong sat chatting in a stone pavilion. Zhang Wuchen's face was filled with excitement, while Lin Yuzong appeared hesitant.

"My years of dedicating myself to the Myriad Sword Sect were not in vain. We have four slots, and I plan to send Hongwu and the others into the Immortal Ascent Ruins. I hope we can obtain one or two rare treasures, or perhaps a secret art," Zhang Wuchen said, a little agitated. The Myriad Sword Sect had granted the Zhang family four slots.

Lin Yuzong hesitated slightly and said, "Hongwu is only at the sixth level of Core Formation, and she's a spiritual physique user. If something were to happen to her, it would be troublesome. I think we should send someone else."

Zhang Wuchen scoffed softly and said, "If I hadn't been working tirelessly everywhere, would she be where she is today? Would the Zhang family be where it is today? As long as I can reclaim the Palace Lord position, I wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice five Core Formation cultivators, let alone the entire Zhang family. You aren't seriously considering Hongwu as your descendant, are you?" Her words made Lin Yuzong uncomfortable. Zhang Wuchen's personality was quite strong; she was someone who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, a fact that had been proven many times.

"The Wang family should also have a few slots. If we cooperate with their Core Formation cultivators then, we should be able to find some good things," Lin Yuzong quickly changed the subject, unwilling to dwell on the previous one.

"Let's hope so! The Sun-Moon Wheel is one of the Sun-Moon Palace's three greatest treasured artifacts, and its materials came from the Immortal Ascent Ruins. Compared to magical artifacts, I'm more interested in the secret arts passed down from the Spirit Realm." A brilliant gleam shone in Zhang Wuchen's eyes. Even if she obtained rare artifact-refining materials, they would be useless if she didn't know how to refine artifacts. However, a secret art was something she could cultivate.

"The Immortal Ascent Ruins open once every thousand years. Are there really secret arts passed down from the Spirit Realm?" Lin Yuzong sounded a little skeptical.

Zhang Wuchen nodded and said, "Absolutely true. You know the Four Seasons Sword Venerable of the Grand Unity Immortal Sect, right? According to the ancient texts of our Sun-Moon Palace, the Four Seasons Sword Venerable once entered the Immortal Ascent Ruins. The Grand Unity Immortal Sect's foundational cultivation method, the 'Four Seasons Sword Art,' originates from the Spirit Realm. Otherwise, how do you think the Four Seasons Sword Venerable managed to keep the Eastern Wasteland's demon race in check? If not for that, the Southern Sea and Northern Frontiers would have long ago divided the Eastern Wasteland."